There are two new faces at Highcross Leicester that, post recce, we're rather pleased about. We say two: they're actually in the same, smart-looking unit, but they have different names and they're divided by a wall and a glass cabinet showcasing the latest looks.

On the left, with matt black walls and (and a trio of tyres), you'll find men's fashion brand Jack & Jones.

On the right, with biscuit walls (and no tyres), is women's fashion brand Vero Moda.

The two brands are owned by a Danish company – so it's not too surprising their wares reminded us of that other Scandinavian high street fashion powerhouse, H&M (which is Swedish).

Vero Moda, ladies, offers clothing that we think forms a tempting option for those of us who like H&M's style, are too old to wear most of the items in its frequently nutsy teen range, but are looking for something a little more challenging than its grown-up collection.

Vero Moda's palette is currently – broadly – wearable milk chocolate, coffee, soft aqua, mauve and purple, and most of the shapes won't give your granny nightmares.

But there are more than enough quirkily-angled necklines, innovative sleeve settings and edgy embellishments to keep fashion fans happy.

It's the sort of shop in which you can put together a look that's fashionable but pretty and conservative, or up-to-the-minute, or one that's edgy and individual – the sort of outfit you see pale Europeans wearing in paparazzi shots in expensive fashion mags. Or a combination of all three.

The Jack & Jones look is relaxed – jeans, hoodies, casual shirts and T-shirts, plus belts, undies and the like. And it doesn't scream "label! label!", which we're pleased about.

The quality is good and the prices are reasonable. Not Primark pennies – not high-end high street megabucks, simply the sort of money you'd expect to pay before those cheap-as-chips shops made us forget how much things cost.

And we got a warm smile and a "Hello" from a member of staff when we visited incognito, which is just the way it should be.

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Jack & Jones and Vero Moda are on the ground floor of Highcross Leicester, near Topshop.