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Showing 12 posts tagged shopping
Sponsored Post // Doubletree Tower of London // Hilton
This is a sponsored post for The Hilton group who are expanding their horizons and have recently welcomed 8 former Mint Hotels into the Hilton family. These include two hotels in London that were formerly part of the DoubleTree group, one in Westminster and the other right beside the Tower of London. Both of which places are actually pretty quiet at the weekends but really close to some great areas of London, be it Pimlico or the East End. The Tower of London Hotel, ignoring the beautiful tourist laden monolith opposite for now, it’s just on the cusp of the City. Which as we know is essentially dead at weekends. So the hotel is perfect calm amongst the storm of London, yet has this view from it’s restaurant.
Another thing is it really isn’t that far from Shoreditch, and without a doubt some of the coolest shops in the whole of London. Visitors to London ignore (well not totally) the tube map for a second, I may sound mad but I know what I’m talking about. You can either attack this, (oh and make no bones about it a serious shopping trip of a weekend to Shoreditch is essentially a military campaign) one of two ways.
1) You can leave your room, head straight to the DLR, go one stop to Shadwell than straight to Shoreditch High St. There Boxpark, Hostem, A Child of Jago, Start Boutique and more of Londons best kept secret boutiques await. Once you’ve hit them head down Brick Lane for a salt beef bagel (available night or day!), followed by some great vintage shops including Rokit. Ending your trip with one of the best curries in the UK, before heading back the hotel.
or
2) Do that in reverse! It depends on how happy you are to carry your shopping all day?
While you’re around Brick Lane, you may also want to check out Spitalfields Market, which has some great vintage stores and men’s tailoring as well as quirky boutiques. All of this within not more than a 15-20 min stroll through the City.
Oh and having being sent the pics of both hotels refurb I want to eat here one night. It’s the Sky Lounge of the Westminster hotel right by Tate Britain. The view is gorge!
This is a Sponsored Post
Hostem // Shop Visit // Shoreditch
I’d love to proclaim Hostem as some form of diamond in the rough. After all it is slap in the middle of Shoreditch. Shoreditch being what it is is chock full of new and exciting stores. It is the homeland of the boutique shop, a fact that has become a touch of poisoned chalice. But the trouble with hipsters, is not surprisingly their belief that being a dickhead is cool, but more for me that well they are cool. They do have good taste and a great eye for detail and the new. I may even be on the edge of the hipster world, what with my skinny jeans, shrunken jackets and a desperate need to hear new bands (as well as firmly established pop divas I may add).
So with stiff competition from firm favourites A Child of the Jago and Start within minutes walk, does the relative newcomer Hostem hold its own? Focusing on unusual artisan and directional designers, as well as unique collaborations you can be sure to find something no one else will have. The shop is currently expanding from what is three retail areas, the Essential, the ‘Dark Room’ and the Third Room. In just a few weeks renovations will be complete for the ‘Chalk Room’, though the ‘Third Room’ is going to take a little longer.
If you get there quickly you should be able to see the Alice Waese x Hostem collaboration jackets and shoes. The shoes were yet to arrive but if the jacket below is anything to go by they will be amazing. Though the jackets are already flying out so you need to act fast.
Championing and hunting out the Artisan as well as the more directional designers is the core value of this shop. So you’ll see brands available barely anywhere else in London and the UK. They guys behind the store have taken the time to work with designers building great relationships. This is by far the strengths of the boutique. Sure not everyone can afford the Parabellum bag at £1,800 but there is something in the store for nearly everyone. The bag in question had me practically frothing at the mouth.
In February when the Third Room reopens the brand Arts & Science will take over and essentially have free reign to display their work. De Rien, originally from Spitalfields vintage market also have an exclusive collection. So exclusive in fact the jackets are numbered 2 of 5 was the last one left, but I was assured new designs were on their way. De Rien may have originated in vintage but are embracing the new QR codes take you to the brands website and tell you the story of your garment. It’s this mix of modern and artisan that makes Hostem unique in my eyes.
The list of brands available was fantastic from one’s you may never have heard of to ones more well known but equally forward such as Demeulemeester, and Rik Owens. Adam Kimmel and Casely-Hayford also featured, but perhaps the biggest surprise to me was Visvim. Back in August when I interviewed Nick Wooster, he mentioned this brand. New to me I did a bit of hunting around, but ‘til now I’d not actually seen the clothes themselves. I can only report back positives. I mean who am I to argue with Nick? Well the gentleman he is, he’d quite happily listen to new ideas and allow me to disagree. Though I have no desire to, whilst I’m not yet daring/ comfortable in my own skin to rock a camo tailored jacket, I know good design when I see it.
There’s more to this store than meets the eye with trinkets, snuff and an upcoming magazing published by Hostem themselves. If you need an example as to why I think this store will go from strength to strength its this magazine. It’s about soo much more than just clothes available in store, but also art, music, design and everything else that makes up the Hostem lifestyle. Given a different mans name with each publication you can see how it’s developing and evolving. Much like the store. Check out the magazine online at www.sebastianmagazine.com
As you’ve guessed by now I’m a fan and can’t wait for the opening of the Chalk Room. But I strongly urge you not to just take my word for it. Leave the safety of your regular shopping haunts. Grab a coffee and hit Redchurch St. Spoil yourself with people that genuinely care about the product, the designers and the even more weirdly in this day and age….you, the customer. As ever if you can’t make it to London you should definitely check out the stores online presence.
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Really H&M are upping their game! This look and several others from Autumn/Winter 2010 that I’ve seen are looking really good. This summer I’m tempted by some great putty coloured tailored shorts. I’ve not bought anything from them in so long, quality and repetition where issues for me. But this and the really nice Regent St store are bringing me back on board. Also £15 for a pair of great shorts you cant complain can you?
This wonderful outfit for H&M’s Fall 2010 line is awesome! The color scheme is very neutral. The pashmina scarf has a beautiful contrast to the rest of the outfit. Don’t forget those specs and boots!
Brussels
So its Friday, and I’ve been pretty healthy all week, I’ve even been drinking plenty of water (1.5 litres today just like that irritating volvic advert says I should, and its only just lunch! I rock!) and been having healthy lunches etc etc. Honestly I’ve been a paragon of virtue when it comes to food this week. I’m even including the steak I had at Revolution as quite frankly I burned enough calories trying to chew that bastard than I could possible have consumed eating it. Vodka bars should stick to what they know best, charging stupid amounts for ultimately vile vodka and getting pretentious gits blind drunk, then everyone would be happy. But dear liver, I’m afraid that’s where the party ends for you this week. Its Friday, its sunny, and there are BBQs to be had and friends to see. The cider, pink bubbles, cocktails, punch and more will be consumed, and enough meat to put Atkins to shame will be devoured, as the salad undoubtedly wilts in the corner.
But before all that fun and frivolity can start I have a few more hours of work to get through, so I thought I’d treat you to what happened to me in Brussels. Its not really that exciting but I said I’d tell you so I here I am. As I think I said before the hotel was lovely and contemporary….all chocolate browns and leatherette headboards. You know the like neutral but with a hint of sumptuous, that is if you couldn’t tell it was all from the Belgian equivalent of B&Q. To be fair I would definitely stay there again, so I cant really complain. Oh except for the blatant lie about wifi…free it said originally! Not so much! Free for 30 mins a day but only if you buy a super duper posh room (I hadnt). Seriously 30 mins! Whats the point of that? I’ll have only just finished checking Facebook and Twitter before I’m cut off without even having checked my works emails in that length of time. Other than that though, loved the hotel and the location was brilliant. Within walking distance of Avenue Louisa where there are shops a plenty all of a good quality. Fantasique!
Leaving the hotel, I sauntered along the road nipping into Versace, Gucci, Louis Vuitton, Agnes B and others. Some I was very impressed with others not so much. L’autre rive was worth a note, only because the gentleman there didnt approve of my taking notes. Telling him I was a fashion blogger from the UK, reviewing Brussels shopping swiftly changed his tune. But if you go to Brussles avoid the shop, to be fair there are nicer ones that are much more directional very close by. Oh and because he was rude so I wouldnt want to give him any service! Soho, a small chain from what I can gather was just around the corner and had some great shirts.
So on in the beautiful sunshine I went, turning left onto Avenue Louisa itself. About halfway down this road is this building. I love its Art Deco feel. But I digress. 
Again nipping in and out of shops, by this point of my trip I was getting very good at this. There were quite a few that I particularly liked, and if you’re there I’d suggest visiting Oliver Grant, Olivier Strelli, Zadig & Voltaire, Father & Sons,. Though by far my favourite shop here was David Mayer Naman. I’d not seen them before but was really impressed, and as luck would have it they now have a store in Westfield. The clothes were of a great make, really individual and decently priced. The staff were fantastic and really good for a laugh, though that may have been more at my french than anything else.
Le Pain Quotidien is apparently a Belgian institution, so seeing one I went in for lunch. Honestly best decision ever, had a large orange juice and an amazing salad. I wont pretend the pureed beetroot was exactly how I like it served but it was tasty, and somehow didnt make me think of baby food.
Having pretty much exhausted Avenue Louisa, I thought it was time to hit the famous Galleries. So using the very good metro, I was there in about 15 minutes. Word to the wise, for some reason Brussels metro system appears not to accept credit or debit card payments. So if you’re cards rejected dont panic, its not you its them!
The whole English look of Hackett et al, is hugely popular in Brussels. I dont know if its all the beaurocrats there or what but there you go. So shops like Scapa of Scotland, The English House and old fashioned English tailors are quite common. place. When you enter the Galeries du Roi for the first time, its beautiful. Dodging the other irritating tourists who were taking photos just like the one below, I really enjoyed all the chocolatiers, bistros and antique stores.Some seriously beautiful things were to be seen. Also tucked in here was John Braye a traditional tailor not out of place in Savile Row.
More wandering ensued, and I checked out the Grand Place, with its stunning architecture. Apparently the weather was unseasonably warm and lovely, but it was perfect such meanders as it wasn’t stifling and the huge throngs of summer tourists were yet to arrive. Not having found much except tourist restaurants selling more moules frites than is good for anyone, and of course the infamous Mannekin Pis, I wandered north, passed the Bourse and up to Rue Neueve. This is essentially Oxford St en Belge, and having spoilt myself on high fashion by this point I was in no mood to deal with Claires Accessories and the like.
Stopping off for a quick break in Place des Martyrs, which is simple and elegant I then checked out Galeria Inno. Nice enough for a department store but to be fair I’d seen enough by then and wasnt being that receptive. The Australian Ice cream bar in the City shopping centre soon perked me up, (Butterscotch crunch is the way forward) but my day was drawing to a close and I needed to get back to the hotel grab my bags and hop on the Eurostar.
The Eurostar was ridiculously busy due to Iceland vomming copious amounts of ash all over Europe. But I was happy, I had a seat and was on my way home after two long but very enjoyable days. 2hrs from London, great shopping, great chocolates and good night life. Brussels & Antwerp will def be receiving return visits!
Oh and as promised here’s Mannekin Pis (I’ve no idea who the women is or why she’s pulling that face)…..
I could find Jeanneke but click here she is (classy!)……
A whole lotta love….
Readers of this blog tend to be personal friends and those subjected to my twitter and facebook drivel, so will know by now I’ve been the length and breadth of the UK on a hunt for amazing independent retailers and doing a report on the UK High Street in general. Otherwise known as shopping. The rest of you, well there you have it, I’ve been shopping and paid to do it as well, good times indeed.
Its been great to be honest and nice to be out of the office though the veritable mountain of work that appears to have accumulated in my absence is far from pretty. But you gotta take the rough with the smooth don’t you. From Newcastle to Brighton I’ve pounded the streets, been in more French Connections, Reiss & Nexts than I care to remember. In each city there have however been little gems, diamonds in the rough if you will, these are the independent retailers. Its enough to make me run screaming from the High St, if only my bank manager would understand.
We’ve all experienced the ridiculously disinterested staff of the High St. Normally a group of students far more concerned about their next night out than what actually looks good on you or the quality of the goods they’re foisting upon you. I don’t blame them, I myself was one of them in a fairly distant past.
But then you stroll into somewhere like Hawkes Essentials in Cardiff, and are instantly transported to another world. Passionate, informed, and caring the owner/ manager has a great eye and has put together an innovative and sharp collection. Stocking Without Prejudice, Remus Uomo, and a range of exclusive own brand suits, amongst others the store caters for a more discerning taste. If you’re in Cardiff, or almost anywhere in the South West & Wales, and are bored of looking like every other bloke around go here. The prices are more than reasonable and the staff genuinely care about the product. Also should you bump into someone else out and about in the same shirt, suit or jeans you can acknowledge each other with a smiling knowing you are both part of an exclusive group of discerning shoppers, and not another High St clone. Not alone in its brilliance I’ll be bigging up other stores over the next couple of weeks. 
Don’t get me wrong now, I do still love the High St, without it I’d have an empty wardrobe and no job. But for something special and different, treat yourself, find that backstreet boutique and make that effort. It’ll be more than worth it. For me am off to have words with the aforementioned bank manager to see if he’ll facilitate a trip back to Cardiff for the Remus Uomo summer coat I loved before it goes out of stock.
Brightonia Spring Term 2010
As I twittered last Friday, Brighton we had some words last August about your weather during Pride. I was quite frankly unimpressed, and so were my fellow campers. (Also unimpressed I believe were those people formerly enjoying a quiet beverage in the office, who were treated to the rather unsightly treat of me changing out of my soaking shirt and into something drier, but I shan’t be holding Brighton or the weather entirely responsible for that debacle) Anyway, B-town I had given you all winter to sort out this problem and to be brutally honest was not hugely impressed with your half arsed effort. Sure it wasn’t tipping it down, but it wasn’t exactly balmy either. I shall leave this down to some kind of pre-summer nerves on your behalf, so will forgive you and move on. But the report card definitely reads must try harder.
On the other hand, you fared much better in Shopping. I believe with just a smidge more work Brighton this is a subject you could excel in. Despite your limitations on size, and having the 6th form bully of London just over your shoulder I was impressed. The High St selections from M&S, through Topman, Reiss, River and Zara were all strong contenders. Reiss, performing particularly well in comparison to the Westfield store. A bit of major editing on the range meant the scatter gun approach has been finely honed. Zara’s collection of summer whites and standalone jackets worked particularly well and were reasonably priced.
Formally Moss, and small independent ISC seemed to be looking good. Being used to Moss Bros Oxford St, where one is given approximately 3 seconds after entering the store before pushy sales assistant foist themselves upon you, I was delighted to be able to browse at my leisure. ISC clearly caters for a customer older than myself, but seemed to have a solid contemporary range, which was perfect for the customers I saw there. Though two button jackets are hardly the vanguard of fashion and I think by the time slim lapels arrive in this store the rest of the world will have moved back to large. A fair comment rather than a criticism as this appears to work for their target market, afterall not everywhere can be directional.
Having assaulted my senses in Churchill Square, (on a quick aside has anyone ever bought anything from those purveyors of tatt that seem to fill the middle of every shopping centres wide pathways these days?? I have never needed nor wanted a 3D laser etching of a seagull/dolphin/my own head in a lump of perspex and dont think I ever will) I hit the lanes to check out the boutiques you are becoming well known for Brighton. Woodies, Mottoo, & Profile amongst others were investigated.
Woodies buyer clearly has a good idea for emerging trends dipping into Diesel Black Gold, (great cream waistcoat), but still holding onto to staples such as Hackett and Gant. Upstairs where the suits are kept was a small but also well put together selection of brands and styles. Kenzo, Versace, Corneliani, all sat well together. The range consisting of a large amount of pale greys, with the more interesting suits including a polka dot included. Reasonably priced too. The tailor/ shop assistant certainly knew what they were talking about as they brought a fellow shopper through the necessary changes they would take in producing his made-to-measure suit. Offering a wide selection of blocks and helpful small tricks.
Mottoo to had a good range of high quality designers. I particularly loved the cotton McQ jacket, and a Marithe Francois Girbaud shirt with braid detailing. Also in the Lanes is Hugo Morris, a fantastic bespoke tailor, brilliant shop fit and excellent window dressing highlights not just their skills but also invites you in.
After meandering through the Lanes, Brighton I decided to check out your more naughty side and went North. The North Laines, have a dishevelled charm that is like putting on an old sweater, warm and welcoming. With more vintage shops than one could shake a stick at, if one felt like doing such a thing, I got quite excited traipsing up and down Kensington Gdns and beyond. From Jump the Gun, where the mod movement has never finished, to the Snoopers Paradise the bizarre and often beautifully tailored clothes are there to be found. Snoopers Paradise is also an Aladdin’s cave of everything you never wanted, and living proof that one mans trash is another treasure.
So yes Brighton, you’ve done well this term in Shopping and your efforts are to be commended.
But this dear Brighton is where the gushing joy ends a bit I’m afraid. Whilst you are populated with magnificent and fabulous hotels, you also fall victim to the curse of every seaside town. Shit hotels. It appears I selected poorly in my choice of establishment this time. To the hotels credit, when I requested a change of room due to the ill health of my partner, (not that I was abandoning him or anything its the first room wasn’t suitable) they were accommodating and helpful. Giving us a room which in their own words they don’t normally allow guests into. Tragically this was not because of its ridiculously high quality. More the skidmarked toilet, vom stained carpet, concrete cast bed, and fag butt decorated floor. I paint a picture worse than it was but you catch my drift. So bonus point for being accommodating, points deducted for not so clean. The extent of the not so clean was highlighted when we returned to the room marginally worse for wear that evening and decided to use the kettle. Oh dear. A half full kettle with skin of mold is not what anyone needs to see, ever and especially not when you’ve had a drink or two. Complaints would be raised but apparently the reception was not 24 hours. We did raise the issue the following morning, and were duely presented with a clean kettle.
We only stayed that night, and couldn’t face another evening there so headed back to London. Brighton I’m afraid in the subject of Hotels you failed.
48hrs in Brighton and at least a whole days shopping, works up more than a healthy appetite and you did well here little Brighton. Zizi’s served us quickly and with tasty food that practically vanished from our plates. Here restaurant on St James St, sorted out our hangovers with a good eggs benedict. The cold ham and slightly vinegary hollandaise was more than made up for by the waitress, who deftly fielded away the amorous attentions of a fellow diner. Much to mine and the husbands amusement. Donatello’s lunch the following day was tasty, and whilst my raviolli was lacking in portion size it was nice. Our rather limited bevregating was held on the Friday evening in The Eddy, great staff, great atmosphere and great friends, shame it couldnt go on longer. So on the subject of Food & Drink, Brighton you scored another win.
Weather - C-
Shopping - B+
Hotels - F
Food & Drink - B
Company - A+
What I need….
I’ve been thinking, (its a rare and sometimes dangerous occurrence) that this blog could do with some original material. It’s all well and good trawling other peoples styles and looks but what about my own.
Now much to my shame, the decision on what to wear of a morning is normally vetted on what’s clean, what needs the least (aka no) ironing, and what I can see through my half awake eyes. But possibly if I have to post what I’ve dragged off the floor in the morning it might make me make a bit more of an effort. So over the next few days and weeks you’ll be forced to drag your sorry eyes over what I call my own sense of style.
In addition to this, with work I’m being sent out and about over the UK and to Antwerp over the next few weeks. The upsides going shopping all over the UK, seeing the sights, different street styles, and places I’ve never been before (Newcastle I’m talking about you there), and not having a full week in the office for the next 6. The downsides many many hours on trains, the substantial report I have to file (complete with pictures) and some other irritations. So in order to while away the train hours, I’ll probably be posting here much more and hopefully with some pics too!
First stop Brightonia this Friday. So any recommendations on shops etc will be very welcome! Then in no particular order, Newcastle, Birmingham, Manchester, Bristol, Bath, Cardiff, Brussels, Antwerp & maybe Ghent.
Yes I get Paid to go Shopping…..part 2
When you left me I had just departed the lab coated assistants of Margiela and was treating myself to a much needed chocolat chaud, then just when I was about to post more my fashion world was rocked to its core. But its been nearly a week now and things move on, so here is the rest of my day in Paris.
Having loved the much needed warmth and dose of sugar, I made my way along the infamous Rue St Honore onwards to Colette. Oh Colette, since discovering nearly 8 years ago how I have loved you. You’re quirky way of showcasing whole outfits, mixing up designers, creating looks, displaying books and magazines not available anywhere else in the whole world (or so it seemed), you’re €45,000 watches made apparently of lego, the clever use of iPods to play music. In short everything people love and love to hate about design and fashion.
As per norm the gruff security guard opened the door, and despite the warnings from friends I was excited. It was the mother ship of shops. Suddenly bumping into the back of several international fashion students, a few rich Arabs, and magazines I’d seen in WH Smith I knew something was wrong. Very wrong. Colette, what had happened to you? Your success has turned you into nothing more than another tourist trap, and to be honest Paris has enough of those already. Yes, you’re still chock full of the fantastic bizarre and sometimes edgy, but you’re also crammed to the rafters with people checking you off their to do list of the coolest places to go in Paris. It was sad to say the least. But I jostled my way upstairs, hoping that I’d be treated some amazing fashion. Womenswear, some lovely pieces and great looks, but I’d forgotten that half of the menswear section was now a dedicated perfume bar. I got my Thom Browne fix ( a see through pac-a-mac with red, white & blue seam tape) and left. I have no idea how Colette can solve this problem of its own success but I really hope they do.
More than a little disheartened I trotted off to the big stores, Printemps and Lafayette. Its a whole two stops on the metro & my feet hurt so I descended to Ligne 7 & headed to Chausee d’Antin.
Printemps & Galleries Lafayette, were brilliant. Nothing like the delightful boutiques I’d been in and with a more commercial buying strategy but being honest thats what I was expecting. Last season they were still mired deep in sale and had little new to offer. This season was not the case, it was the last day of the sales and the vast majority of both stores was dedicated to SS10. Which was great as I’m now on SS11 and it’ll take at least that long for the looks to trickle through to the High St. From new collars and lapels at Thierry Mugler, great cuts from Van Assche, an amazing shawl collar look from YSL, and greatness at Givenchy (where I may add I showed exceedingly good restraint not spending €500 on a coat I coveted last season) I was practically giddy by the time I left.
Shopping should most definitely be considered a sport, and the day had been a marathon so with notes and sketches a plenty I left to enjoy the remaining few hours of light in Paris and wander back to my friends apartment. There’s something to be said for getting lost in a foreign city and whilst I knew vaguely the direction I was going (West-ish) I meandered along the streets simply enjoying a city that was once my home.
Yes I get paid to go shopping
It is a tough life being a designer sometimes, the decisions and deadlines, the constant battle to be perfectly on time, too early and your weird, too late and well your nothing, the endless cycle and chasing up samples and suppliers. Honestly it all gets a bit too much at times.
Even the trade shows can be uninspiring after a time, but too be honest I havent travelled enough to get to that point yet. Regardless of this show fatigue any designer worth their salt still gets excited at the thought of seeing new collections, and fabric ranges. (Excited yes, though all too often disappointed soon after having not seen anything that new or exciting) That was my Tuesday, all day in a crowded aircraft hanger explaining to Chinese people I need my sampling as soon as possible.
Monday however was a totally different experience. Shopping all day, until my feet practically exploded! Leaving my friends at a reasonable hour I wandered towards Place des Voges to go to L’Eclaireur on Rue Malher. A fantastic shopping experience to say the least. Fantastic clothes from a wide range of high end names. Van Asche, Margiela amongst other not so well known brands. There was a good mix between New Collections and Old Sale stock which considering the time of year I was very impressed with. Good markdowns as well, and had the credit card had more space and a less frantic day been ahead of me I would have left heavily weighed down.
(source: frenchtruckers.com)
This is an old shot as the shops been refurbed since. Very cool and simple place, with quality background music reminiscent fo a very trendy club. Deciding to treat myself I went up to their womenswear shop just round the corner. Again stunningly beautiful and fairly busy with plenty of rich and elegant people, (most of whom I figured were fashion industry peeps that day/ either that or high class escorts, it can be difficult to tell our industries appart at times)
Trotting back along the trottoirs towards the Pompidou centre I called into several boutiques, and photographed a few windows. Check out my earlier post on IKKS, whose jacket has climbed high on my wishlist. They are a great brand and to my knowledge not yet in the UK. Grab the exclusivity while you can!
In no time at all, I was on rue Etienne Marcel and hunting out recommendation number two from my friends. Kabuki. Their bag store looked lovely, and had any girlfriends been with me we would have lost at least an hour in there. I turned and there it was opposite, the menswear. Again stocking Van Asche, but also Neil Barrett, Prada, & Dior. Elegantly laid out, with chill out music the Buddha bar would have been proud of I ambled round desperately making mental notes (One of which was could I pull of a sleeveless DSquared letterman hoodie?). A brief chat with the sales assistant was helpful and they were brilliantly attentive, without making feel like I was being watched.
(source:www.fashiontraveler.com)
Taking the Green cross code very much to heart I scampered across to my home from home when I lived in Paris. Killiwatch. A heaven for vintage shoppers. Though 9 yrs ago it was much more cutting edge than it is now, and to be honest I was more than a little disappointed. Not be the clothes, which are still beautiful, (and with DSquared hoodies in mind I nearly grabbed a vintage letterman jacket) but with the prices. Age and inflation have not been kind to this once beautiful lady and there are better cheaper vintage stores in Paris. Though whether these stock Nudie jeans and are as full of fashion students from across the world rifling through the stock remains to be seen. I also noticed the death of the magazine section. A true loss though it could have been hiding somewhere under mountains of stock. This used to be even more hipster and cool than Colette and with more space.
From here it was onto the Palais Royale, and Didier Ludot. There are no vintage shops like this anywhere. The display of Lacroix haute couture demonstrated this on its own. Beautiful, elegant and good enough for La Moss and friends, should you win the lottery book an appointment to purchase some old Marchioness’ couture.
Next stop was Maison Margiela, which I nearly walked past but managed to find the right door. It could easily have been some concierge and I was grateful to be greeted by a labcoated salesperson rather than a bemused 90 yr old french madame. Another stop and another addition to Bainser’s wishlist, the trousers with a inlay down the outside leg seam. Fantastic.
Still feeling fresh I left Margiela’s and rewarded myself with a chocolat chaud before continuing. More of which later.
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How to style up a denim shirt. Caught in a boutique in Le Marais.
By this point my feet were knackered but had many miles to go and I hadnt even been to Colette yet, (Minor detour via Palais Royal, Didier Ludot & Maison Margiela) but really liked this look.
Will write a proper blog about my strolls through the Parisian boulevards later….well prob in about 5 mins.
Jacket @ IKKS
Fantastic and cool, brilliant detail on lapel. Simple and gorgeous the way menswear should be. Added to my wishlist!
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Whats that Bear St you say? In Paris? Why yes I would like to go there, after all its just a quick stroll from there to Killiwatch and Kabuki 2 of my favourite shops in the world.
