Perisic’s range of garments, jewellery and bags carry her trademark attention to detail and this season’s collection is all about ultra-feminine whimsical pieces with a tactile edge. Take the transparent black dress in the window: a collection of organza “puffs” that are delicately hand-stitched like a dark spider web – a feature that recurs throughout Perisic’s designs.
This careful craftsmanship is reflected in the amazing book-cut sculptures by artist Su Blackwell, which are currently on show (and for sale) in the shop. Blackwell literally brings books to life, with hand-cut butterflies escaping from the pages of an old book, and a forest of paper trees growing wildly from the pages of another tome.
Both designers’ creations work well together to provide a visual treat and a lot of fun. Don’t miss Perisic’s hand-stitched rope dress and her vintage-style tees with a Deco motif.
Dragana Perisic 30 Cheshire Street London E2 6EH Tel. 020 7739 4484
Geraldine, 20 A wee birdy told me that Geraldine is wearing an American Apparel top and matching scarf, vintage penguin brooch, vintage pleated polka dot skirt and vintage shoes.
Kate Sheridan’s handbags and accessories are a highlight at Broadway Market. Her current line-up includes a collection of fabric and leather bags and purses in two different ultra-sweet bird prints: swans ‘n’love hearts and a subtle rainbow print of little birds, mushrooms, leaves and flowers. The wooden bird charms hanging from the handles are a cute detail.
I love the folky embroidered belts with wooden buckles; skinny leather belts in red, yellow, green and blue (perfect for jeans) as well as the little leather purses in delicious jewel colours.
Entering through the quietly cool surrounds of The Shoreditch Station cafe, the most distinctive feature of No-one is the abstract geometric design by designer Melvin dancing across the walls and windows.
No-one stocks a well-chosen selection of cool independent fashion labels for both men and women, including a small collection of Antipodean designers like New Zealand’s Karen Walker and Deborah Sweeney, and Australian Katherine Pont’s label Mine.
They currently have some cute cotton frocks to survive the sticky British summer, including MBYM’s summer horse print dress (£45); Deborah Sweeney’s red and white dress; and Mine’s broderie anglaise Alice Meets White Rabbit frock (£165).
They also have a selection of t-shirts with a strong print direction for men, such as Makin’s cheeky chicken and rooster t-shirt, and the limited edition Fred Perry by David David polo necks, featuring vibrant screen-printed geometric designs that tie in nicely with Melvin’s wall and window artwork.
Other highlights include their neatly-edited denim line-up of jeans by Lee, Cheap Monday and PPQ (skinny rock cut); Eley Kishimoto heels in primary colours and replica vintage sunnies by Jeepers Peepers.
The counter display of jewellery and accessories feature fluro plastic letter necklaces and Elke Kramer’s intricate laser-cut wooden necklaces. After you’re done shopping, you can relax with a coffee and take advantage of The Shoreditch Station’s free wi-fi. Happy days!
No-one 1 Kingsland Road London E2 8AA E2 8AA UK Tel: 207 613 5314
Roseanne, 25 A wee birdy told me that Roseanne is wearing a vintage black and white jacket, customised Primark white broderie anglaise dress, vintage black petticoat, vintage boots and a Toni & Guy haircut.
Some shops just seem to sum you up in one go. You love everything in it. You want to spend many, many minutes in it. You feel inspired by it. Heck, you even want to buy it. For me, Shelf is the ‘it’ place.
Another little sparkling gem on Cheshire Street in East London, Shelf stocks an exciting collection of unique products that have a strong illustrative/folk/craft element, combined with a touch of vintage aesthetic. They are sourced from local craftspeople as well as from abroad.
One of the hero products is their amazing collection of vintage enamel white letters, as well as reproduction letters from a collection the owners sourced in San Francisco. Apparently they were used as signage and titles in silent movies in the 1930s and 1950s. The letters proved so popular that the original versions ran out, so Shelf has designed a range of vintage reproductions, with an unusual and distinctive font.
Other delights in store include German laser-cut wooden wall designs, cloth-bound notebooks in vintage and illustrative fabrics, and traditional hand-carved unpainted Russian dolls. I love the graphic simplicity of the “naked” wood grain, but you can also get creative and paint them yourself. Check out the amazing designs created by talented Melbourne stitch-n-bitch collective, Kaotic Kraft Kuties, here, here, here and here.
Another thing I like about Shelf? Apart from great design, they like all things ornithological. Combine the two, and here at Wee Birdy, that’s a very fine thing indeed. In fact, birds are a recurring motif throughout the store, with ceramic versions by Masahiro Moria for Hakusan, Danish 1950s wooden birds by Vedel, Robert Ryan bird prints and cushions, and minimalist screenprints of birds by Berlin artist Frerk.
Other fabulous finds include tiny wooden lambs on wheels (£3); rolls of packing tape with a London double-decker bus design; and “ephemera packs” (kinda like a grown-up lucky dip) stuffed with bits and bobs like stationery items, twine, tags and labels (£8). But the “most unique” award would have to go to the lichen-covered twigs with crocheted mushrooms growing out of them.
I have to confess that I have a soft spot for flower boxes in windows. It’s a distinctly British tradition where many a dodgy pub is adorned by a carefully colour-co-ordinated explosion of pansies and cascading ivy. But it’s also an inviting, fresh and homely feature, and I’m pleased to discover that Ella Doran’s store has a couple of bright pink boxes of geraniums in the front window.
A well-known UK-based commercial designer, Ella Doran has collaborated with various brands and retailers, such as John Lewis, to develop a range of products featuring her trademark photographic prints.
Her images are typically a colour-saturated visual treat, whether it’s a row of coloured pencils, London’s iconic Routemaster buses, or an idyllic green meadow spotted with wildflowers. Her products range from made-to-order blinds to cushions, wallpaper, tableware, china and children’s products.
I love Colour, the kids’ book that Ella collaborated on in conjunction with Tate Enterprises. It’s visually exciting and a whole lot of fun. Her melamine range of products combine practical with cool, and I love the kooky “Vintage Plates” tray – perfect for breakfast in bed – and the cute kids’ apron in a vibrant cut-out paper dolls design.
Ella Doran 46 Cheshire Street London E2 6EH Tel. 020 7613 0782
This quiet, unassuming storefront on buzzy Cheshire Street in East London is home to a carefully-edited selection of modernist 20th century furniture, art and collectables. For those who like their mid-century designers, there are chairs by Eames and Wegner, Italian lighting and English Ercol chairs. A psychedelic late 1970s Peter Max (Beatles’ Yellow Submarine artist) ice bucket wearing sunglasses adds a quirky and fun element to the store, as well as the selection of cup-holding ‘80s robots.
I like the rosewood 1950s Danish sideboard by Arne Vodder and a USM Haller red steel office storage unit which could be used as a modular sideboard.
Russell Roberts 8 Cheshire Street London E2 6EH Tel. 020 7613 3355
A wee birdy told me that Charlie is wearing a black felt hat from Trash and Vaudeville in New York, a sample shirt, denim waistcoat and black pants from Lowlife, H&M shoes and a Lowlife bag.
Riding on the wave of cupcake mania, Violet is a sunny stall with delicious baked goods at Broadway Market. Arranged on pretty vintage cake stands and plates, these sweet concoctions not only look gorgeous, but they are doubly delicious.
The generous swirl of sublime buttercream icing is the secret to these cupcakes’ success, with flavours changing with the seasons. On this mid-July Saturday, the buttercream selection ranges from rose water & nectarine to cherry; honey and lavender; elderflower with candied elderflower; chocolate; raspberry and strawberry. Prices are 70p for mini and £2 for large cupcakes.
Other treats such as fresh ginger and molasses cake, elderflower marshmallows, coconut macaroons, organic candied orange peel and chocolate chip cookies added an extra non-cupcake-y dimension to this lavish banquet of sugar. Sweet. Violet Saturdays, Broadway Market Click here for a Wee Birdy map.
Nearest tube: Bethnal Green Station Nearest train: London Fields BR
You know you have to be prepared to sift as you step inside the cosy vintage nest that is The Shop (at no.3 Cheshire Street). But it’s worth being patient as there are many treasures to be found, including graphic ‘50s barkcloth fabric and vintage silk scarves (from an overwhelming collection of 500). Spanning the 1930s to the 1980s, The Shop stocks vintage clothes, accessories, jewellery, fabric, trims, ribbons, buttons, laces, linen and curtains. There is also a small selection of vintage childrenswear.
I can't help feeling I’m in someone else’s house as I rummage through dresser drawers stacked with doilies, sheets and white linen tablecloths. But it's a nice, comfortable "no-pressure" feeling. The Shop also has a sister store at no. 7 which focuses its collection on vintage women's and menswear. Well worth checking out.
The Shop 3 Cheshire Street London E2 6EH Tel. 020 7739 5631
How many times have you walked into a shop only to have your senses assaulted by a cacophony of the sandalwood-slash-patchouli variety of scented candle? Don’t get me wrong, I love scented candles (shout-out to Miss Tuberose-and-Mimosa Scented Candle on my bedside table) – just not ALL the time. And don’t get me started on the overwhelming pong that makes my brain ache every time I walk within 10 yards of a Lush store. (What exactly do they put in those bath bombs, anyway?)
Which is why walking into Labour and Wait is a delightful surprise, in more ways than one. Inhale the unusual earthiness of wooden-clothes-pegs-meets-tarred-jute-twine and take in the warm atmosphere of a timeless general store. Slate pencils and erasers sit comfortably next to classic Breton-style striped long-sleeved tops (us birds can’t have enough stripes) and iconic 1950s Janet and John books. Here timeless and functional design (pastel enamel cookware) marries vintage aesthetic (Bakelite kitchen ware).
Top finds include vintage linen, enormous balls of twine, vintage teapots, enamel lampshades, linen tea towels, vintage needle and thread packets, buttons, giant balls of twine, and horn combs. The gardening selection is extensive with a range of high quality tools, gloves and packets of seeds.
Labour and Wait 18 Cheshire Street London E2 6EH Tel. 020 7729 6253
