Shepherd & Woodward

TERRIBLE CUSTOMER SERVICE & POOR, OVERPRICED, LIMITED INVENTORY - DO NOT GO

Oxford colleges routinely recommend this store to students for formal events requiring special Oxford clothing (e.g. matriculation, graduation, exams, formal hall), and a great many Oxford colleges use it for the hires they make available for commemoration balls (e.g. Merton College's Winter Ball.) This is a shame, because I HAVE NEVER EXPERIENCED WORSE CUSTOMER SERVICE OR WORSE/MORE OVERPRICED INVENTORY FROM A FORMAL CLOTHING STORE IN MY LIFE.

My first experience with this store was when I rented a full white-tie gown for a college commemoration ball. The store not only gave me the wrong items in the wrong sizes for this ball after I paid (as memory serves), but the store manager not only refused to refund the amount but actually demanded I provide my credit card or they would call the police after I brought it to the manager's attention. When, in my angst and state of upset, I accidentally left one of my own personal suit pants in the garment package of the rental I returned, they never acknowledged it and refused to later return it to me - adding at least a few hundred dollars to the effective cost of my using their rental service.

More generally, the store assistants here are rude, make it clear that they could not care less about you, do not want to help you find the right color, cut/fit type, size or item for your needs, and the quality of the garments themselves are positively awful. At best, you will have an employee nice enough to lie and tell you that something "fits perfectly" when it clearly does not.

I even had a store assistant tell me that, "No, no store in England sells its customers black suits. People simply don't buy them."

Avoid like the plague.

A very popular place on High St. to buy T-shirts and sweaters. They have a large selection of various clothing (tourist type clothing) at very good prices. It seems they always have a bin of Oxford T-shirts on sale for 4.99 pounds, a real deal. One of my favorite places in Oxford to buy presents.

Shepherd and Woodward provides uniforms for local schools, gowns and sub-fusc for Oxford colleges, and is generally very useful for formal events requiring smart shirts, skirts, blouses, cufflinks and ties. The staff are exceedingly polite and know exactly what you need when you start trying to describe it. They seem to be able to just look at you to know what size you are, and give you personal service that is all too rare nowadays. However, be warned: not all of their goods are of such high quality as their service. I bought a ribbon for my sub-fusc which fell to pieces within a couple of uses, and my gown was ripped. It's very easy to get carried away by the lovely drawstring carrier bags and professional service, but make sure you get what you want, and don't be afraid to complain.

A much used shop by the studying fraternity in Oxford. Though I'm no longer studying, I still use this shop on my visits here. An absolute first class service from charming staff is offered/given to all. Top quality clothing can be obtained here, and all so well displayed. An unmissable shop

Shepherd and Woodward provide traditional wear, specifically that for Oxford colleges. This includes subfusc, worn by students when matriculating, graduating or sitting exams. As well as this they stock a wide variety of tourist friendly memorabilia and clothing as well as college related merchandise. Ideal for some souvenirs or gifts, though somewhat pricey.