Spanish chains don't stop at Mango and Zara and London has recently been blessed with another. HOss Intropia. I'm very wary of mumsy chic. You know what I'm talking about - the Jigsaws, the Laura Ashleys, the Toasts/Coasts (is there a difference between the two???), the stuff that I don't think to look twice at. I'm aware that everyone is upping their game to stay in the game, hence why I'm doing double takes when I see something in a Jigsaw window display that actually makes me think 'Well well well... look what we have here...'.
Being unfamiliar with Hoss Intropia other than the odd piece being featured in Grazia (is it me or do they sometimes get it REALLY right or REALLY wrong with their picks?) and having not stepped foot into their store in Regent Street, I took a gander at their website. You know those nifty details or 'peppy bits' that you notice on clothing - a pleat here, some embellishment there. Well Hoss Intropia has a lot of it! It's those things that designers like to charge premium for and in some cases, rightly so, when it's hand crafted and materials are sourced carefully. Hoss Intropia favours these same crafty additions but with prices that aren't Chloe-scary, which is what a lot of this reminds me of - that in between Philo and Andersson period. They have also taken some chances on clashing prints which separately would look a little mumsy (and if you look at the rest of the collection, you can detect hints of mumsiness that are best avoided me thinks...) but layered and OTT'ed up, surprisingly, even a tetchy territory like prints is handled nicely by Hoss Intropia.
On the accessories front, it could be the lush photographs but I'm impressed with their fabric pleated jewellery and origami insertions on the bags. It's all very touchy feely and ripe for picking a piece or two to wear and have people go 'Ah...that's lovely' whilst stroking your necklace/belt/bag.
Whilst the name doesn't roll off the tongue easily, on my way to scamming the internet from the Apple shop, I shall pop in and see what sort of crafy details I can pick up.
