In the last decade East London has been completely transformed, it has become “Shoreditch” the most trendy and fresh side of the city. Just a walk around the main streets is all it takes to make you realize that you have found yourself in what is right now, the most “Inn” area. A place that will inspire you with the most artistic trends of design… colorful graffiti, all around that cover the streets the underpasses and doors, express contemporary concepts or fictional ones. Giving you the feeling that they are shouting out the thoughts of the younger generations.. and leave you imagine and sink into their dreams.
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Here you will find (specially passing through the “Brick lane”) the most unusual and original concept boutiques of young international rising designers. From the most refined shops and all kinds of ethnic restaurants to special cinemas. From vintage shops to new age art galleries, with all this desire to make a difference.
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If you are real good friends with cappuccinos and the cornetto Italiano, like I am and you don’t know how to part with them, the “Fix 126” coffee shop is the right place for you . ( Rivington road street with Courtain road) It is a place of eco-friendly wood benches in “country chic” style where young people hang out. They leave their bicycles outside and with their cell phones and a newspaper are ready to start the day!
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Once you are done with breakfast, just a few steps away you will find “Paper Dress Store” a clothing & more boutique. There’s also a very original bar in the shop that serves “eco” lunch and evening drinks. What makes this place more interesting though, is that they also offer fashion courses to everyone. They are so many various fashion courses, from sewing lessons to fashion design. Special make up courses to professional modeling classes. They even offer courses on how to become a fashion blogger expert.
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And to think that in the past this was the area where the most homicides were committed by the most infamous London Killers and it only recently has been reformed. The “ Spitalfields vintage market” is really a discovery you shouldn’t say no to! A place where you can spend hours and hours of exploring unique objects. From vintage dresses and handbags of any kind, to the famous Victorian head bands and brooches of the London designer “ Poppy Daisy” www.poppydaisy.com . From unusual hats and blouses to “Rochier” mittens with ecological fur trim those of real rock stars.
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You should also visit the “Columbia Road flower market”, no doubt about that, in the weekends, actually, it’s only open on Sundays and its full of flowers and exotic plants that come from all over the world. This place is going to make you really lose your mind with its vast variety and all the different beautiful fragrances of the flowers.
The ALBIONCAFF.COM – www.albioncaff.com is a really extraordinary shop. Here you can find retro emblems, art deco lighting fixtures, vintage tea cups and saucers, colored glass water bottles, in every shape and color. My choice is “the Cinderella’s slipper” a fine painting ceramic object that closes up with a magnet and can be used as a pillbox or simply as a decorative object. I buy a strange metallic light fixture in a heart shape made of many different bottle caps.
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While it is by the “religion clothing” www.religionclothing.co.uk (128 Shoreditch high street) the sweatshirt that I chose to buy, ripped and with chains, very “rock. This is altogether a casual clothing store (jeans, T-shirts, sweats) but with this particular English style. The details of this shop are so unusual in fact all the prints on the clothing are all hand pressed and all the garments are really unique. The sweat shirts are usually around 80 GBPs but since its January, sales period I found it on discount for 48 GBPs. In “Aida Store” (133 Shoreditch high street) I chose to buy a Norwegian made military coat with fur trimming and big pockets for 99 GBPs. I like it because it is military which first of all is very trendy this winter and because the specific design with those large pockets reminds me of the typical Norwegian salmon and trout fisherman.
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In the “wonderful things around you” www.wonderfulthingsaround.co.uk I find those sunglasses so typical of the Hollywood divas. They only offer one pair of these a month they are signed by “wildfox” and cost around 99 GBPs. The frame is completely transparent and the designs are all different. The ones I got as you can see in the picture are round shaped.
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“Hostem Store” (41-43 Redchurch Street) wwwhostem.co.uk is a men’s and women’s fashion store with 3 floors and a wonderful balcony. What captured my attention was a pair of shoes of an unknown to me Japanese brand. It is fact a new practice of some stores, at least some of the British shops, to propose some special collections of Japanese designers. Lines that combine the “technologies” and the comfort without neglecting the design. The ones’ in the picture name is “the Visium Laramie Folk” and I so much like them, that I would love my boyfriend to wear.
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At least a stop by the “Emin& Paul” (Hambury street) is mandatory if you are looking for a piece of clothing men’s or women’s but only in neoclassical style. While if you are lovers of the modern arts do not miss this place where various artists meet up and take turns individually or in groups in a “co-working” art gallery (Dalston Road 10, with Millers Avenue) here each artist has their own style but they also work in blending together with the style of the other artists. Here various paintings and incredible works of art are produced and developed, all of them unique in their own genre.
We also couldn’t miss the address of the place where we could purchase the famous “travel diary” for our appointments. The one by “urban” is truly special. In “my future listography” (all I have to do in lists) www.listography.com there’s specific space dedicated to your foreseeable future, it is a concept that is perceived in order to help you organize and realize all your dreams and goals. This diary is created by the American Lisa Nola in which you design and a map of all the things that you would like to experience, all the things that you wouldn’t want to miss out in life. In this shop you can also find English stamps contemporary or old ones.
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For restaurants in this area, I recommend: “La Chapelle”, a French cuisine restaurant. (35 Spital Square, for reservations go to booktable.com) with its romantic atmosphere and an amazing cuisine “The Tramshed” chicken and steak (32 Rivington street) is the original British restaurant just to eat chicken steaks and chips, occupied by English customers on busy Sunday brunch. The Peruvian l’Andina, (1 Redchurch street) www.andinalondon.com with original and rich in tastes dishes and a very fresh atmosphere. It is always packed with young people thanks to its good prices and quality. As for the best cocktails you can go to “Ceviche” (17 Frith street Soho) www.cevicheuk.com . At Canvas café, that is if you get lucky, you may have the chance, besides enjoying a great salad, to have a haircut, or get your dog groomed. This is a truly wonderful idea, considering how many people (at least in this area of London) take walks with their “Fidos”.
It would be impossible not to talk about my experience in the most comfortable movie theater I have ever been. The Electric cinema of London. 64-66 Redchurch St. Shoreditch. I went to the one at Shoreditch, but there is another one in Nothing Hill. You can’t go wrong by choosing to spend some time and explore this place. That is because the Electric is not just another movie Theater. Placed in a three story building the concept of each space is ideally designed so that you can spend an entire day if you wish. You can choose from a massage treatment or have your hair done by a hair stylist, or stop by for a nice snack, even to have lunch or dinner at their contemporary lounge restaurant. You can also stop by later to watch one of the latest released movies of your choice, sipping on your favorite champagne. In fact, this place is more like a French lounge with dim lights and comfortable fully reclining chairs. What more can you ask for? That is the perfect place in this area (that you would probably find even more comfortable than your own house) the only problem is that in order to visit, you should either pay an annual membership, or be sponsored by a valid member, like I was. Last hope to be allowed entrance, will be to visit when there is not member “over booking”, hoping to find an available seat. This is one more British concept that makes the clients feel even more special each room is so exclusive, classy and private…!
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This week that was dedicated to explore this specific London area was really worth it, but I couldn’t leave town without accomplishing my last two missions dedicated to beauty and fashion. Indeed “Boots” (the famous British chain stores of perfumery and cosmetics that you can practically find all over London) is where I buy my favorite lotions. The name of the brand is “number 7” a line of body lotions and face creams that in my opinion are ideal for every woman. I first tried these lotions some years ago, thanks to a British friend of mine, and I have never changed them ever since. They are perfect for every skin type. Give them a try if you have a chance specially those face ones. The “Protect & Perfect Intense & Advanced Serum and the “Instant Illusions” I can assure you that both of those products are miraculous plus really affordable comparing the value for money.
While at “Primark” (oxford street) I’m going to look for the vest that make you look two sizes slimmer thanks to their wonderful elasticity: the “Under control” – seam free Tummy slimming vest – by secret possessions. I believe the price is around 17 GBPs. This is an amazing piece of garment. A secret that is used as an undergarment to wear under shirts or dresses by all those women that wish to hide that extra curves when they have when they have gain a little weight.
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I don’t really like to promote places that have been involved in forced labor allegations, but the truth is that all these accusations against this Irish giant besides creating many publicity scandals, have remained unfounded. There is still some mystery around reoccurring accusations coming from mostly Asian workers since Asia is where the majority of the production in fashion takes place. And where the workers are forced to work in terrible working conditions and for extremely long hours.
The story starts with notes hidden in the clothes of this brand saying “Degrading sweat shop” notes that have been found by costumers that have reported it. Primark instantly responded in its defense that was nothing but a bad taste joke, made only to tarnish the company that in fact always remains completely legitimate to their collaborators’ safety policies. However, it is always one of the top British clothing chain stores in the market. The first one to expand the concept of “fast fashion” (thanks to its competitive prices) and that continues its enormous expansion all around the world creating in the same time countless jobs in the West too, so it is really hard to decide which side to take. I leave the choice to you. Even though I don’t believe that stop buying from these big and famous stores will do much difference or put a stop to their immense richness.
Let us just try to think on how to create a buying culture around the “Made in” our countries of origin. I am positive and I realize that this “change” won’t take long to happen in the world of fashion. Just like in our food preferences we will probably change our choices regarding what we are wearing, to keen observers and real health fanatics.
by Mayura Malenotti
English
