I can count on one hand the amount of times I've set foot inside a TK Maxx store.
When I first arrived in the UK, I made a beeline for this shop. It was, apparently, where "savvy shoppers" head to unearth a designer gem. Heck, I thought, I'm a savvy shopper. So off I toddled, dedicating a decent amount of time to digging around in a bid to bag a designer bargain [note to self: go easy on the alliteration]. But after a few visits yielded zero startling finds, I gave it up as the stuff of legend.
But there I was this afternoon, back at my local Lewisham branch, trawling the racks in desperation for a bikini. I know. It's the end of the season. I've missed the boat. BUT, I'm flying off to Sardinia next month and I have a bad habit of leaving bikini buying 'til the last minute. That's because it's a demon task from hell. Still, I thought I had nothing to lose and dutifully made my way around the shop floor.
Not surprisingly, there was zilch in the way of swimsuits BUT, I did end up in the scarf section (yep, miles away from bikinis) and found a rather choice selection including a See by Chloe cotton print scarf (£19), a striking orange and black silk McQ by Alexander McQueen scarf (£99 - down from £500), a dancing Olivia red silk Moschino scarf (£15) and a woolen tan and cream scarf by Michael Kors (£19). I also discovered a bunch of pretty Calvin Klein and Elle McPherson bras for around £6 over in lingerie. Cheep cheep!
Thursday, 28 August 2008
Wee finds at TK Maxx
Wednesday, 27 August 2008
Shopping in London: Sunday & Rex
Pop-up galleries and shops is where it’s all happening in London right now. I do like a bit of a pop-up myself – something about its temporary nature and implied sense of urgency spurs me to actually get off my arse – lest I ‘snooze and lose’.
And popping up in East London on Friday is Sunday & Rex, a gallery showcasing art, furniture, contemporary jewellery and designed objects from up-and-coming designers from Australia and Europe.
Stewart Brooks and Georgie Morgan are the Aussie expats behind Sunday & Rex, and together they’ve curated a cracker line-up of design talent. Here’s a sneak peek of some of the tasty gems on offer …
Lucy Folk's sterling silver popcorn ring.
Lucy Folk's sterling silver cornchip necklace.
Lucy Folk's gold popcorn necklace.
Gregory Bonasera's ceramic bowls. 
Vaugh Shannon's branch table.
Vaugh Shannon's happy lamp.
Krista McRae's odd-shaped earrings.
Krista McRae's gem studs in silver, oxidized silver and 24ct gold.
Nina Ellis's bowls.Sunday & Rex
Pop-up gallery
30 August-14 September
90 Redchurch Street E1 6LA
18-21 September
Tent London
Truman Brewery
Brick Lane E1
Click here for more shops in E1.
Sunday, 24 August 2008
Wednesday, 20 August 2008
Shopping in London: Repetto 60 Ans
It’s all about tulle, tutus and tortured toes at Dover Street Market right now, and I couldn’t stay away for a second (OK, I made it over there yesterday).
Repetto design by Rei Kawakubo, Comme des Garcons.
I was there to check out Repetto’s 60 Ans exhibition, which opened in London on Monday. The iconic French ballet shoe company has just turned 60, and to celebrate they invited 60 sparkling luminaries from the worlds of dance, film, art, fashion and design to customise a pair of ballet shoes.
Bardot ‘Strass Rouge’ – limited and individually numbered by Repetto.
There’s also a line-up of customised tutus and leotards, including Rei Kawakubo’s flirty and fun French-maid version with a shorter white ‘apron’ frill over a longer black skirt. It also plays with the difference between the classic shorter tutu and the romantic mid-calf version.
Repetto design by Rei Kawakubo, Comme des Garcons.My only (tiny) complaint was that at times it was difficult to discern who actually designed what, as the labels were attached to each shoe and often tucked underneath. And a good sprinkling of “Do not touch” signs made me reluctant to turn them over. I would have loved to have seen the shoes designed by Chloë Sevigny and Kim Gordon.
All designs in 60 Ans will be auctioned in October, with proceeds going to Unesco to fund select educational establishments.
Repetto 60 Ans
Monday 18th August to Saturday 13th September
Dover Street Market
17-18 Dover St,
London W1
Tel: 020 7518 0680
Opening hours:
Monday to Saturday 11am-6pm
Thursday 11am-7pm
Nearest tube: Green Park
Click here for more shops in Mayfair.
Click here for a Wee Birdy map.
All images courtesy of Dover Street Market.
Sunday, 17 August 2008
Birdy pick of the week
Lovely bird decoration and lovely badge, US$24, from One of Kind’s Etsy shop. Check out One of Kind's blog and website - or visit the stall in person at London's Spitalfields market.
Friday, 15 August 2008
Shopping in London: Beyond the Valley sale
Looks like it will be pop-up shop au-go-go in the Carnaby area over the next couple of weeks. While you're checking out Urban Craft Stars' pop-up shop, don't miss Beyond the Valley's countdown sale on nearby Ganton Street, starting Friday 22 August (just around the corner from the main BTV store). Prices start at £30 and will reduce further by £5 every two days until they're cleared. Most items are one-off or in limited supply. Well worth checking out.
From Friday 22 August to Monday 1 September only
2 Ganton Street
London W1F 7QL
Nearest tube: Oxford Street
Click here for a Wee Birdy map.
Opening hours:
Monday to Saturday 11am – 7pm
Sunday 12.30pm – 6pm
(Closed Monday 25 August)
Cash and cheque only
Shopping in London: Urban Craft Stars
As regular Wee Birdy readers will know, I’m a big supporter of local independent designers and the urban craft movement, so I was excited to hear about Urban Craft Stars and their pop-up shop which opens tomorrow for a limited time in Kingly Court, just off Carnaby Street.
This London-based design/craft collective, who all met via Etsy, will be selling a range of hand-crafted and vintage items including recycled furniture, organic printed kids’ t-shirts, stationery, leather purses and hand-knitted scarves.
Here are my picks from some of their Etsy shops:
Vintage atlas envelopes, US$12, from Bombus’ Etsy shop.
Vintage fabric cushion cover in blue and white French ticking, US$25, from Little Chook’s Etsy shop.Urban Craft Stars
1.4 Kingly Court
London W1
www.carnaby.co.uk
Nearest tube: Oxford Street
Click here for a Wee Birdy map.
Open from Saturday 16 August - Sunday 31 August only
Opening hours:
Monday to Sunday 11am – 7pm
For more shops in W1, click here.
Tuesday, 12 August 2008
Sunday, 10 August 2008
Time for Tea
I don’t know why I’m surprised. But here I am, completely astounded and gobsmacked by one particular revelation that arose from tonight’s rather brilliant first episode of Britain From Above, a new TV series on BBC1. (Missed it? Imagine a narrated UK-version of Koyaanisqatsi, minus the Philip Glass score.)
So what’s got my feathers in a flap? Well, there’s a precise moment, every day in Britain, when the nation’s energy supplies are so strained and pushed beyond capacity that, when necessary, the dude who keeps an eye on the national grid has to borrow extra energy from France.
Hmmm ... what could possibly be causing this weird phenomenon, which apparently is entirely unique to Britain?
Cue the rolling end credits and the theme-tune of EastEnders, when millions upon millions of Brits get up and switch on the kettle for a cup of tea.
It’s true! The national grid dude even has a telly in his office – which is thrown into one helluva commotion as soon as EastEnders is over. Just goes to show that the British are creatures of habit … and they love a good cuppa.
So Gloustershire-based Etsy seller, Lupin, is on to a good thing with her range of handstitched brooches for the tea-obsessed masses.
Fabric tea cup brooch, US$28, from Lupin’s Etsy shop.Saturday, 9 August 2008
Etsy loves babies, too
Not done with the baby thing yet (sorry, will return to normal posting next week).
I've always loved handmade things for babies. You know, knitted booties with matching matinee jackets. So I've been keeping an eye on Etsy for a while, and have found some real gems for wee bebes. Here are my picks...
Four hand-embroidered sock dollies (can be personalised), US$54.40, from Chickabiddy Baby's Etsy shop.
The Manly Man Baby Sweater, (can be personalised with an initial) US$70, from Magnolia Rose’s Etsy shop.
Remember that Etsy items are one-offs, so my links may sell-out quickly. However, they are often relisted by the seller, or you can always contact them with a request.
French label Bon-Ton loves Liberty for Little Girls...
Read about my visit to BonTon in Paris.
BonTon is also stocked at Petit Aime in Notting Hill...
Petit Aime
34 Ledbury Road
London W11 2AB
Tel. 020 7221 3123
Click here for a Wee Birdy map.
Baby girls get to wear the best clothes
Here are two of my favourites I found on New York-based enfant-terrible's website. How amazing are the prints? I love the toile 'Versailles' print. I swear I'd wear 'em if they came in my size...
New hatchlings
I'm still buzzing after my visit to Queen Charlotte's hospital last night to see my dear friend and her gorgeous brand-new baby daughter. Since I've been immersed in the world of babies over the past nine months, I've become acquainted with some ace baby boutiques - both in London and online.
So I'd thought I'd post a few of my favourites. And if babies aren't your thing right now, just admire the fabulous vintage-style Liberty prints - which as UK womens' mags would say are 'bang on trend' right now...
Couldn't resist buying this ultra-sweet smock and bloomer set for my friend's baby girl. It's from Marie Chantal in Notting Hill.
Marie Chantal
61A Ledbury Road
London W11 2AA
Tel. 020 7243 0220
and
148 Walton Street
London SW3 2JJ
United Kingdom
Tel o20 7838 1111
Wednesday, 6 August 2008
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.
