MacCulloch & Wallis

Frequented by designers and tailors, this long-established Mayfair shop, which first opened its doors in 1902, offers a huge selection of fabrics, zips, thread and buttons, as well as dressmaker’s dummies and corsetry, bra and millinery supplies – such as corset lace, bra cups and hat blocks. Trimmings run from ostrich feather fringes to handmade velvet roses and rainbow-bright acrylic pom-poms; upstairs, there’s a good array of sewing machines (mainly Bernina). Note that VAT is added to prices at the till.