The Fresher’s Guide to a Fashionable London (Part 3)

New to London and hoping to feel inspired by the city’s vibrant and innovative fashion culture? Want to advance your fashion explorations further afield from the crowded and clichéd Oxford Street? Check out these slightly less mainstream and personal favourite corners of London for a unique shopping or window-shopping experience.

GO WEST

Alfie’s Antique Market – 13-25 Church Street NW8 8DT

Closest Tube: Marylebone

This well-known large indoor market is a haven for antique silverware, retro furniture, ceramics, glass, jewellery and vintage clothing, making it a go-to destination for celebrity designers such as Kelly Hoppen and Jasper Conran. Down the road is the fabric shop Joel & Sons, official supplier of fabrics to the Royal Family. The fabrics are not student budget friendly, but it is definitely worth a look for inspiration to anyone interested in dressmaking.

Pedlars – 128 Talbot Road W11 1JA and Selfridges

Closest Tube: Westbourne Park, Notting Hill Gate, Selfridges = Bond Street

For quirky home décor finds, head to Pedlars which stocks a wide range of unnecessary items that could bring your room to life. From old glass milk bottles to vintage Hovis tins to beautifully framed disused bus blinds, Pedlars is set to get your inner interior designer excited.

Rellik – 8 Goldborne Road W10 5NW

Closest Tube: Westbourne Park

Near the Portobello area, this shop is renowned for selling the very best designer vintage especially Vivienne Westwood, Dior and YSL. Another favourite of Dazed and Confused magazine.

Saatchi Gallery Shop – Duke of York’s HQ, King’s Road SW3 4RY

Closest Tube: Sloane Square

Gallery shops are always enjoyable – The Saatchi Gallery shop stocks a range of art and fashion books, quirky jewellery, postcards and various other accessories. It is also conveniently situated off The King’s Road, hotspot of experimental avant-garde fashion during the 60s with Mary Quant leading the pack. The road has changed much since then but it is still definitely worth a stroll down and grabbing a bite at one of the many great cafes there. The shops currently populating the street are very mixed from Jack Wills to Orla Kiely to Italian Stefanel and the unique Ad Hoc. Right down the other end is The Shop at Bluebird, set up by the couple behind Jigsaw, as well as the Zadig et Voltaire discount store. A number of luxury furnishing shops such as The Designer’s Guild (famous for its fabric designs) have opened here.

Taschen Book Store – Duke of York Square SW3 4LY

Closest Tube: Sloane Square

Taschen is among the best publishers for quality art and fashion volumes. Spend hours flicking through the numerous books in the London store, opposite the Saatchi Gallery.

V&A Shop – Victoria & Albert Museum, Cromwell Road SW7 2RL

Closest Tube: South Kensington

A fantastic shop with beautiful gifts, jewellery, accessories, books and many other eccentric buys. As the best gallery shop in London there’s not much more I can say. A good opportunity to get yourself to go and actually look at some art e.g. from 20^th October, the V&A will host the Hollywood Costume exhibition where you will have the opportunity to view over 100 of the most iconic costumes in the history of film making. And Ballgowns: British Glamour since 1950 is still open until the 6^th January 2013.

Westbourne Grove and Ledbury Road  – W11

Closest Tube: Westbourne Park, Notting Hill Gate

The delightful Appletree Boutique

A couple of neat streets housing diffusion-line level shops like Twenty8Twelve, Toast, the ‘French brands‘, English footwear Emma Hope and Scottish cashmere Brora. Tom’s Deli offers an array of cute candy and cookies (as well as light lunches). It is only a stone’s throw from Portobello Market and the more budget-friendly Appletree Boutique on Portobello Road. Venture a little further into Holland Park to reach lifestyle store The Cross Shop.