A London Buyer’s Guide To Shopping And The City

The Shop at Bluebird was a firm favourite on the King’s Road before they moved to the heart of Covent Garden. Now just a short stroll away from Corinthia London, we get a wealth of insider knowledge from Buying Director Claire Miles.

The shop is in the heart of Covent Garden, what’s good about this location?
Covent Garden is a whirring tourist hub. We wanted to The Shop at Bluebird to reach a wider audience whilst still being a good location for our loyal customers and we found Floral Street perfect for this.

How have you translated the charm of the Chelsea store to Covent Garden?
Carriage Hall is such a beautiful space, as soon as you walk in it gives off warmth and an intimate environment. Our new location has allowed us to truly embody the ethos of being a cabinet of curiosity and coming from King’s Road to Covent Garden has helped us to excel in our philosophies.

Can you share any lesser-known spots in the area that you like going to?
TeaTulia, which is around the corner from us on Neal Street, is a tea-shop-come-café and it’s a great spot to either meet a friend for a cup of tea or swing by on your lunch break and dip into one of the books on their celebrity-curated library. They do tea leaf cocktails and have just started to do beautiful little cakes. They are also a company that have a majority of female employees, which is something that we like to support.

How would you define London style?
Daring.

What trend are you most excited about this year?
We try not to be too trend led at Bluebird in order to keep our product offering engaging for our customers. However, we have noticed that puffed up sleeves are very popular with a lot of our brands at the moment. Scandi brands Rotate and Ganni have gone big with the sleeves this season.

What’s your ultimate piece of shopping advice?
I’ve always been a strong believer in researching your brands and to ensure you are buying into those that are unique and have a perspective and ethos that interests you. I like to make sure when shopping I always support up and coming brands rather than just the ones that are already established.

Who are your favourite London designers?
At the moment I would have to say Rejina Pyo and Seren.

What advice would you give a fashion junkie visiting London for the first time?
Go to the V&A and see the latest fashion exhibition, the Dior one was beautiful and they also had an exhibition which showcased all of Mary Quant’s designs.

Where’s your favourite place to eat in London?
I love Petersham Nurseries, both venues in Covent Garden and Richmond. I love their indoor/outdoor feel which is very much like our aesthetic at Carriage Hall.

Describe your perfect weekend spent in London.
The perfect weekend would always start with brunch somewhere in the sunshine followed by a walk in one of London’s many parks. I’d then head to Covent Garden for some shopping and try and squeeze in a matinee. A cocktail (or two) in the The Royal Opera House bar would finish off the night.