Late night Christmas shopping in London

With Christmas just 20 sleeps away, there are a host of late night shopping events coming up for London readers.

I took a friend along to “Sparkling Thursdays” night at Selfridges a couple of weeks ago, and we had a rollicking good time scoffing Lindt balls, downing free glasses of champagne whilst checking out all the limited edition holiday ranges (I love Dior’s shimmering new eye palette) and having makeovers. We also scored some cool freebies from Korres. Too much fun. The next Sparkling Thursdays night is on Thursday 6 December and Thursday 13 December at the Oxford Street store from 4pm to 9pm. Click here for more information.


Selfridges
400 Oxford St
London
W1A 2LR
Nearest tube: Bond Street.

Otherwise, head to East London for two of the coolest street shopping nights.

Columbia Road’s shops are normally only open on Sundays for the Flower Market, but they're opening for special late shopping nights on Wednesday 12 December and Wednesday 19 December, from 5pm to 9pm. There will be carols, mulled wine, Santa and mince pies.

While you're there, keep an eye out for my fave Columbia Road shops like Treacle (at no. 110-112) for the sweetest and sparkliest cupcakes, Vintage Heaven (at no. 148) for fabulous vintage finds, Supernice Limited (at no.106) for Blik wall decals, Openhouse (at no. 152) for furniture and accessories for the house and garden, Angela Flanders Perfumes (at no. 96) for bespoke fragrance, Bob and Blossom (at no. 14) for gorgeous children’s toys and clothing and Fred Bare (at no. 118) for cool hats.

Got to www.columbiaroad.co.uk for more information.
Nearest tube: Old Street, Liverpool Street and Bethnal Green.


And nearby on Cheshire Street (just off Brick Lane), the stores are getting festive tomorrow night, Thursday 6 December from 6pm to 9pm. Read all about my fave Cheshire Street stores here. Head to Dragana Perisic for some festive mulled wine, as well as 20 per cent off all full-priced items.
Go to www.cheshirestreet.co.uk for more information.
Nearest tube: Liverpool Street.

A wee birdy in a pear tree

Forgive me for indulging my passion for all things ornithological, but following a year where birds emerged as a major decorating trend, the interest hasn't let up for the festive season. So without further ado, here's a wee birdy or two for your tree. I've sourced these various feathered folk from London shops and my fave online stores. See the bottom of the post for stockist details.

Bird decorations, £29.95, for a set of eight, from Dotcomgiftshop.

Large tin bird, £13.58, from VVRouleaux.

Multi-coloured glass parrots hanging decorations, £8.95 for a set of three, from Dotcomgiftshop.

Swarovski owl decoration, £16.95, from The Conran Shop. Tel. 020 7589 7401

Robin Christmas tree decoration by Vivi, £7.75, from Not on the High Street.

Gold sequin bird, £3 for a set of three, from Woolworths.

Gold glitter wire bird, £2, from John Lewis.

Personalised handpainted fine china bauble in robin design, £9.95, from GettingPersonal.co.uk.

And I'll just sneak in a few fave birdy cards, as well:

Elle and the Snow Dove Postcards, US$16 for a set of 8, from BelleandBoo’s Etsy shop.

Pear Tree cards, US$10 for a set of four, from BlueSnailPaper’s Etsy shop.

Season’s Greetings cards, US$6 for a set of four, from EnfinLaVoila’s Etsy shop.

Top bird tip: if you click on the link to an Etsy product and it has sold out (they tend to do this quickly as they are one-offs), make sure you click on the link to the actual shop as they will often have the exact item listed again.

London stockists:

VVRouleaux
54 Sloane Square
Cliveden Place
London SW1W 8AX
Tel: 020 7730 3125

VVRouleaux
102 Marylebone Lane
London W1U 2QD
Tel: 020 7224 5179

The Conran Shop Chelsea
Michelin House
81 Fulham road
London SW3 6RD
Tel: 020 7589 7401

The Conran Shop Marylebone
55 Marylebone High Street
London W1U 5HS
Tel: 020 7723 2223

John Lewis
Oxford Street
London W1A 1EX

John Lewis
Brent Cross Shopping Centre
London
NW4 3FL

A Very Cath Kidston Christmas

Check out the endearing new Christmas range from Queen of Twee Prints, Cath Kidston. I'm totally loving the cheery holly print in Kidston's signature colour palette.

Holly print cake tin, £8, from Cath Kidston.

Holly print napkins, £15, from Cath Kidston.

Holly print double oven glove, £10, from Cath Kidston.

Holly print apron, £18, from Cath Kidston.

Wool sheep decorations (including the requisite black sheep of the family), £16.50 for a set of five, from Cath Kidston.

Enamel Christmas badge, £4.50, from Cath Kidston.

Cath Kidston
www.cathkidston.co.uk
Click here for store locations

Cath Kidston - Covent Garden
28-32 Shelton Street
London WC2H 9JE
Telephone: 020 7836 4803
Nearest tube: Covent Garden

Cath Kidston - Chelsea
12 Cale Street
London SW3 3QV
Telephone: 020 7584 3232
Nearest tube: Sloan Square and South Kensington

Cath Kidston - Kings Road
322 Kings Road
London SW3 5UH
Telephone: 020 20 7351 7335
Nearest tube: Sloan Square

Cath Kidston - Fulham
668 Fulham Road
London SW6 5RX
Telephone: -20 7731 6531
Nearest tube: Parsons Green

Cath Kidston - Marylebone
51 Marylebone High Street
London W1U 5HW
Telephone: 020 7935 6555
Nearest tube: Baker Street

Christmas in London: decorations

As you can tell, I have a huge soft spot for beautiful Christmas decorations, which, like most things, I entirely blame on my mum (sorry, mum!). She has the biggest and most eclectic collection of decorations, all picked up from her travels and lovingly cared for over the past 40-odd years. When I was a little girl, I loved the moment when she would disappear into the recesses of a dark closet and proudly emerge with a pile of dusty boxes with "Christmas decos" scrawled on the side. It was all very exciting - even in Australia's 30 degree December heat.

Here's my round-up of the 2007 Christmas collections from London stores, starting with the beauties at The Conran Shop:

Squirrel decoration, £10.95, from The Conran Shop www.conranshop.co.uk (020 7589 7401).

Swarovski poodle decoration, £24.95, from The Conran Shop www.conranshop.co.uk (020 7589 7401).

Swarovski mushroom decoration, £10.95, from The Conran Shop www.conranshop.co.uk (020 7589 7401).

I love the graphic icicle designs and the magenta colour palette on this year's Habitat line-up, which include:

Brush/flocked bauble, £3.50 for a pack of three, from Habitat.

Brush/painted bauble, £3.50 for a pack of three, from Habitat.

Engel embossed angel, £14, from Habitat.

And the V&A Museum can always be counted on for a selection of well-designed decorations:

Jewelled ruby snowflake decoration, £7, from the V&A shop.

Green jewelled star flower decoration, £3.50, from the V&A shop

Orange little cardigan decoration, £4.50, from the V&A shop.

And they've also great an excellent selection of Christmas art cards:

1950s bauble cards, £6 for a set of 10, from the V&A shop.

Bicycle ride Christmas cards, £4 for a set of 10, from the V&A shop.

Beatrix Potter Christmas cards, £6 for a set of 10, from the V&A shop.

The Conran Shop Chelsea
www.conranshop.co.uk
Michelin House
81 Fulham road
London SW3 6RD
Tel 020 7589 7401
Nearest tube: South Kensington

Habitat
www.habitat.co.uk

The V&A Shop
www.vandashop.com
V&A South Kensington
Cromwell Road
London SW7 2RL
Tel: 020 7942 2000
Nearest tube: South Kensington

Christmas in London: Liberty

It’s December 1 and the Christmas season has officially begun, even though London stores got a head start with Santas and snowflakes in October. Still, I’m the biggest sucker when it comes to all things festive, and when London’s streets turned on their twinkling lights recently, I couldn’t help but be impressed. Sure, it all smacks with commercialism and thinly veiled advertisements, but the display at Oxford Street Debenhams literally made me catch my breath (hmmm … or perhaps that was the particularly bracing air that night ):


And I’m a major of fan of the fabulous paper chain decorations on Carnaby Street:



My vote for the prettiest Christmas shop goes to Liberty, which is decked out as a magical winter wonderland. I almost cried when I walked in and glimpsed the canopy of fairy lights strung across the old timber beams (told ya I'm the biggest sucker). The snowy owls, squirrels and life-size deer decorations are a particular highlight (can you imagine walking out the door with one of those under your arm?).




The gift shop’s elaborate display of rainbow-coloured sweets, treats and chocolates stacked in tall jars on endless rows of tables is surely the stuff the sugar plum fairy’s dreams are made of. Just look at this chocolate cottage from Brighton chocolatier Choccy Woccy Doodah:


Liberty also has a beautiful collection of exclusive decorations for your tree this year:

Gisela Graham resin Scottie dog decoration, £3.25, from Liberty.

Gisela Graham pale silver glitter reindeer decoration, £2.95, from Liberty.

Gisela Graham iridescent crystal drop decoration, £3.95, from Liberty.

Liberty
www.liberty.co.uk

Regent Street
London
W1B 5AH
Tel: +44 (0)20 7734 1234

Click here for a Wee Birdy map.

Opening hours:
Monday to Friday 11am-9pm
Saturday: 10am-8pm
Sunday:12pm-6pm

Nearest tubes: Oxford Circus and Piccadilly Circus