Georgiana Huddart Shares Her Little Black Book Of Fashion
If I could only shop in one place I’d pick LA – I love the outdoor, casual vibe of it. There are about eight main shopping streets and they’re quite spread out, but you can find so many incredible vintage boutiques there, too, as well as some amazing restaurants. So many of London’s shopping destinations have become quite commercial and hectic, so I enjoy the LA shopping experience more these days – there just aren’t as many crowds. I’ve also heard that Daikanyama in Tokyo is good, so that’s next on my list once we can travel again.
The most unusual shop in the world is Pebble, which is between Westbourne Grove and Paddington. It’s a bit like going into a Moroccan bazaar, as every inch from floor to ceiling is covered in different things. The owner, Peter Adler, sells pieces from his private collection, including jewellery, crystals, textiles, wooden furniture, and more.
The coolest piece I’ve ever found on my travels is an incredible dress for about £80 in a vintage shop in LA. It’s actually a 1930s wedding dress but I ended up wearing it to a party – it has a tulle skirt with a ruched silk and lace body and pearl buttons from top to bottom. It’s so skin-tight I had to be sewn into it, but it’s incredible.
The coolest boutique in the world is The Webster store, again in LA. It was designed by the architect David Adjaye, so the interior and exterior is stunning and the brands they’ve brought in are exceptional. It’s such a challenge to curate a store that’s different to the rest, but The Webster has such a strong identity.
The best concept store in the world is Dover Street Market. I don’t necessarily go there to spend lots of money on everyday pieces, but as an overall experience, it’s unbeatable. It’s like going to an art gallery mixed with shopping – the new designers they stock are so cool, and it’s a great place to discover new labels before they hit the mainstream.
The most unexpected destination for great fashion is Copenhagen. It feels clean, wholesome and is an entirely different experience to London. It has quite a relaxed, holiday-like vibe despite being a city, and the people wear some incredible outfits – but in a non-flashy way.
The coolest under-the-radar brand is Gimaguas. They do really cool knitted pieces and it feels like a slightly younger version of Missoni. I recently ordered one of their dresses and the colours are so vibrant. Another brand I love is called Collina Strada – I’m sure both will go big soon.
The perfect shopping day should be relaxed, fun and a luxury experience if possible. I hate the idea of running around lots of stores in a hurry, so I prefer to make a day of it as I don’t shop IRL all that often these days. I like to break up the day by going to lunch somewhere I wouldn’t ordinarily eat, then end the day with a martini at a cocktail bar. The priority is making sure it’s relaxing and that you really see what’s out there – I don’t always need to have bought something to enjoy the day.
The best place for people watching is New York. I lived there for a while when I was working for a Vogue stylist, and it just has the best energy. The vibe is quite transient as you rarely meet people that have lived there for years – most are there to make something of themselves and soak up the experience, so meeting new people is very easy. It’s not somewhere I’d want to live long term as it’s difficult to put down roots, but for having a good time, it’s the best.
The most reliable brand for basics is Arket. I don’t enjoy high-street shopping very much, as the turnover of product is so quick, but Arket doesn’t tend to change its aesthetic very much so you know what to expect. The way they lay out their stores is very calm as well, and I like that so many of their pieces are made from organic cotton.
I never walk away empty handed from Divertimenti, a kitchenware shop on Brompton Road, and The Conran Shop. I love snazzy homeware stores and am always picking up glasses, candles, lemon squeezers, wooden dustpan and brushes… I love clothes but buying homeware feels really good, too.
The best place for vintage shopping is Kempton Market. You can find the most incredible pieces there – it’s not just for clothes, although I have picked up some great pieces, but I bought a mirror for my bedroom there which I adore. It’s great for jewellery, too – I have some beautiful silver charms which were about £3 each.
My favourite vintage piece I’ve ever bought is a men’s Gucci green suede shirt, which I like to wear as a jacket. I picked it up from Found And Vision on Portobello Road – it’s run by three stylists who dress some very high-profile people like Beyoncé, so you know the pieces are all going to be excellent quality.
The best sustainable brand is Patagonia. I’d really recommend listening to a podcast interviewing the owner, as his attitude to running a business is something to aspire to. It’s amazing how they’ve created a brand that’s not only worn by city bankers but is technical enough to be worn for climbing and other outdoor pursuits.
For something really special, I shop at MATCHESFASHION. They have a great selection of pieces from The Row, which is the one brand I would wear for the rest of my life if I had to choose just one. Their pieces are so chic and timeless – I love the way my mum could just as easily wear the collections as me. It’s a high price point, but it’s often available on The Outnet, if you want to pick something up for less.
The best fashion gift I’ve ever received is a name bracelet by the brand Otiumberg. It’s a simple, solid gold chain which has my son’s name on it – it’s very special to me.
The best fashion gift I’ve ever given is a gold and diamond initial necklace from Rosa de la Cruz, which I gave to each of my team.
Next in the pipeline for Hunza G is a new product we’re launching next summer. I can’t say too much about it at the moment, but it’s a one size product that’s not swimwear and not crinkle fabric! So stay tuned…
Visit HunzaG.com and follow @GeorgianaHuddart on Instagram
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