London's 50 best boutiques
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Edited by Maggie Davis and Kate Riordan
Posted: Mon Oct 2 2006 
Start Start
Best for jeans
Start’s his ’n’ hers boutiques are the joint venture of Philip Start (the founder of Woodhouse) and his wife Brix Smith (once guitarist in The Fall). In the men’s shop (No 59), you’ll find casual separates upstairs from the likes of Helmut Lang, Miu Miu, Belstaff and Rykiel Homme. Downstairs the focus is more on smarter, tailored clothes, including Start’s own Rivington Street label. Denim is a speciality here for both men and women with a choice of high-end labels, including Radcliffe, Earnest Sewn and Rogan. Womenswear is across the road at
Nos 42-44. More casual daywear, denim, beauty and accessories are all on the ground level, while downstairs are carefully selected pieces by a strong line-up of designers, from Miu Miu and Sonia Rykiel to Issa and Alice McCall.
Start, 59 Rivington St, EC2 (020 7739 3636/www.start-london.com) Old St tube/rail. Open Mon-Fri 10.30am-6.30pm, Sat 11am-6pm, Sun 1-5pm. Feature continuesAdvertisementTwentyone the Green
This shop’s pleasant hilltop location on the corner of the Green couldn’t be further from the heaving throngs of Oxford Street. The tasteful mix of casualwear caters to the local crowd without delving into the ‘something flash for Saturday night’ curse that afflicts so many suburban boutiques. A thoughtfully chosen handful of mainstream labels appears to have struck a winning formula. A sizeable range of Nigel Hall sits alongside CP Company, Hugo Boss, Emporio Armani denim and limited-edition Puma and Oliver Sweeney footwear.
Twentyone the Green, 21 The Green, Winchmore Hill, N21 (020 8882 4298/www.twentyonethegreen.co.uk) Winchmore Hill rail. Open Mon-Sat 10am-6.30pm, Sun 11am-1.30pm.
The World According To, W1 The World According To…
Best for quirky streetwear
When Max Karie and Pippa Brooks opened their aptly named Shop here in 1995, its pop-boutique style was a hit with savvy Londoners. In 2004 they reworked the formula, with the focus on contemporary women’s designer sportswear. For autumn/winter 2006/7, the well-chosen collection includes Eley Kishimoto, Martin Margiela’s affordable urban line MM6, Vivienne Westwood Red Label and Sonia by Sonia Rykiel. Nearby Shop at Maison Bertaux (from the same stable), in the basement of 27 Greek Street (www.shopatmaisonb.com), showcases Eley Kishimoto (archive pieces as well as the new collection) alongside denim, accessories and T-shirts from APC.
The World According To…, 4 Brewer St, W1 (020 7437 1259/www.theworldaccordingto.co.uk) Leicester Square/Piccadilly Circus tube. Open Mon-Sat 11am-6.30pm.- Add your comment to this feature
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15 comments
Hi, Can anyone recommend boutiques that do really nice evening dresses in central london. Looking for seomthing really glad for my brother's wedding. Don't live in London so all help appreciated!
I would like to say that PIPA in Maida Vale is a gorgeous shop. Great selection of clothes and well worth popping into.
Pipa stocks the best fitting jeans for women. Pop in for beautiful make up, skin care and stunning dresses. There is even a kids floor downstairs with lovely toys and clothes.
1, Formosa Street,
London W9 1EE
02072662365
I am really suprised to read all this. I love Coco RIbbon and have always found the shop assistants to be really lovely and very helpful ; ). I heart coco.
Hey Girls,
take it easy on Coco Ribbon. She's just trying to do her business and provide excellent service with unique and beautiful clothes. Its really easy to criticize, but instead lets try and support our local shops in these times.
I agree with Laura.
Londoners / London Boutique are not rude.
By the way, I'm an australian and Ms.Chow 'co-founder coco ribbon' shame on you generalising London like that!
Re: Alison's comment - I love the patronising 'I'm from Australia and shocked at how rude the people in London boutiques are' - great way to win customers in London hun!
With a great collection of leather handbags, fashion accessories and top brand clothing Multipazz is a great boutique. I was passing by Rathbone Place and i was so happy to find find a brown Oriano Leather Bag i have been looking for some time. Their hand bag collections are so great i happen to fall in love with it. Their online store at MultiPazz.com is quite nice as well.
Hi Jan,
I am sorry to hear your comment. I am Australian and when I moved to London I was shocked at how rude the staff seemed to be when I went into boutiques to spend my well earned money. I made it my mission with Coco Ribbon to differentiate ourselves by offering luxury fashion and gifts with down-to-earth and unpretentious sales staff - and instill this philosophy with our staff to this day six years on. Most of the time I would say they do a pretty good job as we often get great feedback from our clientele raving about how nice our girls are. I do hope you come to the store once again as I am confident your second visit will be an enjoyable one.
Coming from a previous Sales Consultant for Koh Samui, the buyer's name is not Mark Sexton, it is Paul. Please get your facts right and accredit the correct person.
Thank you.
Hi, does anyone know who stocks anaphora handbags. thanks
Look forward to a gorgeous new boutique, PIPA for women and children on Formosa Street in Maida Vale W9
Coco ribbon are just plain rude! Will never shop there again!
please note that Coco Ribbon sloane street no longer exists. thanks
Alison
Please update the profile for COco Ribbon as the Sloane Street store no longer exists, however the Notting Hill boutique does and we have relaunched cocoribbon.com
all details can be found on our website. thank you