Wee Birdy

Tatty Devine update: new Covent Garden shop

This just in: Tatty Devine Soho is moving to Covent Garden and will officially open for business on Saturday 7 November. Sounds like a great move to me - as much as I loved the Soho store, it did feel a little removed from the bustle of neighbouring shops. I think they'll have a much stronger presence in their new Monmouth Street premises. 

Along with the full Tatty Devine collections, the new shop will showcase an ace selection of products by the likes of Eley Kishimoto (keep an eye out for their flash print purses and hosiery), Mimi (luxe leather bags), Alexander Wang and Jeremy Scott (cool sunglasses). There will also be a collection of pieces designed especially for Tatty Devine by Rob Ryan (hurrah!)

And in true Tatty style, the girls have organised a raft of activities to celebrate the grand opening, including a "carnival-style parade" on the evening of Thursday 19 November, with a line up of performers, artists, fans and friends making a procession from the Soho shop to the new Covent Garden space. Customers will also be treated to some surprises and treats on Saturday 21 November, where every visitor will be entered into a competition to win a limited edition White Tiger Necklace.

Tatty Devine
44 Monmouth Street
London WC2 9EP
Tel. 0207 836 2685
Nearest tube: Covent Garden
Click here for a Wee Birdy map.

All jewellery featured here is from the new Tatty Devine 'Button Up' collection.

Shopping in London: Lazy Oaf

I do love popping into Lazy Oaf on the ground floor of Kingly Court (just off Carnaby Street) for a kooky dose of sausage dog print tees (my all-time favourite), banana Perspex brooches and hamburger sweaters.

Lazy Oaf are the crew behind the Michael Jackson tee I posted about recently, and they seem to have a never-ending supply of slightly mad graphic concepts for men’s and womens’s tees and sweaters, as well as toys, pins, stationery and plush toys.

New this season is the fabulous Foxy tee, which features a print collar, as well as a super-sweet ‘I Make Things’ tee – perfect for crafty make-and-do chicks.

They've also got an amazing range of Japanese stationery and decorative items. Take a look at these  Pinocchio plates, notebooks and decorative tape by designer Shinzi Katoh. How much fun is the 'Happy Friends' tape?

 

Their website is also well worth a look, with all their products available to purchase, along with a particularly good shop blog.

Lazy Oaf
Kingly Court, Carnaby Street
London W1B 5PW
Nearest tube: Oxford Circus
Click here for a Wee Birdy map.

Opening hours:
Monday to Saturday 11am-7pm
Sunday 12 noon-6pm

Click here for more shops in Soho.

Wee find: French and English Confectioners

 
I'm loving these limited-edition ‘Gold Dust Woman’ bags by French and English Confectioners, one of the labels I discovered at Swanfield. Featuring incredible starburst designs in raffia and metallic thread, each bag (there are only 14 in total) has been hand-cut and hand-embroidered by designer Lucie Gonnord.

There are also some rather lovely satchels and clutches in patent leather with sweet cut-out details. Priced from £85, at Swanfield.

Swanfield (until the end of Oct)
1.2 Kingly Court
London, W1
Tel. 07595 64040
Nearest tube: Oxford Circus.
Opening hours:
Monday to Saturday 11am-7pm

Shopping in London: Swanfield

 
I know that London (and this blog) has gone a little pop-up crazy in recent weeks, but here’s one that’s definitely worth a visit. Swanfield originated in East London as a collective of designers, and has recently gone ‘on tour’, with pop-ups in central London. The swans are currently nesting on the first floor of Kingly Court (just off Carnaby Street) with their fresh mix of independent fashion, vintage wares and accessories.

Three young designers, in particular, caught my eye on a recent visit: Cecilia Hammarborg (for dramatic swing coats in tweeds and worsted wool); Lucie Gonnard’s French and English Confectioners (for custom-made limited edition shoes and bags) and Katherine Pont’s MINE fashion label (keep an eye out for her whimsical Spring/Summer 10 collection – she's one to watch).

More posts to follow on each designer...

Swanfield (until the end of Oct)
1.2 Kingly Court
London, W1
Tel. 07595 64040
Nearest tube: Oxford Circus.
Opening hours:
Monday to Saturday 11am-7pm

Shopping in London: Eley Kishimoto's pop-up

I peeped inside Eley Kishimoto’s pop-up shop in Soho’s Kingly Street on Saturday morning, and was delighted to discover not only the current ‘60s jetset-inspired collection (one of my favourites), but a room full of discounted samples downstairs.

You might want to consider putting off your winter coat purchase until you’ve paid the shop a visit – there are some truly great pieces here, as well as some cute frocks and accessories. The best buys, however, are their signature hosiery in eye-popping prints (this season has some lurex mixed in for extra sparkle).

The shop is run by members of the South London design studio, so you will get lots of insider EK news and advice, and you’ll also find some of their Japanese License accessories that have never been seen in the UK before. Look out for their ‘Flash’ print adorning everything from Converse sneakers to umbrellas.

It’s quite accomplished for a pop-up shop, with Eley Kishimoto printed curtains in the dressing room and artwork on the walls. Now if only this shop was a wee bit more permanent, I would be a very happy birdy indeed. It’s officially open until the end of October, but there are whispers that it could be around a little longer.

Eley Kishimoto pop-up shop
8 Kingly Street
London W18 5PQ
Tel. 0207 734 5756
Click here for a Wee Birdy map.

Until October 31, 2009
Opening hours:
Monday to Saturday 11am-7pm
Thursday 11am-8pm
Sun Noon-5pm

Click here for more shops in Soho.