American Retro is a Parisian brand offering a unique insight into French style; I'm loving the juxtaposed brand name! Their style - daily Parisian chic...with that little extra "je ne sais quoi!" Parisian's have an inimiatble and envied style, so it is a true gift to find it incapsulated in American Retro's collection. Be in awe of their website and pay a visit to one of their boutiques the next time you visit Paris.
I often find it hard to find a truly original piece of jewellery, something no-one else will have. Hidden Art has offered me a possible accessories haven. They sell original pieces by a variety of designers that have to be unique, special or distinctive. They have many sections but the jewellery has to be my favourite, especially the Frida Kahlo inspired hand earrings and the Virgin Mary brooch selection - so weird, so different! See all the delights on offer here.
Caravan is a gem of a boutique in Spitalfields, one of my favourite areas of Londinium. I was lucky enough to meet its founder in her vintage Citroën H-Van - what an inspirational retail guru. Emily Chalmers was kind enough to take time out to tell me all about her shop and the ethos behind her stock choices. Her shop is a modern day Aladdin's Cave, littered with eclectic joy; if it weren't for the fact I arrived there at 5.30, just before the 6pm closure, I would have gladly spent the day on a super rummage. The Caravan "van" is a thing of childhood dreams. A kitsch menagerie of loveliness, guarded by some seriously menacing crows. Click to feast your eyes on the enlarged versions of my photographs or take a closer look at Caravan's delights here. My favourite product...has to be the little mechanical, movement sensitive birdy below; I have a funny feeling its tweeting would be pleasing to both myself and my cats!
Kokon to Zai, the amazingly psychedelic, eclectic shopping experience; with stores in Paris and London, is launching it's online store soon. Keep an eye on the URL...I personally can't wait to see what wonders they have in store.
Pussy Home Boutique, doesn't err on the side of erotic as the name suggests but is the home of Brighton kitsch online. A fab e-store that also now also sells its wares through Topshop, Pussy Home Boutique has long been a favourite of mine. It stocks Paul Frank and Tatty Devine along with many other leading brands and its own unique pieces. Above are two of my fave Tatty Devine necklaces - I have just ordered the "Specklace" as it is out-of-stock on Tatty's own site. Below is an example of the quirkiness the store embodies - would you like a 70's style wallscene? Haven't been able to find one since 1979? Are your walls particularly blank? You'll find a fab selection here!
Vintage alongside up-and-coming fashion forward designers? Mensah has it all. Its location in Portobello Road is reflected in it's eclectic mix of designers and fashions. They also have an online store, with an amazing collection of vintage pieces, separated by style and era. Their contemporary design selection particularly interests me...below are examples from Caravana, taking beautiful billowy silks and chiffon. Please check out the e-store and if you are in London, take the time to pop to Portobello Road.
I found a great little American network, Etsy, where you can buy all things handmade. Among the sellers is Precious Pups - creator of these amazing pieces. I know there's a fine line between quirky and odd but Precious Pups' jewellery is a perfect mix of cheesy and quaint. Dolly Parton and French director Jean-Luc Godard, receive an amazing tribute in the form of pendants. Above right, is a creation called Pup in Womb, sooo weird, yet sooo cute! Check out some of the other great designers on Etsy and embrace your inner geek with Precious Pups.
I feel as if Vena Cava's website is a mini-lesson in photography, possibly entitled "How to make clothes look truly interesting, by Vena Cava." The photos above, a story of contrasts. Left, the rancid fish with the dramatic glamour of the dress. Right, smooth pebbles, uncomfortable to lie on with the delicate ease of the patterned top. Below it is a story of lighting and shadow. The strong lighting highlights only the clothing, not the excessive amount of props, the frame creating a structured overall look. What I love about Vena Cava, is the design duo behind the brand seem so normal. Their inspiration comes from classic design that crosses the generations. See more of the Brooklyn based designers on their website.
An eon ago, just after I left uni, I work as an Air Hostess (flight attendant, trolley dolley...whatever!). It was an amazing way to see the world for free, despite the stigma of being a glorified waitress. I loved my monthly visits to New York, a city full of charm and intrigue. My favourite streets to peruse were Bleaker and Lafayette, so my interest was sparked by this post from NYLON magazine. An amazingly named store, In God We Trust, has just opened a new branch in SoHo on Lafayette Street. So I checked out their website and it is quite a design gem! Beautiful navigation and stunning photography combine to create a site that is a true joy to look at. Their clothing and jewellery ranges are truly original and have enticed me to return to my favourite NYC haunts. Please check out their website for a piece of visual delight.
As those of you that read my blog often will know, I adore Paris. My boyfriend and I visit the beautiful city as often as we can but for some reason the eclectic store that is Colette, has eluded us. We tend to spend our time in Le Marais, but not too far away is the famed Rue Saint-Honoré where the boutique that is the true definition of avant-garde, Colette, is to be found. It's an art gallery, café and restaurant and clothing boutique. Until this week I was unaware that they have an e-store, with a small selection of their quirky gifts. Look who's adorned the wall outside the store, my favourite graffiti artiste, Fafi. The next time we go I shall visit Colette and give you a more extensive report, for now I shall have to be content with the website.
As you can see, my Blog has had a truly "Nordic" feel of late, with a huge amount of inspiration coming from Sweden. Mint and Vintage is a truly ingenious idea. It's an e-store stocking one off vintage pieces, plus new goods from innovative designers. The service on offer feels very personal. After starting off with some great boutique stores Mint and Vintage expanded. Here's the blurb from the site:In the summer of 2006 we decided to start a web shop so that people from all over of Sweden could find vintage and the brands that we selected online. The web shop immediately became more popular than we ever imagined it would be, so we decided to also make it available for people outside of Sweden. This is a work in progress, as always, but we will do our absolute best to try to make it as easy and pleasant as possible for you to shop at Mint & Vintage...We try to give as much service online as we do in our shop. We want you to feel pampered even if it's over an internet connection.
The site itself is sooo pretty, encompassing that rare mix between pristine and retro. A shop that caters for all...a refreshing concept.
If only there weren't a cheesy frozen food supermarket in the U.K. called Iceland - everything about it would be near perfect! Dead is a company courting controversy with their bold t-shirt designs. I know manipulated religious iconography can offend many people (just read this article to see how easily some can become incensed!) but these images of Jesus are artistically reproduced, creating pieces of art as well as fashion."HE WHO FEARS DEATH CANNOT ENJOY LIFE"
is the slogan adopted by Jón Sæmundur Audarson, the artist behind Dead. His story is truly inspirational. In 1994 Jón was diagnosed HIV positive. Through Dead, he has been trying to open people’s eyes to the disease and the unnecessary fear and prejudice surrounding it. I can think of no better reason to check out the fab pieces on Dead's website. Fashion with a heartfelt message always has more meaning.
Want a fashion piece that's a little different?...well look Beyond the Valley. A lovely online store, full of great treats and goodies. A true fashion triumph is the Little Inside Tee, a piece of design genius and kooky all at the same time. The Love is Enough and There Will Never Be Another Time, brooch and necklace, also manage to incorporate some beautiful lettering that blend seamlessly with the design. Go Beyond the Valley for their full range of products.
