Daniel Ward Shoe designer Tracey Neuls's whimsical designs strung from the rafters in her Marylebone shop
London's best new shops are quintessentially English: impeccably turned out, utterly style-conscious, and more than a little bit tongue-in-cheek. Here, six of our favorites for shoes, clothes, bags, and more.
THE SHOP Bamford & Sons 31 Sloane Square; 44-20/7881-8010; www.bamfordandsons.com. Tube stop: Sloane Square.
THE VIBE The label's four-story flagship is housed in a former bank, with museum-like spaces to showcase the beautifully crafted clothing for men and boys, and gadgets. For a quick bite, hit the downstairs café, which serves dishes made from organic produce straight off the Bamford family's Gloucestershire estate.
BEST FINDS Cashmere socks ($96) in duck's-egg blue; sterling silver iPod, exclusive to Bamford, complete with leather box ($3,422); motorcycle jacket in ultrasoft off-white leather ($1,476).
WHAT'S NEARBY The Royal Court Theatre (Sloane Square; 44-20/7565-5000), a traditional testing ground for the best new plays. This month, catch O Go My Man, acclaimed Irish playwright Stella Feehily's second drama.
THE SHOP Coco Ribbon 133 Sloane St.; 44-20/7730-8555; www.cocoribbon.com. Tube stop: Sloane Square.
THE VIBE This fantasy boudoir has Venetian-glass chandeliers, ornate mirrors, and feather-trimmed satin swags to put you in the mood for accessorizing your bedroom.
BEST FINDS Pink-and-blue floral silk kimono ($524) by Yes Master; Tea Lights' scented candles in vintage teacups with matching saucers ($61); Maisonette's throw pillows ($314) made from 1960's silk scarves.
WHAT'S NEARBY Award-winning bistro Le Cercle (1 Wilbraham Place; 44-20/7901-9999; lunch for two $174), which serves rich French fare in small-plate portions—perfect for a post-shopping pick-me-up.
THE SHOP Kirsten Goss 29 Holland St.; 44-20/7937-9855; www.kirstengoss.com. Tube stop: High Street Kensington.
THE VIBE Around the corner from busy Kensington High Street, this closet- size boutique displays Goss's vibrant jewelry designs against stark white walls.
BEST FINDS Renaissance-style ring ($79), made of rose quartz and green Swarovski crystal beads set in a bronze filigree band; Amelie Petite Grace Collier ($234), a short strand of rose quartz, freshwater pearls, and Swarovski crystals, with a lemon topaz pendant; gold-beaded Marina Cluster Cuff ($340), with dangling stones in cool blues and greens.
WHAT'S NEARBY Topshop (42/44 Kensington High St.; 44-20/7938-1242), where you can make like a true London fashionista by picking up runway knockoffs to go with your genuine jewels.
THE SHOP Saltwater 98 Marylebone Lane; 44-20/7935-3336; www.saltwater.net. Tube stop: Bond Street.
THE VIBE Rather than distract with outrageous design, this bright, understated, loftlike boutique focuses on the shop's weekend wear, which references classic British style—but with a modern twist.
BEST FINDS Poppy-colored raw-silk cropped jacket with raw-edged collar ($463); blue and red handkerchief-check voile skirt ($148); boatneck sweatshirt in red toweling ($103).
WHAT'S NEARBY Le Relais de Venise L'Entrecôte Porte Maillot (120 Marylebone Lane; 44-207/486-0878; lunch for two $86), the newly opened branch of the famous Paris steak frites joint.
THE SHOP Sac Frères 7 Grafton St.; 44-20/7495-9040; www.sacfreres.com. Tube stop: Oxford Circle or Piccadilly Circus.
THE VIBE The red neon sign is a beacon at the end of Mayfair's posh Dover Street; the moody black interior shows off striking handbags in spotlit glass cases.
BEST FINDS Burgundy buttoned-leather House of Lords handbag, designed to resemble the benches in Parliament ($511); ivory leather Continental weekender ($1,122), inspired by the seats of a Bentley; Suit of Lights evening clutch ($854) in red or black silk, embroidered with the same gold thread used by Spanish seamstresses to embellish matadors' jackets.
WHAT'S NEARBY Dover Street Market (17-18 Dover St.; 44-20/7518-0680), a six-story fashion emporium created by Comme des Garçons designer Rei Kawakubo.
THE SHOP Tracey Neuls 29 Marylebone Lane; 44-20/7935-0039; www.tn29.com. Tube stop: Bond Street.
THE VIBE For a store that peddles fashion-forward shoes, Canadian designer Neuls's shop has a surprisingly old-fashioned vibe—witness its Victorian-era storefront and the bread-baking done in the back on weekends. It also serves mulled wine in the winter.
BEST FINDS Black leather shoes with curved heel and oversize black leather bow ($349); tall lace-up boots with cut-out calf ($395).
WHAT'S NEARBY Mint (70 Wigmore St.; 44-20/7224-4406), one of London's best-loved contemporary-interiors boutiques.
Visit T+L’s Guide to Shopping in London for more shopping inspiration.
