London—Shopping Centre Of The World

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31190, 14 October 1966, Page 2

London—Shopping Centre Of The World

(By

EMMA POWELL,

editor of “Flair” fashion magazine)

London is one of the world’s supreme market places—a versatile shopping centre where exquisite design and quality can be found to match the desires of the most travelled customer; where the exotic, the hand-made, new ideas and the traditional perfection of bygone years meet.

London means style. With 10 miles of main shopping streets, more than 10,000 shops in the central area alone and 43 major departmental stores, the capital city of England is a vast treasure house of fascinating and endless choice.

Shopping for yourself? Start at Knightsbridge, where Harrods has more than 10 acres of selling space, divided into 200 departments and an unequalled selection of fine quality merchandise.

jewellery to Richard Ogden, or the Ewan Philips Gallery where young designers will make special pieces on request And If you are looking for paintings, Agnew, Ackerman and Leger are three famous names in London’s vast art world.

ing range of tobaccos, pipes and smoking accessories. Hunting and shooting men can spend hours talking guns at world-famous gunsmiths, Holland and Holland or Cogswell and Harrison. If the problem is keeping the children happy, toy departments at stores such as Harrods and Selfridges are Aladdin’s Caves for young visitors—and do not miss the world-famous Hanley’s, the shop that sells nothing but toys. In a different mood, James Galt and Paul and Marjorie Abbatt supply excellent, simply-made toys pur-

Antique shops abound. And the search for treasures attracts crowds to the markets of Berwick street, Portobello road and Mayfair’s Shepherds’ Market The more lavish centres of Sloane street, Beauchamp place and Kensington Church street, are the areas in which to seek period furniture, frames, miniatures, silver, glass and china.

Cross the road to Scotch House where you can—if you have a Scottish ancestor—trace your correct tartan, buy kilts, skirts, Scottish jewellery and knitwear, even full Highland dress. Nearby, another store. Woollands, has exciting fashions with styles by many of Britain’s brightest young designers. Britain’s cashmere knitwear is a constant attraction to visitors. The stores have good selections but try the specialist shops too—Nat Peal in The Burlington arcade, leading Piccadilly, or Jaye Kaye in Piccadilly itself. Shetland wools and lambs’ wool are also excellent, and an enormous range of sweaters, blouses, tops and lavishly embroidered evening jackets are stocked at Hupperts in nearby Regent street. Fine Tweeds Tweeds by the yard can be found at Hunt and Winterbotham. in Old Bond street, a company with a sales tradition going back to 1532. Scot Adie, Ltd., specialises in Scottish tweeds and beautiful “shaggy dog” sweaters. Its designer, Bernat Klein, has made his name in recent years with strikingly coloured novelty tweeds. ' Several London couturiers provide modified “twofitting” services and “boutique” off-the-peg collections. These include the Royal designers, John Cavanagh, Hardy Amies, and Norman Hartnell, dressmaker to Queen Elizabeth, all of whom have fabulous ranges of lavish costume jewellery to display at their salons. Look for exquisite lingerie at The White House, Marshall and Snelgrove, and Debenham and Freebody, shoes with individual styling at the Bond street shop of the Royal shoemaker, Edward Rayne, and at Elliott’s classic English coats and suits at Aquascutum and Jaeger.

The smaller shops, such as Cameo Corner, the Dickensian Old Curiosity Shop and The Admiral’s Eye, are fun to visit for objects from the past with a highly individual flavour. Traditional China Traditional and modern china and glass are displayed at many of the large stores. But, for particular pieces, there’s Gered’s in Regent street, catering almost entirely for overseas visitors, with the largest range of Wedgwood and Spode in the country. Trendsetting modern pieces, with a million ideas in furnishings generally, are to be found at shops like Habitat and Heals. For unusual presents to take home, look at the food counters of one of the world’s most famous grocer’s stores, Fortnum and Mason in Piccadilly. Mouth-watering, handmade chocolates come from Prestat where the Queen Mother buys her chocolate truffles. Visit To Savile Row Men will enjoy an excursion to Savile Row, home of the world’s best bespoke tailors. Good, off-the-peg styles, especially sports and casual wear come from Simpson’s and other shops in the Piccadilly area such as Austin Reed, Aquascutum, and Burberry’s, the home of wellknown classic raincoats. For sporting types, Lillywhites have the kit for every activity and Champion and Wilton and George Parker and Sons are famous saddlers with all the equipment needed for riding made by experts. Maxwell makes superb hunting boots and Alan McAfee Ltd., has men’s shoes, made-to-measure or ready, made.

Shopping for luxuries? It’s easy—temptation is on every side! Browse round Asprey’s, where the atmosphere is of a private collector’s home, for lovely items in leather, jewel-j lery, gold and silver. Go to Garrard’s the crown jewellers, for fine jewellery, both modern and antique and a specialist collection of silver and clocks. Silverware Visit the London Silver Vaults in Chancery lane, where SO top silversmiths display everything in silver from the smallest coffee spoon to enormous antique presentation pieces. Sit in on a Sotheby’s auction where some of the world’s most valuable antiques and paintings are sold. Go for unusual modern

The man of the family might indeed, enjoy a shopping expedition, if you include in it Bassett-Lowke, where there are models of engines. aircraft, yachts, motor boats and railway bridges, made up and in kit form. And few men can resist the [lure of Gamages’ tool and | motor car accessories department or, for smokers, Bew- : lay’s where there is an excit-

posely designed to encourage a child’s co-ordination and mental development. Carnaby Street No visit to London is complete without a look at the “young fashions” to be found in Carnaby street, with a cluster of shops selling the “gear” for the teens and twenties. All over London, indeed, there are little boutiques to be found selling mini-shifts, discotheque dresses, way-out jewellery and accessories. Biba’s, still topping the pops, is perhaps the best example with its dark interior, constant music, youngsters trying on clothes in every corner —and the distinct possibility that one of the young idols from the “pop” world might be casually shopping alongside you!