SHOP LONDON

Shop London - Luxury Travel Magazine

A British shopping expedition

By: Jane Gifford, Issue 44 – Spring 2010

(London)

JANE GIFFORD SETS OFF ON A LONDON SHOPPING SPREE TO TAKE IN THE LATEST IN BRITISH DESIGN.

From a pretty banquette in The Promenade, a restaurant that runs the length of London’s Dorchester Hotel, I contemplated the few remaining crumbs of the mouth-wateringly delicious scone, crustless cucumber sandwich and lemon tartlet that I’d just eaten and decided that all the pleasures – food, tea, service and atmosphere - of this afternoon tea were, in a word, inimitable. It had been some time since I’d visited London, my home for several years in the distant past, and I was thoroughly enjoying experiencing a new era of British culture, style and rituals such as afternoon tea in their place of origin rather than in a globally branded offshoot somewhere else.

The skies were their legendary faded grey for the duration of my stay, but there was nothing faded about The Dorchester, an iconic hotel with a storied past, perfectly located in Mayfair overlooking Hyde Park and within walking distance to Knightsbridge and the West End, and my recommendation for anyone seeking a luxurious and authentic, but thoroughly modern day, British experience. My room was decorated to comfortable perfection in a classic British style which inspired me to set out on foot without delay and explore some of London’s nearby iconic and favourite shops, known for showcasing the nation’s finest in style and design.

With the sumptuous furnishings of my Dorchester room in mind, I stopped by the headquarters - since the 1930s - of Colefax & Fowler and while the company’s wallpapers and fabrics are readily available across the globe, the inspiration that can be gleaned by actually setting foot inside the 18th century townhouse showrooms and antiques shop is most definitely not. At Liberty, a more than a century and a quarter-old emporium that has weathered its share of retail woes, I browsed through a well-edited selection of interesting local and international fashion and accessories, home wares, wallpapers and fabrics, artworks, as well as all sorts of Liberty of London print items, from vintage and new fabrics and mini-suitcases to shirts and pencils. Retro dresses in Liberty-inspired floral prints, designed in collaboration with current darling of the British fashion scene, Erdem, caught my eye and, at the time of my visit, there was much excitement in the air about the opening of a temporary (from September to December 2010 only) World of Manolo Blahnik store-within-store featuring an exclusive collection of shoes, scarves and fabrics designed in collaboration with this celebrated shoe designer. Burberry’s giant flagship store is around the corner, where several items from chief creative officer Christopher Bailey’s impeccable and totally modern fashion and accessories collections that I’d never seen before were hard to resist.

Sartorially-speaking, British fashion stars Vivienne Westwood, Stella McCartney, John Richmond and Alexander McQueen’s flagships in this locale are not to be missed and neither is the shop of saucy lingerie expert Agent Provocateur. I stumbled upon cutting-edge jewellery designer Solange Azagury-Partridge’s shop, a wildly-theatrical two-storey jewellery box, before finally making a choice from the desirable and timeless handbags in Mulberry and Anya Hindmarch (who also offers a bespoke service) an impossibly difficult task. In Smythson’s window I spied a bounty of colourful stationery accoutrements guaranteed to entice even the most dedicated emailer to pick up a pen more often. Aspreys presented further proof that some British establishments of a certain age figure out how to move with the times while preserving their original character, circa 1847 in the case of this historic purveyor of handcrafted jewellery, timepieces, leather goods and all sorts of gift items. No too far away, Paul Smith’s string of Floral Street Covent Garden shops are home to signature stripes and clothing for men and women, and nearby Albermarle Street is the location of his wonderfully eclectic furniture, objects and curiosities shop. This famed fashion designer has shops dotted in all London’s fashion hotspots, and has listed Mint, an uber-stylish interior design shop in the heart of the Brompton Design District, as a favoured source for ideas and objects. So, I follow this British style guru’s lead and taxi there, where creatively-curated displays of well-designed furniture and objects from far and wide immediately prompt planning for an interior overhaul back home. From there I stroll, admiring the sartorial choices of a group of young locals ahead of me, over to Harvey Nichols, the high-end fashion department store in Knightsbridge, and where I wind my way up to the fifth floor and contemplate a myriad ideas over a pot of delicious tea in a popular eatery (the bar and restaurants all remain open after hours). Here, I’m also tempted by teacups, aprons and distinctly branded Harvey Nichols food items featuring black and white photographic imagery. Down the street at Sloane Square, a perfectly prim twin-set is scored at knitwear specialist and not the least bit dowdy Pringle of Scotland. And, finally, swinging by Philip Treacy in Belgravia, the master milliner of fabulously eccentric headgear that, I note to myself, really wouldn’t appear out of place on anyone anywhere in London, fittingly tops off my best of British shopping expedition.

STAY:

THE DORCHESTER PARK LANE LONDON W1

www.thedorchester.com

An iconic London luxury hotel, with spacious rooms and world-class dining, located in Mayfair overlooking Hyde Park and near Knightsbridge and Bond Street shopping, West End theatres and attractions such as Trafalgar Square, Buckingham Palace and the National Gallery.
RECOMMENDED ROOMS: The glamorous Harlequin Roof Suite (from A$12,700 plus VAT for two bedrooms for one night) and any room overlooking Hyde Park. (Standard rooms from A$445 plus VAT.)

GETTING THERE: LONDON

British Airways operates two flights per day from Sydney to London, departing Sydney late afternoon and arriving at Heathrow Terminal 3 early in the following morning, one via Bangkok and one via Singapore. To fly Club World Sydney to London via Bangkok return is from A$8,413.

WHEN TO GO:

No matter when you go, there’s plenty to do and see in London. Expect gloomy weather all year round, but that’s all part of London’s charm. Christmas is a great time to visit for the beautiful street lights and the famous post-Christmas sales.

WHERE TO SHOP

COLEFAX & FOWLER
39 Brook Street, London W1

www.colefax.com

LIBERTY
Great Marlborough Street, London W1

www.liberty.co.uk

BURBERRY
Regent Street, London W1

www.burberry.com

VIVIENNE WESTWOOD
44 Conduit Street, London W1

www.viviennewestwood.com

STELLA MCCARTNEY
30 Bruton Street, London W1

www.stellamccartney.com

JOHN RICHMOND
54 Conduit Street, London W1