Street style: Andrea on Broadway Market

A wee birdy told me that Andrea, 30, wears dress from H&M. She made her own necklace and handbag.

London shopping: RelaxGarden

I spend a lot of time waiting for buses. Invariably, in the rain. But recently on Kingsland Road in Shoreditch, I was rescued by an ultra-cute window display which caught my eye, and RelaxGarden proved to be a haven in more ways than one.



The tiny shop stocks a range of little-known womenswear labels from Japan and Europe, as well as its own truly fabulous RelaxGarden label. I especially loved their roomy leather bags, which offer a quality (and anonymous) alternative to the perennial “It” bags. With a lower price tag. Their in-house womenswear is also enticing and reasonably affordable, with pretty vintage-inspired frocks (from £40) and tops (from £30) in jersey, chiffon and silk mixes. So good I let the 242 and the 149 go past. Twice.



Relax Garden
40 Kingsland Road
Shoreditch E2 8DA
Tel: 020 7033 1881

Click here for a Wee Birdy map.

Opening hours:
Tuesday-Friday 1pm-7pm
Saturday-Sunday 12pm-6pm

Nearest tube: Old Street

For more shops in East London, click here.

London Fashion Week Trend Alert: Lavender

It’s London Fashion Week and a new “it” colour has emerged on the catwalk.
It was all about lavender at yesterday’s Spring/Summer 08 collections, where it made an appearance in Peter Jensen’s fabulous patent shoes, and on Danielle Scutt’s swimwear. Armand Basi’s show was predominantly an ode to lavender, with models draped in a subtle wash of this fresh and pretty hue.

Peter Jensen

Peter Jensen

Danielle Scutt

Armand Basi

Can't wait 'til Spring 2008? Add a splash of lavender to your look right now:

O.P.I nail lacquer in Mod Hatter, £8.

Estee Lauder Pure Color Eyeshadow in Iris Pearl, £14.

Penhaligon's Lavandula Heritage Candle, £45.

Street style: Wei on Kingsland Road

A wee birdy told me that Wei, 24, is wearing a jacket by Martin Margiela, top from Zara, jeans from H&M, belt from Vivienne Westwood, sandals and bag from Top Shop, and earrings from Circus.

London shopping: Buggies & Bikes

What’s this? A Bratz-Free Zone? Well, I never. But it’s true, and this toy shop in Hackney is still pulling the kids (and the parents) in with its unique stock of locally-produced goods and products sourced from niche companies around the world.


It’s the perfect destination for picking up a cool gift for your favourite under-12, with a plethora of innovative and educational toys. While this might sound like death-by-dodgy-craft to your average 10-year-old, I’d dare them to not find the love for a remote-controlled moon light (that surreptitiously teaches them the phases of the moon while they’re NOT going to sleep). Nifty.

And I reckon the African xylophone and bongo drums (£16.50) will also do a bangin’ job in extracting them from the X-Box. Create your own Partridge family, noughties-style. Rock on.

The hero products of the store (and hence its namesake) are the collection of beautifully designed German wooden trikes, bikes and walkers. But if you’re on a tight budget or after quality party bag fillers, look out for the RSPCA animal figurines from £2 and the collection of felt fruit & veg for £1.


I like the woven retro-style mini saucer chair from Africa, and the clever range of felt creatures made by a local mum who brings to life her son’s imaginative drawings.


The other big drawcard is the glorious range of children’s fashion, which features many locally-produced brands, like Edge & Jo, a Hackney-based co-op that makes batik-print frocks and matching pants. Christa Davis is another local who makes an ultra-sweet range of vintage and Liberty print dresses for little girls.


If you’re after babywear, look out for the small rack of woollen and cotton hand-knitted pieces. Apparently a Scottish Gran is largely responsible for this adorable range, which includes knitted cardies, all-in-ones and an ultra-cute striped knit pinafore. There’s also a small collection of vintage baby clothes.


Adding to the strong sense of community is the light-filled space downstairs that’s available to hire for parties and groups.

Buggies & Bikes
23 Broadway Market
London E8 FPH
Tel. 0207 923 2408

Click here for a Wee Birdy map.

Opening hours:
Monday-Saturday 10am-6.30pm
Sunday 11am-5pm

Nearetst tube: Bethnal Green Station
Nearest train: London Fields BR

For more shops on Broadway Market, click here.
For more shops in East London, click here.

Vale Anita Roddick

Brazil Nut Body Butter 200ml, £12, is one of my all-time favourite products from The Body Shop, and a tribute to its inspirational founder, Anita Roddick, who died tonight in the UK. I met Anita at a Body Shop launch in Sydney a few years ago and she was not only smart and clever, but funny, warm and engaging. She had a major impact on the way we shop for beauty and was a pioneer in ethical business trading. Anita, you’ll be sadly missed.

London shopping: Upper Playground

Progressive San Francisco brand Upper Playground is well-known for driving the fusion of art and fashion, and it has launched its foray into the European market with the recent opening of a boutique store in London. In addition to its Californian art gallery FIFTY24SF, the brand provides an opportunity for contemporary artists around the world to showcase their work on men’s and women’s street wear.


Artist-commissioned t-shirts are priced at £25 and feature funky designs by prominent names such as Sam Flores, Jeremy Fish, Saber and Cope. Upper Playground has a huge following in the hip-hop and skate crowd, but the idea of limited-edition fashion is also gaining popular appeal for those looking for an alternative to mass-produced High Street style.


The basement boutique is just around the corner from Carnaby Street, and it features a small gallery space with a current exhibition of photography by Estevan Oriol. His images of legendary tattooist Mr Cartoon (his work decorates the bodies of celebrities like Fifty Cent, David Beckham and Juliette Lewis) add a gritty dimension to the store. I dig Herbert Baglione’s tote bags with their whimsical cat and moon design (£12) and Sam Flores’ cushions (£30). Now you really can wear your art on your sleeve.




Upper Playground
www.upperplayground.com

31 Kingly Street
London, W1
Tel. 0207 734 8705

Click here for a Wee Birdy map.

Tube: Oxford Circus

Opening hours:
Monday-Saturday 10.30-7.30pm
Sunday 11-6pm

For more shops in W1, click here.

Street style: Katie on Bethnal Green Road

A wee birdy told me that Katie, 21, is wearing a Laura Lees at Topshop top, vintage beads from Edinburgh, vintage green cardigan from Rusty Zipper in Edinburgh, jeans from Top Shop and headband from Miss Selfridge.

The Big Mac (macaroons, that is)

If Marie Antoinette really did say, “Let them eat cake”, then she’d be delighted to visit French patisserie Laduree and watch Parisians (and the rest of the world) doing just that.


It’s not surprising that director Sophie Coppola chose Laduree to create the sumptious cakes and towering treats for her visually stunning film Marie Antoinette.



Laduree is one of the oldest patisseries in Paris, and its original salon on rue Royale was founded in 1862. The ornate gilt-edged tea room features chubby cherubs painted on the ceiling, not unlike Marie Antoinette’s rooms at the Palace of Versailles. Whilst the King favoured more austere maroon and dark green, the Queen’s rooms are lighter and brighter with a dominant colour palette of golds, creams and pastels.



Ah, pastels. Laduree’s famous macaroons, tinted in the most delicate shades seemingly taken from the walls of the Queen’s bedroom, are the reason why people flock here every day.


These petit bites of bliss come in a startling range of flavours, including vanilla, coffee, rose petal, chocolate, pistachio, salted butter caramel, cherry amaretto, raspberry, orange blossom and liquorice. They also offer seasonal flavours, such as lemon, coconut, and chestnut. You can see Marie Antoinette nibbling away now.



I arrived in time for lunch, where the elegant club sandwiches come with a side of hand-cut frites. The extensive selection of tea was also overwhelming, and I decided to go with the fragrant Marie Antoinette blend, which was spiked with fruit oils and rose petals.

But there’s more to come, including a display case of cakes, pastries and chocolates. The religieuses are something else altogether. I had assumed they were so-named because eating them would be akin to a religious experience. Er, that would be wrong. Apparently they are meant to resemble a nun. (Make sense? Nah, me either, unless the pastry chef had a big blob as a teacher at school.) But I DO love this blackcurrant-violet religieuse, made from choux pastry, blackcurrant and violet-flavoured confectioner’s custard:


In the end, I go with four mini macaroons, the most perfect morsels to end my Marie Antoinette-esque experience. Oh lordy, it IS a religious experience.


Laduree
16 rue Royale (8th arr.)
There are five other Laduree shops in Paris, as well as a Laduree tearoom in Harrods, London.

Shopping in Paris: the 4th arr.

There are more shopping gems in the 4th arrondissement, which is home to the traditional Jewish area of the Marais, as well as Ile St. Louis, the tiny neighbouring island to Ile de la Cite and Notre Dame. This area is perfect for an afternoon’s stroll across the Seine (and a magical view of Note Dame’s flying buttresses). Here are my favourite speciality stores (and some very good bakeries, creperies and sweet shops).

K. Jacques
16 rue Pavee
This small boutique is dedicated to just one thing: quality leather sandals. And there are hundreds of them, in all different styles and colours. They’re not cheap (average price €150) but they’ll serve you well. New York fashion editors make a beeline for this shop when they're in Paris.


Pleats Please
3 bis rue des Rosiers
Stop here for Issey Miyake’s celebrated range of pleated garments. The tops are practical and great for travel, as the permanent pleats never require ironing. The simple shapes and lines look sculptural on the body, and are available in a range of colours and prints.


Florence Finkelsztajn
24 rue des Ecouffes
This fabulous Jewish bakery specialises in pastries such as cheesecake and apple strudel.


Melodies Graphiques
10 rue du Pont Louis Philippe
I had only been in this shop for five minutes when I had the sudden urge to quit emailing and immerse myself in the old-fashioned art of writing letters. This little store has an impressive selection of elegant stationery, ink, pens and leather-bound notebooks. I’ve always loved beautiful stationery, so I was particularly taken by the lace-edged place cards and the boxes of correspondence cards. The friendly owner knows his stuff and is only too happy to help. Keep an eye out for the showcase wall of calligraphied envelopes sent to the shop from around the world.




Papier
9 rue du Pont Louis Phillippe
More gorgeous stationery, pens, pencils and fabric-bound notebooks. Heaven.



Bleu dans Lile
35 Rue des Deux Ponts
Pick up an old-fashioned tin of dragees (sugared almonds) from this sugar haven on the tiny island of Ile St. Louis. The window display is a visual treat packed with nougat, chocolate, lollipops and marshmallows. Keep an eye out for the marshmallow Virgin Marys.




Pom’ Cannelle
27 Rue des Deux Ponts
In summer, line up for the famous Berthillon ice-cream served from the window of this café. In winter, warm up inside with hot chocolate and crepes.


Arche de Noe
70 rue St Louis en l'Ile
Charming toy store packed with old-fashioned wooden toys, puppets, dolls and an ultra-girlie pink aisle.



La Charlotte de l'Îsle
24 rue St. Louis en l'Îsle
www.la-charlotte.fr
Incredible handmade chocolates and sweets.

Petit Bateau
36 rue de Sévigné (3rd arr)
This French chain makes the best long-sleeved striped cotton tops that are inexpensive and instantly chic. This season the ultra-flattering cut features contrast piping around the neckline with a cute little bow. They also stock an extensive range of childrenswear and babywear.