Wild Swans (London, UK)

First off, apologies for the long hiatus from Haute World. A combination of my recent trip to Chicago and NYC, as well as a new day job have kept me from posting as frequently as I would have liked and I'm afraid future updates will most likely be sporadic as well. If you do want to catch up with my travels and window shopping adventures, I would suggest also following me on Twitter and/or Instagram, where I still plan to post more regular updates on anything interesting I may find.

One treasure I still really want to share with you all is a boutique I visited right before I left for the States. Thanks to the lovely Dena who organized the event, a few of us got a chance to browse the beautiful Wild Swans (located in Islington) one evening, while sipping champagne and munching some very decadent cupcakes. Founded by Caroline van Luthje, who opened the first Wild Swans store in Chiswick five years ago, the aim was to give shoppers the opportunity to source some of the best Scandinavian brands - something she had missed since moving from her native Denmark to the British capital.

The boutique reflects the calm softness Scandinavian fashion is usually associated with and everything you find here will have been carefully handpicked and lovingly displayed. Brands stocked range from the more famous offerings such as By Malene Birger and Jofama to more independent designers, including Hanne Bloch and Rabens Saloner. As winter is approaching, the racks were appropriately filled with comfy soft knits and leather jackets. Like most of the girls present, I fell in love with a very flattering pair of leather leggings and a few delicate blouses. Just as tempting: the suede ankle boots, chunky scarves and contemporary jewelry from labels such as Bjorg.

As the images will hopefully convey, you'll immediately feel right at home once you enter the boutique space. Being a bit of a fan of unique decor, I appreciated the glass jewelry case, vintage suitcases and storage cabinets to name a few. And if that's not enough - the spacious changing rooms and friendly staff are sure to make you feel like you never want to leave.

Any Londoners or future visitors should definitely drop by, especially if you're looking for a more unique investment piece, rather than yet another throwaway item from the high street. Pricing is fair for what you get and if you're lucky (or time it right), you'll be able to snag something during a sale. If you're not in London - the good news is that a large majority of the items can be purchased via the Wild Swans online store, so head on over if you need to stock up on your winter wardrobe.

All images taken by Dena and yours truly.

Address: 54 Cross St, London N1 2BA
Opening Hrs: Mon-Sat: 10:00-19:00, Sun: 12:00-17:00
Wild Swans Homepage & Online-Shop

Kronkron (Reykjavik, Iceland)

I've been meaning to write more about my Icelandic fashion adventures for a while, but somehow got caught up with everything that's been going on in London at the moment. Nevertheless I really want to share a few more cool labels from Reykjavik with you, and unlike the one boutique I already posted about here, the rest of them stray far from the traditional classic designs you often see in most stores around Europe. In fact, if you ever wondered why the likes of Björk seemed a little over the top with regard to their fashion tastes, browsing the local boutiques in the Icelandic capital will make you understand that perhaps they're merely representing local style.

Overview of the store from the entrance (left). A few cute tees on the wall (right).

Kron is a brand that isn't all that uncommon among those who seek individual style. Already available in hip boutiques like London's b Store, the Reykjavik label first started out in 2000 as a small shoe shop that sold a variety of brands including its own products. Borrowing their name from the main Reykjavik supermarket that shut its doors in 1990, the idea behind Kron was to create the city's one-stop place for fashionable footwear. The success of Kron lead to the opening of a second store 'Kronkron' in 2004 which also stocked clothing and a range of accessories in addition to shoes - from the likes of big designers such as Sonia Rykiel and Vivienne Westwood to smaller labels such as KTZ and Wood Wood. The biggest draw however is the house label Kron by Kronkron (confused yet?), which started out as a shoe brand in 1998 and has evolved into a company that designs everything from cute dresses to colorful tights.

A very tempting shoe shelf near the entrance (left) and racks of colorful clothes towards the wall (right).

A closer look at the shoes, which feature cute bows and a chunky heel.

The two people behind both the boutiques and the unique collection of shoes are Hugrún Árnadóttir and Magni Þorsteinsson, who graduated as fashion designer and hair stylist respectively. The fun and colorful shoes are mirrored in the store concept, which according to its owners resembles a confectionery shop, filled with goodies you crave. Upon entering Kronkron, that's definitely the impression you get and that's mostly due to the incredible selection of Kron shoes. For anyone who's unfamiliar with the brand, it's probably best to take a look at some of the photos, though if pressed to find a description, I'd say the shoes portray the ultimate foot candy: fun, colorful, funky, girly and highly addictive - minus the evil calories of course.

Body suits and shorts suspended from giant hangers.

The area near the pillars: feminine dresses and more accessories...

...and shoes of course.

And like little gems, the shoes were displayed on various shelves near the entrance. I can't recall how many styles there were, because I was dazzled by the variety of colors and materials. Trying to distract myself - no easy feat - I decided to take a look at the clothing first and spotted a few familiar brands such as Marc by Marc Jacobs or Acne. Kron's own clothing designs hung near the windows and included adorable dresses with Peter Pan collars and cinched waists that had a distinct retro quality. More dresses were displayed near a large pillar, while other items were suspended from giant faux clothes hangers. I had a quick look at more garments on the racks, but kept returning to look at the shoes or the abundance of accessories on display.

Not just shoes... some of Kron's dresses (left) and tights (right).

More socks and shoes by the window.

For the gents: Boots and brogues.

I should probably also mention that menswear was stocked as well and the selection was fantastic. I was particularly envious of the men's brogues, but considering the ladies have a larger selection of Kron shoes, I can't really complain. Ah yes, the shoes. When I finally did make it to the actual shoe section, I didn't know where to begin. I'll be the first to admit that overly colorful cutesy shoes aren't necessarily my style, but some of the laced ankle boots and wedge sandals did seem to call my name. All designs are conceived in Reykjavik by Árnadóttir/Þorsteinsson and handmade by artisans in Elda, Spain. So while the kooky creations may distract from the workmanship behind these designs, the high-end materials (leather, brushed leather, suede, patent and net) and intricate details will soon make you realize that these beauties are on par, if not superior to some of the luxury goods out there. There were even a few rubber wellies nearby and a stack of CDs, but you'll most likely want to focus on the current season footwear - or better yet, the previous season selection which was on sale. And if you want to take it up a notch, fun socks and tights were available too.

The main shoe area.

An impressive range from the Kron collection... sigh.

And these lovelies were on sale. A shame they weren't in my size.

The great news is that while Kronkron is best viewed in person, the company also has a pretty good online store, which stocks the majority of the labels they sell - but more importantly also offers the Kron line (shoes, clothing and tights). So if you want to inject a bit of fun and whimsy into your wardrobe, yet don't plan on heading to Reykjavik soon, an online browse is highly recommended.

A must in Reykjavik - wellies (left) and some local music (right).

The entrance area as seen from the back (left) and some wall art I spied on my way out (right).

Address: Laugavegi 63B, 101 Reykjavik

Opening Hrs: Mon-Thu: 10:00-18:00, Fri: until 18:30, Sat: 10:00-17:00

Kron Homepage & Kronkron Online-Shop

Electrum Gallery: Past, Present and Future - Jewelry Showcase (London, UK)

There are few girls who don't have a thing for jewelry - and there's nothing I love more, than to peruse both contemporary costume jewelry or vintage high-end pieces. However, I don't feature baubles and bling on this blog as much as I'd like, simply because - compared to clothing, shoes and bags - finding unique jewelry specialists can be a little tricky. So when I heard about an ongoing jewelry exhibition at Electrum, where most of the displayed items are actually for sale, I knew I had to take a peek.

Rings by Polly Wales.

Electrum, which is located on South Molton Street (near Browns), is one of the world's most renowned contemporary jewelry galleries that also serves as a boutique and features a constantly changing exhibition program. The current showcase celebrates the gallery's 40 years since opening in 1971 and its role in championing some of the world’s foremost pioneering jewelry artists of the 70s, 80s and beyond. Though the exhibition space is relatively compact, I was astounded by the selection and the variety of pieces. You'll find everything from neon perspex bangles to delicate gold necklaces to playful statement pieces. Best of all, everything is handmade and the majority of the jewelry on display is one-off, so if you do decide to purchase anything, you're definitely getting a unique piece. What's more: Electrum is a not for profit organization run by the Contemporary Applied Arts, so proceeds go towards resourcing exhibitions and educational programs at CAA.

Wendy Ramshaw CBE. First showed at Electrum in 1971.

Here are just a few of the pieces that caught my eye, but if you want more, I'd highly recommend heading there yourself. This exhibition will run until June 4, but if you're not in town, you can still shop some of the pieces online via their webstore or contact the sales staff directly by email/phone.

Left: Alan Crawford. First showed at Electrum in 1971. Right: Paul Preston: First showed at Electrum in 1979.

Charlotte De Syllas.

Susanna Heron. First showed at Electrum in 1971. Re-issued Perspex Multiples (right) made in conjunction with Tatty Devine.

Roger Morris. First showed at Electrum in 1972.

Left: Castello Hansen. Right: Daphne Krinos.

Christina Soubli.

Caroline Broadhead. First showed at Electrum in 1973.

Fritz Maierhofer. First showed at Electrum in 1971.

Left: Nina Bukvik. Right: Malcolm Betts.

David Poston. First showed at Electrum in 1972.

Catherine Mannheim. First showed at Electrum in 1971.

Maria Militsi: Necklaces made out of discarded toys, such as mini trucks, figurines and action heroes.

Address: 21 South Molton Street, London W1K 5QZ

Opening Hrs: Mon-Sat: 10:00-18:00, Sun: 11:00-16:00

Electrum Homepage

A Piedi Nudi Nel Parco (Florence, Italy)

I first came across this boutique during my visit to Florence a year ago. With a romantic store name, that translates to 'Barefoot in the Park', you would probably think of green grass, flowers and a few butterflies, but I'm guessing the owners were thinking more 'car park' than 'country park'. This isn't necessarily a bad thing, because the industrial vibe is what drew me to the store in the first place: a retail space that I suspect would attract the likes of Rick Owens or Ann Demeulemeester should they ever decide to shop outside their own wardrobes. Nestled in the heart of Florence amongst tourist kitsch, high street stores and luxury flagships, PN\P (as it's abbreviated) has two shops that cater to a more alternative crowd. Aside from a few international names, the focus lies on local indie designers with a goth/rock/avant-garde edge, but it's the store interior of the main boutique that stands out more than anything else.

Alessandra Marchi looks available at P\NP (images: PN\P)

Ilaria Nistri looks from P\NP (images: PN\P)

If you come across PN\P, chances are you'll see a few passersby pressed against the store window, gaping at the transparent glass floors which reveal the ground underneath. Not just your average retail space, PN\P is set among Roman ruins of the old city walls (visible in the basement area), while carefully preserved cloth-dying vats can be viewed under the flooring. If that's not enough to lure you in, the coffee and cocktail bar near the entrance will probably do the trick. The best thing? While you sip a cocktail or espresso, you can peruse the jewelry and accessories, which are conveniently located near the bar area. And more tempting wares, such as shoes and bags are located a few feet left of the bar... is there a better way to multi-task?

Overview of the bar area and the nearby jewelry counter (top, lower left image: PN\P)

Another view of the bar (left) and a few shoes, incl. a pair of booties placed on a giant leather glove (top).

The glass floor, which allows a view of the vaults beneath, while clothing hovers above it.

If you can pry yourself away from this part of the boutique, the rest is just as enticing. The entire store is kept in gray and beige, while the clothing mirrors this color scheme. Many of the clothes reminded me of the aforementioned Owens/Demeulemeester aesthetic: slouchy knits, draped leather jackets and asymmetric skirts were just some of the pieces I spotted. Everything was suspended from metal bars like works of art and a rack never held more than a dozen items. The very eager SA was quick to point out the Italian talent such as Alessandra Marchi, Ilaria Nistri or Marsell. Some brands were familiar (Comme des Garcons being one of them) while others were virtually unheard of and almost impossible to find elsewhere. Of course pricing was a little painful, but as you can guess, the quality and tailoring was impeccable and the majority of the pieces is very unique.

Another view of the ground level (top image: PN\P). A few splashes of color among the black (left) and a very interesting leather tie (right).

More clothing (left), but don't forget the accessories, incl. large statement necklaces (top) and patterned scarves (bottom).

I also ended up taking a quick peek at the basement area, which despite being underground was almost brighter than the ground level. The menswear section was prominently displayed, but I sighted a few more pieces for the ladies on racks along the wall. And with its rustic colors, this section was almost homey.

More cool stuff, such as leather jackets, boots and a funky red hat.

A look at the basement level (top image: PN\P). For men who like their bling (left).

Arched doorways and high ceilings give the basement an airy atmosphere (left). Jeans and sweaters along a wall (right).

Thankfully I didn't feel like spending a ton of money the day I visited, or else I would have done some serious damage (though beware: there is an online store). Nevertheless, shoes, bags, scarves and some very funky jewelry provide for excellent gifts if you ever need a unique Italian souvenir that lasts longer than the chocolates and biscuits I wiped out within a few days (yum). And even if you're not wanting to spend anything, the incredible interiors are almost as worthy of a browse as the nearby museums.

Looks from Cora Groppo (left three), Lost & Found (center) and M.A+ (right. All images: PN\P).

Address: Via del Proconsolo Angolo/Via Dante Alighieri, 50122 Florence
Opening Hrs: Mon-Sat: 10:00-20:00, Sun: 11:00-19:00
A Piedi Nudi Nel Parco Official Homepage & Online Shop