London Field Notes Part 2
London Field Notes Part 2
A subtle f**k you to Brexit with a tour of London's best European spots.
ICYMI
Field Notes is a content series where we explore the luxury retail landscape in cities worldwide. They’re meant to be anecdotal; we’re sharing and observing what we see.
The idea is that we’ll take a neighbourhood or city with a strong luxury retail presence and dissect what we like about the retail establishments there.
PS – Check out our Fields Notes from Manchester.
Got an idea? Let us know where we should visit next!
It doesn’t matter how many times you visit London; there will always be something new. There’s too much to see and do to get it all done in one trip. So here’s part two of our London Field Notes.
This time, we indulged a taste of Europe through fashion and food (f**k you Brexiteers!).
It’s often said that you can visit the world by simply walking down the streets of London. Navigating the mass of retail spaces and eateries will expose you to countless languages, brands and designers from every continent, and tempt you to try new cuisines and flavours.
Our European neighbours have added to this experience, bringing some of its most beloved, well-respected, and inspirational brands to the heart of London, including LFDY, Our Legacy, Acne Studios, Axel Arigato, alongside a myriad of contemporary fashion’s leading brands.
Whether you’re looking to fine-tune your wardrobe with Scandinavian style, grab a late-night taste of France, or fall in love with gourmet gelato from Italy, you’ll want to get stuck in…
LFDY
Live Fast Die Young is a German brand making a big splash. Locating your first UK store next door to Aime Leon Dore is a power move; fitting it out in such a tasteful, on-brand way takes things to another level.
The space was designed by architects and fellow Dusseldorf residents, Schwitzke.
The store flows beautifully thanks to the floor-to-ceiling tiling and LFDY’s signature storage drawers. Anyone in retail should take note of the use of polaroid model shots of each style on storage drawers and display items. It’s a perfect example of function and style.
Our Legacy
No menswear shopping experience is complete without taking some time out to fully indulge in the exquisite Scandinavian fashion that calls Our Legacy home.
Over the past few years, Our Legacy has quickly risen to fashion’s top tier, becoming one of the most desirable menswear imprints of the era – and for good reason.
If a quintessential menswear wardrobe truly exists, perhaps it lives at Our Legacy, and the stripped-back, minimalistic, yet fine-tuned selection of products available within the modest Silver Place store emphasises this with ease.
“Over the top” is not a descriptor you’d readily apply to the brand, nor its physical storefronts. Everything is dialled down to a minimum, with clean, simplistic Scandinavian sophistication allowing for its similarly minimalistic clothing to speak for itself; here, everything is about quality.
Lining the rails of the store, you’ll find Menswear, Womenswear, and a small selection of footwear and accessories – each of which is perfectly curated.
Machine-A
Up until recently, Machine-A was a deceptively small storefront. Following a full-scale renovation, it now packs an even bigger punch. The newly transformed space has taken on an impeccable new look, raising its aesthetic standard considerably without disturbing its minimalist appeal.
Undoubtedly one of the city’s premier boutiques, the eclectic arrangement is provocative without being overwhelming. Beginning with a frill-free exterior, you’re welcomed towards a brand line-up that feels like a style library.
Sitting alongside high-end fashion’s most desirable, celebrated, and revered brands the likes of Maison Margiela and Rick Owens are lesser-known designers – including students of Central Saint Martins – making every journey inside an opportunity to discover new brands and designers.
Reign Vintage
London is, without a doubt, one of the best cities in the world for vintage shopping.
No matter which side of the compass you find yourself wandering, there’s always somewhere worth turning your head for. Reign Vintage is a great example of the incredible curation standard at play; carrying a line-up of designer and more affordable pieces from across Italy and the rest of Europe.
Once inside, I’d recommend browsing the men’s suiting section downstairs which never faults in its impeccable blazer offering. Pay special attention as you walk into the section of clothes decorated with security tags, as these are some of the more unique designer pieces.
Axel Arigato
Axel Arigato is much more than shoes. The Swedish brand has made a big splash since it founded in 2014 and it’s London store shows off it’s expansion into ready-to-wear collections alongside it’s signature footwear ranges.
The Jeff Koons-esque display welcomes you in the front door, and showcases the latest hit pieces. The store is light, metallic and beautifully furnished. The combination of helpful but non-pushy store staff, great playlists, and strong footfall creates a brilliant vibe.
Acne Studios
London is one of the few cities in the world fortunate to boast more than one Acne Studios store; each has their individual charms thanks to the unique buildings chosen to house them, but all (Pelham Street included) bear the same commitment to quality and sophistication.
When you step into an Acne Studios store, prepare to be greeted by friendly, helpful, and well-informed staff who will do their best to make your shopping experience as pleasant as possible.
Should you wish to head at it on your own, a focused approach to interior design makes everything extremely easy on the eye; it’s well-lit, bears a neutral elegance, and is elevated through static pops of colour and metallic fixtures that further enrich how the space captures light.
Much like Our Legacy, Acne Studios knows how to create a memorable experience without the need for overindulgence.
Cafe Boheme
Situated on Old Compton Street, Cafe Boheme feels like stepping outside the country – at least for a moment.
Those searching for a top-tier French bistro experience in the heart of the city would do well to venture over. Inspired by the 19th-century French poets who would frequent the area, the laid-back setting is one of the few late-night eateries still standing, making the perfect way to cop a day of shopping in the city.
Cafe Boheme offers everything you could desire from a French bistro; great wine, live music, beautifully decorated interiors, and incredible Crème Brûlèe.
Gelupo
If you’re looking for the pièce de résistance of London-based Gelato, you need look no further than Gelupo.
A brightly coloured yet classic-feeling facade invites you inside, offering comfort to compliment the gourmet sensory experience. White and blue tiling perfectly matches the exterior, while white-painted wooden flooring creates an authentic, lived-in European feel.
As you’d expect from anywhere that offers “the finest gelato this side of the Alps,” the flavour profiles offered are incredible. Some personal favourites include the Mascarpone and Fig, Ricotta Sour Cherry, and Mango & Sticky Rice.
Golf Wang
The centrepiece and main attention grabber is the custom yellow telephone boxes in the middle of the store. I would have walked straight past (whilst staring at Slack on my phone) were it not for this.
Displays on either side of the store are carefully curated; each reflects Golf Wang’s signature bold style, and the space is largely unisex in keeping with the likes of Aries, Stussy, etc.
Capsules and collabs get space to shine, and you get a real sense that the store is just the start of the brand’s presence in London, having opened in October 2023. Watch this space…
The Brokedown Palace
Soho is and always will be, a natural place to visit when seeking places to shop and grab a bite to eat.
As such, stepping out of Soho and onto the streets of Shoreditch can feel a little redundant in parts – what more could it possibly offer? For one, The Brokedown Palace.
Gorpcore trends are still buzzing across the fashion industry, and The Brokedown Palace is a great reminder of why.
If you’re keen to swap your weekends in the city for a hike and trails without sacrificing style, step inside to find rails of essential outdoors gear, including a solid selection of Arc’teryx pieces perfect for fighting off April’s characteristic wind and rain.
Hungry for more?
If you’re keen to get familiar with some of the best spaces that the global retail scene has to offer, you won’t want to miss out on any of our Field Notes. Subscribe to Commerce Thinking below to see which city we visit next.