Anthropologie’s second store-outside the US (the first opened on Regent’s Street, October 2009) peddles the brand’s unique blend of vintagey fashion labels and shabby chic homewares. The Kings Road shop is in the beautiful old Antiquarius building, lovingly restored by an in-house team. The 10,000 sq ft space was originally a billiards hall in the 1830s to offer an alternative to the pub for working men, and more recently a dusty antiques hall. Now, complete with exquisite original features like plate-glass windows and intricate ironwork, it offers an elegant shopping experience.
Expect all of what Anthropologie does best: chichi floral print dresses, bold-print knits sold alongside a well-selected mix of art and antiques which look like they fell from the pages of World of Interiors. Olivia Richardson, Anthropologie’s 32-year-old head European buyer (and former head fashion buyer at Liberty), has steered it clear of tweeness by seeking out edgy labels from Denmark, France and Wales to add to the cutesy American favourites. The mix works well.
‘It’s less about what’s hot right now,’ says Richardson, ‘it’s more about gently adapting each season. I look for things that are feminine, detailed and unique. Often the pieces have a sense of humour.’