London Shopping Guide
It’s a tale of two neighborhoods: Mayfair, borough of fancy boutiques and High Street finds, and the suddenly cool (and thoroughly Olympic-centric) Shoreditch.
Late Night Chameleon Cafe
The most revolutionary store in london, Late Night Chameleon Cafe, is in a very run-down area, but it’s worth the trip. The interiors look like the Millennium Falcon’s from Star Wars, that is, if it were full of art books and clothes from Haider Ackermann and Toga. You have to make an appointment to get in, but you won’t feel pressured to buy. 18 Shacklewell Lane, 44-207-275-7265, ln-cc.com
Bimba & Lola
i always get compliments on anything I wear from Bimba & Lola, a Spanish label that’s new to the U.K. Shop here for bright, colorful separates and really cute, not-too-expensive bags. Westfield London Shopping Center, Ariel Way, 44-208-743-8528, bimbaylola.es
Rose Bakery
It’s fun to people-watch at the Rose Bakery. Located on the top floor of the Dover Street Market (the cutting-edge retail store), it’s full of fashion-industry types who come for the casual atmosphere, delicious carrot-and-ginger juice and healthy specials. 17-18 Dover St., 44-207-518-0680
Boxpark
Boxpark is the world’s first pop-up mall. Made out of old shipping containers, each “box” is its own little self-contained store, gallery or café. I go to the Marimekko shop for its cups and tea towels. 2-4 Bethnal Green Rd., 44-207-033-2899, boxpark.co.uk
Harrods
The only place for great customer service in london is Harrods. Yes, it’s touristy, but its staff is perfection at walking you through a challenging purchase, like buying jeans or bras. Plus, they carry every designer in the world. 87-135 Brompton Rd., 44-207-730-1234, harrods.com
Wah Nails
Even my most conservative friends can’t resist a manicure at WAH Nails—there are about 60 different designs to choose from! I recently got a psychedelic daisy mani to match my Erdem skirt. Various locations, wah-nails.com
Luna & Curious
There are sweet sailor-inspired blouses by Colenimo, the most inventive bottle planters and decorative dishes aplenty. The zebra- and butterfly-design false eyelashes—inspired by Chinese paper cutting—will blow your mind. 24-26 Calvert Ave., 44-203-222-0034, lunaandcurious.com
LN-cc
This appointment-only boutique is also a rare-records-and-books store, so it’s only natural that the clothing brands are the thinking woman’s sort: J.W. Anderson shirting, Blackmeans leather jackets and moody, digitally printed Peter Pilotto shift dresses. 18 Shacklewell Ln., 44-203-174-0727, ln-cc.com
Gillian Horsup
Once you find this stall (fourth door on the right down an alley, very back of the basement floor), you’ll feel like you’ve struck gold, and you have: There are vintage Lacroix earrings, Dior brooches and piles of English art deco and midcentury sparklers, much of them under £100. Tip: Pay cash and she’ll likely knock off a few quid. 1-7 Davies Mews, 44-207-499-8121, gillianhorsup.com
Maison Trois Garcons
While the astounding selection of affordable French Regency furniture and ornate trinketry may have you wishing for a bigger suitcase, one thing’s certain: The necklaces, or an embroidered purse, will definitely fit in your carry-on. 45 Redchurch St., 44-787-964-0858, lestroisgarcons.com
