Wee Birdy

“My Secret London” with Jane Ellis from KJ’s Laundry

In the latest instalment of “My Secret London”, Jane Ellis from Marylebone’s award-winning independent fashion boutique, KJ’s Laundry, spills the secret London addresses from her little black book.

Best for a bargain? Brick Lane, East London.

Best for vintage? Hammersmith Vintage Fair.

Best for fashion? Shop at Bluebird.

Best for jewellery? Kabiri.

Best for interiors and gifts? Mint.

Best for beauty and skincare? Liberty beauty hall.

Best for kids? Blossom.

Best for stationery? Smythson.

Any other favourites? Chapel Market.

Your number one London shopping secret? La Fromagerie in Marylebone.

Best London souvenir? A retro poster from the Transport Museum.

Favourite place to eat? Yauatcha.

Click here for a Wee Birdy map of Jane’s secret London addresses.
Check out the latest collections online at KJ’s Laundry.

Huge thanks and wee birdy kisses to Jane for her generous tips and advice.

London shopping: Content Beauty/Wellbeing

Oh Marylebone, how I do love thee? Let me count the ways.* Actually, I’ve already waxed lyrical several times over some of the ways – via some of the best independent shops in London that call Marylebone home. And here’s another one to add to that list: Content Beauty/Wellbeing (quite a timely addition being Organic Fortnight and all, making a visit to Imelda Burke’s luxury eco beauty boutique all the more relevant).

Content Beauty/Wellbeing is the first of its kind in London, with a carefully edited selection of certified organic skincare and make-up gracing its certified sustainable wooden shelves. You can rest assured there’s not a smidgen of synthetic nasties in here, with Imelda paying more than lipservice to her ecological commitment. Not only does she choose each brand for their superior organic properties, but she also thoroughly investigates their eco-credentials through each stage of production.

It’s impressive stuff, and so is the boutique itself, with cupboard doors made from recycled vending machine coffee cups, and vintage powder compacts serving as door handles. It’s a curiously inviting modern space, where the minimalist sexy black walls (organic paint, natch) merge with a collage of found objects, old-fashioned botanical illustrations, Victorian postcards and pressed flowers. I also love the collection of Imelda’s vintage hand mirrors from the 20s and 50s, which are hung on the wall next to the Jane Iredale make-up counter. Such a lovely way to admire your new look.

 

Then there’s the 1920s photo album/sketch book which Imelda found at a market and uses as the store’s mailing list book. Flick through the pages of customers’ details and you’ll find the odd page with an endearing drawing or painting by the original owner.
 

As for the products themselves, well, they’re the heroes standing in all their premium organic glory. Here you’ll find niche British organic skincare brands like ila (the Face Oil for Glowing Radiance has a cult following), Laidbare and Inlight joining international brands such as Dr Hauschka, Suki, and Dr Alkaitis. Top picks include Saaf Organic Pure Face Cleanser (£24.99) Dr Alkaitis Organic Soothing Gel (£36), and Organic Apoteke Rasayana Rejuvenating Serum (£49.95). More credit-crunch friendly picks include Laidbare’s Grapefruit Seed Body Wash (£12), Henry Tianus Pore Purifier (£8.50) and Butter London’s formaldehyde-free nail varnishes (£10).

 
Check out the website for online shopping and more info about the treatment room downstairs which offers excellent Dr Alkaitis facials (as Jess G. from Cult Beauty said, it’s the only place in London to get them).

* With apologies to Elizabeth Barrett Browning, who is actually a former resident of Marylebone (at 50 Wimpole Street) and married Robert Browning at St Marylebone Parish Church.

Content Beauty/Wellbeing
14 Bulstrode Street
London W1U 2JG
Tel. 020 3075 1006

Nearest tube: Bond Street
Click here for a Wee Birdy map

Opening hours:
Monday to Saturday 10.30am - 6pm

Click here for more shops in Marylebone.

London shopping: KJ's Laundry

Another outstanding gem on Marylebone Lane, KJ’s Laundry boasts a covetable mix of up-and-coming as well as established designers sourced from around the globe.

This year they added two more jewels to their shiny crown, in the form of Time Out London’s Shopping Award for Best Local Boutique, and ‘Best Boutique’ in the inaugural London Fashion Awards, which is supported by the British Fashion Council.

For me, it’s the place to head if I’m after a good frock that no-one else will be wearing – keep an eye out for designs by New York’s Richard Ruiz and Alice Ritter, as well as London’s Suzannah and Pink Soda.  Then there’s Vivienne Westwood’s Anglomania label, feminine and chic pieces by Cacharel, and some sleek Scandi design by Sweden’s Filippa K.

Top row: Susannah; Bottom row: Pink Soda

It’s also nice to see a good representation of Australian designers, including accessories by Ginger & Smart, basic essentials for layering by Metalicus, sharp tailoring by Carl Kapp, pretty-meets-quirky pieces by Alice McCall and hand-finished fabrics by Lee Matthews.

I really like the girlish retro-inspired and ultra-wearable pieces by French label Eurythmic, an off-shoot of Paul & Joe, and the new trench coats by Canadian label Mackage. Think classic with an edge.

The front cabinet houses a delectable range of gold and silver jewellery, including a delicate sand dollar necklace by Catherine Weitzmann (£40), gold feather necklace by Alex Monroe (£79), and coral necklace by Tracey Matthews (£70).

Left: Alex Monroe's feather necklace; right: Tracey Matthews' coral necklace

There’s also a small assortment of homewares and bits and bobs, including Becky Oldfield’s reworked vintage Union Jack cushions (£55) – swoon! The online shop is also well worth a click.

KJ’s Laundry
74 Marylebone Lane
London W1
Tel. 020 7486 78551

Nearest tube: Bond Street

Click here for a Wee Birdy map.

Opening hours:
Monday to Saturday 10am – 7pm
Sunday 11am – 5pm

Click here for more shops in Marylebone Lane.

All images courtesy of KJ's Laundry.

London shopping: Tracey Neuls

Today we’re heading back to Marylebone Lane and the bijou boutique at number 29 which is home to Tracey Neuls and her eponymous collection of shoes.

I’ve often walked past the window and marvelled at the Canadian designer’s unconventional approach to visual merchandising. Here, shoes are displayed like an installation, hanging in rows from the ceiling.

The artsy connection doesn’t end there. The shoes really are “pieces” and reflect the designer’s taste for the theatrical. Her premium Tracey Neuls label is beautifully hand-crafted in Italy with extraordinary attention to detail. But unlike a pretentious hands-off gallery, these elegant shoes are utterly wearable, with lots of low hand-carved conical wooden heels and flats (joyous news for this arthritic ol’ birdy!).

The current Tracey Neuls summer collection (on its way out and on sale with 30 per cent off) features lots of patent leather in ripe, juicy colours like apple green, sky blue and cherry, with distinctive girlish and vintage-inspired details including contrast piping, oversized buttons, duplicate buckles and peep-toes.

Her other label, TN_29, is made in Portugal and showcases a more muted, neutral palette with a less “produced” quality. I love the soft leather tie-front sandals in tan and black.

Apart from shoes, there’s a selection of tights and soft, slouchy leather bags in black, red and grey with covetable circular wooden handles. Neuls is also the only English stockist for German designer Girl and the Gorilla’s range of delicate crocheted headbands (£40), cotton crocheted gloves (£75) and wrist bands.

There’s also a changing line-up of artists taking residence on the shop’s walls, reinforcing the notion of shop-come-gallery.

Overseas readers will be pleased to hear they can purchase online, with the new Autumn/Winter collection hitting the website soon. Stay tuned…

Tracey Neuls
29 Marylebone Lane, London
United Kingdom, W1U 2NQ
Tel: 0207 935 0039

Nearest tube: Bond Street

Click here for a Wee Birdy map.

Opening hours:
Monday to Friday 11am – 6.30pm
Monday and Sunday 12 noon – 5pm

For more shops in Marylebone, click here.
For more shops in West London, click here.

Wee Birdy Q&A: Homewares in W1

Q: I’m currently planning a trip to London in June and although I have been to London a few times (and lived there for a year in college and attended the LSE), I’m checking your blog for the new and fun. This trip won’t afford me much time for shopping because I’m travelling with my boyfriend and two of our teenage nephews, but I do plan to skip the Royal Artillery Museum for a bit of shopping.

I am planning to focus on the W1 area (Do Shop, Liberty, Mint, Contemporary Applied Arts Gallery), and would love any additional suggestions for home décor stores in that area. Thanks! - Lisa, Phoenix, Arizona.

Hi Lisa,
Wow, travelling with two teenage boys – you’ve certainly got your work cut out for you. But in terms of interiors shopping in the W1 area, you’re off to an excellent start with Do, Liberty, Mint and the CAA shop. Here are some others to add to your must-see list:

Lifestyle Bazaar
A relative newcomer to Carnaby Street’s shopping area, Lifestyle Bazaar specialises in design-led products sourced from around the world. And thanks to its French owners, it has a plethora of Gallic design, including Atelier LZC’s vibrant homewares collection (think birds and flowers), Jean Luc Le Deun’s innovative lighting and Leonor Mataillet’s gorgeous print cushions. There’s also a great line-up of British designers including Michelle Mason (retro-style organic prints and china egg candlesticks), Soop Groop’s homewares with humour (check out their ready-meal plates) and W2’s innovative London-icon range (I love their English Heritage blue-plaque collection).
10 Newburgh Street
London W1F7RN
Nearest tube: Oxford Circus

Skandium
Quite literally, Scandi-cool heaven. Skandium is the ultimate shopping destination for Scandinavian design, with an impressive line-up of furniture, lighting, glassware, ceramics, textiles, kitchenware and books. It has two stores in London, one of which is located on Marylebone High Street in W1 (an excellent street for shopping and eating), as well as the Marimekko concept store on St Christopher’s Place.
86 Marylebone High Street
London W1U 4QS
Nearest tube: Bond Street

Marimekko
16-17 St Christopher's Place
London W1U 1NZ
Nearest tube: Bond Street

Heal’s
A traditional British homewares brand, Heal’s Tottenham Court Road flagship store has been operating since 1840. They stock a range of brands and designers including Clarissa Hulse and Sophie Conran, as well as their own classic brand of homewares. Keep an eye out for the Heal’s Discovers Designers range, which features new products by up-and-coming designers including Sam Aloof (gorgeous scented candle range), Royal College of Art graduate Ella Smith (graphic rugs and cushions) and Jessica Haigh (quirky knitted cushion covers).
196 Tottenham Court Road
London W1
Nearest tube: Goodge St

Habitat
Classic design and homewares mecca. Check out new Spring/Summer products such as the vibrant Sadie drinkware range (£9 for jug), the Zen-like Utopian melamine picnicware range (starting at £2 for a beaker), and Hus Mosaffar’s delicate porcelain teacup tealight holder (£5).
196-199 Tottenham Court Road (next door to Heal’s)
London W1T 7PJ
Nearest tube: Goodge Street
121-123 Regent Street
London W1
Nearest tubes: Piccadilly and Oxford Circus

John Lewis
OK, so it’s a predictable and middle-of-the-road department store, but their homewares section is well worth checking out. I like their extensive collection of bed linen (although coming from the States, you’ve got much better –and waaay more affordable – options over there).
John Lewis
Oxford Street
London W1A 1EX
Nearest tubes: Oxford Circus and Bond Street

Also, don’t miss Muji for their minimalist and understated range of homewares (head downstairs at the Carnaby Street store) and Beyond the Valley for quirky design pieces like cuddly cloud cushions, laser-cut decorative mirrors and Jake Phipps’ Jeeves Hat Light.

Muji
41 Carnaby Street
London W1V 1PD
Nearest tube: Oxford Circus

Beyond the Valley
2 Newburgh Street
London W1
Nearest tube: Oxford Circus

Click here for a Wee Birdy map.

Beyond the Valley

As for your teenage nephews (I'm thinking 13 or 14?), I’m sure you’ve already got that side of things sorted, but may I suggest the Tower of London, London Walks’ Jack the Ripper walk, the Ancient Egyptian mummy room at The British Museum (they’ll freak at the mummified cats), and the Doctor Who exhibition at Earl's Court Exhibition Centre.

If all else fails, the awesome Apple store on Regent Street should keep them occupied while you duck across the road to check out Liberty. Oh, and icecream. Try the legendary Knickerbocker Glory at Fortnum & Mason or go for one of the more spectacular sundaes (impressive in terms of size and scale) at the Harrods Ice Cream Parlour.