I have always thought of Jigsaw as a ‘mumsy’ shop. Around the age of 11 I liked wearing the Junior range which features pretty pastel hued garments, and lovely lace detailing, but soon I grew out of these younger clothes, and the adult collection just didn’t appeal. Duke Street Emporium however, offers a finely edited exhibition of Jigsaw clothes, which seem to suddenly look a lot more wearable and wonderful. In this setting the classic designs and simple patterns would complement any wardrobe.

Initially I thought this shop was just a renamed and refreshed Jigsaw store, but soon discovered so much more. Fernandez and Wells have set up a super trendy coffee shop, ideal for a pitstop after a tiring stint of shopping, there is a free Duke Box, filled with retro rock tunes to choose from, and there is also a mini selection of designer items from The Shop at Bluebird to browse and stroke adoringingly, featuring desirable brands like Theory and Kitsune. DSE also showcases artwork all available to buy, I loved the small humorous paper pieces by Hormazd Narielwalla, priced £450 each.

A unique mix of style, social and culture Duke Street Emporium hopes to entice people into the store, away from the ever increasing ease of online shopping. In short, it is an affordable version of the famous Dover Street Market just down the road. The concept is refreshing and interesting, and aims to bring the joy back into shopping on the high street. Ambitious and sophisticated, let’s hope this civilised retail experience sets a trend for the future.

Visit the Duke Street Emporium here: www.dukestreetemporium.com