I Shop, Therefore I Am: The '90s, Harvey Nicks – and Me

by Mary Portas

'A riot' - The Times
'Absolutely irresistible' - Joanna Lumley
'I couldn't put it down!' - Michelle Ogundehin

Chronicling how she transformed Harvey Nichols from a fusty, old-fashioned store to a thriving, cutting-edge fashion brand, this entertaining and insightful book is suffused with the heady glamour and excess of 90s Cool Britannia.

Mary takes us behind the shop window – to the people who kept the show on the road and the early lessons that shaped her career. Told with her trademark wit, grit and candour, readers will see first-hand how, armed only with the blank canvas of a shop window and her own creativity, Mary created an era-defining global brand destination.

Genres: Nonfiction, Fashion, Autobiography, Memoir

336 pages, Hardcover

Published October 2, 2025

About the author

Widely recognized as the UK’s foremost authority on retail and brand communication, Mary Portas has a multitude of expertise; business woman, advertising executive, retail expert, Government adviser, broadcaster and consumer champion. The British media crowned her “Queen of Shops”.

Beginning her retail career in John Lewis, Harrods and Topshop, she joined Harvey Nichols, progressing to the Board as Creative Director in 1989. She was credited with leading its transformation into a world renowned fashion store. In 1997 she launched her own agency, Yellowdoor (now called Portas) which has made its mark in the creative advertising landscape, producing category challenging campaigns and championing brand development for clients including Clarks, Louis Vuitton, Oasis, Swarovski, Dunhill, Boden, Thomas Pink, Patek Philippe and Westfield.


In January 2013 she re-launched her agency as Portas with a new offer reflecting today's retail landscape, and how consumers behave today.

Alongside her work with the agency, Mary has embarked on a number of personal projects. She has published three books, Windows: The Art of Retail Display, and How to Shop. In February 2015 she released Shopgirl, a memoir of her early years.

Inspired by her weekly ‘Shop!’ column in the Telegraph Magazine, Mary began her television career in 2007 when her efforts to rescue failing independent boutiques were documented by the BBC2 series Mary Queen of Shops. The show was nominated for two Royal Television Society Awards and a BAFTA.

Mary became Global Retail Ambassador for Save the Children when she transformed the Charity’s worst performing shop – Orpington – into its best. Mary created a new charity shop format with her Living and Giving stores. The concept is now being rolled out across the country providing a human, ethical and community shopping experience. To date they have generated in excess of £10 million for Save the Children. Again, her journey was documented by the BBC for Mary Queen of Charity Shops.

In January 2011, Channel 4 aired Mary Portas: Secret Shopper. This new format saw Mary championing the often “underserviced” customer on the British high street, giving a voice to disgruntled consumers. With two more series being commissioned in 2015.

Through Mary’s personal experiences, and those of her growing consumer database, Mary identified a ‘lost generation’ of older women who were not being served by the British High Street. She decided that they needed clothes, shoes and accessories made for them and went on to create her own shop within House of Fraser, aimed at “women not girls”. This received huge commercial and critical acclaim and was followed by the documentary, Mary Queen of Frocks.

Her next project was an attempt to revitalize the UK’s manufacturing industry; Mary’s Bottom Line. Mary reopened a factory in Manchester and staffed it with handpicked apprentices. The product was “Kinky Knickers” which have been stocked by top UK retailers Liberty, Boots and ASOS.com.

Mary’s continued advocacy of our High Streets led to her receiving a commission from the British Government to lead an independent review. She delivered her report on the future of our High Streets to the Prime Minister, in December 2011. The Portas Review outlined 28 recommendations to rescue failing High Streets. The Government, retailers and the public supported her plan, and Mary’s work has been a catalyst for community regeneration, and the re-visioning of high streets across the country. The Government committed funds in excess of £10million to support the findings of her Review. The TV show Mary Queen of the High Streets followed Mary’s journey in trying to help revive Britain’s failing high streets, by putting local people at the heart of the solution.

Mary continues to present Channel 4’s annual December documentary, What Britain Bought in which she offers an eye-opening look into the shopping trends of the year.

Mary was

Reviews

[Angela · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fascinating romp behind the scenes at Harvey Nichols. Mary Portas tells it as it is, with wit and candour. The characters are so colourful yet totally believable (I wonder if names have been changed to protect the innocent ...?).

I didn't know much about Mary Portas before reading this book but found her rise from Top Shop to the highest echelons of Harvey Nicks so interesting. Along the way she has to persuade and influence a range of individuals and deal with employer actions that would soon be called out today. Most of all though, I loved her descriptions of the windows and where the inspiration came from, the windows that went wrong, and her heartfelt ode to creativity in the workplace which I 100% agree with.

Thank you to NetGalley, Canongate Books and Mary Portas for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Nic · Rating 4 out of 5]

4* I Shop, Therefore I Am - Mary Portas. A romp through the excess of the 90s, a love letter to creativity and a look into luxury retail. What a journey!

The second memoir from Mary Portas, following on from Shop Girl which focused on Mary’s tragic and colourful early life and finishing as she landed a coveted role to head up a creative team at middle class and fairly staid Harvey Nichols. I Shop, Therefore I Am picks the timeline up from Mary’s arrival at Harvey Nichols.

Through sheer will, hardwork and an incredible creative talent, Mary is part of the driving force modernising a traditional department store and making it part of the national conscious. From pitching to Jennifer Saunders that Ab Fab could be filmed in Harvey Nicks (with no idea what the show was about) to opening the first branch store in Leeds.

I’m not a fan of fashion or excess but I loved this book. Mary is a brilliant writer and the narrative is short chapters each a stand alone vignette. From the Ralph Lauren hangers-on (if only they knew what happened in their home wear display) to a memorable trip while pregnant on the Eurostar, this has many laugh out loud moments. It also offers insight into where creativity sits in modern retail (think spreadsheets over risk), the perils of being a working mother and the difficulty of being a woman on a board filled with the boys club. There are plenty of fun name drops and it is thoroughly entertaining.

Having loved Shop Girl, I’m glad to finally read this second part.

Thanks to Canongate and Netgalley for an ARC.

[Amy Mackie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Audiobook read by Mary. Loved her different voices.

[Neive · Rating 5 out of 5]

I would listen to Mary Portas talk about anything but this especially was an absolute joy. I loooooove hearing people talk about their art, where their inspiration comes from and how they bring it to life

[Clare Nestor · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an enjoyable reflection of my early days in London, like walking down memory lane! Interesting and amusing insight into the world of fashion, shop windows and Harvey Nichols, with the fashionistas, models and chefs of the day playing lead roles and some key historic events as context. Whilst light and easy in tone, there are nonetheless key messages about being a woman in business and what it takes to succeed, including all the sacrifices. An entertaining but gritty read!

[Carole Tyrrell · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s Spring 1989 and Mary Portas, aged 28, is about to join the staid, Sloanie filled Havey Nichols as Head of Visual Merchandising and Store Design. She’s come from young, brash Topshop and notices the dead flies in the window display on her way in. She is the first woman in this role and will have a team of 18 under her. There’s only one other woman in management.
And so begins her part in bringing Harvey Nichols up to date, to attract in a younger crowd of shoppers and to change its image completely. In four years time it will become Harvey Nicks and synonymous with a new TV comedy called ‘Absolutely Fabulous’. It’s the ‘90’s with a new spirit of optimism in the air. The first Labour government for 23 years, Cool Britannia, Madchester and bumsters.
In ‘I Shop Therefore I am’ there are 70 short, snapshot chapters of observation and determination by her and her team in trying to do more with less while knowing that their competitor, Harrods, had vastly greater budgets. There’s also having to get ideas through the board who often didn’t understand that great window displays would entice people into the store as well as creating free publicity. She discusses the designers and photographers she worked with, the coup of being the first store to stock Ralph Lauren Home and MAC cosmetics, the award winning windows and campaigns and also the downside. There’s a lot of name dropping as you would expect. Also, the beginnings of a social conscience in fashion and cosmetics with Body Shop and MAC donating the full retail price, excluding VAT, of one of their lipsticks, Viva Glam, to ‘charity partners deeply involved in HIV/AIDS, gender, racial equality and environmental issues since 1994.
‘At the time it was unheard of and demonstrated that independent brands could make a difference.’
The downside was misogyny with rumours about Harrods and the then owner’s ‘private conversations’ with pretty, female staff. There are also comments on working women, childcare and her frustration at having to fight for her displays. The old boys network in top stores was also much to the fore. Not everyone is keen, there were complaints about the Barbie window and also about the publicity of a woman wearing a dog collar for the new branch in Leeds.
I haven’t read Mary’s other memoir, ‘Shopgirl’ but this book contains a brief summary of her childhood as the fourth sibling in a family of five children. She was all set to go to RADA when her mother died suddenly. Then her father remarried and 9 months later he also died. The new widow inherited everything and the children were then left to fend for themselves, relying on other family members. She mentions her creative drive to create something really show stopping that would move the store forward into other markets. She also describes her path into window dressing or Visual merchandising. My first job was as a trainee window dresser so this book had an added fascination especially in the right way to carry a mannequin.
And all the time she’s moving upwards ultimately becoming creative director. There is an acknowledgement of the problems she faced as a working mother with the backup of a nanny and maternity nurse but she doesn’t dwell on it.
The book is gossipy, full of lots of good stories to share and gave a real insight into how a large department store works. Mary’s team support her all the way and together they weather the storm of trends such as Grunge. As she says
‘When grunge hit it was like a curtain had been dawn over the past.’
And also the creation and rise of London Fashion Week which is still going strong.
It was a lively read even though the heady ‘90’s seem further away than ever. However, I would have liked to see photos of some of the windows she’s describing in the text. A really engrossing memoir and I have ‘JFDI’ tacked up over my PC.
My grateful thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for an ARC.

[Adrian · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you, NetGalley and Canongate, for this advanced copy of 'I Shop, Therefore I Am' by Mary Portas, in exchange for an honest review.

While three stars is a far cry from the current batch of five star reviews, I can truly say that my three star rating is a result of letting myself embrace a world that I know nothing about and came out feeling informed and intrigued by what retail represents to Portas and what it could represent when it's come with verve, vision and vitality.

I read Mary Portas' somewhat traumatic Shop Girl when it was released, as I was quite a fan of her shows and loved the cover art. I saw some criticism that the book didn't mention much about British retail and was instead more of a family memoir. This is the yin to the other's yang. Portas has a summary chapter in which she explains the obvious grief in watching her family break off and her need to survive with no familiar background to support her.

So, leaving acting behind, Portas nonchalantly scores her first gig at Topshop, which leads a decade later to Harvey Nichols, a citadel of British department excellence - or was. Portas has to revolutionise the shop windows with her band of merry retail eccentrics. And bit by bit, Harvey Nichols becomes a key player, helped in part by Portas' growing reputation as a woman on a mission to do things her way, away from the establishment, yielding spreadsheets and the old guard insisting that Fiona from Fulham in frills is their target market.

I get a sense of the brittle nature of Portas. She's motivated but quite singular in her vision. However, like any good memoir, she sets the scene for the fear, excitement and need to ride the wave of worldwide trends. As with any memoir, it's de rigueur to mention the birth of New Labour in government, the death of Diana, the names that defined the '90s and the brands that brought about a New Wave of retail. In fashion, she talks about the advent of McQueen, how brands like MAC made inroads in supporting AIDS advocacy, which was consistently taking out retail workers and leaving those who remained scarred by the grief of those who checked out early. It's poignant with these little sections in equal parts affecting and illuminating in how tough these times were to live through.

Naturally, as a non-customer of Harvey Nicks (Ab Fab was, of course, mentioned as a huge shot of illustrious publicity for the hallowed institution), it was fascinating to see how Britain tapped into the go-go '90s./ For that reason, it's well worth a bite of nostalgia. On the other side, what if, like me, you like fashion and the need to have a brand to define you as shallow and uninspired? That's why it's a perfect three for me. At the very least, Portas' memoir invites you to see that having a vision is better than playing it safe. Her innate understanding that women in their 50s, free from parental responsibility and ready to treat themselves with the disposable wealth that comes with career success, in lieu of women in their 30s who may want 'things' but have limitations, is insightful. So, perhaps it's an inspirational book in reminding people that breaking the status quo serves as a reset for those reading to move to the next rung.

Food for thought, perhaps. At the very least, Portas is saying that department stores are curated for the customer - and I'm willing to give them my custom over the faceless internet, any day.

[CPE · Rating 5 out of 5]

I Shop, Therefore I Am by Mary Portas is subtitled The '90s, Harvey Nicks – and Me. You know how you sometimes start reading a book that you don’t want to end? For me, this year, it’s I Shop, Therefore I Am. It has almost seventy very short chapters, some only a page or two, chronicling Mary Portas’s work at the Harvey Nichols store in Knightsbridge.

Portas writes “We need to open our eyes to the impact it can make, the joy it can spark.” Whether one empathises with her statement or not, this explains her life-long passion for retail: why she thinks so carefully about displays, store layouts, goods for sale, etc.. Sometimes Portas gets carried away: she complains that “In most business cultures, creativity is treated as an accessory.” I’d reply, “Up to a point, Lord Copper.” Yes, creative and exciting is good, but if a small business spent twice its annual profits on brilliant window displays, it would be bankrupt. That’s why business people are wary of creativity: they can imagine marketing people getting carried away and spending too much. My evidence? Thomas Heatherwick has not “quite literally changed the way we all live.” Ms Portas, I think you exaggerate. I can assure you, Mr Heatherwick has had no impact upon my life whatsoever.

Although I didn’t buy into her vision, I did really enjoy this book. Portas has a knack for crisp, clear writing and for wonderful anecdotes, such as the one about her assistant, almost completely unclothed in one of the store windows while the blinds are down, “thrusting one of the security guards like she was on stage at Madame Jojo’s.” Some anecdotes are funny; some are poignant, such as the one where Portas wishes her long-dead mother could hold her new grandchild; and some make you think, such as when the board meeting ran on into the evening and out to a bar, with Portas phoning home to apologise that she’ll be late again. Portas recognises that she is privileged, earning a lot of money and thus able to throw money at problems, e.g. hiring a nanny and a maternity nurse; but also recognising that doing this doesn’t necessarily make her happier.

I wholeheartedly recommend this book – it really cheered me up. But, if you dislike swearing, you should be aware that “f-ing” is a freely used adjective.

#IShopThereforeIam #NetGalley

[Verity W · Rating 4 out of 5]

I Shop, Therefore I Am is Mary Portas's second memoir - I haven't read the first, but I think this picks up where the first one ends - with Mary starting a new job in charge of window displays at Harvey Nichols. During her time there (which starts in the late 1980s), it transformed from a department store somewhere mostly patronised by older ladies from the Home Counties and in the shadow of their neighbour down the road Harrods, to a headline making store at the cutting edge of the fashion industry.

I grew up watching Absolutely Fabulous (not quite when if first came out, but not *that* long after that) and part of the joy of reading this is getting to see the impact that that show had on the store. But it's also fascinating to see the mechanics of how the shop worked at a time which (in hindsight) was basically the heyday of the high street. I worked in retail for my first Saturday job was in a clothing store, but the behind the scenes of that was nothing like this - I was at a much lower level but also the clientele was very, very different. I also really liked Mary Portas's writing style and her voice. She balances the day to day of what she was doing with fun gossipy insights into high fashion and celebrity. And she also seems incredibly normal and down to earth with it that it's easy to forget that she was moving in really high powered circles until she suddenly mentions how upset they were when Princess Diana died because they all saw her in the store all the time, or when she gets Naomi Campbell to do her instore fashion show.

This is a really good read that would work whether you remember the time that Mary is talking about or not, but I think you'll get different things out of it depending on whether you remember the time before internet shopping or not! It would also be a great Christmas book for someone who is interested in fashion.

*****Copy from the publisher via NetGalley for review consideration. All opinions are my own.*****

[Kerry · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fascinating fast-flowing book that I found surprisingly engrossing. The surprise is because I’m not really into luxury retail so I thought it’d be interesting from a ‘glimpse into the world of…’ perspective but didn’t expect to be so drawn in. The pull for me was all Mary - her passion for all things fashion and the connections she sees between it and art and the rest of our lives was fascinating to read about. Her success is hard won and she acknowledges both the sacrifices and the privileged position she is now in so that this doesn’t feel like a self-serving memoir in any way.

As you would expect, there are a raft of colourful, eccentric and unique characters in the world of Harvey Nicks in the 90’s and Mary writes about them with an obvious knack for a funny line but her love of all these miscreants and misfits is impossible to miss within the words of her anecdotes. The scrapes that this ragtag bunch get themselves into provide so many laughs and I loved the way they would pull off their ambitious ideas by the skin of their teeth with a raging hangover that needed to be slept off in a cupboard.

This book is a love song to fashion, retail, Harvey Nichols… and I think to Mary herself. The tone is as confident as she always seems on TV but she shows how she has learned and grown over her years working in retail and the path she has taken to get to the person we see today. She also shares what she, and all other women, had to put up with working somewhere like Harvey Nicks in the 90’s from the sexist male leaders and general misogyny in the industry. Again, this isn’t put forward as a woe is me tale, in fact there’s a certain level of acceptance of a toll to be paid, more of a nod and salute to her female peers.

[Marie · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ I first learned about Mary Portas from her BBC series, which I became obsessed with, that aired in 2007, where she documented her efforts to help failing independent boutiques. I was a huge follower of fashion at the time, and I even went through a phase of watching all the famous designers ' catwalk shows, getting to know what would be in fashion throughout the next year. I received a job as a supervisor and was eventually promoted to manager of a well-known high street store, which I loved and stayed for ten years. When I saw this book on Netgalley, I knew I had to read it.

Mary had a wonderful childhood until her mother passed away from a sudden bout of meningitis and encephalitis when Mary was only 16 years old. A few years later, her dad moved in with his new girlfriend and left Mary and her younger brother at home. Her three other siblings had already moved out at this time. When her father died two years later, he left the family home to his new wife, who evicted Mary and Lawrence, leaving them to fend for themselves, and she had to grow up a lot quicker than she had imagined.

After building a very successful career with John Lewis, Topshop and Harrods, she moved to Harry Nicholls, where she transformed this outdated store into a modern, designer fashion outlet. The book outlines her time spent dressing the numerous windows each week to draw customers into the store, and of the team of professionals who worked for her. She regales us with stories of her meetings with many famous designers and models, some of whom she is still friends with today, and those she found to be a bit difficult.

It was interesting to learn about the day-to-day operation of such a high-profile store and the hard work that goes into keeping it one of the best. Targets were a key focus on everyone’s minds, but each department had its own priorities and reaching these targets wasn’t always top of their list. Mary put in so much work to make sure profits were made, sometimes working twelve hours a day, coming home exhausted to her husband.

Mary is a woman whom I admire greatly because of her resilience, her work ethic, her motivation and determination. This was a fascinating read that I thoroughly enjoyed. Thank you to Netgalley and Canongate Books for an ARC of this book. I Shop, Therefore I am was published on October 2nd 2025.

[Gail · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun trip back to the 90s as retail guru Mary Portas shares her memories of Harvey Nichols. When she arrived at the genteel store, fresh from success at Topshop, she found the customers were mainly grande dames who lived locally. The staff were a similar demographic and suspicious of Mary, with her humble beginnings.

Mary's innovative and creative window displays start to attract attention. How about windows filled with the wrecks of iconic American cars, painted grey? Before long they are attracting attention from Vogue and Draper's Record.

Her book is filled with anecdotes and experiences: the first Alexander McQueen show; how the hit comedy Absolutely Fabulous changed the image of "Harvey Nicks", and how she persuaded the store to stock brands like Ralph Lauren Home for the first time in the UK. Not to mention one of the store's most loyal customers, Princess Diana.

My favourite story is about Canadian makeup brand MAC. Mary was keen to get them stocked at Harvey Nichols. The iconic lipstick Russian Red was loved by the young sensation Madonna. Debi, Madonna's makeup artist, knew that with all the voguing that was going on, her Maj would need a lipstick that didn't budge.

As you would expect from "The Queen of Shops", there are pithy observations about misogyny and the old boys network that governed who ran top stores. There's also sadness about losing her parents at an early age but trying to find joy in Christmases with her siblings.

Thanks to NetGalley and Canongate for the advance digital copy.

[Lauren pavey · Rating 4 out of 5]

I shop therefore I am by Mary Portas
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4 out of 5)

“Every purchase is a small story about who we are, who we’ve been, or who we long to be.”

Mary Portas has always been the queen of retail, but this book proves her success did not come easily. Blending sharp cultural commentary with her trademark wit, she takes us on a journey behind the scenes of the intense and crazy world that is retail.

I studied fashion at college and have always had a passion for fashion and dressmaking and I could not help, whilst reading this, to think it may not be as captivating if you do not have that shared interest. Although upon reflection , if you have not got an interest in fashion you probably wouldn’t reach for this in the first place!

I was shocked to hear of Mary’s childhood and the passing of her parents and how it became such a turning point in her life.

I did feel saddened that this book was 80% about the world of Harvey nicks and didn’t go into her work with charity stores , her subsequent collaborations and the way she managed a personal relationship whilst working full time .

I also felt it was too packed with anecdotes at time and needed a little bit more heart although I can understand her reticence to open herself and be vulnerable on the page.

If you’re fascinated by fashion and retail, (in particular 90s fashion) this book will speak to you.

It’s part memoir and part cultural critique and will give you an insight into a world notorious for being closed off.

QOTD: Would you call yourself a shopper or a browser?

[Carlie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley for this ebook in exchange for an honest review.

Was soooo excited for this and it started out so strong. I love that the introduction started out immediately mentioning AbFab, with Jennifer Saunders and Joanna Lumley making a surprise appearance in the beginning of the book that I did not expect but really appreciated, starting it off just right. This was a great start and I couldn’t wait for more.

And the rest truly lived up to my expectations of it and more! A much needed throw back to the late 80s, early 90s, and then late 90s’ world of fashion in the UK, more specifically the legendary Harvey Nichols in London. Of course, back then it was not the household name it is now. Thanks to Mary Portas, however, it evolved and became what it is today.

The author is a strong, confident woman that you instantly can’t help but admire and respect.

The book is fast paced, just as I imagine the lifestyle is,
and was written in a style so immersive and beautiful I couldn’t get enough. The chapters are short, each one consisting of a little story. I don’t want to give too much away but this was probably my favorite book of the year. Mary Portas was and continues to be a force to be reckoned with in the creative world, with brilliant, innovative ideas that revolutionised Harvey Nichols and the fashion industry.

Reading about her rise through the ranks in a male dominated world that cares more about money than creativity, and be able to make a name for herself was really inspiring.

[Books By Your Bedside · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley and Canongate for the advanced copy of this title in return for an honest review.

I've always been a bit fascinated by Mary Portas, she just seemed so cool and looked to have the perfect jobs, and I've been keeping my eye out for this book ever since it was first announced.

There are a lot of chapters, nearly 70, which means they're short, which I loved. I love a short chapter.

She's been really honest about a lot of difficult things like losing your parents, new job worries, and the never-ending sorrow of grief.

I understand window dressing and it's importance as someone who used to work in retail, but I'd never given it much thought as to how it could majorly impact the success of a shop.

There weren't any photos in my early digital copy, but it definitely needs some - hopefully they will be in the finished copy, because she refers to so many of the window displays and clothes but it's hard to keep googling trying to find what she's referring to, so hopefully they will appear in the published copy.

I mean, if you're into fashion or merchandising then you will love this. I can't say if you will if you're not into that. I'm somewhere in between. I'm into it but I'm not a slave to it, I find it interesting. And I don't think you have to be obsessive about it to enjoy this book. I think you can appreciate Mary's way of getting her story across without having to have any prior knowledge of brands or shops etc.

I read it in a day, it was absorbing and I really enjoyed it and would definitely recommend it.

[Tracy Cross · Rating 4 out of 5]

I Shop, Therefore I Am, The 90s, Harvey Nicks and Me by Mary Portas ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I have been a huge fan of Mary Portas since first seeing her on screen with Mary Queen of Shops, then onto Mary Queen of the Charity Shop which I’m sure is what gave me my love of charity shops and which encouraged me to volunteer in some myself. Then onto Mary’s Bottom line which brought me to my first trip to Libertys to buy my own pair of knickers and checking who had made them IYKYK how.

So when I had the chance to read her new book ahead of publication about her time at Harvey Nichols I couldn’t wait to start it.

I loved every minute of the book and every story there was to hear about her time in the store. Having worked in retail for ten years there were so many times I couldn’t relate throughout, especially ‘when in doubt walk the shop floor’. Mary never held back on her thoughts and feelings of the times which was so refreshing.

Without giving away spoilers I loved the story between Mary, Harvey Nichols and Absolutely Fabulous having never known the history behind the show and I’m sure to be watching the show from season 1 soon.

I have also gone on to Goggle the windows Mary described in the book as having read the stories behind them I just wanted to be part of the moment.

A wonderful read for anyone which you can read from 2nd October 2025

One thing I will also add is I would love to hear about Mary’s Story after Harvey Nicks so another book would be most welcome!

[Shonaigh · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you, NetGalley and Canongate, for providing an advanced copy of 'I Shop, Therefore I Am' by Mary Portas. Having been a shop worker, most fondly in Crabtree and Evelyn I was very happy to read this. It brought back memories of that time but more so in terms of key events/television and so on that Portas references. It’s a different kind of book to my usual non-fiction go to’s. Mary Portas herself was a big part in my interest in reading this, as I enjoy her shows, articles and interviews.

Overall this was a very insightful and interesting read, I thoroughly enjoyed learning more about Mary Portas as a person, how she operates in her professional life and all involved in revolutionising a then struggling brand Harvey Nicks to be the trendy brand it is today.

It was well written, with wit and humour. The style was highly readable; snappy and well paced, I really appreciated the short chapters. It was also an immersive read, capturing life in the fashion world and late 80’s and 90’s Britain. Numerous cultural references further captured the time. An interest in fashion is not essential for reading, however it really would be adored by those who do. It would make a perfect gift I believe, a very special book by a phenomenally talented, inspiring woman.

[Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mary Portas has certainly had an interesting ~ if not absolutely fabulous ~ life. This book focuses on the 1990’s and her years at Harvey Nichols. Ms Portas is honest and comes across as quite authentic. Her reactions to her team and they to her is well told. They weren’t sure about this upstart girl and she had a touch of imposter syndrome. But quickly Ms Portas showed them that her ideas were gold and the team created memorable window displays and the store became fashionable.

The 1990’s and the misogyny is well captured and also the difficulty of being a mother and returning to work trying to be taken seriously.

This is frenetic and has occasional name drops but it’s more about the era and the impact one woman can have. It’s also very moving, especially when describing the death of Princess Diana, who was a customer. The logistics and organisation skills involved in the launch of the new Harvey Nicks ‘up north’ is also well told.

Recommended to anyone interested in retail or fashion from that era. Or anyone in London. Or anyone really, it’s an entertaining book.

I was given a copy by NetGalley

[Annalisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve been a fan of Mary Portas since she first burst onto our TV screens, and I Shop Therefore I Am is everything you’d hope it would be: sharp, honest, and utterly absorbing. With her straight-talking business brain and deeply personable voice, Mary doesn’t just talk retail, she talks people.

I absolutely devoured this book in just a few days (and that was only because work kept getting in the way). From her early creative instincts to her formative and fearless years at Harvey Nichols, it’s a joy to hear how her ideas were shaped, challenged, and brought to life. You can feel the energy of those moments — the risks, the ambition, the sheer belief in creativity as a commercial force.

What I loved most is that unmistakable Mary Portas voice running through every page. I read the entire book with her voice in my ear bold, passionate, and unafraid to say what matters. At its heart, this book is a reminder that art, creativity, and humanity should sit at the very centre of every business. When they do, commerce becomes something far more meaningful.

A great read, inspiring and intelligent just like Mary herself.

[Vicuña · Rating 5 out of 5]

I know little about fashion, I’m not particularly interested in clothes, but I do like a good autobiography and this book hits that spot. I’m aware of Mary Portas from a couple of tv shows I watched some years ago when she tried to turn around ailing business. I found her quite intriguing and this title doesn’t disappoint. She writes with vigour and enthusiasm. I would imagine that she’s quite a powerhouse and probably somewhat intimidating for those who have to work alongside her. But she’s a visionary and prepared to take chances and this book documents her influence over an ailing Harvey Nicks. I mainly enjoyed it as an informed romp through the 1990s and its insight into world that’s alien to me. It’s fascinating and filled with anecdotes about ‘names’ that give it colour and life. I find her writing style very easy to read. She’s a sharp and candid observer. In a workd dominated by men, she’s mad3 her mark and I admire her for that. This is a lively read and one I enjoyed in a couple of sittings.
My thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for a review copy.

[Felicity Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely fascinating behind the scenes look at the creative and intelligent life of Mary Portas as a window dresser in the 1990’s at Harvey Nichols.
The journey of Mary’s life in retail in the 80’s and 90’s is brilliantly documented with some fabulous characters and interesting and hilarious anecdotes.
Amazing to read about the work and creativity that goes into making magnificent window displays that so many have loved over the years. In a time when there was a lot more money in retail and the challenges were often with the establishment. Retail is certainly very different now.
Slightly nostalgic and hugely informative. Mary has a sharp wit and intuition, and was a true master of her craft. Easy and accessible reading.
Really enjoyed reading this book, a great behind the scenes view of an alternative side to retail that most people would not even understand existed!
Thanks to NetGalley and Canongate books for the early read.

[Martin Southard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reading Mary Portas’s memoir was like stepping straight back into my own memories of London in the mid to late nineties. The energy, the music, the boldness of the fashion world — it all came flooding back. She captures that era brilliantly, not just through her daring window displays at Harvey Nichols but in the way she evokes the cultural buzz of the time. The chapters are short and punchy, easy to race through, yet filled with sharp observation and wit. What impressed me most was her ability to mix the glamour of high fashion with the more personal, moving aspects of her life, particularly the way loss shaped her drive. I may not be obsessed with clothes, but I found her fearless creativity and determination to push boundaries genuinely inspiring. For anyone who remembers that decade fondly, this is a vibrant and nostalgic read that feels completely alive.

Many thanks to Canongate Books and NetGalley for providing this advanced copy

[Sheena · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fun romp around the glamourous and quite frankly obscene wealth of the creatives, designers, buyers and patrons of Harvey Nichols department store in London. Don't worry we are all, including the author, much more mindful these days or are we? I knew of Mary Portas from her TV shows but this was the beginning of her career journey when she developed ideas for the windows, the quirkier the better. I thought it an amazing achievement to get onto the board at the store as a such a young female. In her case what doesn't kill you makes you stronger from a tough start she became a tough woman. For a while she was be completely career driven but then she become a mother which in effect seemed to throw her off kilter. Realising she needed to be her own boss she set up her own business. They were a few discrepancies in the text and one typo which annoyed me and I should think Mary too as I feel she would be a perfectionist.

[Jenny · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fascinating insight into the author’s life and work, although some of the anecdotes were so short I would have loved to read a little more about them.
For those of us who remember that era, it was a great trip down memory lane. I found the Ab Fab parts both interesting and hilarious.
I did feel it was a bit of a shame that the author brought so much politics into it, and that did affect my enjoyment. Also the epilogue - perhaps it is information she wishes to pass on, but I’m not sure that all readers will want to feel quite so ‘lectured’ as I did. It reminded me of the nature programmes which now invariably have a rather woke message at the end - Ms Portas’ views are perfectly valid, I just wish I had known beforehand to stop reading before that, when it felt on a high.

[Rona · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to Netgalley and the Publisher for the ARC.
I absolutely loved this book and sped through it.
It was interesting to see how Mary worked her way up in the fashion world.
She makes it colourful and exciting while also showing the hard work that goes into
window displays. She shows the background work that goes on although the world
looks glamorous attending fashion shows and meeting the fashion glitterati.
I also liked her descriptions of the team members and her colleagues and the relationships she had with them.
Mary also gave glimpses into her home life and how hard it was going back to work
after having children and trying to be taken seriously. It was maybe and still is a man’s
world in fashion.
This is a must for anyone interested in the world of fashion.

[Zoey Curato · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've loved Mary Portas since the "Mary Queen of Shops" TV shows aired and didn't really know much about her life so I was really happy to be accepted to read this ARC.

One thing I love in a book is short chapters and these are perfect - snappy, concise and super easy to pick up and put down. There are so many interesting stories of life behind the scenes of a department store as well as Marys personal life. Honestly some autobiographies can be very boring; especially if you only know the celebrity for one thing, say a TV show, then their early years may not be that interesting to you and you just want to skip to the celebrity gossip! In Marys book though every chapters is interesting, funny, informative. I was just so surprised at what a life she has lived, especially after a hard start in life losing both her parents.

This has to be one of my surprise reads of the year so far, a really good read i would recommend to all.

[Wendy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mary Portas has written a memoir, set in the late 80's early 90's, during her time at Top Shop and then moving onto

Harvey Nichols. 

It's a quick read, short chapters, full of anecdotes and experiences. 


I was in my 20's during this era,  interested in fashion and very aware of the author, the way it is written makes it very easy to remember and for those not in my age group, she uses just the right amount of major real life events to set the scene.


Mary doesn't have an easy time at work, battling with the establishment to prove that change, through art and creativity, can be enlightening!  


Thank you to Net Galley for my ARC in return for an honest review.

[Hayley Cassells · Rating 4 out of 5]

I Shop Therefore I Am is such a fun peek behind the curtain of Mary Portas’ life during her iconic Harvey Nichols era. The whole memoir feels like Mary is sitting across from you at dinner, glass of wine in hand, spilling the juiciest behind the scenes stories with total charm.

She brings every character vividly to life - you instantly know who they are, what they’re like, and why they mattered in her journey. Her energy practically bounces off the page, especially when she dives into her wild creative visions. The window displays and campaigns she dreamed up are so bold and brilliant that I found myself immediately googling images just to see how they looked in real life.

[Helen · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a fantastic look at the private and professional life of one of the most recognizable people in retail.
Mary has built her own empire of style and initiative helping to position Harvey Nichols in to the world renowned brand that it is today
Even though she was at the helm of the windows and marketing she still gives accolades and credit to the team around her.
I really enjoyed this book and felt that I had a conversation with a good friend and catch up as we hadn't been in touch for a while.
Enjoy I did

[Adam · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve been a fan of Mary Portas every since Mary Queen of Shops premiered on BBC2 almost twenty years ago and reading her new memoir, I Shop, Therefore I Am, reminded me of why she’s such a compelling modern voice. Chronicling both her tenure at Harvey Nichols and the 90s fashion industry more general, it’s a fizzy and insightful story full of ribald characters and huge cultural moments that informed everyone’s lives (Thatcher, Diana, MAC lipstick). It’s a really fun read for people who love a fashion memoir, which is very much me.

Mary’s signature punchy delivery and ambitious vision for retail is present throughout the book, but it’s also tempered with the realities of being a young woman in a very different corporate environment to today and her evident love for fashion, art and philosophy. It’s also a delight to see that Mary has never shied away from giving as good as she’s gotten, up to squaring up to the Queen’s royal dresser.

Mary is best known for making the windows of Harvey Nicks news in their own right and while the book dedicates a lot of real estate to how her and her team achieved this, there’s aren’t any photos of them, which is a shame. The photos of windows I was able to find on Google are amazing and I’ve included some photos of her final display in the post.