Trying to find something gorgeous to wear in your wardrobe is always a struggle in January, isn’t it? Everyone’s bored by their early Autumn buys. Spangly Christmas party wear feels inappropriate for dry January. And yes, the sales may have brought us some cool new pieces, but my God they’re in totally unrealistic sizes – I have three new dresses that I’ve literally no hope of wearing without my family staging a six-month biscuit barrel intervention.

But hey, at Muddy Stilettos we’re never about the moan, always the solution!  What we all need for 2022 is a proper fashion refresh – and Bicester Village is the place to find it. Here are six new happenings at the open-air luxury shopping destination in the heart of Oxfordshire that are making us feel all tingly and excited, plus there’s one extra Muddy reason to visit (spoiler: it involves one of you winning a super-luxe £1000 VIP day out!)

LATEST BOUTIQUE ADDITIONS

Let’s be honest, with over 160 boutiques you’re always spoilt for choice here (like literally, Stella McCartney, what would I do without you), but the exciting thing about Bicester Village is its always adding cool new brands. Over the last months Elemis, Charlotte Tilbury (only open until the end of Feb so get in quick!), Jil Sander, Off White, Isabel Marant and my total interiors obsession, Soho Home, have taken up residencies at Bicester Village.

And hot new openings in February include awesome skincare range This Works (including the Baby Sleep range – sweet dreams, exhausted parents), Spectrum Collections and, the only jeans that have ever worked magic on my mum-bum, Seven for All Mankind. Like, go plunder.

NEW SEASON ARRIVALS

They’re here! Sassy leggings from lululemon, pastel hoodies from Sweaty Betty, chunky lace up boots from Claudie Pierlot, pretty floaty dresses from ba&sh, bright coral New Balance trainers (hands off, they’re mine), and racks of fresh new stock from the likes of Paul Smith, All Saints, Reiss, Levi’s and DKNY to tickle your fancy. You can check out Bicester Village’s edit of new season arrivals here.

TRY LA TUA PASTA

Seriously, you have to eat at La Tua Pasta, even if you’re not shopping – OK unlikely, but who are we to judge? This authentic award-winning artisan pastificio has proved so popular since its launch last summer, that they’ve just added an extra 100 covers.

Famed through its years at London’s Borough Market, La Tua Pasta’s fresh pasta is made using Italian Durum flour and traditional techniques that will bring you rare dishes like crispy Truffle Gnocchi Crocchette, or rich Wild Boar Ragu on a bed of fresh Creste di Gallo pasta (see, this is why I’m never going to fit in those dresses). Bicester Village is its only venue outside SE1 and is open for lunch and dinner. Not a pasta fan? Also on the menu are farmshop restaurant & café, your hit of Soho House rustic cool, and Shan Shui, a homage to the best of Asian cuisine.

PERSONAL SHOPPING

Over the last few months Bicester Village has introduced free personal shopping. Yes, read that sentence again. Free. Personal. Shopping. They’ve kept it quiet until now – but sorry Bicester Village, Muddy readers need to KNOW ABOUT IT!! Basically you just book an appointment, and choose one of five awesome stylists depending on what you’re looking for (check them out here). They’ll use their insider knowledge of the boutiques to bring you a rack of options for you to try on in the super-swish new Personal Shopping Suites and help nail your 2022 fashion refresh while let’s face it, you do very little.

SHOPPING IS HEALTHY

The Government might be telling us all to remove masks and cough all over each other, but if you’re still feeling a bit cautious about Covid or have loved ones to protect, the fresh air of Bicester Village’s outdoor shopping might put your mind at ease. Plus, have you walked the length and breadth of Bicester Village recently? You’ll literally clock up 10,000 steps before lunchtime and therefore entirely justify a three-course meal and half a bottle of wine.

RISE AND SHINE

No, I’m not being bossy (like, seriously, get up when you want). But you might want to hop to it when I tell you there’s a brand new Rise and Shine Weekend Shopping Package running from now until 27 February, 9 am-12 pm, Friday to Sunday. You just need to sign up to Bicester Village membership (it’s free and takes about 10 seconds) and you’ll get reserved parking, a complimentary coffee and sweet treat from La Tua Pasta or London Grade Coffee, and a 10% VIP saving on the Village price*.

WIN £1000 ON US TO SPEND AT BICESTER VILLAGE

We’re thoughtful and amazing and so altruistic surely an MBE for services to the Muddy community must be coming soon? Up for grabs for one lucky reader on us is a gift card worth a delicious £900, plus a £100 lunch for two at any of the Bicester Village restaurants. Not only that but we’ve secured access to The Apartment, reserved parking next to the Village boutiques, a VIP Pass for 10% saving on the Village price and hands-free shopping – select from Jamie Dornan, Idris Elba or Ryan Reynolds as your official bag carrier. (OK this bit isn’t true but we’re working on it). Enter here in seconds.

* Please note – not to be used in conjunction with other offers

Bicester Village, 50 Pingle Drive, Bicester, Oxfordshire, OX26 6WD. Tel: 01869 366266. Enquiry@BicesterVillage.com