Out & About in London: Around Town
Shop
Eclectic lifestyle store. It may be small, but it certainly packs a punch.
Labels stocked include Boudicca, Eley Kishimoto and Roksandra Illinic, but it is the young graduate offering that really puts B store at the forefront of directional design.
24a Savile Row, W1 Tel: 020 7734 6846
Must see: Silke Hoffman: oversized shoulder padded knitwear, Romina Karina: Cashmere all in one braced trouser suit, Alex Foxton: Naval coat with magnetic detail and Ehud Joseph: Reworked classic trench
Stocks distinctive designs by fashion grads and up & coming labels for men and women in a win-win situation - designers get to promote their work in a retail environment while Joe Public gets the chance to pick up something completely original. Over 100 of the best recent graduates from Central Saint Martins, RCA, Goldsmith etc are currently participating
2 Newburgh Street, W1 Tel: 020 7437 7338
Pick up: An in-house brand magpie mirror and swallow covered pink wallpaper by the Magnificent Chatwin Brothers.
Realising how much their accessories are adored, the Veneta team have put their money where there mouth is and given us fashion furniture at its best, made in super soft leather and skins. Made to be totally adaptable and easy to move, these will have you going gaga.
33 Sloane Street, SW1 Tel: 020 7838 9394
Hot piece of the season:
The Ebano dining table has to be the most luxurious way to eat your dinner, like ever.
The original and best boutique run by the grand dame Mrs B and stocking class acts from Diane Von Furstenberg to the acclaimed silhouette definers Marios Schwab and Roksanda Ilincic.
23-27 South Molton Street, K 5RD Tel: 020 7514 0000
Hot pieces of season: Acne don’t just do jeans, their apron front dress and prim parka’s are hot.
Directional boutique. A showcase for up-and-coming talent as well as well known
designers. The pieces are carefully selected- designers know they're on the way
up if they're stocked here. Labels include Jonathan Saunders, Azzedine Alaia
and Goat.
38-39 South Molton street, W1 Tel: 020 7514 0063
Hot pieces of season: Ashish’s golden sequin dress, is in fact like gold dust, Acne balloon sleeve red shirts.
Not only are the curators of the On|Off Shop, but their own one-off boutique stocks Vanessa Bruno, Sonia Rykiel and hard to find Philip Lim 3.1 in the Hampstead hills.
74 Heath Street, Hampstead, NW3 1DN Tel: 020 7435 9377
Must have brand: New to the UK, LA brand 12th Street by Cynthia Vincent
A tiny boutique with a unique array of girlie the focus is on up and coming designers including Billali, Ivana Helsinki and Mine, alongside cult brands such as Citizens of Humanity.
9 Newburgh Street, Soho Tel: 020 7287 8145
Must have: Dispensary’s own-label halter-neck wrap dress, versatile with a bustle and in two materials and a million colours and can be made to order. The dress of the season.
This incredible six-story homage to avant-garde style is anything but just a shop. Doubling up as an inspirational art gallery, furniture display and lifestyle store for the Comme des Garcons generation. One offs from Hedi Slimane and collaborations with Alber Albaz make this the biggest fashion destination since Topshop. Katie Grand’s POP shop takes residency here this fashion week.
17-18 Dover Street, W1 Tel: 020 7518 0680
Go see: The new basement space redesigned by Garcons maestro Rei Kawakubo
Top notch department store. It's easy to navigate your way around, the designer floor stocks good newbie's and the food floor has a gourmet selection. The artistic window displays alone warrant a visit.
109-125 Knightsbridge SW1 Tel:020 7235 5000
Must have brand: The eagerly awaited McQ line, little sister to Alexander McQueen’s luxury mainline, but with no less edge
Mixes an eclectic range of up and coming and established designers with vintage and a smattering of big brand brashness from the likes of Gucci and Dior.
59 Blandford Street, W1U 7HP Tel: 020 7935 7109
Must have: Twisted Thrift Underwear glorifies curves in a 1950’s sexy housewife kind of way
Koh Samui
Designer boutique. This well established boutique favours well-known brands such as Matthew Williamson, Balenciaga, Chloe and Marc Jacobs, and is the first port of call for must have’s of the season, as the personal assistants seem to know a way around every waiting list.
65-67 Monmouth Street, Covent Garden WC2 Tel: 020 7240 4280
Must have: New brand collaboration Lou Lou & Law’s (Ann-Louise Roswald and illustrator Natasha Law) quirky knits adorned with birds.
Another reason to want to move to Marylebone. This new boutique is just on the right side of girliness, with international brands from Bensimon to hotly tipped Ozzie Lee Matthews and an undercurrent of naughtiness with SPANK lingerie.
74 Marylebone Lane ,W1U 2PW Tel: 020 7486 7855
Must have: LA brand Mike & Chris’s inky leather shrunken jacket
A tiny shop stocking avant-garde labels such as Marjan Pejoski, Filth, Sally
Turner, Viktor & Rolf and Cosmic Wonder, for the street wear aficionado.
57 Greek Street, W1 Tel: 020 7434 1316
Must have: New brands Casette Playa (much loved by Dazed and iD) and Material Boy (Get: Daddly long arms sweat) are hot, but in-house label KTZ has a Halloween theme crossed with Chanel quilting inspiration.
Townhouse-style department store. Select pieces from designer collections
including McQueen, Pringle, Vivienne Westwood and Blaak. The lingerie floor is
a highlight, stocking the fashionista's favourite knickers brand, State of
Undress, as well as Myla and Damaris.
214-220 Regent street, W1 Tel: 020 7734 1234
Hot piece of season: 18th Amendment Lolla Brigida (high waisted slim leg sex-on-a stick jeans)
Flagship store for this highly acclaimed conceptual designer. Expect his usual
intelligent cuts and luxe fabrics. Margeila is a designer’s designer, who’s actually wearable.
1-9 Bruton Place, W1 Tel: 020 7629 2682
Must have: Tailored trench coats and blazers
Howell's simple and luxurious designs- from crisp tailored slim cut jackets, to mannish trousers- are here in her gallery shop. Everything is supremely wearable and elegantly understated.
34 Wigmore Street, W1, Tel: 020 7009 9000
Must have: The new ‘Favourite Shirt’ collection of Howell’s infamous white shirts from archive designs going back 25 years.
His first stand-alone boutique. Home to beautiful bohemian wares, spangly red carpet frocks, and sweet-scented homewares, this is a fitting place for Le Williamson to show his stuff. 28 Bruton St, W1 Tel: 020 7629 6200
Must have: Finally some great classics. Beautiful sailor boy wide-leg trousers in paintbox navy and beige.
Everything here is individual, customized or vintage, making it entirely different from the next.
30 Ledbury Road, W11 2AB Tel: 020 7221 5300.
Must have: Kind of ruins the point, but the retro wallpaper range is fabulous
This shop is a platform for Paul Smith to show off his fabulously eclectic taste. Accrued by the Smithey on his travels, expect anything from boom boxes to mis-matched furniture and objects d’art art ; this truly is the ultimate in designer junk shop chic.
9 Albemarle Street, W1 Tel: 020 7493 4565
Look out for: Antique armoires, mirrors and jewellery boxes
Pineal Eye
Here you’ll find cutting edge, international and British labels including Bernard Wilhelm, Jessica Ogden and Rive Gauche.
49 Broadwick Street, W1 Tel: 020 7434 2567
Must buy: For guys: Kris Van Assche grey tweed duffel coat
For gals: An incredible fitted black Givenchy jacket with 3-d detailing
Handmade feminine shoes carefully crafted from the best materials. Rupert is the shoe man of choice for Margaret Howell and Jean Muir’s own collections.
33 Bruton Place, W1
Must have: Claret patent Elva heels are a bit bondage a bit vintage
The new Designer Room at Selfridges stocks all your designer faves, as well as lesser knowns, all on one floor. This is shopping made easy.
400 Oxford Street, W1 Tel: 0870 837 7377
Must have: black strapless cocktail dress by Lanvin
Queen of colour and sparkle, this season its black all the way. The collection remains fun, of course, but is oh so elegant.
27-29 Brook Street, W1 Tel: 020 7493 5255
Hot piece of the season: The white long sleeved jumpsuit
The rock and roll duo behind Start stock the best of the crop of up and coming designers alongside old faves like Miu Miu and Helmut Lang. This is a very well curated shop.
42-44 Rivington Street, EC2A 3BN Tel: 020 7729 3334
Must have: Charles Anastase metallic baby doll dress with peacetime collar
Flagship store. From the outside it says rock and roll, but once inside, flowing
chiffons and elegant displays give the shop a lighter touch. Expect all the usuals, and no leather, of course.
30, Bruton St, W1 Tel: 020 7518 3100
Must have: Everything comes in a palette of grey, but the chunky sweater dress is the shape of the season.
Fun, unpretentious shop that sells luxurious sportswear and eclectic contemporary designers, in a kookily illustrated store. A refreshingly British bias in labels from Silas, AngloMania, Tonite to global brands Nuala and Cacharel attract muso types Lauren Laverne and Beth Orton.
4 Brewer Street, Soho, Tel: 020 7437 1259
Must have: New stockists for APC’s classic with a twist designs. This season it’s the black v-neck jumper with a lurex shine.
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