Want to know where Naomi Campbell, Nicole Kidman and Kate Moss shop for clothes? Then the shopaholic’s bible Where to Wear 2006 tells you everything - from Kidman’s vintage gear to cancan costumes for hire.
The London guide, compiled by a team of international fashion journalists, is one of a set that also covers New York, Paris and Italy.
It gives stars to its favourite shops but is brutally honest about rude staff, unflattering mirrors and poor value. The authors list the most beautiful designer shops in London, such as Chloe - where Kate Moss and Cameron Diaz go - while offering advice on shoes, handbags, accessories and repairs. The best beauty treatments are tracked down, as are the most stylish cafes perfect for a breather after a gruelling retail session.
A is for Angels, Shaftesbury Avenue, WC2. Dress doesn’t come any fancier - this is the Rolls-Royce of costume-hire shops.
B is for Butler and Wilson, South Moltin St, W1. Aladdin’s cave of sparkly trinkets, beaded slippers, purses and serious costume bling which would not look out of place at a film premiere.
C is for Chloe, Sloane St SW1. Kate Moss and Cameron Diaz are fans of the flagship store, which has a winning dose of street cred.
D is for Dolly Diamond, Pembridge Rd, W11. Vintage clothes date from the Victorian period, though there is a particular weakness for the Fifties. Pucci, Chanel and Dior dresses along with exceptional condition shoes.
E is for Egg, Kinnerton St, SW1. One of London’s secret gems, tucked away in a residential mews, Egg orbits in its own soothing universe with raw, handwoven cotton and silk separates, knitwear and indigo Chinese work clothes.
F is for Fenwick, New Bond St, W1. A hotbed for new designers with a fantastic personal shopping service and discreet beauty salon. The only department store in Bond Street continues to delight twentysomethings and their mothers.
G is for Golden Glow, Avery Row, W1. This tiny gem doubles as a tanning salon, with the most delightful jewellery to complement the much-coveted Kesslord bags from France, which start at a painless £59.
H is for Hampstead Bazaar, Heath St, NW3. If you are a lady of a certain age - and size - this may be your retail nirvana. Comfort clothing for ageing drama queens.
I is for Issey Miyake, Conduit St, W1. Welcome to high-concept fashion; skirts flare at odd angles and some trousers come with shoes attached. Avant-garde style at its finest.
J is for Jimmy Choo, New Bond St, W1.Shoe heaven. Daring heights and dagger-sharp toes make some styles dangerous and cumulative cab fares should probably be factored into the price. Still, few shoes come sexier.
K is for Kruszynska, Beauchamp Place, SW3.You’re Daddy’s little princess but can you charm him into spending £15,000 on your wedding dress? Nancy Dell’Olio is a regular.
L is for The Loft, Monmouth St, WC2. Secondhand clothing from magazine shoots and ex-fashion house samples.
M is for Matches, Ledbury Rd, W11. A-list fashion hangout where customers can sip Chardonnay as they browse ranges from Chloe and Gharani Strok to Marc Jacobs and Missoni.
N is for Night Owls, Fulham Rd, SW3. As different from Agent Provocateur as your granny is from Kate Moss, this high-class but slightly fusty shop offers lacy lingerie, see-through chemises and linen loungewear.
O is for Old Spitalfields Market, Brushfield St, E1.One of London’s coolest markets, it has 250 stalls selling all things vintage, avant-garde and every accessory you could wish for.The fashion market every Thursday is a favorite with tourists, stylists and celebrities.
P is for Philip Treacy, Elizabeth St, SW1. If your aim in life is to get noticed, you need a Philip Treacy hat. His millinery masterpieces are coveted by attention-seekers the world over.
Q is for Question Air, Westbourne Grove, W11. A bright boutique with friendly staff and lots of good names. A his ‘n’ hers branch in Wimbledon is therapy for shopping couples.
R is for R Soles, King’s Rd, SW3. Yee-haw! If your shoe closest has been looking a bit too city-slick lately, this is a great place to get some cowboy kicks in every conceivable style, from snakeskin to cow print to lime-green leather.
S is for Start, Rivington St, EC2. Stop by Start if you have a chance. Situated in the cools of Shoreditch, where hip fashion is plentiful, this savvy boutique owned by a former rock ‘n’ roll guitarist is quirky and full of character.
T is for Thailandia, Munster Rd, SW6. From Bombay to Bali, this is an unexpected Aladdin’s Cave in otherwise mundane Munster Road with unique clothes, the finest silver in London and stunning jewellery. And a flotation tank downstairs.
U is for Urban Outfitters, Kensington High St, W8. Huge industrial-style warehouse with retro/modern culture. The overall effect is mismatched and proud of it.
V is for Virginia, Portland Rd, W11. This vintage shop features women’s clothing from the 1880s to the Thirties, displayed in a over-the-top boudoir where literally everything is pink. A-list clientele include Nicole Kidman and Naomi Campbell.
W is for William Hunt, Savile Row, W1. The utterly, instantly flamboyant appearance of this brilliantly bohemian shop, boasting a piano and a red carpet overlaid with a cow-print rug, is perfect for the larger-than-life clothes on offer.
Y is for YD.UK, Heath St, NW3. The name stands for “You Decide” as in “Wear what you like and don’t be hung up on labels and fads”. Step into the eclectic store and you almost forget you’re in self-conscious, self-important Hampstead.
Z is for Zara, Brompton Rd, SW3. We haven’t had her for long, but how did we do without her? Women of every age love this Spanish chain for its low prices and high style sense. There’s so much good stuff, you can’t try it on fast enough.
… and X is for …
The shops the guide doesn’t recommend:
Adolfo Dominguez, Regent St, W1. The style of this Spanish label and the snoozy ambience won’t quicken your pulse.
The Chelsea Collections, Fulham Rd, SW3. A very Chelsea store selling posh, conservative clothes to posh, conservative people.
Diverse, Upper St, N1. Not for the faint-hearted:the staff look you up and down as you enter.
Exclusivo, Hampstead High St, NW3. We’re sure there are gems but after 10 minutes among crowded rails, dodging other customers and breathing in that fusty, dusty air, we’d had enough.
Jenesis, New Kings Rd, SW6. Sadly, there is a Eurotrash feel to some Italian imports; a bit too much gold and too many synthetic fabrics.
Paul and Joe, Ledbury Rd, W11. The chilly staff might size you up like you’re not quite cool enough.
London Town | This is London | This is London Town | London Palladium | Adelphi Theatre | Her Majesty's | The Abbey Court | Bayswater Hotels | The Abbey Court Hotel | Notting Hill | Kensington Hotels | Notting Hill Hotels | Royal Albert Hall | Dominion Theatre | Globe Theatre | Billy Elliot, The Musical | Cabaret, The musical | Chicago, The Musical | Evita, The Musical | Les Miserables | Mamma Mia! | The Sound of Music | Wicked, The Musical | London hotel near theatres | Central London Hotel | West End Hotel | London restaurants | Soho Restaurants | Covent Garden Restaurants | 020 london | london church | hackney london | croydon london | battersea london | london lane | Cheap London Hotel | Central London Hotel | Discounted London Hotel | Best London Hotel | Luxury London Hotel | london hill | london hall | london court | london church | London Blog | Blog London | London Markets | London Restaurants | London Shopping | Central London Shops | London Museums | London Galleries | London Business | London Theatre | London Bars | London Venues | London Underground | London Tube | tube map underground | history of london underground | history of the London underground | Journey planner underground | london tube station | churches in London | london High Street | London South West | The Abbey Court | Bayswater Hotels | The Abbey Court Hotel | Notting Hill | Kensington Hotels | Notting Hill Hotels | church in London | london Church | covent garden market london | billingsgate market london | antique markets london | antique market london | food market london | estate agents street | high street london | bethnal green london | 50 Best London Restaurants | Central London Restaurants | East London Restaurants | North London Restaurants | South London Restaurants | West London Restaurants | West End Restaurants | London Town | This is London | This is London Town | Cheap London Hotel | Central London Hotel | Discounted London Hotel | Best London Hotel | Luxury London Hotel |
