Last weekend I was featured in The Guardian, picking out my favourite high street pieces from Whistles. I chose its boyish coats, tailored tees, a little red long-sleeved dress, a pyjama-style blouse and some minimalist leathergoods as my seasonal edit. (more…)
Who doesn’t love COS? The Swedish brand may be the high street sister company of H&M but it has all the hallmarks of a higher end designer brand. It has its own aesthetic signature, an arty, design-conscious customer base and an intelligent point of view. It feels kind of secretive though, so here’s a wee peek into the brand as it launches a pop-up shop in Milan (designed by Gary Card).
The Wapping Project Bookshop ‘greenhouse’ is a lovely concept but Wapping is a bloody long way to go for a bit of book perving. So they have upped sticks for two weeks and plonked themselves in the Regent Street branch of COS which frankly is a rather clever idea. You may remember that last year Clifton Nurseries also popped up in a corner of COS; clearly these Scandi types love a bit of crossover retail (as do I).
The shop will sell its usual varied mix, including new and rare photography and art books, magazines and some illustration for children. It’s open from 11.30am to 8pm every day until 14th March.
Damn you COS, I go into the store seeking Christmas pressy inspiration and come out with another coat I don’t need and a pair of socks. But how could I resist? This tailored couture-style coat has a really good cut, is nicely finished (I inspected from all angles) and has bracelet sleeves to accommodate all the Iris Apfel-esque bangles I plan to buy for the next season. This to me is a great day-to-evening coat. It’s not bulky but its cocoon shape means you can get a couple of layers underneath it if you must. (more…)
