Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
All Under One Roof
Between the high-street shops, the
one-off boutiques, and the department
stores, lies a strange retail beast known
as the “collective shop.” These are the
stores that grab a selection of the very
best of London fashion, and spread it
out over several floors—meaning you're
spoilt for choice whenever you visit.
U.S. chain
Urban Outfitters,
42-56
Earlham St., WC2 (
&
020/7759-6390;
www.urbanoutfitters.co.uk; Tube: Cov-
ent Garden) does this just right, and
London has its own take on the format,
with some stunning homemade shops
doing the same.
My Sugarland
, 402-
404 St. John St., N1 (
&
020/7841-7131;
www.mysugarland.co.uk; Tube: Angel)
turns to vintage inspiration and unique
styling to create a one-stop lifestyle
shop. They're all about dressing up,
and looking darned pretty while you're
doing it. Over in southwest London, the
Shop at Bluebird,
350 King's Rd., SW3
(
&
020/7351-3873;
www.theshopat
bluebird.com; Tube: S. Kensington) is
chock-full of designers, and
Dover
Street Market,
17-18 Dover St., W1
(
&
020/7518-0680;
www.doverstreet
market.com; Tube: Green Park) excels
at eclectic fashion choices. It stocks
apparently every fashionable designer
that might take your fancy.
4
Topshop
This is the largest fashion store in the world, and remains quite afford-
able. Its versatile and ever-changing merchandise is aimed at younger shoppers, but
that doesn't stop many fashionable women in their 30s and 40s from shopping here.
The outlet was the first to release a range of designs from Kate Moss. The shop,
though aimed mainly at women, also has a men's floor. Women's shoes, vintage cloth-
ing, and other designer labels are in the basement.
216 Oxford St., W1.
&
0844/848-7487.
www.topshop.co.uk. Tube: Oxford Circus. Other locations throughout London.
Vintage
Bang Bang
The flashy designer-clad mannequins in the window make this
Goodge Street store stand out among the secondhand computer shops and lunchtime
pitstops. It specializes in designer clothes and high-end high street, but all at bargain
prices. You'll find cut-price Armani and cheap Topshop under the same roof, but the
stock changes regularly. Best bargains are accessories and tailored items, and prices are
fair. Staff can be a little surly.
21 Goodge St., W1.
&
020/7631-4191.
Tube: Goodge St.
Blondie
This is the sister store to the larger
Absolute Vintage,
15 Hanbury St.
(
&
020/7247-3883
). Don't let the small stature of the shop put you off—it has
some real gems inside. Everything is arranged by color, so you can head straight to the
red polka dots or little black dresses if you like. There's also an enormous shoe col-
lection (mostly in smaller sizes, which is always the way with vintage) and a wide
selection of Dior sunglasses.
114-118 Commercial St., E1.
&
020/7247-0050.
Tube: Liverpool St./
Train: Shoreditch High St.
East End Thrift Store
Another vintage shop that's worth the trip to East London.
This one is inside a large warehouse off the unattractive Stepney Green Road. Inside
you'll find a massive array of vintage clothing, all well priced, but of varying quality
and styles. Men do well here, thanks to an excellent selection of shirts, but vintage
newbies might have to do a bit of hunting to find easier-to-wear items.
Assembly Pas-
sage, E1.
&
020/7423-9700.
Tube: Stepney Green or Whitechapel.
