Source Book: The Shops

When I was working in London, I found the most delightful book by the Sunday Times of London writer, India Knight. It's called The Shops: How, Why and Where to Shop, and is an autobiography of her life in shopping. It's got an average of five stars from readers on Amazon UK. The opening line of the book is this: It saddens and amazes me that there are actually people out there who hate shopping. Wow, me too!

She intersperses stories of shopping with great resources from the UK and Europe. I discovered many of my favourite shops in London via The Shops. Here some that I especially adore:

• Floris - They are the oldest perfumers in London and hold royal warrants from HM The Queen and HRH Prince Charles. Beautiful store on Jermyn Street. In addition to fragrances, they have candles and home accessories.
• Pickett - They have shops in Burlington Arcade and on Sloane Square. I love their kilim slippers and they have beautiful leather goods.
• Cath Kidston - I love her cheery faux vintage goods for the home. Just a Plane Ride Away and I are meeting up and doing the tour of the King's Road. This is a certain stop.
• Brora - Killer cashmere! I have an embarrassing number of cashmere sweaters and I hate to admit how many black ones. In addition to Brora's lovely goodies, they also have the best cashmere wash I've ever used.
• David Champion - Interior designer with a small shop filled with the most amazing assortment of things including ostrich eggs, porcupine quills and leather chairs. (no website)
• Cabbages and Roses - Clothes and Antiques, who could ask for anything more! Beautiful handprinted linens, lush woolens, stationery of all sorts. It's all you need.

As Napoleon once said, "L'Angleterre est une nation de boutiquiers." (Britain is a nation of shopkeepers), and this is but a infinitesimal selection of what's on offer in London!