Hot on the Highstreet Week 265

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The Basics Store is a brand new, temporary pop-up shop curated by Marina Guergova of Marina London. It is located amongst the trendy boutiques on Redchurch Street in Shoreditch. The stylish edit of clothes and accessories showcases a range of young British designers as well as Marina London’s own silk garments.

The concept shop features designers who share a love of the everyday essentials, and the small space displays the items in a simple but beautiful way. Hanging on the rails are Blake LDN’s luxurious and flattering knitwear and beautiful pieces from Marina London 100% silk basics collection. To complete the look you can buy cool and contemporary crafted footwear by Dear Francis and Danielle Foster’s high quality leather bags and accessories. There are two lovely cabinets of jewellery by of Clarice Price Thomas and Jessie Harris, which would make great gifts. I adored the quirky selection of fragrances from the Avery Perfume Gallery, with scents from Santa Eulalia and Roads.

The Basics Store is a creative place, during its short occupancy it has hosted talks by inspiring start-ups and successful young companies, including The Hardihood, Crude Juice and Qnola. The wonderfully rustic Petalon Flowers have been offering their floral bunches to visitors once a week and music has been provided at the front of the shop by talented acoustic artists.

With such a thoughtful range of ideas it seems a shame that The Basics Store isn’t here to stay. Let’s hope Marina sets up shop somewhere in London permanently soon.

The Basics Store is open until Monday 13th July 2015.
Monday to Friday 10am – 7pm, Saturday 11am – 7pm, Sunday 11am – 5pm.

30a Redchurch St, London, E2 7DP.

Hot on the Highstreet Week 224

Is September too early to start a Christmas wish list? When I do write one, Poplin pyjamas will be at the top.

Poplin was founded by Lucy Guinness to offer sophisticated women lounge/sleepwear that would perfectly blend function and form – letting them look and feel amazing.

After graduating from Oxford, Lucy won a scholarship to study History of Fashion at London’s Courtauld Institute of Art. Deep in the fashion archives of famous museum collections, examining antique and vintage garments, she found inspiration to develop a contemporary line of pieces that would be worn and loved until they were old and threadbare.

In 2010 her sense of adventure led her to live in India; she now divides her time between Bombay and London. Poplin pyjamas combine Lucy’s love of fashion and travel, the perfect tailored suit to sleep in whilst away from home.

I love the neon trimmed classic pyjamas and the luxurious silky bridal PJs that come complete with a hand-embroidered monogram.

Beautifully tailored and timeless, a pair of Poplin pyjamas will ensure you are in style night and day.

Prices start from £100.

More information and buy here: www.poplin.co.uk

Hot on the Highstreet Week 214 – Shopping in Istanbul

Yastik by Rifat Ozbek – Yastik means cushion in Turkish, and that is exactly what you find in this wonderful emporium. The beautiful cushions in this shop instantly transport you to a different place and culture: brightly coloured, patterned and lovely to touch they are carefully designed and made to be the finest quality. I would have loved a selection of the mini lavender filled cushions to scent all my drawers of clothes.

Selda Okutan – This imaginative and inventive jewellery tells a story. Sculptural jewels and tiny figures are Selda’s specialities though I fell in love with the silver and gold ant brooches, that perfectly resemble the little insects!

Fey – This beautiful and eclectic wardrobe style shop is owned by Turkish Marie Claire’s long-time General Manager and Publishing Director Fatoş Yalın. The boutique is stocked with one-off vintage gems and a selection of delicate and divine own branded clothes. I particularly loved the handmade silk shirts which are softer than any I have felt before, and look simple but seductive on. Fey is a treasure trove to explore and admire.

Kağıthane – This delightful artisan stationery store is filled with intriguing and desirable accessories and paper creations. There are several outlets, I visited the shop in the trendy Karaköy area. A great little place for browsing and picking up souvenirs.

More Istanbul shopping ideas here.