The shops where you CAN try on clothes as lockdown rules ease again

SHOPPERS are able to try on clothes again before buying them now that most stores are open as normal.

Non-essential retailers have been open since April 12, and as Covid restrictions continue to ease, more shops have reopened changing rooms.

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Fashion brands were given the green-light to open changing rooms again when step two of the lockdown roadmap came into force last month.

But not all retailers were comfortable reopening these services straight away.

Now that Brits can mix indoors under the rule of six, and many businesses have reopened their indoor services, more shops with fitting room facilities have joined the list.

Retailers and customers still have to follow Covid rules when using them though.

Shop managers have to leave it “several minutes” between customers and cubicles are cleaned regularly.

Stores are also advised to deploy a member of staff to control entry to changing areas and allow only one person at a time into a cubicle.

But the rules stop short of saying that clothes should be quarantined before being put back out on the shop floor again.

Changing rooms were closed for a year after Covid-secure guidance meant they had to remain shut when stores reopened following the first national lockdown.

The updated guidance then came as a relief to retailers who feared their closure would push customers to continue to shop online instead of return to the high street.

Here, we round up retailers’ policies for fitting rooms:

Which retailers have fitting rooms open?

John Lewis

John Lewis reopened its 34 stores in England and Wales on April 12.

There are fewer stores than before the coronavirus outbreak as the department store has since closed 16 stores for good.

Fitting rooms are open though, along with other in-store services like kids shoe fittings and home design services.

Rules in place to keep customers and staff safe include the wearing of face masks (unless exempt) and social distancing.

The retailer has staff on the door to help customers, manage queues and keep an eye on the number of people in store.

You can use the store’s locator tool to find your nearest shop if you fancy a browse and trying-on session.

H&M

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Fashion brand H&M reopened some of its fitting rooms at the same time as reopening stores on April 12.

At the time a spokesperson said: “We are pleased to be reopening some of our fitting rooms, as per the government guidelines.”

Not all of the retailer’s stores have fitting rooms open so it may be best to contact your local store before heading out.

You can find the contact details by typing in your postcode to the store locator tool.

River Island

River Island has reopened fitting rooms so customers can try clothes on before buying them.

The store reopened to the public on April 12 alongside other non-essential business.

Shoppers still have to follow Covid-secure measures though, such as wearing a mask, social distancing and hand sanitising regularly.

You can find your nearest store using the store locator tool.

The fashion brand has continued to operate online too and it runs a click and collect service as well.

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Marks & Spencer

M&S has reopened fitting rooms in its clothing stores from today.

Each clothing store is operating set times of 10am to 4pm daily and implementing a number of hygiene measures to keep everyone safe and well.

These include asking customers to sanitise their hands before entering the fitting room, regular cleaning and a host on hand to admit customers into each cubicle and ensure social distancing.

The changing rooms’ reopening follows a recent successful trial at two stores, Marble Arch and Pantheon on Oxford St.

Ali Grainger, head of clothing and home retail at M&S said: “With events, holidays and hopefully a summer full of sunshine just around the corner, people are really starting to think about their wardrobe.

“They want to try before they buy – so we’re delighted that they’re now able to, with all the necessary measures in place to keep them safe and well.”

The store is also running its bra-fitting service again.

Customers are able to book appointments for “no contact” fittings and a member of staff will advise shoppers on how to measure themselves.

Stores keeping changing rooms shut

Some stores have confirmed they will be keeping changing rooms closed for now. These include:

Primark

Primark has confirmed it will be keeping changing rooms closed to customers but it told The Sun it will be keeping things “under review”.

However, a range of safety measures have been implemented, such as social distancing and limits on the number of people in stores.

Hand sanitisation stations and perspex screens are also in place at tills.

Face coverings are required in stores and in queues if you are waiting to enter as well.

On the plus side, the high street fave also reopened with extended opening hours at nearly all of its locations and that’s still in place across some stores.

Check the locator tool to see when your local shop is open and closing.

Tesco

Tesco won’t be reopening any of its F&F clothing changing rooms any time soon.

Currently, there are no plans to get the service back up and running again.

Tesco shoppers have been able to pick up clothes while on their grocery shop as supermarkets have been allowed to stay open throughout lockdown.

Next

Next is still deciding on whether to reopen fitting rooms to allow customers to try on close before buying them.

The retailer is looking at the practicality of implementing the rules to changing rooms open, such as having an extra staff member on hand to man them.

TK Maxx

TK Maxx told The Sun it won’t be opening fitting rooms for customers just yet.

The retailer has 349 stores across the UK, of which 307 stores are located in England and Wales.

You can find the opening hours of your local using the store locator tool.

Shoppers have been able to get their hands on everything from fashion and homeware to accessories since the store has been open from April 12.

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New rules for pubs reopening indoors today have also been explained – so you’ll want to check out what you now can and can’t do.

Cinema rules are in place too as Vue, Odeon and Showcase reopen.

We have the full list of businesses not opening just yet as well, but we can tell you when they can hopefully return.

This post first appeared on thesun.co.uk