SHOPPING IS A STRESSFUL business. Picking out new clothes is fun, sure, but trying them on is always a sweaty endeavour that completely destroys your self-esteem.
It is NOT helped by rubbish changing rooms. And there are far too many of them, we have learned. Please observe.
9. Penneys O’Connell Street
We’ve never seen the inside of these changing rooms, and that’s because there is always a queue snaking halfway down the shop. Sort it out.
8. Zara
Sigh. Where do we start? They’re tiny, roasting, the curtains never pull over fully, and the lighting would be better suited to a morgue. Also, they could always do with a sweep, no matter what time of day you land in at. Don’t do it to yourself.
7. New Look, Jervis Shopping Centre
Spacious yet grimy, with yet more problem curtains. You’d live in fear of your bare feet accidentally touching those black tiles. What have they seen?
6. River Island
Those side mirrors are an ABOMINATION. You’re not meant to see yourself from that angle! How dare you make a generation of Irish people worry about how they look from the side-back, River Island.
5. Abercrombie, College Green
Near-total darkness, pounding music, queues, and the heady scent of aftershave do not a relaxing shopping experience make, but their dark wood-panelled changing rooms are very lovely. Does one cancel out the other? We’ll let you decide.
4. Forever 21, Jervis Shopping Centre
The gap between the door and the floor is way too wide, leaving far too much potential for peeking. Saying that, the Forever 21 changing rooms are some of the roomiest in Dublin – though they often contain a faint hint of BO. A mixed bag.
3. Penneys Mary Street
The shiny new changing rooms of Penneys Mary Street are how all Penneys changing rooms should be. They’re clean(ish) with heavy duty curtains that aren’t going anywhere, and queues are short to non-existent if you avoid peak times.
2. Topshop, Stephen’s Green
Let’s get this straight: Topshop changing rooms are warm. Perhaps too warm. But they are spacious, the lighting is forgiving, and the big wooden doors are refreshingly solid. There are also lots of them, which is a BIG plus.
1. H&M, College Green
Possibly the fanciest changing rooms in the city (not including Brown Thomas, whose changing rooms we will probably never see), with plenty of mirrors and seating.
The rooms themselves are huge, and double curtained for your protection. This is the standard all changing rooms should hope to emulate.
