As shoppers make up for lost time on post-lockdown-fuelled shopping trips, the retail gurus at St David’s Cardiff reveal the trends making us tick and most-wanted products.

As the social scene came out of hibernation, St David’s reports its fashion and beauty brands have increasingly welcomed back shoppers keen to update their wardrobes and create hot new looks. Simultaneously, the lifting of travel restrictions has sent shoppers hunting for new luggage and holidaywear from swimsuits to sliders. And the return of weddings has seen pent-up demand unleashed for guest outfits, shoes, gifts and engagement ring cleaning and re-plating for brides to be ahead of the big day. Meanwhile, jewellers and homeware brands reveal big-ticket items such as new watches, rings and bulk-buying of furniture are proving remarkably popular and even increased interest in electric vehicles.

Other new trends spotted at St David’s include a rise in shoppers ditching high heels and underwired bras in exchange for the comfort we’ve become accustomed to after a year at home along with increased demand for home-office items and workspaces as well as make-up, jewellery and accessories as people dress from the waist up for online meetings. In addition, stores have welcomed back families treating children to new toys, garden play items and back-to-school accessories. And of course we can’t forget the food and drink scene at St David’s with visitors indulging on stunning new dishes, treats and cocktails which are all that more gratifying after we’ve gone without for so long.

James Waugh, Centre Director at St David’s Dewi Sant, said: “As a popular retail destination, we really missed our shoppers during lockdown and, since reopening, it’s clear our shoppers clearly missed us too. It’s been fantastic to welcome shoppers back through our doors over the past few months and interesting to see the new trends and consumer habits that lockdown has spurred as well as the hottest-selling products over the summer.”