Prince Harry’s baggy shirts and jeans circa 2013 all make sense – he’s a TK Maxx fan

Prince Harry’s baggy shirts and jeans circa 2013 all make sense – he’s a TK Maxx fan

Before sporting a more polished look featuring luxury brands, Harry took a more everyman approach to fashion

 Prince Harry revealed in his memoir that he used to shop for 'everyday casual clothes' at the designer discount chain.

In London’s Kensington High Street branch of TK Maxx there are only two men browsing on the menswear floor. It’s just days after Prince Harry revealed in his memoir Spare that he used to shop for “everyday casual clothes” at the designer discount chain. Similar to Harry’s “system” which he explains in his book, both are “working up one rack and down another,” before standing in front of a mirror holding sweaters and jeans up against their bodies rather than using the changing rooms.

Maybe the royal is on to something?

Before moving to California and sporting a more polished look featuring luxury brands such as suits from Celine and Brioni, Harry took a more everyman approach to fashion. “Nice and comfortable,” is how he sums it up in his book.

The designer discount giant offers shopping at its most fundamental level. It describes its stores as “no frills”. Clothing is simply divided into categories such as tops.

The retailer manages to keep its prices low, up to 60% less than the recommended retail price, by buying current and past season stock from manufacturers that have produced too much and department stores that have overbought.

It's more likely Harry took a Supermarket Sweep approach, limiting the amount of time spent trawling through an endless mass of clothing with pieces crammed together.

Items and brands vary from store to store.

But in the menswear department at the Kensington High Street shop, Harry’s local branch, there are rails and rails of Ben Sherman checked shirts (GBP27.99), Tommy Hilfiger jeans (GBP49.99) and polo shirts from Gant (GBP39.99). Harry’s poorly fitting shirts and baggy jeans circa 2013 suddenly all make sense. There’s even a whole rack of his favourite woven belts.

A staff member confirms there are no stock rooms and they never know what items are coming in.

Instead, they receive a weekly delivery on a Sunday (some stores get daily) of stock which they place directly from the lorry on to the shop floor.

All shelving is on wheels so managers can alter the layout of the store to suit the ever changing roster.

Zawe Ashton: I’ve tried therapy and booze, but nothing helps as much as TK Maxx
Read more

Harry says he shopped 15 minutes before closing time. Staff say the only time the store is really busy is during the Christmas period, describing it as “madness”. It’s more likely Harry took a Supermarket Sweep approach, limiting the amount of time spent trawling through an endless mass of clothing with pieces crammed together.

Harry also claims that he was “particularly fond of their once-a-year sale”, a quote that has gone viral with many questioning if he actually understands how the discount store works.

A spokesperson for TK Maxx says: “Whilst we’re delighted Prince Harry is a big fan, we thought we should explain we don’t actually do sales.

Instead, we offer great value, style, and savings all year round.”

In his defence near the men’s changing rooms at Kensington High Street, there is a clearance section with yellow priced stickers offering even greater discounts. Think a Ben Sherman cord shirt for GBP18 and cargo Folk trousers for GBP24.99. Very on brand for the prince’s late noughties era.

The store’s staff confirm they have never actually seen Harry or any other royals.

However, “the Love Island crew” are regulars and they are excited to tell me they spotted the musician Stormzy a couple of weeks ago.

Stemming from the US where it’s known as TJ rather than TK, the first British TK Maxx opened in Bristol in 1994.

Ushering in a new way of shopping for designer pieces, there are now 352 standalone stores with almost half located in retail parks.

The sixth largest fashion group in the UK, in September it reported a turnover of GBP2.1bn, compared to GBP1.3bn in 2021.

The chain has garnered somewhat of a cult following over the years especially among the fashion crowd and no doubt Harry’s comments will fuel further interest.

The stylist Joseph Parker runs the Instagram account tkfashun where he highlights the best weekly finds in the Oxford Street branch.

Meanwhile, insiders say that the Ealing shop in west London is best for Vivienne Westwood while there’s always plenty of Marc Jacobs at the Fort Shopping Park branch in Manchester.

Topics

Reuse this content

fitness-first listed on couponmatrix.ukideal-world listed on couponmatrix.uklife-looks listed on couponmatrix.ukworldlotteryclub listed on couponmatrix.ukthe-ticket-factory listed on couponmatrix.ukwallis listed on couponmatrix.uk
fitness-first listed on couponmatrix.ukDW Fitness First has been with us for over a decade now, operating over seventy-five fitness clubs with attached retail stores plus around ninety stand-alone shops supplying top sports performance brands. The centres have everything you'd expect from a twenty-first century health facility including large gym floors, functional training areas, member cafes, swimming facilities and a wide range of group exercise classes. Redeem our Fitness First offers to enjoy low cost membership, and make a great value investment into the most valuable commodity a human can possess - premium levels of health.
ideal-world listed on couponmatrix.ukIn an Ideal World, all the products you need would be in one place. From hoovers to handbags, watches to wigs and gloves to gazebos, if there’s something you need then chances are you’ll find it right here. Shop this remarkable online emporium for less with an Ideal World discount code from Groupon. There’s an endless array of awesome goods on offer from Ideal World, so you’re sure to find something to bring a smile to your face.
life-looks listed on couponmatrix.ukLife and Looks offers a wide range of fashion, beauty, and lifestyle products for both women and men. You'll find plenty of beauty essentials including skincare, body treatments, toiletries and fragrances. Check out our newest offers at Life and Looks to enjoy discounts on all the latest healthcare, beauty, and lifestyle products. Whether you're looking to enhance your morning routine or looking for a heartfelt gift, we've got you covered. At Groupon, we work hard to find the best deals and discounts on all the products you love. And that includes Life and Looks! We scour the internet for the latest bargains so you can save money on the treatments and healthcare enhancements you deserve. Even if you’re simply filling gaps in your makeup drawer, you may surprise yourself with the savings we can secure at Life and Looks. One of Life and Looks’ top-performing products is its skincare range. They have a wide selection of both men's and women's skincare, so you're sure to find something that suits your needs. And with our Life and Looks promo code, you can achieve stunning results for a fraction of the cosy! So take a look and see what Life and Looks can do for your complexion today.
worldlotteryclub listed on couponmatrix.ukPlay with LottoGo for a chance to win a life-changing amount of money. You could be in it to win it from the comfort of your own home, or on the move with the handy mobile app. Buy your tickets for the EuroMillions and Lotto and bet on the outcome of the lotteries from around the world—with our LottoGo offers on board, you could bag some huge prizes for even less.
the-ticket-factory listed on couponmatrix.ukThe Ticket Factory have been scouting out the very best events in the UK for the past 10 years, so that you get the very best choices and prices for events around the country and beyond. With customer experience at the very core of their ideology, The Ticket Factory prioritised dedicated contact centres and finding access to the absolute top events in the UK. With a background in venue management, The Ticket Factory know both sides of the coin when it comes to ticket management, and that’s why they’re so good at helping you pinch the pennies. With specially designed technology to cover the demands of event releases, and a promise to strive to continually lower their prices below those of their competitors, The Ticket Factory have proven experienced, flexible and personable for a decade of top customer service.
wallis listed on couponmatrix.ukStunning party dresses, pretty women's tops, chic jackets, and office essentials – all this could all be part of your new wardrobe if you shop the fantastic Wallis clothing collection. This UK-based high street clothing company has a ravishing collection of high-quality clothing and accessories in stylish designs, suitable for all occasions, and all available online. From eye-catching Wallis tops to go-with-anything coats, you can use our Wallis discount code to save on the whole collection.