Starting at Start

Start is a a fairly influential boutique, along with its owners and in this extract here i will be looking at my report on it in more depth. Firstly i will pursue with the Womenswear store and flow into the Menswear to end with a finale of Mr start.

As you approach the Womenswear store, its already a clearly inviting place with a absent space as the backdrop to the window display, it brings the immaculate shop interior immediately to your attention. looking at the interior more closely we can see that its vibe is to create a luxe feel. Incorporating extravagant chandeliers, glitter mirrors and polished wood and glass. 

Its soo prim and proper, theres hardly a chance you'd find an east end street drinker or chavy lottery winner here. I feel you could be discouraged to shop here by its screaming interior but the friendly and welcoming staff put you at immediate ease.

The continuous connection and flow can be seen in all 3 shops with its expose brick work and building site alternativeness. This is then contrasted with luxe detail and careful attention has been paid to make sure that although its opposites they compliment each other like butter compliments bread. Everything in these stores just goes together like love and marriage, you cant help but feel warm inside when you walk in. Not only dose the interior make you feel warm but a slight buzz can be created with its subtle blasting of contemporary pop music.

Mr.Start is the more traditional. It pursues the look of antiqueness, stronger than the two stores before it. Maroon walls, polished wood display cases and pineapple lamps again fill the shop to keep it from looking too bare and minimalistic. With wall features also there to compliment its stock it seems to give off a more masculine feel. Hidden as well, it needs to make an impact and i feel this is only visible as you walk in rather than as you approach.

Start is a unique concept on boutiques and the way all 3 stores flow together creates a real brand connection. Each store has its unique points that differ it from one another but you can still connect the dots together to bring you back to where you started, Start. Its unique sense also stands it out from other stores with its decor and if you was to describe it, it is immediately clear who and what store you are talking about.

Shop Report, The Village Bicycle (My Choice)

One of the most intriguing stores Ive walked past and approached. I am over the moon i stumbled across this little gem, Its a shop which oozes my personality and definitely represents my style. After almost shitting a brick at the Toy snake in the condensed glass container which is oddly a display case, I began to explore around the shop. Here's what i found and what i found out.....

Its a Quirky shop full of quirky items and isn't your usual place of choice. I love its mix of high end and affordable fashion items and joke products. Its graphics are a real USP and Its name is a real controversial matter.



Above the window display, below the shop fixtures and interior.

Shop Report, Beyond Retro (Brick lane)

Most inspirational and fun vintage store you will find in London. This place is a treasure trove of both old designer and one off vintage items. Its stocks of accessories and jewellery is truly incredible and something you probably wont find at the market down the road (Which is a waste of space).

The staff are bubbly and helpful, their services are nothing like those robotic members in the majority of commerical stores nowadays and they all seem to enjoy working their.

Look at those smiles.

Who let the Cat in?

Shop Report, BlueBird

Bluebird is a upper class Cafe, Bar, Restaurant, Shop, you name it, it is it. I believe this place is too big for its boots and is just a big confused mess. In my eyes it needs to decide whether its a shop or cafe. The decor inside is almost time warped but i prefer the exterior as its truly sums up Chelsea as an area a little too well.

The pop up clothing store inside has a charismatic charm to it. Stocking classic cut garments it truly helps reflect and comfort its customer market. A lot of white walls almost make it seem like you've been sectioned at a mental hospital but its oddly soothing to be around. 

Shop Report, Online Stores

One of the best visualised online fashion sites I find this website a great way for me to support fellow up and coming designers. I feel this is a go to place if you feel that your a edgey trend setting kid, which in most cases means your in my eyes a first hit wonder.

The Worlds Best Boutique, as it states. I cant really say I agree as ASOS to me is the worlds greatest boutique but we can live and learn. I adore the layout as it reminds me more of a blog which you can shop.

As it took and is still taking forever to load I cant really comment on this online store but why dont you give me your opinions. I can guess that it is very asian and oriental but as for its stock im assuming it is high end, edgey fashion.

The most well known out of the online fashion stores, this is like a fashionistas digital bible. With a clean layout but a great visual presentation home page its hard not to be sucked into haveing a browse. Clear and simple to shop also makes it fun and stress free to navigate around.

Shop Report, Topshop

A fashion Mecca and also my employers, I suppose I should say nothing but nice things about this store and company. It is truly a great place to work and it is very rewarding but extremely dangerous if you own a staff card. The staff are very helpful, friendly but extremely rushed off their feet. Topshop is most definitely one of the most fashion forward high street brands and each season their own unique trends are created without completely uniforming to the designers and forecast.

All tied up. The visual merchandising team is probably the best on the high street and I would say competes heavily with Zara who isn’t far behind. From both the picture below and above you can certainly see this represented. Topshop also holds special events social and retail which always attract big crowds.

Shop Report, Matches

Although it’s not clear this was matches, Ledbury Road. Unfortunately we weren’t allowed to take pictures inside even the customer couldn’t take a picture of a product that had her interest. But I can tell you that it is extremely modern, White and the poses of the mannequins are very editorial. The staff were kind but god forbid for anything to walk, crash or hit that glass fronting.

Shop Report, Oxfam Boutique

Oxfam Boutique a store which i didnt really understand. Relating to the area I thought the contents would be like a treasure trove but i was shocked to find a river island pair of shoes and a new look jumper. Boutique really? However the vibe instore was very pleasent and the decor was immaculate and clean.

Shop Report, Hoxton Boutique

I think you tutors are sending us on a wild goose chase. I had the embarrassing job of ringing a very scary door bell and finding out that Hoxton Boutique shut down a year ago. I still thought the door was very interesting and reflected the area well.

"Hoxton Boutique"

Shop Report, Dover Street Market

A strict store solely owned by comme des garcon, it’s hard not to feel intimidated by its quintessential clientele and snotty members of staff. This place is too far up its arse and needs a renovation quickly. Warehouse chic died ages ago. One perk to this snobby showcase is that its great for celeb spotting. I had the pleasure of bumping into magician impossible himself, dynamo. EXCITING!

 

Shop Report, Browns

Browns, British Fashions Show Case Space. 3 stores all opposite eachother an unusual set up but strangely it works and oddly each shop represents itself differently. The staff were pleasureable for once and i was able to have a joke with them :o !

 

Can you name the famous fashion faces?

 

The Layout surprised me in each shop Browns Focus was very dark, underground and moody where as the Browns store was minimalistic, with elegant feature walls.

Shop Report, Libertys

My favourite of the london department stores this is truly of expensive taste. Its the type of place that makes you think twice before you pick an item up and shit a brick if you knock anything over.

 

The layout and aesthetics is truly Ye-Old British and the sales assistants have a fashionably morbid style. Its stock is probably worth its rent 10 fold and its customers are probably worth the 10 fold rent.

Shop Report, Acne

My first awareness of this brand was at their Spring Summer 2012 show, presented in the old sorting post office on new oxford street. The sign reminds me of a chemists visual, which i love.

The window display stays very true to Acne's roots. It isn't over merchandised and only represents a burst of its current Autumn Winter collection to entices you in for a deeper look. A great way to increase sales.

 

 

The beauty of a pianist, something you would only see in a store that sells coats at a grand a piece.

Shop Report, Start

One of the best high end boutiques around. Catering to those uppermarket eastenders, Brix, her Husband and the two adorable pugs have created a stylist, designer and fashionistas dream.

 

 

Not any ordinary corner shop.

 

 

The interior of both the mens and womens boutiques are well thought out and passionately blend well with the expensive stock placed within them. The store is in no way affordable for me. Chandeliers and glass top cabniets make me froth at the mouth and blind me with its magnificent sheen and beauty.

 

Shop Report, Selfridges

The report you should all report to. This short but sweet post will quickly and quirkly inform you of shops of which i have reported myself to so you dont have to, but also so if you want to your better understood to them.

I'll be short, sweet, quirky and quick......

 Sophisticated, cool and rich speaks loudly as you glimpse at the limted small print.



Loui V, displays proudly their very high profile collaboration.

 

As you push (with a lot of effort) through the swivel doors, your hit with what seems a tourist attraction, an almost duty free airport vibe something that has made me hate selfridges for years. Its always approached me as a chav culture where girls would go buy something and keep the big "beautiful" garishly yellow bag for their sweaty PE kits.