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Grazia’s fashion editor-at-large, Melanie Rickey, retail consultant Yasmin Sewell and Time Out’s own Shopping team – Dan Jones, Maggie Davis and Katie Dailey – on their favourite retail haunts.
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'Great products and it has managed to retain an amazing price point on all items. With a good rummage you still find many a bargain!' Read more about Beyond Retro
'This is my new favourite shop simply for looking around – and the shoes. The first time I went in there I bought six pairs!' Read more about Blitz
'For a special vintage treat combined with the feeling of going to a museum, this gets the prize for being a visual orgasm!'
'I love going in this store because I have to ask Margaret, the fabulous owner, to explain what are so many of the random things there. Margaret is such a character and it's worth a visit just for the feelgood factor it gives you.' Read more about Vintage Heaven
'There are not many cakes displays in London that inspire me, but Yotam is the man.' Read more about Ottolenghi
Time Out's associate Shopping editor.
'I have a vested interest because I know the lovely Letchford siblings who own it (Teresa and Nick), but I find something that I either want to wear, read or give to someone I like every time I go. As well as trendoid clothing for east Londoners, there are also affordable accessories and kooky bits and pieces.' Read more about No-one
'Even though I’m of the fairer sex, sort of, I could spend hours in this menswear lifestyle store. There are masses of nice bikey books and the well edited selection of media-type clothing is responsible for sorting out the wardrobe of almost every good looking man I know. Plus, the coffee counter sells the best espresso in London.' Read more about Present
'I’m not the biggest Camden fan, but when I do get the courage to tip toe my way through all the crowds of people wearing shoes that look like they could crush me, I make a beeline for Arckiv. It’s an amazing resource for vintage specs and sunglasses that you wouldn’t find anywhere else. Lots of costume designers come here for the really bonkers stuff, but you can also find "A Single Man"-style frames, too.' Read more about Arckiv
'This is an odd little place I discovered a few years ago when I moved to Clapton. It’s a Super 8 shop that’s stuck in a time warp. Umit is a friendly, and very knowledgeable shopkeeper until you mention the mere existence of videos/DVDs/modern technology in general, when he turns very impassioned, indeed. For about £80 he’ll screen old films in your garden or lounge, and stocks a great selection of cult and classic films on old reels.' Read more about Umit & Son
'It looks kind of terrifying from the outside – but even non arty people like me who can barely distinguish a potato print from a priceless Picasso will find something to love in this stylish interiors shop. It has masses of cool candleholders, plates, books and arty gifts that will make your flat seem like the one from "Three Men and a Baby". ' Read more about Darkroom
'This stocks an expertly picked selection of designer homeware. It's hugely inspirational and great for presents (for yourself).' Read more about Twentytwentyone
'This toy shop sells an original mix of traditional and contemporary toys – the exact opposite to Hamleys. The website is great, too.' Read more about Hop Toy Shop
'I can't get enough of the revamped stationery department, RE interiors accessories or the awesome new beauty halls. Love, love, love.' Read more about Liberty
'Even if you can't afford the price tags, let alone a walk in his high heels, come to marvel at the beautiful architectural designs. Heaven.' Read more about Nicholas Kirkwood
'This is still the best place to buy catwalk trends on a budget.' Read more about Topshop
'The Cross is a great little store that carries cool labels from well-known and unknown brands. It also carries one of my favourite labels – Little Joe Woman, of course!' Read more about The Cross
'I love this shop's pop-up at the Sanderson hotel. I will find any excuse to visit the store then have lunch at SUKA, the restaurant at the hotel.' Read more about Luna & Curious
'I love Melissa's bikinis – the fit is perfect, her prints and fabrics are gorgeous and her style is timeless.' Read more about Melissa Odabash
'The store carries my favourite Jurlique products – Purely Age Defying Ultra Firm Day Cream & Herbal Recovery Eye Cream, Rosewater Balancing Mist, Herbal Recovery Gel & Rose Love Balm.' Read more about Space NK
'This is the place to go to for the most beautiful Italian Leather dog leashes, harnesses and beds. I love Yasmin Le Bon's collection.' Read more about Mungo & Maud
Time Out's Shopping editor.
'The jumble of wood-panelled rooms, creaky floors and odd carved animals make shopping at Liberty feel wonderfully intimate - and just a little bit whimsical. Wandering through its different departments, you feel as though you're exploring a stately home - with the best gift shop ever. The edit of stock is perfect, from contemporary fashion to the haberdashery (Florence Welch Liberty print fabric anyone?), and the service is great – but you'd be happy just exploring this store.'
Read more about Liberty
'The capital's slickest, most contemporary department store. Selfridges dominates London shopping with its ballsy and innovative approach to retail, offering up celeb events and big shopping festivals, awareness campaigns (like the recent Project Ocean) and an ever changing store environment. Shopping here is upbeat and frenetic, and there's a real sense that you're in a world class department store: the new Tom Ford concession and The Shoe Galleries - the world's loopiest footwear theme park – are jaw-dropping.'
Read more about Selfridges
'This tiny indie boutique, owned by Jo Sindle and Kyle Stewart, sits off a quiet cobbled side street off Hoxton Square. Goodhood has all the bells and whistles of a top class store (hyper rare brands, exclusives, and one off in house pieces), but it also seems to be the centre of a growing arty collective: across the cobbles is a very special Goodhood collab: a new art space called Galleries Goldstein.'
Read more about Goodhood
'I was first dragged into Mysteries as a child by my New Age mum who was shopping for crystals or dream catchers or something a bit witchy. It's a genuine oddity: a sort of spirituality mini-supermarket with love potions, self hypnosis DVDs and a load of crystal balls. You can book psychic and aura readings in store, attend tarot classes, or browse Mysteries' edit of books: an amazing resource for anyone who needs to exorcise an entity, say, cast a spell or contact angels.'
Read more about Mysteries
'Jane Money and Vishal Gohel’s brilliant secondhand and vintage furniture store off Broadway Market is packed with brilliantly hand-picked pieces, from mid century modern pieces (in wonderful nick) to artfully arranged collectibles.'
Read more about Dog & Wardrobe
'I love this secondhand designer-clothing store. It has a really good buyer and it’s still the best place to pick up a 1990s Comme Des Garçons shirt. It feels like shopping in an archive.' Read more about The Loft
'It has the coolest vintage Americana and military stuff and it sets trends around Camden.' Read more about What Goes Around Comes Around
'Well-made clothing in limited numbers that's always on trend without being trendy.' Read more about Zara
'It is the most beautiful department store and makes me proud to be British. I love the building and the beauty and fragrance [departments] feel like a real edit rather than a collection of all the big brands. And the windows are amazing, too. The Assouline space is incredible; it has been dressed so well.' Read more about Liberty
'It’s just the coolest store ever. I love that it’s constantly evolving and does the best collaborations. I love that IDEA Books is housed there, selling vintage copies of Interview.' Read more about Dover Street Market
Grazia UK’s Fashion Editor at Large, style blogger, and partner of Mary Portas, making a formidable industry power couple.
'I consider it the beating heart of London girl style. The place is alive with fashion, and exciting new ways with style evolve out of the place on a minute-by-minute basis. Every visit gives me something – some days it's good for people-watching, others, for snapping up a limited-edition designer collaboration.' Read more about Topshop
'Where true fashion aficionados hang out. I could spend all day here, reading, shopping, drinking coffee, chatting to the staff and generally making a nuisance of (and bankrupting) myself.' Read more about Dover Street Market
'Joyous, quirky, optimistic, independent and made in Britain. I can't fail to buy or be cheered up by this place or, in fact, the entire Brick Lane area for shopping.' Read more about Tatty Devine
'All my storage jars and my bread bin are from here. The novelty factor is that its atmosphere and service model is straight from the 1950s. Redchurch Street is my favourite up-and-coming shopping area.' Read more about Labour and Wait
'This is my go-to local shop; it stocks every spice, pulse, lentil and herb known to humanity. Ask for a bunch of flat-leaf parsley or mint and you get a ginormous handful for 50p. The same thing in any major supermarket would be ten times the price.'
Hair stylist Johnnie does the 'dos of some of London’s hottest celebs.
'I think it has the best range of books on fashion and photography – it's like Aladdin's cave. Claire is always really helpful, although you go in looking for one thing and come out with ten.' Read more about Claire de Rouen Books
'It's a melting pot of great fashion, jewellery, books and magazines as well as being able to get a bite to eat. I love the cafe upstairs – it makes a wonderful selection of organic dishes.' Read more about Dover Street Market
'This is a great one-stop shop for all your health and beauty needs.' Read more about John Bell & Croyden
'This is a great place to go if you have a sweet tooth. Also, if you have any allergies, such as to nuts, the team is really on the case – brilliant!' Read more about Ellas Bakehouse
'This is full to the brim with amazing contemporary art – and also happens to be right below my salon! Around the corner on Greek Street you also have the Lazerides shop, where you can buy affordable art.'
'This is still the favourite for me – a magical building full of diverse and inspiring products. I always love wandering through there.' Read more about Liberty
'A beautifully designed store with even more beautifully designed clothes – it really doesn't get any better.' Read more about Acne Studio
'This is always a place where you can while away for hours. It has the best selection of the best fashion brands in London.' Read more about Dover Street Market
'My absolute favourite bakery. This place is totally one-of-a-kind, offering the finest cakes, chocolates and bread. I highly recommend the seeded loaf.' Read more about Cocomaya
'As a resident of east London, this would have to be one of my top boutiques. It stocks the best handmade, home-grown china by welovekaoru.' Read more about Luna & Curious
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