Jigsaw (London, UK)

While I was in London last week, I of course managed to squeeze in a few shopping sessions. And I can't believe I'm going to say this, but shopping can be really tedious. While vintage is cheap, it requires a lot of thorough browsing. Designer flagships are clean and glitzy, but let's face it - looking at stuff you don't really want to spend that much money on starts to get depressing after a while. Which leaves the high-street, selling goods at a moderate price point, but with varying quality and worst of all... after a while, all these shops start to look the same. I realize that Zara, Topshop, French Connection and the majority of the retail brands out there aim to keep the interiors simple to avoid distracting the customer, but I've always thought a few unique touches wouldn't hurt. It's one of the reasons I love All Saints.

This season's looks from Jigsaw (images: Jigsaw).

Another exception I've found on London's high street is Jigsaw. It's one of the few shops out there that doesn't scream 'big corporation'. In fact, this company, which was originally founded in 1972 by John Robinson as a single store in Hampstead, is still privately owned by him and his wife Belle. These days, there are 47 stores in the UK and in 1996 Jigsaw Junior was introduced. Last year, another line was added - 'Jigsaw Organics', which as the name suggests offers organic bath and beauty products, a project close to the heart of Robinson, who is also an organic farmer. But if you think the clothing and accessories are eco-boring... you're mistaken. According to a press release "Jigsaw is a British brand with a strong identity inspired by country living, quirkiness, irreverence and humor". Which probably isn't saying much, but a lot of what you'll find here is trendy without being too trendy, well-made, with looks ranging from sophisticated to fun. And even though the majority of the garments aren't made of organic materials, they are meant to last beyond a season which will hopefully result in guilt-free shopping.

The entrance...

The store I love going to the most is situated on King's Road, an area I would generally recommend for high street shopping, just because it tends to be less busy (of course you'll still need to go to Oxford St. if you want the giant Topshop). Jigsaw is the only standalone store on this street and I'm not sure how they managed to get this property, but the shop is housed in an old chapel building (formerly for the Duke of York's Barracks). Working closely with the area's conservation officer, the interior designers ensured that the feel of the old chapel was retained. And while you do get a sense of that, a lot of the furniture and decor feels very homey as well.

Left: another view of the stairs and lights. Right: Knitwear section.

The first thing that always blows my mind is the front entrance with the colorful hand-made lights and the curved stone staircase. The reclaimed wooden floors give the interiors a cosy feel, while the custom-made furniture offers a sense of luxury. Fixtures are bespoke as well and unlike many other stores, this one isn't dominated by fluorescent light - relying mainly on the natural brightness streaming through the big windows instead. Browsing is made easy, with cardigans, t-shirts and knitwear lying folded on tables (though in some cases, because of the sale, there was a bit of a mess). You get to wander the store without being bored, as the racks of clothing aren't arranged in a strict order.

Loved the wooden floors.

The majority of the women's clothing can be found on the ground floor. Everything ranging from feathery silk blouses to quirky bright dresses is available, so if you're looking for the perfect summer outfit, this is the place to go. The pieces are on the feminine side, meaning you won't have much luck if you're in need of a leather biker jacket or torn jeans. But as the items are on the pricier side, the women who shop here tend to search for classic investment pieces such as trench coats or cashmere cardigans.

Upper level with a great selection of accessories.

The upper level is where you'll find all the accessories, including jewelry, scarves, hats sunglasses and belts. The handbag section is impressive, with a great selection of classic totes and cute clutches.

More accessories (left) and the shoe section (right).

Heading to the shoe department, I found a slightly more sophisticated take on the gladiator sandal, as well as the most perfect pair of black boots and a huge range of colorful pumps and ballerinas. The other side of this level also had the Jigsaw Junior range, with more jewelry and bags displayed near the massive cash desk towards the center.

The very girly changing rooms (left) and impressive cash desk (right).

Many of the Jigsaw stores share the elements that can be found in this one (in particular the lights and furniture), so I'd recommend dropping by just to have a browse if you happen to pass one. The company has since also expanded to the U.S. with nine stores now open in California (and one in Nashville). Hopefully they'll be opening more outside the UK in the near future. Fortunately, Jigsaw also launched their online store last year, so if you're in the U.S. or UK, you'll also be able to shop the great range from the comfort of your own home.

(individual images: Jigsaw)

Address: The Chapel - Duke of York's Sq, King's Road,
London SW3 4LY
Opening Hrs: Mon,Tue: 10:30-19:00,Wed: 10:30-19:30
Thu-Sat: 10:00-19:00, Sun: 12:00-18:00
Jigsaw Homepage & Online Shop (UK)
Jigsaw Homepage & Online Shop (US)