BBC London radio show 14th May

Hello! The blog is without pictures at the moment, or links (I've just written all the websites in, in an old fashioned visible way) because something went wrong with Blogger yesterday. I'll re-jig later to make it look nicer, but all the info is there!

It all began this week with a trip to Clerkenwell, to take part in Clerkenwell Design Week (http://www.clerkenwelldesignweek.com/ ).  It doesn’t start until 24^th May, but there’s a lot to think about seeing over the ‘week’ (which is actually three days, as it ends on 26^th, but poetic license is favoured on the Robert Elms show).

The timetable (http://www.clerkenwelldesignweek.com/whats-on/time-table/) is mind-boggling, including local architects SaY (on 45 Mitchell Street, EC1 http://www.clerkenwelldesignweek.com/say/ ) opening up their collaborative design practice studio for unknowings like me to wander through, design talks at lunchtimes by lumineries in the world of design (have a look at the ‘Inspiring Design lunch and talks’ by Moroso (?)section online). There will be talks by trend forecasters about what people will be buying next year, as well as lectures by physiotherapists about the best work environments for happiness. I like the look of the Vitra workshop where you can learn to ‘upcycle’.

 

There are exhibitions as well of course – you get the chance to visit the House of Dentention, a Victorian prison on Sans Walk in Clerkenwell, which will be open to the public throughout and also the Farmiloe Building on St John Street, which used to house a Victorian lead and glass merchants. Both destinations will be showcasing new design talent – but it’s really interesting to think historically, too.

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Next: a bike tour. I’ve spoken before about the super cool bike company Tokyobike (http://www.tokyobike.co.uk/ ): it’s a small independent bike maker in an old Tokyo suburb called Yanaka. And somehow, now they are super dooper cool, and on the wish lists of cyclists and people who like nice design and don’t mind a bit of cycling with it.

The founder Ichiro Kanai has a well developed philosophy that ensures every model is lightweight (about 10 KG), simple, and carries a lot of style. And – important – isn’t expensive. They’re made of lightweight cromoly steel which they say ensures strength and durability, and the compact upright handlebars are designed for a comfortable ride and vision. The 650mm diameter wheels are good for speeding up and whizzing around tight corners, which makes them a very urban choice.

And – this summer,  there’s going to be a shop in London. It opens on Friday 27^th May on 54 Rivington Street, EC2A 3QN (020-7608 0206), but there’s a launch party on Thursday 26^th May at 6pm, where you can preview the bikes, have a drink and enter a raffle to win one (all money goes to the Japanese Tsunami appeal).

The store stays open until 31^st July, Wednesday- Sunday.  (11am-7pm Weds- Fri; 11am-5pm Sunday).

Twitter: @tokyobikeUK

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And then. Cheery news: a chocolate shop on Camden Passage that I like to get hot chocolate from in the winter time is doing so well, it’s coming to Soho. It’s Paul A Young – who makes hand made chocolates, ice cream, brownies. He’s done really well, considering he opened in Islington just in 2006, and since then has opened another in Threadneedle Street, won lots of awards in the chocolate world – including a Gourmand Award for the Best Chocolate Book in the World, no less.

All fresh natural ingredients, no additives or preservatives. And this store has a big kitchen downstairs for tastings: if you call in, Paul will probably be there, experimenting away.

Have a look at http://www.paulayoung.co.uk/ or follow on Twitter at @paul_a_young


· <http://www.paulayoung.co.uk/> Twitter @paul_a_young

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Then the mood for a bargain overcame us, and we went to British Designers Sale, in Chelsea Town Hall on King’s Road (http://www.designersales.co.uk/ ). It’s the second and last day today - open until 4pm. I didn’t say this, but if you quote Time Out at the door, there’s free entry.

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I love this: Buy My Wardrobe is back. This is where more than 20 stylish women (who call themselves Wardrobe Mistresses) with seriously designer wardrobes, sell them off at seriously reduced prices – some up to 70% cheaper. (Have a look on http://www.buymywardrobe.com/ ). It’s happening today, from 2pm – 4pm, at the Supperclub, 12 Aklam Road, W10, (just off the Portobello Road) and there will be over 100 pre-loved (dubious phrase) handbags, a shoe lounge with over 100 pairs of hardly worn designer shoes, and style consultants (Nicky Hambleton Jones agency) .

You can buy a ticket on the door from 2pm, for £5 - but if you want to get there first to get the choice of the best, you can buy a VIP ticket which includes champagne for £20, which gets you in at noon, or £5 in advance for entry at 1pm.

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For scavenging in a treasure trove, the only conceivable destination next was the Kettle’s Yard Found Sale, which is happening in the Brompton Garage, SW3 2BA (have a look at http://www.kettlesyard.co.uk/ for more details), which is South Kensington tube. It starts on Tuesday 17^th, and runs until Saturday 22^nd, and promises arts, furniture, crafts, and all manner of things lost and found, costing from £1 up to £2000.

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For a vintage dress, the place we stopped by was ‘Frock Me!’, the vintage fashion fair and tea room which counts among its attendees Kylie Minogue and Kate Moss. That’s happening tomorrow, from 11am-5.30pm, in Chelsea Town Hall, on the King’s Road, again. It costs £4, unless you’re a student with ID, and then it’s £2. Look at http://www.frockmevintagefashion.com/ )

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Then to a Nicole Fahri sample sale, from 18^th May until 21^st May (Wed- Fri 11am – 8pm, Sat 10am -4pm) It’s in 16 Fouberts Place, W1 (020-7036 7500). You’ll get up to 60% off shoes, clothes and accessories (men and women).

For people who like Belstaff, there’s a sample sale in The Music Room, 26 South Molton Lane, on 20^th May (1pm-6pm) and 21^st May (9am-6pm). Again, up to 60% off coats, boots, shirts etc.

For brides! London Bridal Designer Sale on Sat 4th, (10am to 5pm) and Sunday and 5th June at the Lancaster Hotel, Lancaster Terrace, W2 2TY

Up to 70% off designer wedding dresses. Over 1000 available from leading designers including Amanda Wakeley, Amy Michelson, Anna Christina, Annabel B, Atelier Aimée, Caroline Castigliano, Christiana Couture, Galit Levi, Lyn Ashworth, Max Chaoul, Oleg Cassini Icon, Sharon Hoey, Toi Creazioni…

The tickets are FREE, but, you must log onto http://www.bridaldesignersale.com/  to register your details and to select a time slot. When you get there, consultants will measure you so you know the size to look for; fashion show samples, end of line, one-off prototypes, shop samples.

 




Then, a trip around Liberty, home of window shopping (for me), and purveyor of wondrous goods.  Every year, the wonderfully named Patch Rogers takes over a section of the shop to exhibit, and sell, a collection of unique antiques that are worth going to visit, even if not to buy. Although, of course, do buy if you can - it's not an easy time for independent sellers. Everything will be original Arts and Crafts Design from 1850 - 1950

It runs from 19th May until 19th June: an online catalogue will appear here on 18th May, but in a sneak preview, to give you a sense of what will be on offer, here's a few of the rarities:

An extremely rare first edition of the celebrated 'Roots of the Mountains' written by William Morris and covered in original Morris fabric

Aesthetic Movement rosewood cabinet with Japanese lacquered panels  by Howard & Sons

Aesthetic Movement large rosewood open bookcase by Collinson & Lock attributed to Godwin

Arts & Crafts bookcase with ebony and pewter peacock inlaid decoration

Morris & Co upholstered settee

Christopher Dresser Linthorpe vase

Birmingham Guild lamps

Arts & Crafts embroidered panels

Liberty settle with Voysey designed fabric panel

Shapland and Petter cabinet with copper panel

Rowley Gallery panels

A question

I don't have all the facts at my fingertips, but I intend to, so think of this as an introduction to a very big question.

Are the austerity measures being implemented by the current government taking the next generation into account?

What are the long-term consequences of children's services being cut back? Essentially: what happens when the children who need help, but don't get it, grow up?

I would like to hear from anyone who works in these sectors; I'm on a fact-finding mission and need your help - personal stories, statistics, and information about proposed cuts, all welcome. (Anonymity assured)

BBC London radio show 16th April

Good morning!  That was fun. (Despite getting my photo taken for Robert's FB page, and also my blog font seemingly supersize for no good reason.)


Primrose Hill Vintage Fashion Fair this Sunday 17th April, 11am-5pm. It's at Cecil Sharp House (2 Regents Park road,NW1 7AY), and you'll find clothes, accessories and textiles. They promise vintage pieces from designers like Burberry. What's interesting is that there will be a stall with vintage children's clothes from the Sixties and Seventies, mostly unworn stock. More information here, but if you wear some particularly outstanding vintage clothes to attend, you'll win a prize. £3 to get in.

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Designer Sales UK has another event this weekend in Chelsea Old Town Hall on the King's Road. Today you'll find Mary Quant, Biba, Vivienne Westwood, Prada, and other delectable names at up to 90% off. All the information here. It costs £2, will be going until 7pm, and prices start at £5.

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Sexism alert! A menswear-only sale today and tomorrow (Sunday 17th April), with up to 70% off designer names like Moschino and Karl Lagerfeld. Go (ONLY IF YOU'RE A MAN!) to 5-6 Islington Studios, Thane Villas N7 7NU. Have a look here for all the facts; open until 6pm today, and from 11am-5pm tomorrow. Costs £2 to get in.

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Love this idea. It's the Vintage Kilo Sale - load up your favourites, take them to get weighed, and pay £15 per kilo. Which seems like a really good bargain for someone who has no concept of mathematics or weights. It's happening at the Rag Factory, which is E1 5LJ. It's on until 4pm today. They promise thousands of items from the Sixties to the Eighties. PLUS, there's a chance to pay for items individually, which seems to undermine the concept, but makes everyone happy. Prices look good: a man's shirt is £6, skirt £5. Sounds good, to someone who has no concept of mathematics or weights. All the info here.

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Easter! I was going to talk about the 5 tonne chocolate waterfall that the excellent Jellymongers Bompas & Parr are creating in Whiteleys April 22nd-25th, but it's all sold out. Fear not. If you're going to the seaside, however, choose Brighton, and go to their brief Rabbit Cafe (Churchill Square, BN1 2RG). From 18th - 20th April, they'll flood the cafe with Albino rabbits, Easter-related snacks, and a nod to the Futurists. Yes, indeed, a nod to the Futurists, who had a Futurist restaurant, The Holy Palate, 100 years ago this year. Diners would
stroke velvet, sandpaper and silk as they ate, which was supposed to make the food more tasty. Don't shoot the messenger.

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There's a great shop I always look at online, because they're based in Northumberland. They're called RE and do a really good selection of Things - you know, a collection of glassware, cushions, prints: 'home accessories' is the unsatisfactory term which sounds a bit girlish, when it's not. Some examples:

Well, they're coming to Liberty until 17th August so that you can have a look at their products in situ. Click here for a hint of what's in store.




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The Original Print Art Fair rolls in to town from 19th - 21st April.

Grayson Perry's 'Map of Nowhere', 2008


At the Royal Academy of Arts, the fair is the longest running specialist print fair in the world. With over 50 exhibitors including Peter Blake, David Hockney and other less established (and cheaper) artists, it's worth a look. Prices start at £100 (it costs £10 to get in, if you want to think of it just as an exhibition). If you're a Gavin Turk fan, go along to his lecture, 'Talking Turk', in conversation with the art critic Louisa Buck. After the lecture there will be 200 limited edition prints of his 'Green Fright Wig' for sale at £200 each (and the £10 ticket combines entry to the art fair).

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Wanted to give a summer festival in aid of charity a mention, too: 

On May 21^st, the charity Football Action is holding their first summer music festival, "Vest-ival", to help raise funds for the Hanna's orphanage project in Ethiopia, upcoming projects in India, and Football Action, which puts English teachers and football coaches in developing countries
.

Headliner Annie Mac (Radio 1) will be the main DJ for the evening. The live comedy will be headlined and run by Tom Rosenthal (C4 Friday Night Dinners).

Lots of football activities (Norwich FC there to coach) including a 5 a side pitch with ex-pros and names that football fans will have heard of (Dion Dublin, Darren Hukerby, Ian Walker); football freestylers such as Dan Magness; FA Cup will be there; The Football Ramble for a live podcast and very likely soccer AM and 606, just finalising some details. 

The event will be staged at Jimmy's Farm near Ipswich in Suffolk and will run from 10am on May 21st right through to the small hours of Sunday May 22nd. Tickets from £22...early bird tickets for two adults and two children available for £100 with camping.

They're calling it a vest-ival..so wear your bestest vest.

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The favourites of ours, E17 designers, are up to their usual creative tricks: this time, they're part of Craft and Design Month, which is May. They'll be having one main event on 13th May from 7pm- 10pm at the Asian Centre, Walthamstow Village (E17, of course). They say the designer/makers have been working hard all winter for this...jewellery, homeware, crafty crafts of the highest order. And only £1 to get in (with a chance to win a goody bag). Have a look at their blog.

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On the E17 blog, I also saw this:

Which looks fun.

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Finally! Remember the pop up gallery Outline Editions, which is really an online outfit championing upcoming graphic artists? Well, the pop up was so successful, they're staying put for a while in their own gallery on 94 Berwick Street which is great news.

Swing by to have a look.

BBC London radio show 12th March

Rightio! The collection of goods we have this week are many and varied. 

First: the Affordable Art Fair is in town until tomorrow.

 

 Affordable, in this case, means under £4000. My cut off point is probably somewhere under £100, maybe under £50, but crashing on, it's a fun excursion if you're on the hunt for something to do this weekend. In Battersea Park, with 120 art galleries, tickets cost £10. If you're not in the market to buy, it's a great place to stroll around - one big art exhibition. There's a creche if that interests you (you can only leave your child in there for an hour at a time, mind), and a whirl of activities (today the workshop is all about recycling old jewellery, buttons, bottle tops and beads into art; Sunday has a similar theme) including printmaking and children's art packs.

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If clothes are more your bag, the Clerkenwell Vintage Fashion Fair is in town on Sunday 13th - that's tomorrow. It seems like this happened about a month ago, too, so if you missed it first time around, here's your chance. At the Old Finsbury Town Hall (yes, I remember, I talked about one of these the last time I was on air), you'll find clothes, jewellery, textiles, hats, all the usual, from 1890s to the 1980s.There'll be an alterations booth, which is handy, as well as a vintage salon if you want a throwback makeover...

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Cashmere sure is nice, but it's not cheap. N.Peal is one of the best, which is why it's good to know that their sample and winter clearance sale is STILL ON (ends Sunday, 11am - 5pm). Granted, it's been going for a few days, so you are bound to be following the pillage of hard core fans, but it is definitely worth checking out. You'll find it at 37-40 Burlington Arcade, Mayfair W1J 0QD, and they promise that their lovely stuff will be reduced by at least 25%, some over 70%.

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Didn't get to mention this one, but here's another tip I got from the blog of Caroline Kamp: until 21st March, there's an exhibition called Joy of Living on at Somerset House. Max Fraser (author of the London Design Guide; we interviewed him on the show a few years ago) has managed to get 100 designers to create a piece of art that will be sold to raise money for Maggie's, the organization that runs cancer caring centres. Each designer started off with a single sheet of graph paper and went from there...here are a couple:

The designers include the stellar names of Terence Conran, Tom Dixon, Rob Ryan and Tomoko Azumi - but all the pieces of art are on show anonymously. They're all for sale, and they all cost £250. Now that's a piece of art worth buying. The designers will be revealed online after the exhibition closes. Exiting!




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Then, another interesting discovery - Veja trainers. You might have seen them in Selfridges, Topshop, Offspring, or the Design Museum shop. ie they're very stylish. Chic. As you can see from the picture below, just one of many styles they offer.

They're around £49 - £79, and look good. What makes them stand out from all the other trainers cluttering up our wardrobes is how they're made: they're proof that it is actually possible to have a trainer that is ecologically and ethically made. Who knew? 


They don't market themselves primarily like this because, rightly  I suppose, they don't want to be known purely for this - a lot of people get put off if they think they're just buying something for GREEN or ETHICAL reasons, rather than fashionable ones (this is the bald truth, don't you agree?). But with the aesthetic credentials firmly under their belt, I think it's important to underline just how well thought through the processes behind the making of these shoes are:


The cotton used is organic. It's produced in one of the poorest areas of Brazil (the north east). 200 families live on the organic growing - they can also grow food crops among the cotton, which means they can subsist, thereby keeping their independence (it's called agro-ecology, if you want to look into it further - very revolutionary). Veja were doing this six years ago, before cotton became Fair Trade certified - and they set a price above market value (twice the market price, actually), in place for 4 years.


The rubber is wild rubber, and comes from the Amazon: there's a big problem with deforestation there of course - more profit to be gained from cutting down trees for farmland etc - so Veja work with a cooperative of rubber tappers (Seringueiros), again setting price above market value, to encourage them to keep the trees.


Since 2006, the leather Veja use has been ecologically tanned. In other words, chrome-free, so no chemicals rushing in to rivers and polluting the landscape and drinking water.


The trainers are assembled in a factory in Brazil that has a workers' rights programme in place.


The trainers are stored and delivered from a centre in France, in partnership with a social association that helps people get back into work.


They don't pay celebrities to wear their trainers.


And they look good. Beat that.






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A newish shop opened just off Marylebone High Street called Trunk Clothiers. 

Their aim, they say, is to "become one of the top destinations in Europe for sharply cut blazers, elegant knitwear, crisp shirts, smart footwear and luggage that never lets you down." Phew! They're on 8 Chiltern Street, W1.


Beautifully done, as you can imagine. The founder, Mats Klingberg, has handpicked what he considers to be the best brands, and puts his sense of style and taste down to his Swedish heritage. Sigh!




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Sample sales!


Temperley

 Dresses and accessories at up to 70% off.

17 March (8am to 7pm) and 18 March (9am to 7pm). 20th Century Theatre, 291 Westbourne Grove, W11 2QA.




 Fashion Confidential(sign up to be eligible)


Private sample sale with up to 70% off THIS SEASON and NEXT SEASON’S collections from Valentino, See by Chloe, Current Elliott, Tara Jarmon, Rock & Republic, Sonia by Sonia Rykiel, Manoush etc...

24 March (10am to 7pm) and 25 March (10am to 5pm);
M&L Harris, 10 - 11 Greenland Place, London, NW1 0AP.

Margaret Howell

Men, women and homewear collections at up to 60% off.

31 March and 1 April (9am to 6pm); 
The Music Room, 26 South Molton Lane, W1K 5LF.

Jenny Packham


Bridal sample sale for dresses, jewellery, shoes and accessories up to 70% off. 

6 April (11am to 7pm) and 7 April (10am to 5pm)
Jenny Packham Store, 3A Carlos Place, Mount Street, London, W1.

 

BBC London radio show 19th February

Hello! That was a really fun week. Lots of chat about televisions with coin slots and other debt-reducing plans...seriously considering a money box next to mine.

For the infographics piece I wrote in today's Independent Magazine, have a look here.
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We started off with the Clerkenwell Vintage Fashion Fair. This is a busy affair in The Old Finsbury Town Hall (George Fornby was a regular there, but long before the fashion that you'll see for sale was considered vintage...). All the details here but it's this Sunday, 20th February, from 11am - 4.30pm, costs £4, and will feature fashion and textiles from the 1800s right up to the 1980s (get with it - the 1980s are now vintage). There will - of course - be a Tea Booth, as well as a handy alterations area.

Here are some of the bargains on offer:

French 1940s workwear dresses starting at £60
Silk 1930s bias cut frocks & pantaloons from £70
Tweed Plus Fours starting at £30 (for girls or boys)
Fascinators and caps from £10
Fabric from £5 a metre
Buttons from £1 a bag
1950s costume jewellery starting at £5
Men's kilt jackets from £60
American circle skirts starting at £40

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The RCA are having their Ceramic Art London fair from 25th - 27th February. As always it's a chance to do a bit of talent spotting, hopefully coming away with a wonderful tea pot that turns out to be made by someone who eventually gets famous, thereby making you a millionaire...This is the long view, you understand. 

 Robert Cooper's tea caddy series

 birds by Susan O'Byrne

 by Kaori Tatebayashi


Not just teapots, you see.


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Remember 44 Frocks? 'Thrifty thrills for expensive women' ring any bells? We spoke to the founder Laura months ago when she set up her excellent enterprise that allows you to buy barely worn (pre-worn, as Robert has been known to say) designer garments that she's extracted from wardrobes of the rich and stylish. Every party will have 44 dresses priced from £20 - £60 in a particular size. It's popular! So you have to make sure to book in for one of the 'tea parties' (beverages and cake provided) - and because March is all booked up, I thought I should warn you about the next available dates. Attractive picture of a thrifty lady in one of the designer dresses first:

...and then:

3rd April for sizes 10, 12, 14, 16

8th May all sizes (6 - 16)


Get all the information about how to book and what's on offer here, and their blog is one to watch, too.




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Well it would be wrong to go a week without mentioning the words blah de blah de POP UP so here's the dose for this week (it's high quality, so merits a mention, promise). Skandium have created a brief sale shop - open until tomorrow (Sunday 20th), everything is between 50 and 80% off, which is the sign of a BARGAIN waiting to happen.

in the blink of an eye, it's Skandium. On sale.


It's on 235 Brompton Road, SW3. And they tell me within the pop-up there will be: rugs by Woodnotes, furniture by De La Espada and Asplund, lighting by Harri Koskinen for Marset, cushion covers by Alexander Girard, Aalto chairs by Artek, tumblers by Jorn Utzon (he was the man behind the Sydney opera house, you know), lighting by Orrefors, fabrics, clothing and kitchen textiles by Marimekko, jewellery, and wall hangings. No, I don't recognise all those names either, but you know if they're stocked by Skandium (and they felt they were worth mentioning) that they'll be the height of chic-ity and style. I'm personally excited about the Marimekko mention (have you been to the most colourful shop in London, their store in St Christopher's Place), and am looking forward to buying rather than window shopping, which is my usual Skandium experience.


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Ever with the bank balance in mind, here's a trusty sample sale list for this month:

Georgina Goodman shoes 
(who, incidentally, have their own iPhone app; whatever next? Trouble, that's what) are having a sample sale.
Monday 21st - Saturday 26th (Mon-Thurs 10am-7pm, Fri-Sat 10am-6pm). There will be up to 80% off.
Find them at 12-14 Shepherd Street, W1J 7JF.



 Designer Sales UK 
I flagged this up last time - very good place for bargains.
Friday 4th March (noon-8pm) and Saturday 5th March (10am - 7pm).
Expect tonnes of designer names (Vivienne Westwood, YSL, Martin Margiela etc etc) discounted up to 90%.
Just go to Chelsea Old Town Hall on the Kings Road for that.

Designer Warehouse Sales: menswear
Not to be confused with the very similarly named sale above, this one is menswear only, and has been voted as one of London's best sample sales by The Independent, Elle, and Time Out. You'll find clothes up to 60% cheaper than usual from names like Paul Smith, Armani and Gucci.
Today, Saturday 19th February, 10am-6pm and Sunday 20th February, 11am - 5pm.
Only costs £2 to get in.
Where: 5-6 Islington Studios, Thane Works, Thane Villas, N7 7NU.
(Click here for a map.)



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While we're on the subject of men, Net-A-Porter is opening a new branch this month. Mr Porter will be open for business soon...keep your eye out here, or sign up for updates with Mr P yourself.



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Oh! Also Anita's Vintage Fashion Accessories and Textiles Fair, which has been around for eons. It's back this Sunday (20th February) from 11am-5pm at The 20th Century Theatre, 291 Westbourne Grove, W11 2QA. 
Boon: it's free.
Double boon: there will be 30 stalls, all very respectable. 


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Back on the high street, and M&S will have some deals during next week's half term. Here they are:
  

Spend £30 and save £5 on childrenswear 

Save £10 on food when you spend £50 or more on womenswear and lingerie 

Spend £150 on suits and get 25% off 

30% off selected furniture 

20% off selected homeware, TVs, home video and electricals

 

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If you don't look at Caroline Kamp's design blog then you should. A design journalist and general inspirational ideas maverick (oh, and mother of two smallies...), she has her finger on the pulse when it comes to Hip Things you might want to add to your life. She's not above experimenting with the latest coolest eco-detergents (who knew such a thing could actually be so trendy? Read about her exploits with 'method' here), but she goes high-brow too, and tipped me off to this:

The Modern Danish Warehouse, a warehouse open from 5th - 20th March, that will be selling 250 pieces of the loveliest midcentury Danish furniture.

 Prices start at £100, go up to £1500, and include furniture that Arne Jacobsen designed for a school in Copenhagen in the 1950s.


You'll find it all at The Garage, North Terrace SW3 2AB.




Finito! Do get in touch if you've any thoughts or questions...



  

BBC London radio show 29th January

Hello! It was fun to broadcast on a Saturday again. A trillion times more relaxed. I interviewed Jane from Shelf, the shop that feels a bit like an old regular on the show - Robert and I have been mentioning it for about five years now, at regular intervals; nooked away in little old Cheshire Street just off Brick Lane, it was one of a kind, and raised the standard for independent shops, as well as flying the flag and other mixed metaphors. It's sad they're closing. BUT they're off to exciting times, and the sale is very worth going to - plus, you don't have to feel bad about buying up all the stock on the shop floor, because while they're breaking free of the four walls, they're still going to exist, in a new incarnation, online. So you'll ACTUALLY be doing them a favour.

 kissing bye bye to Shelf, alas...

Talking about Shelf made me think about Caravan, another staple of alternative shopping. 

Run by Emily Chalmers, a creative force, it has been an inspiring place to visit in all its incarnations...it has an excellent online shop, but has been a physical presence in Cheshire Street, then Spitalfields, (and then the council made the rent exhorbitant) to the current address at Redchurch Street. The final move turned out to be an excellent one - soon after Terence Conran built his Boundary hotel and restaurant, plus the Albion cafe, right on the same street. That helped for more passing trade, people who could peer through the windows at these lovely things:

Brass ring cast from vintage original, £29

  Pineapple (you must have guessed that) wall sconce, £89

these silver metal flowers are beautiful in real life. I gave mine away altruistically and secretly regret it, £39

 concrete light bulbs, £49

Many more things to buy, many more. But Caravan is the kind of place you go to buy something beautiful, have it wrapped in a lovely way, and to have a conversation with the owner or one of the genuinely nice shop assistants. It's a good place to visit (and then to Albion Caff - sic - for delicious things to eat, if you need an energy boost. The brownies are worth it.)

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Then on to a very different kind of event, where chatting amiably is not the point. Sharp elbows are the only accessory you need, and a discerning eye. DSUK (Designer Sales UK) are having another sample sale on Friday 4th March. I don't need to tell you any more, because it's so far ahead, but there will be lots of bargains and you should put it in your diary. Noon - 8pm, Chelsea Town Hall. More details will follow, but expect many designer names...

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Here's a good thing: The Outnet is an exponent of what they call 'Chiconomics'. Why not? A sister brand to Net-A-Porter, it's essentially a fashion outlet store, online, selling discounted designer clothes and accessories. Its connection to Net-A-Porter means that the brands are authentic, and you can be guaranteed that you're getting a genuine bargain. It doesn't mean of course that "bargains" will always be cheap per se...ahem! But you can be sure they're cheaper, so in effect you're spaving money. There are over 200 brands and here are some recent sale items (they may have sold by now): Pringle leather skirt reduced from £400 to £160; Marc Jacobs shoes down from £255 to £128; Converse shoes were £35 reduced to £19; Givenchy shoes reduced from £745 to £298.


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Then, for some real-life shopping, the RCA International Art Fair. This year it's on 17th - 21st February (now that I'm doing this slot every three weeks, I have to think ahead a bit...), and promises 80 stands. Most of the work for sale is contemporary, but there will be art from Matisse, Picasso, and Chagal - even if you (I) can't afford to buy, it's a feast for the eyes. At £6 entry, it's not a bad afternoon out  being arty, either. 




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Also: the haircare brand Naked has teamed up with Oxfam. On the ranges with the Oxfam sticker, 25p will go to the charity (and £1 of every Oxfam shopper sold online will also go back).


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On the charity shopping theme, there's a Frock Swap on Wednesday which is definitely worth a visit. Called 'swishing' nowadays, it's what you might - back there in the dark ages - call a 'swap shop'. How it works: bring up to four (good) items of clothing, and take the same amount back! The swishing/swapping is free, but it's in aid of London's Air Ambulance, so they ask for a £10 donation. It's at The Great Hall, Barts Hospital, West Smithfield, EC1A 7BE - doors open 6.30pm, swishing from 7pm.




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MORE swishing (now you know what it means), today at The Hammerswish. It's not for charity, so completely free (but it is founded in ethical and recyclingish principles, so you can still feel smug); bring up to five items. You'll find it at The Stonemason's Arms, 54 Cambridge Grove, W6 OLA, from 2-5pm. More information about swishing here.




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Also today: the Buy My Wardrobe event, where lots of knowledgeable fashion people are selling their designer garbs at a discount. There will be Chanel, Gucci, Preen et al, all up to 75% off. All the details are here, but it's at Adam Street Members' Club, 9 Adam Street, WC2N 6AA, from noon to 4pm. Cost: £5




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Window shopping at Heal's this week: the Tottenham Court Road store will have installations and arty displays, thanks to the UCL Slade School of Fine Art. It's called Heal's Artists in Residence 2011 and the students will be let loose! Walk past at least once - it's free, woohoo. (Monday 31st January to Sunday 6th February).




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first Saturday show! BBC London 8th January

Happy new year! First Saturday show - very good fun. We kicked off with Nicola Beauman, the owner of Persephone Books. PB is a little bookshop (and office, Nicola hastens to add - London is an expensive place) that gathers up lots of neglected works (often by women, all 20th Century), reprints and sells them. In this case, you can judge a book by its cover, because all of PB's books look the same from the outside - plain grey jackets, cream label for the title and author. Only inside will reveal the fabric-design endpaper, specially chosen to match the feel of the context at time of writing. For short stories, diaries, cookery books, and novels that you won't necessarily see elsewhere, and would make a great present (if you're not sick of present shopping). If you want to see the real thing, they're tucked away on Lambs Conduit Street; or they have an excellent online ordering service (80% of their business comes this way).

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Didn't have time to mention this, but if you haven't bought a diary yet, try We Are What We Do: not the obvious choice for stationary, but it's an organization that believes lots of small acts add up to make a difference. And as part of that, they're involved with lots of projects to encourage people to ascribe to their philosophy (in a fun way). They're the people who Anya Hindmarsh worked with when she was designing her now ubiquitous 'I'm Not A Plastic Bag', and if you went to Bestival, WAWWD were responsible for that huge dragon lurking in the field (Jacques le Trash, a recycling dragon).


So here's their Action Diary 2011:

Startlingly, it's only £2. Which is cheaper than I paid for my week-to-view diary, page of notes on the side. And the actions they suggest aren't too difficult (Valentine's Day: Give Lots of Compliments). They get you to log your good action online when you do it - so far, 4,822,058.

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If you're in Highbury / Finsbury Park area today, take a jaunt past  Bennet and Brown, a place to buy Interesting Things. One of an interesting row of shops on Mountgrove Road, just off the Blackstock road, it's run by a couple of furniture restorers (another service they offer) who know their stuff. Stock changes all the time - currently you can see a couple of things in store online: enamel factory lamp shades from the Thirties (large, £52, small £34), and a set of four Arts and Crafts dining chairs (fully restored, oak with rush work seats, £495).


Also - plastic cowboys for £1! Whooo-hooo!


Warning: they have eccentric opening times, as is their right as an independent shop, so check their timetable before you go.

(They're next to the Sylvanian Families shop, but I'm not going into that any further...) 

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Lots of sales, too:

Ede and Ravenscroft (London's oldest tailor, founded 1689) for suits reduced from £550 to £395, cotton shirts down from £75 to £35, silk ties from £55 to £25. A proper, old-fashioned, sale.

Jaeger have an up-to-70% off sale - clothes and bags starting from £99. 

Paul Smith has an online sale of up to 50% off their autumn/winter collection. AND they're not adding VAT this year, which is good news. 


Lee has up to 30% off in their flagship store, Carnaby Street.


SCP furniture has up to 60% discounts on end of line and ex-display items.


Cath Kidson's sale is still online - up to 50% off clothes, bedding, accessories.

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And, finally, the London Vintage Fashion Textiles and Accesories Fair. Not a pithy title, but then who needs pith when you're trying to describe a lavish affair of over 100 vintage fashion clothing dealers. The shoes, hats, handbags, linen, jewellery, dresses are dated from 1800 to 1980, and you'll probably be mingling with lots of In The Know fashion people who come here for inspiration. It's this Sunday, at Hammersmith Town Hall, 8am-5pm (£10 entry 8am-10am, £5 thereafter).




That's it! I'll be back in three weeks. Keep in touch.