A New Kid on the Block

Last Friday, I witnessed the opening of a new store on London`s Regent Street - & Other Stories. It is a sister-company of a well-known brand – H&M. & Other Stories is, however, like an older, more sophisticated, wealthier and prettier sibling. It is pricier but offers `higher-end` fashion credentials.  

This stand-alone shop is housed in a former Mamas and Papas building, just off Oxford Circus, and now dazzles with exposed brick walls, industrial silver pipes and a steep staircase, which leads to shoe heaven. There are no leopard print dresses or brightly coloured t-shirts – so beloved by H&M designers - in sight. Instead, one can purchase canvas coats adorned with leather collars, retailing at £145…….   

…….and leather dresses with marble-effect on the skirt, selling at just short of £200. Unfortunately, their smallest size – 34 – was too big for me.

Slick jewellery and plain-packaged cosmetics add to the mix.

I hear that their designers range from those who used to work at Cerruti and Sonia Rykiel, and it is clear that the brand caters for fashion connoisseurs, who are after clean lines and quirky detailing.