C & A Modes

I loved C&A. When it was coming to a local town they ran a competition for someone to perform the store opening ceremony. Long story short I actually won it following a number of qualifying steps. We (late husband and I) were whisked up to London to their Oxford Street store, dressed (me) inside out completely, including hat, gloves, shoes, tights, fed and watered at the Cumberland Hotel, treated like a star.

On the actual day the biggest Rolls Royce - it had actually belonged to a Maharaja at one time -beribboned with C&A coloured ribbons pulled up outside my home. Escorted through to this pristine new store, presented with a huge bouquet and shown round. Lunch at a local hotel and then presented with vouchers of £600.

I still have some of those clothes but sincerely wish they could return to the UK. What memories!

My first suede skirt was bought in C&A Newcastle Northumberland street. My brother bought it for my 15 th birthday I later went on to work in van Allan’s a few doors down when I kept school at 16.;very grown up we had our own hairdresser and biba cosmetics. We got lots of discount and could chose our own uniform!

I brought my beautiful wedding dress in 1968 for £21 in their sale. Also tiara and veil. Loved that shop. I felt like a princess

DIL bought a lovely long quilted coat in C&A in Spain last autumn. Cost about £40 and I’m very envious!

They had the I. Store boutique range Sixth Sense Is that it? I had most of my teens stuff from there and Lewis separates in Manchester that turned into Chelsea girl!! I never understood why C&A turn it's back on UK? A greta loss. Although I remember my mate buying a fun fur waistcoat only to be told in the press that they were made of cat fur!!!! Dunno if true but the funfur rabbit stuff used to she'd like crazy specially on boyfriends' velvet suits/jackets!!! Remember them🤣🤣

When I worked in the 70’s our offices where in a side road behind a big C and A and I used to walk through the store everyday to get to the High Street, I loved all their different ranges and used to buy all my clothes there. I thought the European stores were a different company to the one that operated in the UK?

Me to Susan56. We may have crossed paths. I loved going there, such a vibrant shopping area.

I had a bright yellow flared mini dress with bell sleeves from C & A. It was edged with silver sequin trim and I wore it with yellow tights (what was I thinking?!) and plum suede Mary Jane's. I thought I looked like Twiggy but my father said I looked like an escaped chicken!

Yes, still wearing 'sixth sense' jumper

Callistemon21 Don't know how long ago you bought your item but if in late 60s or early 70s your size 14 then would be about 20/22 nowadays. I have a couple of 60/70s dresses size 12. Colleague going to a 70s night and was going to dress in the fashion. Offered dresses to the colleague who is so slim the joke is she is so thin she doesn't have room inside for all the usual bits and pieces. She takes a size 6 now. She took the dresses to the ladies at work to try but couldn't get zips up. Far too tight. Sizing has changed so much over the years taking account of "not wanting to offend customers" . How many size 12s have a 22" waist nowadays. That's what the two dresses measured.

I miss C&A as well. I wish we still had a branch here. I went to Bruges some 12years ago and had a bit of a spending frenzy in their branch, and I'm still wearing the things I bought.

I’m still wearing 2 ribbed cotton tops I bought in C&A in Darmstadt over 20 years ago. They’ve washed and worn really well.

I pop in if I'm near one in Spain too, useful for jeans. Most Spanish shops cater for 'pencils' which I'm definitely not, so it's comforting to pick up a size 14 and know I'll be able to get into it.

I thought Canda was bhs but I could be wrong

Fleurpepper

I am in France at the moment and will pop in at C&A this afternoon!

Yes I'm going on Wednesday, can't miss the sales!

There's a branch in Prague too. Someone should start a petition to get C & A back in the UK.

Fleurpepper Here is the answer to your question. www.independent.co.uk/news/business/news/c-amp-a-a-sad-tale-of-the-highstreet-store-that-went-from-coats-and-ats-to-closure-and-acrimony-5370577.html

I do wonder why they closed UK stores whilst in the rest of Europe they are still going strong. And don't worry, I won't say 'B' - as they did so a long time before that!

My posh mother in Law's nickname for them was "Cheap and Awful" but my Mum's nickname for them was " Charles and Allen"

Bring back C&A’s and British Home Stores.
Loved them both.

annifrance

I bought ski gear for the whole family in C&A Marble Arch. very trendy, and functional. loved it.

Same here, and they also did large sizes! Hurrah.

Looked today at a French C&A, no ski gear at all.

I purchased a black winter coat from Leeds C & A, Boar Lane in the 70's when I was in my 30's and wore it continuously. It was such a useful coat, covered all and everything, beautifully styled with swing back. The lining started to deteriorate through continuous use so I took it to a local tailor and had it completely re-lined. I am still wearing it for funerals and when it is really cold. I am now 83 and cannot see my ever disposing of it. I bought it from the Top Floor

I bought ski gear for the whole family in C&A Marble Arch. very trendy, and functional. loved it.

I live in Southern Spain (Costa del Sol) and I have C&A about 10 minutes from me--still love it !

My mother used to love/buy C&A clothes then cut the labels out - after she died I could always tell which were her C&A clothes. What a snob.