Lots of shops are closing, so why has Suzannah opened a shop during a recession when so many other shops are struggling? What can the designer boutique offer that the big retails can’t?

When did you open the shop?
September 7th 2009

You opened the shop during a recession, were you hesitant?
Well, the recession has its advantages too, with better deals to be sought with property and business rates, and coupled with increased sales from a steadily growing loyal customer base which has grown through the website and selling events, I felt that I had enough of a platform to know that this wasn’t a total gamble or a gut instinct! Although of course there is always a touch of going with what feels right!

How did you choose the location? Little Venice isn’t really a fashion destination?
I wanted a destination which was a little different. A destination which offered a very new, but at the same time nostalgic and considered way of shopping. Little Venice is one of my favourite locations in London. It is a very beautiful, charming and calm place. It is interesting, quirky, and immaculate, with pockets of vibrance from the amazing flower nursery to the most amazing cafes, restaurants and bars,…not to forget the canal! It is a romantic haven. For me, it created the perfect back drop for the most amazing experience for a customer coming to the store or for discovering it for the first time. I wanted it to appear discreet, creative and imaginative.

I stumbled across the shop by chance…I do feel like it was meant to be! With just enough room to be able to work at the back!,…and it has lots of light, from bright daylight through to lamp light from the street lights outside,..which I feel creates a fabulous atmosphere of ‘cocktail hour’ for the fun cocktail dresses for which the brand is becoming renowned.

Can you tell us about the photos inside you shop?

Ah Yes,… The photographs in the shop were given to me by a friend, for the opening. They were taken by her father, the photographer, Cornel Lucas, who was the in-house photographer for Rank Film Studios from the 1940-70s, photographing most of the major icons of the day from Marlene Dietrich to Diana Dors and Brigitte Bardot. We selected three of the shots: Diana Dors in Venice! (perfect of course for the location!!!), the portrait of Marlene Dietrich, and a stunningly fabulous location shot of the iconic fashion models of the 60s taken on scaffolding in Portobello! The shots were all hand printed bromides by Cornel Lucas in his dark room in Kensington. He’s 90 years old and still shooting!

What is the average price point?
The average price point of the cocktail dresses are around £370  and the daywear dresses £285.

What other services do you provide?
We also offer a tailoring service for the cocktail dresses, which depending how complex can be integrated into the make of the garment. As the cocktail element of the range is made individually in London.

Suzannah
6 Bristol Gardens
Little Venice, W9 2JG

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Choosing a perfume is very personal. Most of my life I’ve been given perfume and happily worn them but to choose a scent for oneself is quite special. I used to always wear perfume. I’d wear it out, I’d wear it after a bath and to bed and then I stopped wearing perfume and I’m not sure why. Maybe there were just too many scents in my life: scented shampoo, deodorant, soap, laundry soap, hand soap, face cream etc. It was just too many scents so I started buying everything unscented.

When we look at clothes we are often influenced by things like trends, magazines and friends but scent is still a rather pure sense. It’s just so personal.

I recently received a perfume sampler from Ormonde Jayne. It’s delightful to test scents. I’ve been to wine and even scotch tasting events but I think a perfume sampling event would be a wonderful idea! In the sampler there are 11 fragrances in a 2ml mini spray. Some scents you just love and some scents you don’t like at all!

I think Osmanthus - a citrusy floral - is my favourite, at least for today!

12 Royal Arcade
London, W1S 4SL
+44 20 7449 2999

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Berlin designer Karolin Maier-Hauff, a former designer for Vivienne Westwood, with her husband Sean Violante have opened the boutique Squatters! 

Karolin has called on 6 emerging designers to squat for a period of 1-6 months. She selects the designers and the designers choose which pieces they’d like to have in the shop. Pimlico Road is known for its art galleries, design and antique shops. Squatters’ focus is on innovative pattern cutting and attention to detail.

The Squatters’ designers are: Alice Palmer (pictured), Olanic, Ioannis Dimitrousis, Borba Margo and Louise Amstrup.

Squatters
45 Pimlico Road
London SW1W 8NE

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Last Thursday evening, I took a well-earned break from my almost finished dissertation and went to Cow in Nottingham, which is a new-ish vintage shop that was open after hours. For one night only they had a lock-in just for students, with live DJs, a free beer and most importantly, a 10% discount on all the cool vintage clothing- who can say no to that? I’m a really fussy shopper and arrived with only 1 item on my shopping list (I never go anywhere without a shopping list!) - a checked flannel shirt for my friends ‘checked shirt’ themed birthday party the next week. I never usually find anything I particularly like, but to my amazement I found a checked shirt for the party!

COW
A/2 George St
Nottingham NG1 3BE

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There are some people who have a gift of making you feel special, they take time when they speak with you and look you in the eye - it sounds so simple but it’s become so rare, so when it happens you fall under their spell and you can’t help but adore them. Joan Burstein is the face, heart and soul of Browns. She and her husband Sidney created Browns 1970 with a small boutique on the ground floor at 27 South Molton Street, the shops grew and now there are five connecting townhouses with number 23 being exclusively for men. Browns is one of London’s most important fashion destinations: not just for shoppers but for designers as well: if your collection is in Browns it’s like a stamp of approval. Joan Burstein is credited with discovering such talents as Alexander McQueen, Hussein Chalayan and Commes des Garcons: she first spotted John Galliano at his degree show, and gave a teenager, Manolo Blahnik a job in her jeans department. She always had pieces that are exclusive to Browns and she cultivates her relationships with designers, helping them to grow and develop. Most of all is she’s very kind. She makes you feel at home in her shop - all her staff are like that - it feels very genuine, she knows her designers and understands her customers. Although Browns is very well established it still feels like one of London’s best kept secrets. I think some Londoners are intimidated by the shop, they’d feel more comfortable in a big department store where you’re anonymous and nobody speaks to you - but once you get past this fear and walk through the doors of Browns it’s like you’ve come home. I think I was a bit nerves the first time I went into Browns - you know it’s special and important but none of the staff are pushy or condescending, it’s just warm and welcoming and just being in there makes you feel special. Marcio & Mrs Burstein are in the photo.

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