UPPER STREET
It may be nicknamed ‘Supper Street’ because of its dense population of restaurants, but this North London artery – running from Angel tube station to Highbury Corner – has much to offer the discerning shopper too. Upper Street is prime real estate for a host of high street boutiques that have played an integral role in its gentrification, however it continues to be defined by the independents on which it was founded. Picturesque offshoot Camden Passage remains a vanguard of vintage fashion and antiques. Historically, the area is known for being an epicentre for the radical left and was once home to Sisterwrite, Britain’s first feminist bookshop. Nowadays, design is the watchword, and there are plenty of places to kit out a multi-million pound townhouse. Incidentally, there is no shortage of these in this desirable postcode.
GILL WING COOKSHOP
The trump card in Gill Wing’s Upper Street monopoly (other outposts include stores dedicated to shoes, jewellery and gifts), this cookshop is crammed with every kitchen utensil known to man. Pick your way through the labyrinth of Le Creuset pots and melon ballers and remember: if Gill Wing doesn’t stock it, it’s not worth having in your kitchen.
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190 Upper Street, N1 1RQ.
020 7226 5392
ANNIE’S
This North London institution has been trading in vintage treasures for over 40 years and prides itself on its stash of original 1920s flapper dresses, enough to make Daisy Buchanan green with envy. It’s not short of modern-day admirers too – pop in for a petticoat and you might spot long-time fan Kate Moss browsing the fur coats next to you.
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12 Camden Passage, N1 8ED.
020 7359 0796
www.anniesvintageclothing.co.uk
HEXAGONE
A chic celebration of all things French, Hexagone divides its continental collection into six categories
– home, fashion, beauty, household, stationery and kids. Highlights include Opinel knives famously used for sculpting by Picasso, riding boots from heritage-listed La Botte Gardiane and Atelier Buffile ceramics selected for their ‘je ne sais quoi’.
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12B Camden Passage, N1 8ED.
0207 288 1444
ARIA
Set in the grand surrounds of Islington’s Barnsbury Hall, Aria is possibly the most picturesque place in London to seek home inspiration. After taking in the building’s many lovingly restored original features – most impressive of which is the vaulted ceiling on the upper level – there’s a bounty of thoroughly modern furniture to browse. Big draws come via contemporary design heavyweights including Arne Jacobson chairs and Alessi kitchenware, which sit alongside the instantly recognisable work of satirical artist David Shrigley. The highly giftable selection of toiletries (Compagnie de Provence, Cowshed) and excellent gift selection are just two more reasons why Aria is a joy to visit. Be sure not to overlook the unique jewellery by homegrown designers.
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Barnsbury Hall, Barnsbury Street, N1 1PN.
020 7704 6222
TWENTYTWENTYONE
Championing a progressive approach to classic twentieth-century design, twentytwentyone work with over 60 of the world’s leading designers for its ever-evolving portfolio. But you don’t need to be an expert to appreciate its retro-cool wares. This much-loved design store has also supplied furniture to iconic landmarks including Tate Modern’s Switch House and the Mondrian Hotel.
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274-275 Upper Street, N1 2UA.
020 7288 1996
STOKE NEWINGTON CHURCH STREET
What happens when the trendy kids who once inhabited the grittier parts of Hackney grow up, settle down and want a place to raise their even trendier offspring? They move to Stoke Newington. Thanks to its detachment from the tube network, Stokey, as it is affectionately known, is the preserve of the locals – and crucially, local businesses. With its quaint village feel and large number of young families, the area is peppered with chic homeware stores and cool kids’ shops. Most of the action can be found on the boutique-and-café-lined Church Street – the nicer, better behaved cousin of the High Street. But thanks to its off-beat boutiques the latter is well worth a visit too. Stokey may be tricky to get to but navigate the congested bus journey up Kingsland Road and you won’t regret it.
THE RESTORATION
Don’t pass up the opportunity to scour the carefully selected vintage furniture at The Restoration. In a large Victorian stable block across the street from The Cobbled Yard – another must-visit for flatpack-phobes – you will find a treasure trove of reconditioned finds from spotlight theatre lamps to former factory stools.
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Unit 1 Bouverie Mews, 2 Bouverie Road, N16 0AJ.
07990 573 889
HUB
Hub has been dressing Stokey’s café-hopping residents for almost fifteen years. Threads by Danish label Ganni and France’s Sessùn are always in good supply, as is the shop’s own knitwear line Allsea. Across the road at number 88 you’ll also find a dedicated menswear Hub shop which deals a solid trade in boys clothes by Our Legacy and YMC among others.
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49 Stoke Newington Church Street, N16 0AR.
020 7254 4494
STRUT
Far from your average thrift shop, Strut’s three rooms are bursting with designer garb from the 1930s to the early noughties, tastefully arranged into colour-coded clusters. Owner and veteran vintage buyer Hoana Poland has spent years trawling flea markets for luxury labels, so don’t be surprised if your rummage is rewarded with a Chanel or Celia Birtwell original.
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182 Stoke Newington Church Street, N16 0JL.
020 7254 4387
No website.
OLIVE LOVES ALFIE
Catering to Stoke Newington’s stylish pint-sized customers and their picky parents is no mean feat, but it’s something which Olive Loves Alfie manages with a flourish. There’s a well-chosen mix of kidswear – Mini Rodini, Bobo Choses and Bobux – for ages 0 to 14, together with craft sets, storybooks and playful interior design pieces. A small range of accessories for the grown-ups seals the deal.
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84 Stoke Newington Church Street, N16 0AP.
020 7241 4212
ROUGE
For a taste of the Orient that goes beyond China Town’s lucky cats, seek out this colourful little shop. Whether you’re in the market for an ornate vintage cabinet from Gansu or delicate handpainted ceramics, this shop is packed with authentic pieces that shopkeeper Lei Yang brings back from her native China. Note: Of Cabbages & Kings up the road at number 127 is also a hotspot for unique and thoughtful gifts.
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158 Stoke Newington High Street, N16 7JL.
020 7275 0887
