Wee Birdy

Wee Christmas finds: Gifts for fashion lovers

The new YSL book, a luxe but affordable Manolo Blahnik shoe horn, the perfect Vivienne Westwood party dress and beautifully constructed silk-satin Marni undies ... all manner of marvellous presents for lovers of fashion.

1. Bloch yellow patent ballerina flats, £105, from Net-a-porter (this links to the UK store, so be sure to select your own country before purchasing).

2. Erdem Narcisse scarf for the V&A, £185, from the V&A shop (ships internationally).

3. Sonia by Sonia Rykiel mohair-blend heart intarsia scarf, £160, from Net-a-porter (this links to the UK store, so be sure to select your own country before purchasing).

4. Marni silk-satin bandeau bra, £155, and silk-satin briefs, £97, from Net-a-porter (this links to the UK store, so be sure to select your own country before purchasing).

5. Tortoiseshell shoe horn by Manolo Blahnik for Liberty, £25, from Liberty (UK only).

6. The Fitzgerald large gold mirror spike necklace, £90, from Jennifer Loisell’s Etsy store.

7. Firework brooch, £81, by Tatty Devine (ships internationally).

8. Yves Saint Laurent by Farid Chenoune, Florence Müller, Jéromine Savignon, Bernard Blistène, £32.55, from Wee Birdy’s UK Amazon store.

9. Vivienne Westwood Anglomania Friday printed cotton dress, £395, from Net-a-porter (this links to the UK store, so be sure to select your own country before purchasing).

Wee find: Tatty Devine's new lacy designs

Tatty Devine's turned to old-school romance and girlish charm for spring this year with their 'Sundae Best' collection.

The lacy scalloped edges lend themselves beautifully to a range of necklaces, rings, cuffs and headpieces, and you can just about picture Tatty's lovely girls reaching across the jam-smeared paper doily for the very last crumbs of the Victorian Sponge.

The heart-shaped ring is excellent value at £15, and would make a rather lovely Valentine's Day gift, but I'm also quite taken by the cupid's arrow brooch, £27. Gotta love those Tatty girls, they get it right all the time.

Wee find: Cute as a button card

Loving this clever giant button card by new Wee Birdy sponsor Present & Correct, which makes a great alternative to the hearts-and-flowers Valentine's Day options. The card is debossed (ooh, tactile!) and the design is based on an old vintage button.

And for the perfect accompanying gift? Try a button brooch from Tatty Devine.

Top 10 London Christmas gifts

1. Fortnum and Mason biscuits

A tin of biscuits may be a bit of a Christmas cliché, but Fortnum’s Piccadilly Biscuit Selection, £13.95, is a particularly elegant option, with a pretty tin of butter biscuits in six different flavours (golden crunch, date & walnut, lemon curd, ginger, macadamia nut and chocolate pearl).

2. Colour-changing umbrella

I’m fascinated by this umbrella, which features a white London skyline on a black background. When it rains, the water turns the skyline a rainbow of colours. Genius. £30 from Squid London at Beyond the Valley.

3. Shepherd’s diary

Hand-bound in Shepherd’s London bindery in a range of decorative Japanese papers. The slim-line pocket diary is £19.50 and available from the Rochester Row & Southampton Row stores, as well as Liberty. 

4. Ormonde Jayne’s Tiare fragrance

Bypass the department store perfume box sets and head to Ormonde Jayne for the exquisite new Tiare fragrance, which features mandarin, orange flower and Sicilian lime in the top notes, with a ‘heart’ of Tiare, freesia, water lilies, jasmine, orris and ylang. £68 for 50ml Eau de Parfum.

5. Pigeon hankies

Brilliance in a hankie, by London-based designers Thornback and Peel. £18 from Liberty.

6. Alex Monroe bird ring

Wonderfully detailed and delicate work. Alex is a South-Londoner, too. £132 from Alex Monroe.

7. Grayson Perry Tate Modern scarf

Turner Prize winner Grayson Perry has turned his attention to the Tate Modern in this beautifully illustrated silk scarf. (Thanks to Kate Wilson of Little Doodles for the tip!). £63.61, from the Tate Modern shop.

8. Mimi leather purse

This 'Merlin' leather purse is by East London designer Mimi, and features gold foil stamping by Lucky Bird. £37, from Mimi.

9. Rococo Chocolates

I love Rococo as much for their distinctive blue and white packaging as for their delicious chocolates – and this box of rose, violet, lavender and geranium creams (so very English) is a winner for under a tenner. "Fiori e Cioccolata" 8 flower fondant creams, £9.95.

10. Mittens necklace

Toasty mittens to hang around your neck, £63, by Tatty Devine.

Shopping in London: Broadway Market

I finally paid Broadway Market a long overdue visit recently to re-discover some old favourites (Violet has some of the best cupcakery in London), as well as stumble across some exciting new finds. Since we moved to South-East London it's a bigger effort to 'make the trip' to what was once my little local market. It's more of an event than just nipping out to stock up on veg (and uh, cake) for the week. Can't wait til they open up the new rail line next year...

But first, I need to indulge my Violet obsession with a pic of their incredible chocolate devil's food cupcake with marshmallow icing (no wonder this stall was one of the first things I blogged about when I first started Wee Birdy)...

And I loved the look of these apples sitting in the sun...

But it was Karin Andreasson's jewellery that caught my eye this time: a mapgie's nest of vintage-style hairpieces, pendants and jewels. She's a local East Londoner and I love how she's used old ballerina jewellery boxes and mannequin busts to display her wares. It all adds up to a rather charming little stall...

I really love the '20s-style single-feather hair pins embellished with antique lace and vintage diamantes, which are perfect for tucking into a bun or chignon for a special occasion. And if you like quirky pendants, keep an eye out for Karin's re-purposed watch-faces, miniature hand-mirrors, keys and crocheted-edged charms. 

(You can also pick up some of Karin's gorgeous pieces online from Wee Birdy sponsor Cerise.)

Broadway Market, every Saturday
Hackney, London, E8
Nearest rail: London Fields
Click here for a Wee Birdy map.

Click here for more Wee Birdy reviews of stalls and shops on Broadway Market.