Wee Birdy

I finally paid Shop at Bluebird a long, overdue visit last
week, and I’m delighted to report that it’s looking better – and dare I
say more accessible  – than ever. But it’s difficult not to
be impressed and a little over-awed by the listed art-deco location
alone (the former Bluebird garage), let alone the beautifully edited
collection of fashion, books, music, homewares, vintage, and skincare
products.

While it’s loosely divided into departments, all sorts of found
objects, accessories and artworks are scattered throughout the 10,000
square foot space. Here, for example, you’ll find 1950s American glass
milk bottles (£18) sitting on an oversized French farmhouse table, next
to a rack of glorious Erdem frocks.

I really loved the selection of vintage greeting cards as well
as the fabulous brioche mould pendant lights by Sally and Mark Bailey.
The range of playful pastel-coloured ceramics by Berlin-based Kuehn Keramik was also a highlight.

The
women’s fashion department is extensive and carefully considered, with
labels ranging from Jasmine de Milo, Alexander Wang, Peter Jensen to
Elizabeth and James, Luella and Richard Nicoll. Shoe-wise there’s
Rupert Sanderson and Vivienne Westwood, while the jewellery cabinets
are stuffed with Marni gems, vintage fob watches and Nymphenburg porcelain pendants.

There’s also an excellent spa with Micheline Arcier (Prince
Charles’ aromatherapist of choice) joining this month along with an
exclusive treatment menu. Right now you can pick up skincare products
by the likes of Malin + Goetz and Ole Henrikesen, but keep an eye out
for Aesop and Bigelow, which should be arriving over the coming months.

What’s most appealing is that the shop is constantly evolving,
with new designers and pop-up spaces keeping it fresh and relevant.
Launching its international project in the pop-up room this week is
French label Kitsune (next stop is Colette in Paris). Then there’s
Atelier Abigail Ahern, the new homewares concession which brings
Islington interiors (and some rather lovely Jonathan Adler ceramics) to
the Kings’s Road. I was also (predictably) excited to discover that Rob
Ryan will be curating the Christmas shop this year.

Whatever you do, don’t leave without a twirl around the
spacious dressing rooms, which are in the process of being decorated by
individual designers. I’m looking forward to seeing the Bobby Dazzler dressing room (think hand-crafted creature feature!), but I rather liked the room with the incredible sepia photo collage.

Shop at Bluebird
350 King’s Road
London SW3 5UU
Tel. 7351 3873
Nearest tube: Sloan Square
Click here for a Wee Birdy map.

Opening hours:
Monday to Saturday 10am-7pm
Sunday 11am-6pm

* Please bear with me – I'm flying back to my Sydney nest so I'm digging into the Wee Birdy archives for a couple of weeks. Normal posting (and ace new London shops) will resume shortly. xx