I’ve been desperately wanting to talk shop about the 172 boutique on Brick Lane, because I’ve truly been baffled by the lack of press this place has had. In the shopping guides the boutiques that are likely to be listed are ones that stock designers – up and coming, semi-established, fully established or big big labels. It’s hard to put 172 in any bracket because quite simply the list of designers they stock are really the beginner seedlings, the PROPER newbies. If I list them, most, including myself will be scratching their heads…. Orphan, Neurotica, Ludmilla, Semidrasey, December 23rd and Nathaniel Lyles (look back to Nathaniel the Stress), most of whom have scant internet presence save for a few personal MySpace/IQONS pages. So when you’re dealing with the unknown, you’re really just looking at the merit of the clothes… which is superb. The clothes have a slight bias towards Japanese aesthetics – drapey, a little ‘out of the box’, layered – basically it makes you want to look at it again thinking ‘Hmm? Is that supposed to be like that?’. Which for me is no bad thing. It also has a delicious range of accessories – vintage bags hang with oversized chain necklaces (yes, 172 Boutique is where my blue chain necklace originated from), bow necklaces mingle with patent Oxford sandals (sounds odd but look below…). Prices start from ¬£30 upwards so it’s all quite reasonable. I just love it for the chances it takes on the REAL newbies…. and by stocking them, allows the clothes to speak for themselves.
172 Boutique, 172 (funnily enough….) Brick Lane
020 7650 8873 (website coming soon!)
Ah- that’s the shop I was referring to in my previous comment!!! hehehe… very funky stuff in there!
I really think this is the right shop…where i am lusting over a pair of cream or black patent sandals with buckles and 2 straps
This sounds like my PERFECT shop. I’ll definitely visit it when I go to London again (I say that about every shop, but this time I REALLY mean it!)
Sounds interesting, what sort of price range is it?
Thanks
x
wow! i really want to go there! you got me in a state of london-envy again
Oops, just noticed you already answered my question in your post!
I should know by now, Susie knows everything…
Great post 🙂 I must go there next time I go to London 🙂
x0x0
Su
Cool shop…
I see black and grey jackets and slouchy shirts, I think I would like this shop….
would image this shop is your cup of tea, can see a lot of cool east london kids around , it did grow since it opened( lst Aug?). the stock gets funkier.
i want to go
that’s such a coincedence this is one of my favorite shops on Brick Lane and on the day of the post I bought my first thing there, amazing grey ORPHAN trousers, those really baggy ones. Amazing shop!
the two dresses in the middle are from LCF grads, right? There’s a pic of the graduation show on the brochure!
Putting down that one on my list…my loooong list of places to go shop. I love those places with new designers! In my own humble way I love to support the next generation. 🙂
oh, I really love that white dress with the big red circles. Lovely!
love the patent oxford sandals!! who are they by!?