If I'm honest, I can't say I frequent West London that often, not because I'm addicted to the East but because it is a crowded area on the days that I can be bothered to take the problematic Hammersmith line there. Venture further from crowded Portobello though and as Fred Butler pointed out, there's a trio forming around the ugly but iconic Trellick Tower on Golborne Road. This trio consists of oh-so-famous vintage emporium Rellik, the new Kokon to Zai store that was converted from an old Butchers and a peculiar new start-up The Convenience Store. In particular I was intrigued by The Convenience Store having discovered it QUITE a while ago and not having had the chance to venture to this slightly surreal bit of Notting Hill.
Andrew Ibi, the store owner (I love that on his business card it says Andrew Ibi - Storekeeper....) was kind enough to talk me through everything, not that it needed too much explaining... Ibi has been involved with labels going into the likes of bStore, Pollyanna and the now sadly dead Pineal Eye (sob sob...) so his varied and exciting selection didn't surprise me.... the best of new and established really... sequin parkas of Sophie Hulme, structured LBDs from Hannah Marshall, twisted seams in Brazilian designer Gustavo Lins, can't-fail-to-please Rick Owens, the more statement pieces from Christian Wijnants, the conversational shoes from Camilla Skovgaard, Clare Tough's patchwork AW08 knitwear... that's just for current season starters with next season additions including the VENTED SS09 pieces from Gareth Pugh.
The Convenience Store being a few doors down from Rellik might also be a strategic decision as Andrew sees pieces from his store one day landing on the rails of Rellik, implying that the Convenience Store has an agenda of stocking seminal pieces. He also warned against the quick turnaround cycles that fashion has developed. He'd like to see pieces constantly being reintroduced in The Convenience Store. In 2010, you might see pieces from the 2008 collection, something that I nodded with as I'm personally have nothing against things that are 'oh-so-last-season' and find renewed interest in a piece that has stood the test of time.
Yesterday when I went, it happened to be a flash 40% off sale day (I only got the news via a Facebook msg... I've finally succumbed to being semi-active on that odious site...). So it wasn't going to just be a case of poking my nosy nose around...
Camilla Skovgaard's shoes were tempting when I saw them in a showroom back in February...especially the hair adorned sandals (yes, I'm continuing my hair rage...)
A rucksack/backpack is what I've been after for yonks and this Sophia Hulme one was also a tempting one... you can always make me love something if you add grey sequins, a most unusual sequin colour to something...
In the end, the cage got me instead and this Bordelle elastic cage corset with the most beautiful ruched cups (sounds wrong doesn't it?) caught my eye immediately. Andrew explained that Bordelle did start off with lingerie and have now developed their line into more of a bodywear thing and that SS09 is meant to be superb (oh well more Bordelle come Feb then...). A 'convenience store' style paper bag reveals something you'd be hard pressed to find in an actual convenience store...
Had to go and wear it with my other cage.... Angie, your skirt needs another good wash soon...
The Convenience Store, 1a Hazelwood Tower, Golborne Gardens, London W10 5DT, Tel: 020 8968 9095.
