Introduction

With the booming retail industry, boutiques are becoming increasingly popular with fashion enthusiasts worldwide. Here are ten of London’s most famous, classic, cutting-edge, cutting-edge, and avant-garde boutiques.

1, Browns

Browns’ reputation in the buyer circle is equivalent to Colette in Paris and 10 Corso Como in Milan. It is one of the top fashion buyer stores that attracts much attention in the fashion circle.

Since opening in 1970, Browns has witnessed nearly 50 years of evolution in the British fashion world. Its founder’s unparalleled eye for identifying emerging designers solidified Browns’s position in the fashion world.

Browns discovered the potential of John Galliano, Alexander McQueen, and Christopher Kane, and introduced Calvin Klein, Sabine G., Armani, Ralph Lauren, and Jil Sander to the UK, and continues to support outstanding young designers. Founder Joan Burstein explains, “We have a wide selection and only buy clothes we love. It’s all about quality and individuality—that’s what we stand for.”

In 2006, Joan was awarded the Commander of the Order of the British Empire by the Queen for her outstanding contribution to fashion, and Browns became a globally influential fashion boutique. In 2015, Browns was acquired by fashion e-commerce company Farfetch.

Currently, Browns has opened a new branch, Browns East, in Shoreditch, a representative district of fashion and art in London. This is also the first new store opened by Browns, a British fashion boutique owned by Farfetch, in 20 years. The two-story carefully designed retail space is designed to provide consumers with a new, diverse and flexible enhanced retail experience.

2, LN-CC

Hidden away in a nondescript residential building in North London, LN-CC is a renowned London boutique founded in 2010. Though a bit out of the city center, it attracts countless fashionistas.

3, GOODHOOD

GOODHOOD is a renowned boutique in Shoreditch, East London, garnering rave reviews since its opening in 2007. Founders Kyle Stewart and Jo Sindle, both former designers at Levi’s, ultimately joined forces to establish this boutique embracing a “slow lifestyle.”

The store mainly sells young brands like Vans, Adidas, Wood Wood, and Levi’s. The clothing area also has some niche Nordic brands and some Japanese independent designer brands that more young people will like, such as Neighborhood, FPAR, and Norse Projects, as well as local brands from the UK such as YMC and Universal Works. If you are a fan of trendy brands, you can also find a variety of trendy brands here such as Stussy, Reebok, Nike, etc.

4, Alex Eagle

Alex Eagle is one of the most popular boutiques. The owner of the boutique once worked in the style team of Harpers Bazaar and Tank magazines. Alex used her good taste to open this lifestyle boutique.

The store’s interior was designed by Alex Eagle herself, drawing inspiration from her concept store in Rome. The entire space is open and can also be used for exhibitions or workshops. This space allows for a more relaxed and enjoyable shopping experience, rather than simply shopping.

This store sells high-end fashion, jewelry, home products, beauty products and art collected from all over the world. Niche brands such as Vita Kin, Serena Bute London and Olatz can all be found here, including many exclusive crossover series.

5, Livingstone Studio

The boutique Livingstone Studio was founded in 1991 by Inge and Kate.

Starting with one brand, they gradually expanded their portfolio, eventually incorporating the collection created exclusively for Livingstone Studio by German designer Aenne Cordsen. Italian designer Daniela Gregish and Japanese-based Jurgen Lehl were also drawn in for their distinct styles and exceptional skills. The former focuses on hand-dying to preserve the coarse texture of natural wool fabrics, while the latter obsessively incorporates organic principles into every inch of his designs, using natural, renewable, and recycled fabrics.

Whether it is the selection of cooperative brands or the cultivation of customers, Livingstone Studio moves forward at its own slow pace, completely ignoring the hustle and bustle of the fashion circle, and the overall storefront layout is also very low-key.

6, Hostem

Hostem, a high-end boutique located in Shoreditch, East London, is a must-visit for fashion insiders. Its artistic interior design has quickly established it as a leader in the industry. Founder James Brown’s childhood experiences with his father at Savile Row, where he participated in bespoke tailoring, deeply influenced his understanding of luxury, which he interprets in his own unique way at the store.

In addition to many of the industry’s most sought-after high-end brands, such as Yohji Yamamoto, Raf Simons and Lanvin, it also exclusively supports handmade niche avant-garde designer brands such as Geoffrey B Small and Raag.

James Brown hopes to draw people in, experience the architecture, and truly appreciate that time and experience are the ultimate luxury in the present moment. People often remember moments through experiences, not just clothes. Creating unique memories and evoking unforgettable emotions is what Hostem aspires to create.

7, Wolf & Badger

Wolf & Badger was founded in 2009 and now has two stores, one in Notting Hill and the other in Mayfair. This boutique offers a more accessible style than other stores, and its selection is quite extensive. If you’re tired of department stores, this is a great place to discover something new. Besides basic men’s and women’s clothing, they also offer accessories, children’s clothing, furniture, stationery, and more, making it a convenient place for the whole family to find what they need.

8, Dover Street Market

When it comes to designer boutiques, the renowned Dover Street Market is undoubtedly a familiar sight to fashionistas. It was opened in London in 2004 by Japanese fashion designer Rei Kawakubo.

The core concept of Dover Street Market is as Rei Kawakubo herself said:

“Establish a platform where diverse cultures can meet and generate new ideas.”

Dover Street Market’s multi-brand retail model is synonymous with curated retail. DSM boasts hundreds of brands, allowing fans of Rei Kawakubo’s designs to purchase the full range. Many top luxury brands, such as Balenciaga, Céline, and Gucci, are also available at DSM. Kawakubo also emphasizes the importance of niche brands, so the store also stocks emerging designer labels like Helen Lawrence and Molly Goddard . Of course, there are also many exclusive items available worldwide.

Dover Street Market’s ever-changing display styles are a unique feature. Like a museum rotating its exhibits, it closes for a week every six months for renovations, redesigning and re-arranging its exhibition areas to create a “fresh start.” Rei Kawakubo personally selects designers for DSM, and each brand’s display area is designed to reflect the brand’s style and seasonal theme.

9, Vertice

Founded in 1993, VERTICE is a classic boutique that has emerged in recent years, primarily focusing on dark avant-garde styles. For nearly 23 years, it has consistently embraced this dark avant-garde aesthetic, specializing in clothing, shoes, hats, accessories, bags, and fragrances. Its niche, low-key approach has limited exposure to media and online channels, and those who visit its stores naturally become long-term customers.

If you’re into niche and understated style, this boutique is a must-see. They carry brands like Yohji Yamamoto, Boris Bidjan Saberi, Uma Wang, MA+, Balmain, Munoz Vrandecic, Jun Li, and Ziggy Chen.

10, The Shop At Bluebird

The Shop at Bluebird was founded in 1923. Today, we’re introducing its new flagship store in Covent Garden, which opened in May 2018. This 19th-century, Grade II-listed building features a large, hidden courtyard surrounded by three floors. A glass ceiling provides bright natural light, while the rooftop restaurant and terrace provide a perfect gathering spot.

In this space of over 1,300 square meters, you can find internationally renowned brands including Chloe, Alexander McQueen, Peter Pilotto, Victoria Beckham, Racil, Galvan, Temperley London and Ports 1961, as well as contemporary brands such as Isa Arfen, Rixo London, Ganni and Forte Forte.

Buying director Claire Miles said: “We are about to create a whole new chapter for the brand and take experiential retail to the next level.”

If you want to experience a unique “spectacle playground” style concept store, you might as well stop by The Shop at Bluebird in Covent Garden on your way to Chinatown.