Moving to Haymarket hasn’t lessened the magnificence of Japanese fashion designer Rei Kawakubo’s groundbreaking mecca for the fashion-obsessed. With a beautiful array of stuffed birds and a trio of reimagined Burberry trenches on the way in, it is brilliant from the off. A champion of our capital’s pioneering fashion designers, it houses collections from some of London’s brightest stars, such as Grace Wales Bonner’s wonderfully elegant menswear and Molly Goddard’s dream dresses woven out of tulle.
The style of the market, which is reminiscent of a Harajuku shopping complex, and a vending machine that dispenses Dover Street Market-bralimanded T-shirts, are nods to Kawakubo’s home country. Her label, Comme des Garçons, is well represented here alongside lines such as Valentino, Givenchy and Azzedine Alaïa. The basement houses more affordable streetwear, and the ground floor has a smart selection of edgy jewellery plus all of the Comme des Garçons fragrances. Once you’ve taken it all in, head to the top floor for a sit-down in the Rose Bakery.
Top tip: If you’ve fallen in love with the fashion but just can’t justify the price tag, keep your eyes peeled for the sales, which can see items reduced by up to 40 percent. Alim Kheraj
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