SHOPPING
Retail therapy:
7 of the best
on Carnaby Street
Once the heart of the Swinging Sixties, Carnaby Street has reinvented
itself as a shopping destination, says Katie Reich-Storer
4. Oliver J Benjamin
1. Kingly Court
3. Beyond the Valley
Set just behind Carnaby Street, this
three-storey courtyard conversion is
fi lled with shops selling clobber from
budding young designers, as well as
vintage items. There are 28 retail
outlets, currently including BirdCage,
a homage to Oriental art with one-off
pieces from the Far East; Fur Coat No
Knickers, a treasure trove of vintage
accessories; and The Beauty Lounge,
where you can indulge in a pampering
treatment. 215 Kingly Street, W1B 5PW
T: 0871 961 0022.
www.furcoatnoknickers.co.uk
www.carnaby.co.uk
Created by three Central St Martin
design graduates, Beyond the Valley
is a springboard for new designers to
launch themselves into the fashion,
art and design industries. The store
is both a retail outlet and an art gallery,
carrying the newest and hippest
designs, from wallpaper and fi ne art
to jewellery and clothing. 2 Newburgh
Street, W1F 7RD T: 020 7437 7338.
www.beyondthevalley.com
If you’re looking for a suit that fi ts like
a glove, men’s tailor Oliver J Benjamin
has the answer. Whether you want
a perfectly cut morning suit for that
special occasion, a fi rst-class alteration
or an off-the-peg suit that looks like
it’s been made for you, it’s all here. The
outlet also sells a wide range of shirts,
ties and cuffl inks to make sure you’re
fully suited and booted at all times.
8 Kingly Street. W1B 5PQ T: 020 7734
3334. www.oliverjbenjamin.co.uk
5. M�A�C
From its beginnings as a brand solely
for professional make-up artists,
today M�A�C is one of the most popular
lines of make-up. The stylish shop on
Fouberts Place is a girl’s dream with all
the latest ranges and products for sale,
as well as the chance to seek advice on
which shades work best for you.
28 Fouberts Place, W1F 7PR T: 0870
192 5555. www.maccosmetics.com
2. American Apparel
Europe’s fl agship store for this popular
US brand, American Apparel sells
fashion basics for men and women. It
prides itself on its code of ethics — it
doesn’t use sweat shops to produce its
clothes — and is worth checking out for
T-shirts in lots of summery colours.
3 Carnaby Street, W1F 9PB
T: 020 7734 4477.
www.americanapparelstore.com
6. Levi’s
Jeans, jeans and more jeans can be
found here, with all the latest colours
and designs from this iconic brand
under one roof. Of course, it sells a
lot more than denim — with plenty
of accessories and other clothes to
choose from — but there’s no denying
the blue stuff...
51 Carnaby Street, W1F 9PZ
T: 020 7287 0629. http://eu.levi.com
Colourful Carnaby Street
Great Marlborough Street
5
7. Joie
Regent Street
7
Kingly Street
2 3
4
Carnaby Street
Marshall Street
For anyone with a sense of individuality,
Joie’s quirky boutique is a real fi nd.
It’s stocked full of colourful and
imaginative designs with one-off pieces
— they only make about 30 samples
of each product. Don’t forget to take a
peek at the fl oor — it’s made of Perspex
and reveals an array of coloured
knickers. 37 Marshall Street, W1F 7EZ
T: 020 7434 3423. www.carnaby.co.uk
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Beak Street
18 W2L SUMMER 2009
IMAGES: M�A�C; BRITAINONVIEW