New Worthing clothes shop opens this weekend – offering 'stylish but comfortable everyday wear'

Duchess boutique, in the Royal Arcade, Worthing, will open its doors for the first time at 11am with everyone invited to come in and browse and maybe enjoy a glass of bubbles.

Run by Amanda Morcombe, 45, and her 19-year-old daughter Evelyn, the pair hope it will fill what she sees as a gap in the market for an affordable boutique aimed at people who want a younger style.

Amanda said: “We wanted to open a shop that was stylish but comfortable everyday wear, from comfy loungewear to dresses you can wear with trainers and jeans with a nice top.

HAVE YOU READ? Popular West Sussex gardens opens extensive new children's playpark – we tried it out and here's what we thought

“Since Debenhams closed I felt like Worthing was lacking a bit on that front, there’s a couple of boutiques and I think they’re all really nice, but I think we’re slightly different as we’re aiming for people who like a younger style.

“We think we’ll attract people who want to dress fun and comfy, but still want to be able to go out for a pub lunch wearing comfy clothes. That’s our concept, really.”

Amanda used to work in retail in M&S, and then retrained as a beautician. She said she loved the people side of the job but after a few years realised she wanted to get back into fashion. She said the onset of the pandemic and her business slowing down, coupled with Evelyn’s growing love for fashion made them decide to ‘go for it’.

Amanda and Evelyn live near Horsham, but Amanda’s mother-in-law lives in Worthing so she sees it as a second home.

Speaking about what people can expect from the business, she said: “People can expect friendly, but not pushy service. You won’t be judged when you walk in, it’s not that kind of boutique. It’s to bring back the old-fashioned shopping experience where you can ask questions, have a chat and get a nice service, rather than something being bunged in a bag and off you go.

“It will be a personal service, but only if the customer wants that. If they want ideas of what to wear for something we’re more than happy to provide advice.

“I think the arcade is such a nice arcade and with the menswear over the road and the other ladieswear boutique, it makes it a bit of a fashion destination. A lot of towns have a foodie area, I think it works well if you have a few similar shops in the area. It encourages people to come if it’s more than just one.”

YOU MIGHT LIKE TO READ: Inside the stunning new West Sussex pub where you'll find delicious food, friendly service and beautiful rooms

Amanda hopes to makes the shop a family business. She has two other daughters, both of whom are interested in fashion, and said she hopes they too might work there in the future.

She added: “It’s nice to have a family legacy that you can pass on.”

The dresses being stocked are ‘quite exclusive’. They are from a company called Finery, and Amanda will only get each style in one size at a time. “So the chances of bumping into someone in the same dress are small,” she said.

In terms of price, the dresses retail for around £39, jeans around £25 and the tracksuit/loungewear sets are £35. The most expensive item is about £60. “It’s not expensive, but it’s good quality,” Amanda said.

She is also selling bags made by Petit Dunnocks, a West Sussex business, as well as some footwear. This includes Ted Baker shoes at outlet prices.

Duchess boutique will be open from Tuesday to Saturday, from 10am to 5pm. It stocks from size 6 to 14/16.

For more information, and to order online from when the website goes live on Friday, visit: https://duchessboutique.co.uk/