Wow wee. I finally made it to the Idea Books pop-up shop at St Martins Lane Hotel. If you know Dover Street Market, you’ll know Idea Books. It’s the vintage book/magazine bit on the ground floor that’s always heaving with vintage mag porn of the Interview/Ritz/Vogue variety, alongside lots of lovely rare fash-art book finds. So the pop-up shop in St Martins Lane is like a bigger, sexier, even more enviable version of that. Put it this way: I’d happily live there.
As an added bonus, the pop-up shop has been installed in collaboration with Vitsoe shelving. If you’re a shelving snob like me, that will mean something to you, if not you can get a close-up of the shelves (and some books) here.
Shopkeeper-on-duty and co-owner David, kindly indulged me in letting me take a few snaps for the blog, despite my rather clumsy attempt at small talk (sample quote: “your books are very expensive, do you have anything cheap?” Cringe.) Anyhoo, the shop is open until the end of the month – go check it out.
Today has been a complete whirlwind so I’m speed-blogging to get it all down.
Breakfast with Tiffany
9am Brekkie at Automat with a very blog-savvy PR. Lots to discuss including the importance of brands to have a two-way conversation with consumers online.
First look at APC
1030am Love that familiar signature candle scent on first entering the new Dover Street store and I immediately eyeballed all the shirts, wedges and belts. Welcome back to London APC!
Murdock opens store no 3
1045am Just a stone’s throw from APC in Dover Street was the latest Murdock luxury barbers (5B Stafford Street, W1). These guys have cornered the market in high end (but not poncy) male grooming. Alongside the trad barbers service, they offer a lovely retail experience, especially if you’re a girl gift-buying for a fussy discerning guy. When I asked to have a nose round, I was invited to have a look upstairs, even though ‘it’s not finished yet’ and my host also revealed that Scott Schuman had recently enjoyed the Murdock experience. Didn’t surprise me one bit, this place is a must-visit for all sartorialists.
Falling back in love with LK Bennett
1130am: As I was in Bond Street, I decided to give Fenwick the once over including a mini- tour of LK Bennett. Wow, it’s suddenly totally right for now. I liked the high-on-the-instep Mary Janes (Selina, £155), roundtoe courts in an array of heel heights (Sabira, £130, Shilo, £140) and red low-heel pumps (Samedi £125) to go with crop skinny jeans and ankle socks. Nice work LKB.
Short Cuts
12pm This Uniqlo window caught my eye – same-day instore alterations. Me likey.
Daily Candy and arm candy
3pm After more meetings and lunch I headed to Fashion Business Club to take in an interview with DailyCandy.com‘s London editor Malika Dalamal. Daily Candy is looking into encouraging feedback from its readers via comments which I think is a very good thing indeed as it harnesses the community spirit and keeps the punters coming back. Post-interview I caught up with a number of fashion people including accessory designer, Quentin MacKay. I first met MacKay years ago when he had designed some very simple black leather wristbands and I had bought one (I think it was when Browns Focus had just opened). I still have it today and was pleased to discover that following successful stints at Tanner Krolle and Samsonite Black, MacKay has now launched a luxury accessory line under his own name – it’s the real deal, have a look here.
Burning question: are nail blogs the new fashion blogs? Lately I’m getting all my style updates from nail artist Sophy Robson’s blog and Twitter feeds. Latest heads-up is that of WAH Magazine (Women Ain’t Hoes) created by fashion-all-rounder Sharmadean Reid. The zine is an excellent read and online community (sorry guys, it’s ladies only) but I got distracted by Sharmadean’s own blog. As if being a fashion girl-about-town isn’t time consuming enough, Reid is opening a nail salon in Dalston. Read her progress reports here… [Pics: Sharmadean’s blog]
This non-descript door, next to a non-descript grocery shop on Kingsland Road. Give up? It’s a brilliant Jasper Morrison shop! Selling lots of lovely minimalist, utilitarian stuff that costs not a lot of money. Cone-shaped Indian tea glasses, Italian staplers, mini Japanese ink pads, numerous bottle openers, wooden spoons, little red ashtrays…the list goes on and on.
I couldn’t resist touching everything because each and every item demands to be picked up, held and inspected. Being the retail tourist that I am, I had to have a souvenir so I opted for a yellow stapler and some wee boxes of staples. Total cost, £11. Can’t wait to go back.
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