Shops without the Shopping

Why in god’s name did the boyf and I venture out in the snowy/hailing weather only to be faced with a string of shops that were all closed for Easter Monday?  Because in our spoilt commercial heads, we thought stores wouldn’t mind sacrificing a bank holiday to make a buck or two selling some clothes… however, even SA’s need a holiday and so everything was closed closed closed. 

Nonetheless, schlepping around London, shivering and watching our hands turn blue isn’t such a raw deal, especially when I don’t have to get walloped by scary security guards for taking pictures.  Walking the trail of non-shopping (quite literally WINDOW-shopping) prevents me from lookking/touching the goods up close and also saves a lot of heartache/break which can only be good (don’t think I could hack blue hands and a broken heart all one one day…).

Disneyrollergirl first alerted me to the JC de Castelbajac store which is supposed to be opening soon but there’s still no sign of it yet.  Love the ‘graffiti’ message that is cute but leaves no exact date of JCDC’s arrival. 

Dover Street Market is especially particular about people taking pics so it was a good day to catch the window for the launch of Lanvin’s new bridalwear range ‘Collection Blanche’.  The gowns are mostly bagged up but I guess that’s the intrigue of it all (if you are getting wed and have bags of dough, the flip lookbook reveals a very UN-bridal sort of bridalwear… thank god!).  Apple and snake in the window…hmmm…what could it all mean?

Since I’m not constantly monitoring the Marc Jacobs windows, I can’t be sure whether those flowers are changed constantly or whether they have been there since the opening of the store last year but they do look fetching with the pink ensembles. 

Down a bit on Mount Street, I FINALLY (yes, I’m a slow moo…) saw the Balenciaga store and without an eye catching display and a discreet storefront (like everything in Mayfair…), I nearly passed by.  However, I believe the interior is a total 180 from the storefront and inside you can peek at the video screens showing off those SS08 floral dresses…

Next door, Christian Louboutin will soon be joining the Mount Street crew too…. onto Davies Street and here’s the ickle Vivienne Westwood store that people tend to ignore in favour of the Conduit Street one…even when shrink wrapped, the sheos are delectable. 

Both PPQ and Luella went for a ‘Sorry we’re closed, but here’s some Easter-happiness to cheer you up!’ approach.  Eggs, bunnies, you know the score.  Fifi Lapin would look far better in Luella florals than the one in the window does… 

Yes, Liberty was open but I’m pretty sure this couture gown as part of their China Design Now exhibition isn’t available to the hoi polloi… and although Soho was a lot busier and more ‘open’, ickle Tatty Devine was firmly shut but still sparkling on this grey skied day…

No arms laden with bags but still, a hot cross bun or two was still required to fuel us and keep us going in all this non-shopping…