London (Fodor's 2012) - Fodor's [189]
Clothing: Menswear
Bamford & Sons.
The men’s and boys’ wear at Bamford & Sons combines the British heritage of tailoring and fabrics with a suave modernity. Dashing city wear, romantically nonchalant country clothes, plus fine leather and cashmere accessories are all available. There is also a small but exquisite women’s collection | 31 Sloane Sq., Chelsea | SW1W 8GA | 020/7881–8010 | Sloane Sq.
Clothing: Women’s
Rigby & Peller.
Those who love luxury lingerie shop here for brands like Prima Donna and Aubade, as well as R&P’s own line. If the right fit eludes you, and you fancy being fitted by the Queen’s corsetiere, have a bra made to measure (starting around £300). Most of the young royal and affluent women buy here, not only because the store holds the royal appointment, but also because the quality is excellent and the service much friendlier than you might expect. There are a number of stores across town, all of which are open on Sunday except the Conduit Street location. | 13 Kings Rd., Chelsea | SW3 4RP | 0845/076–5545 | www.rigbyandpeller.com | Sloane Sq.
Food
L’Artisan du Chocolat.
Praised by top chefs Gordon Ramsay and Heston Blumenthal, L’Artisan raises chocolate to an art form. Its abstract “Couture” chocolates are infused with fruits, nuts, and spices (including such exotic flavorings as Szechuan pepper and tobacco). It is also one of the few chocolate shops in the world that makes liquid salted caramels. Leave the kiddies at home, though; this shop is total wish fulfillment for grown-up chocolate lovers. | 89 Lower Sloane St., Chelsea | SW1W 8DA | 020/7824–8365 | Sloane Sq.
Household
The Conran Shop.
This is the domain of Sir Terence Conran, who has been informing British taste since he opened Habitat in the 1960s. Although no longer associated with Habitat, the stores are still a bastion of clean, unfussy modernist design. Home enhancers from furniture to stemware—both handmade and mass produced, by famous names and young designers—are displayed in a suitably gorgeous building that is a modernist design landmark in its own right. Both the flagship store and the branch on Marylebone High Street are bursting with great gift ideas. | Michelin House,81 Fulham Rd., South Kensington | SW3 6RD | 020/7589–7401 | www.conranshop.co.uk | South Kensington.
Designers Guild.
Tricia Guild’s exuberantly colored modern fabrics, wallpapers, paints, furniture, and bed linens have inspired several decades’ worth of home owners and apartment dwellers, and her soft-furnishings book has taught many a budget-conscious do-it-yourselfer how to reupholster a sofa or make lined draperies. The shop also stocks contemporary furniture, wallpapers, and home accessories by other designers. | 267 King’s Rd., Chelsea | SW3 5EN | 020/893–7620 | www.designersguild.com | Closed Sun. | Sloane Sq.
Jewelry
Butler & Wilson.
Long before anybody ever heard the word bling, this shop was marketing the look—in diamanté, colored rhinestones, and crystal—to movie stars and secretaries alike. Specialists in bold costume jewelry, they’ve added semiprecious stones to the collections and the look is anything but subtle, so it may not suit all tastes unless you’re in the market for a rhinestone Union Jack pin. Even if you’re not a fan, the shop is worth a visit for its vintage (and vintage-influenced) clothes, once used only to display the jewelry. There’s also another shop at 20 South Molton Street. | 189 Fulham Rd., South Kensington | SW3 6JN | 020/7352–3045 | www.butlerandwilson.co.uk | South Kensington.
Melissa McArthur Jewellry.
Tucked between Vivienne Westwood’s shop and the Bluebird in Chelsea, this small but mighty jewelry store is a must-see on the King’s Road. With everything handmade in-house using precious and semiprecious gems (don’t forget the pearls), stocking up on gifts for female loved ones is easy here. The price points are also very reasonable for such eternally wearable and gorgeous items. | 378 King’s Rd., Chelsea | SW3 5UZ | 020/7351–1551 | www.mmjlondon.com | Sloane