Santa Maria Novella

Shop the post: an olfactory escape



Lola James Harper - The Betty Lee

Going anywhere nice this year? If not, perhaps you’d like an olfactory vacation? No, not the classic coconut-and-vanilla beachy blends, but something much more niche and personal.

It’s the era of the hyper-specific location perfume. Rather than Mediterranean colognes and fruity-florals, the latest crop of wanderlust fragrances are landing in far-flung places like Dubai, Tokyo and the Sahara Desert or close-to-home hang-outs like The Woody Office of Daddy and The Bomboneria in Barcelona*. (more…)



Shop the post: the useful and beautiful gift guide



Gift guide - Toast hot water bottle cover

Christmas shopping: so many decisions, so little time! If you’re struggling with keuzestress (aka ‘choice stress’), stick to the William Morris mantra of only choosing things that are useful and beautiful. (more…)



Tie sales are down, sneakers are up – so what are men wearing now?



What are men wearing now? The Gigi ss19

There’s been so much change in menswear lately, I don’t know where to begin. We’ve seen the preppy revival, The streetwear takeover, the Savile Row fightback (along with Pitti Peacocks), not to mention the tech bro uniform, normcore and gorpcore. Have I missed anything? (more…)



Is Haymarket about to get hipster-fied?



Will St James's Market and Dover street market bring hipsters to Haymarket?

Don’t go thinking Dover Street Market is the only fashion store that’s pitching its tent in Haymarket. Joining it this summer is Jigsaw, which has a new 1000 sq ft flagship opening to house its menswear, womenswear and The Shop at Bluebird concept store. A joint venture between London’s Crown Estate and Canadian firm Oxford Properties, the shopping destination dubbed ‘St James’s Market’ (below) will transform two historic blocks near Haymarket into five flagship stores, plus office spaces and a public square. (more…)