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Anthropologie King’s Road (SPOILER ALERT)- first look



Ahhhh, I’m in retail heaven this week. Today saw the launch of the Harvey Nichols Hub and tomorrow sees the opening of Anthropologie in the King’s Road (why is it called thee King’s Road?). Being Miss ‘I was there first’, I have had a preview and I can tell you it is just as awe-inspiring as any other Anthropologie store. Pictures speak louder than words so here goes:

Before it was Anthropologie, the building was home to Antiquarius, a well-loved but ultimately past-its best warren of fusty antique dealers (and there has been quite the furore over the Anthro takeover). But before that, the building was a gentlemen’s club. This area is a tribute to the ‘library’ area of the former premises…

???Love the pattern clash and these funny little typewritten postcards dotted around ???



I have to admit the homesy merchandise appeals to me more than the fashion buy…


Monogrammed faux pockets stitched to the wall
Natty nautical sailor-esque top. Mmmmm
Ooh, an Elizabeth Lau dress!

Yay for African print skorts!
The book buy at Athro is exceptional…

Oil paintings and pampering products






Canape-watch: Goats cheese, honey and pine-nut tarts!
Canape-watch: Quails eggs!

The store opens to the public tomorrow. Next door is a space that Anthropologie will rent out to various cafes on a pop-up basic, starting with a tea specialist (apparently – it wasn’t ready when I was there). Inside there is also a gallery space that will host 6-week selling exhibitions curated by Anthroplogie’s Keith Johnson. As I’ve said before, what I love most about Anthropologie is the lovingly attended merchandising of the product. The bazaar-like experience of discovering things in the store and the juxtaposition between ultra-expensive antiques, handmade one-offs and £2 soaps is a key part of the Anthro high-low experience. (I had been to a press day earlier at Few & Far and admire the similar high-low bazaar mix there too.) But if you can’t get to the store or you just want to get your hands on the product then guess what, Anthropologie’s UK etail site launches tomorrow too. Let’s shop!

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Fun in the sun: Harvey Nichols pop -up ‘hub’




It’s officially official – spring has sprung! High five to Harvey Nichols for picking the warmest and sunniest day of the year so far to launch their clever new retail concept. It’s a pop-up… caravan! Kind of. The ‘Hub’ arrived at Hanover Square today, a touring trailer that has cherry-picked the funnest wares from Harvey Nichols’ new fourth floor.

The Hub goes on a mini London tour for the next few days so tomorrow it’s at the Southbank Centre (10-7), Saturday it’s at Westbourne Grove (10-5) and Sunday it’s at Spitalfields Market (10-5).

I arrived at Hanover Square in time to witness a wee gig by Daisy Dares You – never heard of them but readers, J’adore!


Inside the hub it’s a veritable fun-fest (how many times am I going to say ‘fun’ in this post? Lots) – vending machines, a photobooth, temporary Will Broome tattoos and all the knick knacky (read: affordable) bits of the Harvey Nicks fourth floor offer. I saw Assouline fashion books, Comme des Garcons wallets, Kidrobot figures, Audio Chi headphones (I have a pair of these… ???), oh and many, many trendy trainers from the Harvey Nichols Trainer Wall.

Trainer mania. It’s insania!
Win a Markus Lupfer crystal bear!
Chanel tats? Pfft, très passé. It’s all about a Will Broome transfer…
Lanvin alert!


All in all a great, fun concept. Loving your work Harvey Nichols peeps.

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Equipment: The ultimate boyfriend shirt part II




Back in November, following a month of press days, I posted this story on Equipment, the classic shirt line originated by Christian ‘partner of Carine’ Roitfeld. I had spotted the relaunched line during my rounds and thought nothing of sharing the few pictures I had taken. Unbeknown to me, my story was linked via a few different blogs including Fashionologie.

A couple of weeks later, the PR emailed me to say that my post had caused her problems as the Equipment relaunch story had been promised as an exclusive to a major international publication in March. I could have been uncooperative but the PR was so nice and apologetic that I was happy to comply and took the post down. Yesterday, I bought March US Vogue and there was the story. Whoops, sorry Anna!

Now the story is ‘out there’ I have been given the green light to put the post back up. The update is that when Carine Roitfeld took the Paris Vogue job, Christian Roitfeld decided to step down from Equipment. But fast forward a few years and his good friend Serge Azria has decided to relaunch it. Serge (brother of Max) also owns Current/Elliot and JOIE so has excellent credentials. Restoin remains connected to the brand which is jolly handy considering he still has all 3,500 original Equipment designs in his archive. According to Vogue, the ‘just shirts’ essence of the brand will stay the same but there are plans for more directional things too.

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The King’s Road just got cool (ish) again…



Following the opening of its first London store in Regent Street, Anthropologie opens its King’s Road store on 19th March.

This is quite important, not only because it’s another Anthropologie store (AKA, the most beautiful-looking chain in the world) but because it will bring footfall to the King’s Road and other stores are sure to follow. What do we have in the King’s Road already? The Shop At Bluebird of course, towards World’s End and Jack Wills in the middle. Even if you’re not the Jack Wills ‘type’, there’s no denying that the stores, styled to the nth degree, are something to behold. The King’s Road branch has a coffee shop on the top floor (but shhh, don’t tell anyone) and hosts gigs in the basement. The fixtures and fittings are the best type of antiquey shabby-chic with a bit of faux-punk rebellious teen thrown in. There have been rumours of A Very Well Known US Designer sniffing around for a store nearby too but I’m not sure how reliable they are.

Back (way back) in the day, there was a clutch of superb shops between Vivienne Westwood’s World’s End shop and where The Shop At Bluebird resides now. As well as American Classics (the best used Levi’s 501s this side of the Atlantic), there was The Emperor of Wyoming (more vintage Americana), Liberated Lady (’80s interpretations of ’50s fashion) and Johnny Moke (the shoe dude). A bit further along was Eat Your Heart Out, another vintage store where I once bought a long black crepe Biba dress. Funnily enough I recently found out that it was run by vintage dealer Graham Cassie who now runs Cassie Mercantile. He probably sold it to me and I recently donated it back to him!

Not far from where Anthropologie is opening – on the former site of Antiquarius Antiques – was Flip, a smaller outpost of the legendary Covent Garden second-hand Americana store. This was the place to find love-worn baseball jackets, sweatshirts, prom dresses and tube socks – absolute bliss…

Of course Anthropologie is a far cry from those vintage dens and characterful hangouts but the point is, it’s a start. Retail needs to get people interested in discovering shops again, whether they’re vintage stores, toy shops, bookshops or funny little cowboy boot shops. Let’s see who else arrives in the King’s Road after Anthro…

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