Funky Quirky Hoxton

I haven't been shopping for a while, because first not many "to-die-for" things on the market right now (many retailers are waiting for the sales) and second I try to be good with money and my wardrobe space! However, I still pop into Hoxton Boutique to have a look and indeed they have some great stuff! And their new online shop will be launched very soon!

Hoxton Boutique
No. 2 Hoxton Street
London
N1 6NG
Tel: 020 7684 2083

What's the fuss about?
Hoxton Boutique opened in January 2000 and remains as one of the best kept secret down east end, London! It has some exclusive collections from Japan and great costume jewellery around the World! Let's go in to have a look, shall we?

The minute I walked into Hoxton Boutique, I felt I'm in a trendy bar in the town but in stead of drinks, I'm simulated by all the cool and quirky clothes! The staffs are really nice and cool - one of the most important things for repeated customers!

Alison Whalley, the owner and designer, has a sharp eye for fashion. She has sourced a great mixture of clothes for both work and play, such as Isabel Marant, Hussein Chalayan, Margo London (very girly and sophiscated dresses with some English sense of humour, loved by Selma Blair, Maggie Gylenhall, Kirsten Dunst and so many more stylish girls!), Paul & Joe Sister, Bobi (a great jersey range) and +HOBO+ (Hoxton's own brand and sold world wide from France to Japan! Alison gives the comfortable jersey wear some new definition with young graphic print and romantic shapes!), and a huge collection of beautiful and GREAT PRICED custom jewellery!

Secret No1: The shop has been favoured by many buyers of high street retail chain - if you want to get somthing before the "trend" being copied or started, you know where you should head to! Also, the quality of their jewellery is amazing and everything is worked into detail! The great news is that once its new online boutique launched, you can buy these funky custom jewellery directly online!

Now, let's go into their vintage room to have a look - various vintage clothes and accessories! Oh, Secret No.2: There is a sale corner - where you can find half price Martin Margiela, Hussein Chalayan and so much more other brands? Hoxton Boutique!

Secret No.3: I keep the best secret to the last! The capsule collection of 250-items (only available in Europe) Andy Warhol by Pepe Jeans London has just arrived in Hoxton Boutique yesterday! Not even many Pepe Jeans own boutiques carry them!

The collection is for 2008 Fall, so Hoxton will get various design gradually from now on! The collaboration between Pepe Jeans London and Andy Warhol Foundation in New York has really captured his fashion-forward spirit - the carefully chosen print, the floaty silk and pure cotton and the 60's influenced cut is just everything we want to wear and keep! It has two themes, Pop (based on signed contracts of the artist) and Factory (allusion of Warhol's portraits), draws on his muses Edie Sedgwick and Candy Darling as inspiration.

Lovely Alison has helped me to model some great outfits available!

- Outfit 1.

Silk Floral Dress: Andy Warhol by Pepe Jeans London £159

Footless Tights: Johnathan Aston £10
Shoes: Vintage

- Outfit 2.

Black & White Strapped Dress: +HOBO+ £89

Black Heart Necklace: £23
Footless Tights: Johnathan Aston £10
Shoes: Vintage

- Outfit 3.

Black & White Silk Top: Andy Warhol by Pepe Jeans London £98

Black Skinny Jeans: Dr. Denim £45
Diamante Leopard Bangle: £35

- Outfit 4.

Polka Dots Dress: Franche Lippee £217
(the super cute Japanese brand - exclusive sold in Hoxton Boutique in the UK)

Black Skinny Jeans: Dr. Denim £45
Bag: Marc Labat £49

If you are ever in London, and wonder where to get cool and quirky cloth with some personality, then just pop in Hoxton Boutique, you will have all the answers :)

Treasure down Islington - Sefton

We all hope to have a medium-sized store (no-nonsense) that is just designed and arranged thoughtfully and of course suits our tastes! You know, a great mixture of high-end designers and some exclusive young designer brands can be the heaven to sort out all your main wardrobe difficulties. If that’s the case, I have to bring you to Sefton – a boutique down Islington Upper Street! By the way, they have a fantastic website - so please carry on shopping wherever and whenever you are :) If you love what they do, join their mailing list and royalty scheme - discounts, fantastic offers and free gifts .....

Sefton Mens
196 Upper Street
Islington
London
N1 1RQ
Tel: 020 7354 4865

Sefton Womens
271 Upper Street
Islington
London
N1 2UQ
Tel: 020 7226 9822
What's the fuss about?

Sefton has a long history and it has re-launched the boutique in 2003. The idea is to give you the best of their favourite designers: Alexander McQueen, Vivienne Westwood, 3.1 Phillip Lim, Costume National, Comme des Garçons and many other brilliant ones. Along clothes, they also have a great selection of jewellery and accessories even including colour tights. Sefton also has its own brand products that are just as sweet, stylish and caring as possible - cashmere eye masks, slippers, socks, hats and etc at great prices… I think they are really brilliant gift ideas! Shall we go in to have a look?

How brillaint! The lovely and gorgeous Oyster/Travel Card holder in all kinds of beautiful colour at the counter... Seriously, small things can show your attention to the details! A gorgeous Oyster Card holder is just a big plus!

Secret! Right at the door, there is the whole rail of Poltock&Walsh - the fabulous young London label! They are exclusively stocked at Sefton in the UK! For people who don't know this brand well, I really suggest you checking their stocks out! They love volume, ruffle, silk and colour! Everything is gorgeous, uniquely designed and cut!

Kate Walsh & Fiamma Poltock

I particularly love this dress from Poltock & Walsh! Seriously, the collection is just poetic! Just go to Sefton have a look!

They also store Sinha-Stanic - after the label left the giant Italian company Aeffe, it becomes actually more "individual and free" - the collection not only has beautiful watershed colour but also great structure cuts!

Aleksandar Stanic and Fiona Sinha

I have to say that their stylish staffs are really nice who can easily guide you through the store and never being pushy!

• Aine - She is very sweet and has very sharp eyes for fashion! If you need any fashion help, ask her!

- Outfit 1.

Dress: Yaya Aflalo, £229 - Beautiful and bold blue in the luxurious fabric with the simple cut
Shoes: Costume National, £289 - The retro design, the cream leather and comfy medium heels are just PERFECT!
Clutch: Angel Jackson, £125 - Red snakeskin clutch is sooooooo sweet and classy! It also comes in 3 other great colour: Black&White, Purple and Brown!

- Outfit 2.

Dress: Y Culottes by Poltock&Walsh, £260 - What a quirky piece! The colour really understands the cut and the volume gives a great movement to the bottom part!

Vest: Velvet, £39
Shoes: N.D.C, £199 - This is a classic design with a fashionable retro twist!

- Outfit 3.

Dress: Origami Dress by Sinha-Stanic, £629 - It also comes in black! However, I really fell in love with this orange! Who doesn't love Sinha-Stanic - the label can flatter any body shape! Truly, it is a brilliant cocktail dress!

Shoes: Georgina Goodman £295 - You have to love mustard yellow heels!
Necklace: Bumblebee Necklace by Alex Monroe from the Original Sin Collection, £119 - 22ct Gold Plate & it shows every single detail of a real bumblebee - just incredible!

Let's meet Audrey - she's such a stylish and quirky lady who knows the shop inside out and has all the great fashion ideas!

- Outfit 4.



Dress: Sinha - Stanic, £455 - The cut of the dress is pure lux! It gives a great cut to your figure, very sexy but in a classy way!
Shoes: Georgina Goodman £379 - Grey snakeskin is a fashion saver - you just cannot go wrong with those!

Dress: 3.1 Phillip Lim, £565 - The full length silk evening gown with the seductive V-back is seriously beautiful! You just have feel million dollars in the dress!

So, you like it? Go to Sefton website having a look and you will just love it xx