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

The Kooples (Paris, France)

If you've visited Paris in the last few years - or London in more recent months - chances are you'll have seen quite a few boutiques belonging to The Kooples. And even if you missed them, you've probably seen the fairly prominent ad campaign featuring real life couples, posing in very chic clothes. The Kooples (a spin on how 'couples' is pronounced in French), is a bit of a phenomenon that started in Paris and is currently sweeping the UK. The label was founded by the Elisha brothers (Alexander, Laurent and Raphael), who are also responsible for the successful Comptoir des Cotonniers - a brand known for highlighting a different relationship: their ads feature real life mothers and daughters.

Real life couples posing for the FW10 campaign.

The current SS11 ad campaign.

The Kooples concept is based on the idea that people in relationships frequently borrow each other's clothes. And since it's usually the women who steal their boyfriends' shirts, blazers or accessories, it's not surprising that the majority of the collection is slightly more masculine and androgynous than girly. While I was initially told that the clothes were 'unisex', there are two distinct collections for men and women which are meant to complement each other. The line focuses on perfectly tailored clothes with a rock vibe. Most of the buttons, embroidery or jewelry feature the signature skull logo, which give classic blazers and military coats a bit of an edge.

Overview of a typical boutique (top). His & hers blazers featuring a skull emblem (bottom).

Items on display range from basic to feminine and lacy.

The first time I entered one of the Parisian boutiques, I was instantly addicted. I'll start off by mentioning that the prices aren't the lowest, but the quality and tailoring of the garments are superior to what you'll find in most high street stores. The monochromatic color scheme of the shops is identical in each location, and decor is kept to a minimum. The only notable elements are the campaign posters on the walls and a classic couch near the changing rooms. The staff is generally quite knowledgeable and if you end up in one of the new London flagships, you'll note that most of them are French as well.

The signature skull logo on a cardigan (left), and on bow ties & cuff links (right).

Some of the best pieces include blazers, such as the velvet version (left) or the light summer one (right).

It's worth mentioning that the accessories and shoes are just as coveted. Usually adorned with mini skulls, they're a good alternative if you're not in the market for another blazer. Delicate lace and silks are often used for dresses, skirts and shorts, and provide a more feminine style if you're worried about looking too much like your other half. This is probably the kind of label hipsters will flock to, but thankfully the selection is versatile enough to be combined with anything you might already have in your closet.

Another look for the gents (left).

Shorts, shorts and more shorts.

If you're in the UK and Ireland, the good news is that The Kooples are rapidly expanding, but I'm guessing that other countries will follow soon. In Paris, there are several boutiques in every arrondissement, so you'll be spoiled for choice. If you're in France or Great Britain though, you can always take advantage of the very tempting online store - filled with items that are very hard to resist.

Changing rooms (left) and a skull buckle belt (right).

More beautiful lace.

Address: various locations throughout France, UK & Ireland.
Opening Hrs: Mon: 11:00-19:00, Tue-Fri: 10:30-19:30, Sat: 10:30-20:00
The Kooples Homepage France / Great Britain

Louis Vuitton's Zebra Madness (London, UK)

Back in January, I briefly featured the Louis Vuitton windows of the Paris flagship, which showed two very active zebras having fun with a few of the company's signature handbags. A few days ago, passing London's Bond Street boutique, I had a sense of déjà vu when I sighted not just two, but six life-sized zebras in total. And that's not counting the army of mini zebras in the smaller windows.

I've always wondered how certain flagships of larger brands share their props. Chanel has identical windows throughout the world during the same time frame, but the likes of Lanvin and now Louis Vuitton seem to have touring visual merchandise. In which case, if you have a Vuitton boutique in your neck of the woods, watch out - the zebras may be stopping by in the near future (if they haven't already).

The three zebras in the first section of windows. Note that the mannequin has a matching outfit - very appropriate.

The herd of mini zebras in the mid-section, surrounding a necklace.

A zebra and his scarves. The second storey shows the rest of the display.

A zebra on the second floor, dangling a purse.

The final zebra performs an impressive balancing act (again, continued on the second floor).

The entire display in the second section of windows.

The two smaller windows around the corner, featuring more mini zebras - and bags.

Topshop Secret Store (London, UK)

Anyone who's been to Topshop's London flagship on Oxford Street (and possibly NYC's equivalent), will know that it can be a scary scary place. Unless you go first thing in the morning or shortly before closing time, it's always packed - primarily with young teens and eager tourists. Despite my courage when it comes to tackling crowds (using public transport in rush hour, braving mosh pits/front rows in rock concerts & festivals or fighting my way through designer sample sales), my tolerance when it comes to the bustle within the fluorescent-lit, windowless space is surprisingly low. So when I was told that Topshop had launched a special pop-up 'Secret Store' - which was hidden away from the rest of the retail area and that promised to evoke the charms of a treasure trove - I was both skeptical and intrigued.

'Wild At Heart' Florist by Meadham Kirchhoff & the hidden entrance to the Secret Store.

More from the floral display (left) and the flowers leading the way to the store (right).

The small potted plants and flowers included cute adornments, such as the eyes (top). Left image via Topshop.

To make matters more challenging, I decided to visit on Saturday, since I happened to be in the area. Thankfully the store was less busy than expected, and following the floral footprints to the lower level, I was lead to the beautiful 'Secret Store' entrance that doubled as a florist. This gorgeous 'Wild At Heart' floral arrangement was curated by Meadham Kirchhoff, who had also taken it upon themselves to hand paint flower pots and choose the most adorable decor to add to certain plants. Everything was for sale and made a great souvenir if the pieces in the actual store were a little too pricey for your liking.

Overview of the Secret Store interiors (image via Topshop).

Topshop Boutique items in a wooden trunk.

Meadham Kirchhoff stacked rings and bracelets in a heart-shaped box.

Tearing myself away from the flora, I finally found myself inside the Secret Store, which was like stepping into a completely different world. Antique furniture was carefully placed around the small area, which held limited-edition one-off pieces from some of London's and New York's most renowned designers in collaboration with Topshop. On display were also sought-after items from the 'Unique' archives and the 'Boutique' range, as well as carefully selected trinkets.

Emma Cook lingerie.

Michael van der Ham velvet wedges displayed in a cabinet.

Nasir Mazhar hair accessories (left) and Pamela Love jewelry (right).

Some of the special designer goodies I spotted included the stacks of rings and bangles by Meadham Kirchhoff, which came in an embroidered heart-shaped box. Pamela Love's current collaboration pieces could be found in a cabinet nearby, while funky wedges by Michael van der Ham were displayed on plush velvet cushions. Some garments, such as Tom Scott's cropped tops hung from the walls like works of art. Others either had their own wardrobe space or were placed along the racks on the far side of the shop. The cozy changing room with the fringed lamp, gilded mirror and retro wallpaper was a nice touch as well and added to the vintage boutique vibe.

Topshop Boutique items among vintage decor and flowers.

The lovely changing room (left), Tom Scott tops (top) and more Pamela Love jewelry (right).

More trinkets including furry hats (left) and nail polish (right).

Aside from the fashion treasures within the store and the vibrant flowers in front of it, the best thing about the Secret Store was the enchanting atmosphere and the fact that you could actually escape from the chaos beyond its walls. The pop-up space will shut this week, so I urge you to go before it disappears. It's open exclusively in the Oxford Street branch and in NYC's Broadway flagship, but if you can't make it to either - don't worry: most items can be found in the online version of the Secret Store here.

Nasir Mazhar hair clips (left), Topshop Boutique crochet top (right).

Another view of the Secret Store (left), various gowns (top), Maria Francesca Pepe tank & jewelry and Ann-Sofie Back crochet top (right).