Damaris and Mimi Holliday to launch pop-up at Selfridges in September

Damaris is celebrating its decade anniversary with a pop-up shop of Damaris and Mimi Holliday collections at Selfridges during London Fashion Week and throughout September. The pop-up will showcase the exclusive Damaris Anniversary capsule collection, which will feature in the brand's show on the British Fashion Council's digital schedule for SS12, as well as the latest Mimi Holliday designs.

Damaris is collaborating with young British designer Giles Miller to create the design of the pop-up which will be based in the recently renovated lingerie department. This represents a chance for the brand to experiment within the retail sector, with further plans to open a Mimi Holliday flagship store in September 2012.

www.damaris.co.uk

La Prairie open new flagship in London this week

Swiss beauty company La Prairie will unveil its flagship retail space in Europe at Selfridges Oxford Street store on 27th May (see DIARYdates). The state-of-the-art space houses the brand’s first semi-private treatment area offering retail customers on site.

Havaianas to open first London store this week

Havaianas is opening its first UK store tomorrow (10 May). The new stand-alone will be located at Kingly Court, just behind Carnaby Street, London W1.

As well as featuring a range of flip-flops, high tops, sneakers and espadrilles, the new store will house the 'Make Your Own' concept booth which allows customers to design their own flip-flops and see the design made in-store. The new Havaianas Wellies will also be available from the Kingly Street store when they launch later in the year.

Basler opens new London store next week

Fashion label Basler is opening its fifth UK store at Westfield London on 8 April. Situated on the ground floor, the new store design concept will showcase the current SS11 collection that offers modern variations of classic styles that work as easy wearing separates. There is also an additional range of accessories to complement outfits. To celebrate the opening of the store, Basler is offering a free gift with every purchase made on the day.

Charles Tyrwhitt to open new flagship London store next month

Charles Tyrwhitt, shirtmaker and menswear specialist, has announced it will open a new flagship store at 98-100 Jermyn Street, London SW1 this April. The new store will be set over two floors and is located a few doors from the original shop. It will showcase the full Charles Tyrwhitt menswear collection, shirts which can be customised, tailoring, shoes and business casual clothing.

The ground floor will be dedicated to tailored shirts available in a range of sizes, weaves and fits. In the 'Suit Room' customers can try ready-to-wear designs and be properly measured by tailoring experts. The lower ground floor houses 'The Gentleman's Den' where customers can browse the casual clothes in a relaxed atmosphere, complete with sofas and menswear literature.

Roland Mouret opens London flagship

European fashion designer Roland Mouret opened his first flagship store and design house yesterday (21 February) in Mayfair at 8 Carlos Place, London W1. The six storey building, opposite the Connaught Hotel, includes two floors of retail, housing the brand’s complete women’s and men’s collections, Mouret’s atelier, design workshops, studios and a sales showroom.

‘Roland Mouret at 8 Carlos Place’ is a new concept devoted to the development of unique products available exclusively at the flagship store. From the pair of aviator sunglasses hand-made in Italy to British handmade shoes for the menswear collection, the collection will include limited edition cashmere men’s sweaters and dresses from the house’s archive. For launch these dresses include re-issues of the Galaxy, the Moon and Pigalle dresses in original colours and fabrics.

Roland Mouret at Carlos Place is a partnership between Roland Mouret and Simon Fuller.

A new concept store Guts for Garters to open in March

This spring will see the launch of Guts for Garters, a new concept store in Camden, London NW1 founded by Rachel Chudley and Cassie Beadle (above), both graduates of the Courtauld Institute. Guts for Garters will sell antique and contemporary art, interiors, fashion and costume and stock established designers and artists as well as young, emerging British talent.

Artists include Jamie Reid, Keith Coventry as well as the MA students from the Royal College of Art. Fashion houses contributing archive pieces include Vivienne Westwood, Norman Hartnell and Gina Shoes. Alongside these names will be new emerging designers such as A Child of the Jago, Braille and vintage items dating back to the Victorian era.

The boutique has a unique concept where it will be run through three different installations based on a theme that will dictate what style of products will be on sale. The themes will change three times a year and run for periods of around six weeks at a time. Guts for Garters first installation is based on the ‘Royal We’ and will open mid-March, running for approximately six weeks.

There will be an exclusive launch event for the new store, taking place on 10 March, for more details see DIARYdates.

Willa Keswick to launch new fashion boutique in Notting Hill

Village Bicycle is a brand new fashion boutique and concept store launching in Notting Hill on 31 March. Together with a full e-commerce offering; iamavillagebicycle.com, the two projects are ventures of London fashion entrepreneur, Willa Keswick. The new store will offer a range of items from designers such as Felder Felder, BodyAmr, Mark Fast, Cutler and Gross, Todd Lynn, Tom Binns and Eleven Paris as well as new, emerging talent. Products on offer will include jewellery, sunglasses, music, art and furniture with prices ranging from £40.00 to £2000.00. There will also be artwork in the store curated by Tyrone Wood, while Radio 1’s Rob Da Bank will be selecting new music.

The e-commerce site will combine an e-zine and online store, giving browsers a look at the latest news, talent, interviews, parties and blogs. The upcoming launch (see DIARYdates) will have a Baz Lurhmann inspired theme, guest DJ’s, private performers and a mix of guests from the world of fashion, art, music and photography.

Chucs Dive & Mountain Shop opens with contributions from Giles Deacon and Cate Blanchett

Chucs Dive & Mountain Shop has just launched at 31 Dover Street, London, W1. The new store is the idea of Charles Finch, the son of Oscar-winning actor Peter Finch and CEO and Founder of Finch and Partners, who is aiming to bring old world glamour and style to leisure-wear.

The Chucs Dive & Mountain Shop debut collection comprises signature swimwear for men and women, as well as Bermuda and hiking shorts, shirts and T-shirts, safari jackets and boots. Silk scarves and light cashmere pieces fill out the collection designed for African or Caribbean travel, and for low altitude trekking, mountain shorts and UV shirts are included. Charles has also collaborated with actress Cate Blanchett to create ‘The Blanchett’; a pair of shorts for women inspired by the Hollywood Oscar winner. The launch collection also includes an exclusive print designed for the men’s and women’s swimwear by fashion designer Giles Deacon. The new store opened last week and the price range across the entire collection is £35.00 to £680.00.

Italian footwear brand Arfango to open debut London store

Arfango, the luxury heritage Florentine shoe and accessories brand, will open its first UK stand-alone on Walton Street, London SW3, on 7 February. This will be Arfango's second store, the first having opened in Saint Tropez in 2009. Styles available include the 'Velvet Shoe', a silk velvet, hand-stitched moccasin, in a colour palette that includes fire-engine-red, royal blue, purple and lavender, as well as chocolate brown, gun-metal grey and black. Women’s collections include velvet pumps, boots and stilettos for day and heeled sandals for evening. Eelskin, patent leather, ponyskin, dappled leather, brushed calf and laminated python are decorated with silk detailing in bold colours: mauve, red, turquoise, fuchsia and black. The label has become popular with celebrities including Cameron Diaz, Rachel Blanchard, Morgan Freeman, Adrien Brody, Ryan Gosling and the American R&B and soul artist, Eric Benet.

Luna & Curious opens new store this week

Fashion and accessories boutique Luna & Curious is relocating to a bigger space opening with a party this Saturday (5 February) from 1pm (See DIARYdates). Luna & Curious is a unique collective comprised of jeweller Rheanna Lingham and ceramic designers Polly George and welovekaoru.

The larger shop will accommodate many new designers, including hand-embroidered jewellery by Jennie Sharman Cox, hand-knitted baby clothes by the Miniature Knit Shop and stuffed animals by Finch; as well as designs from the three owners; including jewellery from Rheanna Lingham and handmade bone china tableware from Polly George and welovekaoru. These new designs will be stocked alongside bestsellers: paper eyelashes from Paperself, jewellery from momocreatura and hand-printed tights from Les Queues de Sardines. Visitors to the new store will be able to choose from one-off fashion items, printed inks, English fine bone china, hand stitched silks, taxidermy as well as works of art.

Luna & Curious also offers a space available for hire as a gallery or retail space, curated by the three founders, Rheanna Lingham, Polly George and Kaoru Parry. The new shop can be found at 24-26 Calvert Avenue, London, E2 7JP. All products are available online at www.lunaandcurious.com

Cult Beauty launches pop-up in Selfridges today

The online beauty boutique Cult Beauty (www.cultbeauty.co.uk) is launching a pop-up shop today at Selfridges London Beauty Hall which will run until 31 January. The Cult Beauty founders, Jessica DeLuca Moore and Alexia Inge, will be present to help with any beauty tips and advice, as well as members of the Cult Beauty expert panel including Tara Smith, James Corbett and Teresa Smith. Selfridges’ customers will have access to beauty brands such as Face Atelier, Ginvera, Immupure, Rodin, MV Organics and Rahua.

Cult Beauty is an online beauty boutique backed by advice from a panel of beauty experts. It has created an authoritative beauty source and guide online that takes no beauty advertising to ensure product recommendation is influenced by nothing other than merit.

Kirk Originals introduces London flagship

Eyewear brand Kirk Originals, has unveiled a new central London flagship store. Located on Conduit Street, the flagship features a devoted ground floor of glasses and sunglasses with full eye examinations and fittings available in the basement. The store ambiance will be contemporary taking inspiration from the latest Kinetic and Kinetic Solaire collections with in-store projections that play on the notion of vision. Continuing the theme of ‘eyes’, the front window display will be a showcase of blinking eyes that change as shoppers pass in front of the store. The store will also be stocking a selection of independent eyewear brands exclusive to the UK, these will include The Leisure Society, a brand new collection designed by Californian designer Shane Baum and Undostrial, a colourful metallic range from Paris. Celebrity fans include Elton John, Oasis, U2, Samuel L. Jackson, Julia Roberts and Vic Reeves.

Jimmy Choo announces new flagship stores

Jimmy Choo has announced three new store openings for 2011 in Europe. The three stores will be in Antwerp, Belgium (May 2011), the El Corte Ingles Castellana flagship in Madrid (May 2011), and Via Maistra, St Moritz (November 2011). The Antwerp store will mark the brand’s first directly operated location in Belgium. Each of the new stores will offer a complete assortment of Jimmy Choo women’s shoes, handbags, small leather goods, soft accessories, sunglasses and fragrance, with special sections dedicated to ‘Choo 24:7,’ the shoe and handbag wardrobe. The design of each store will reflect the global store concept, evoking the architectural look of a 1940’s boutique. The interior colour scheme will comprise a palette of ivory, pale rose, lilac and sand inspired by the brand’s house colours. The store will be furnished with oversized statement pieces upholstered in soft tactile fabrics, and crystal drop chandeliers. Other recent store launches include flagships in Sao Paolo, Milan and Zurich, and stores in Beirut, Sydney, Macau, Bangalore and Ho Chi Minh City. Upcoming openings include new locations at Dubai Mall of the Emirates and Milan Rinascente, as well as the brand’s first store in Riyadh and four new locations in Japan.

Orion London opens first London boutique tomorrow

Orion London is launching its first Boutique Store tomorrow (15 December). Situated in the Seven Dials area of Covent Garden on Monmouth Street, London WC2. The label is known for its collection of vintage inspired dresses that include bold prints and silky fabrics to block colours and heavier knits. Orion London was created by designers Han & Kim in 2005 with a mission to create ready-to-wear, high quality garments that have been influenced by current trends with a nod to retro culture. Current celebrity fans of the brand include Sophie Ellis Bextor, Fearne Cotton, Sarah Harding, Dannii Minogue, Denise Van Outen and The Saturdays.

MACHINE-A launches online store

MACHINE-A, the London destination for emerging fashion design talent, is now is now offering its collection internationally through an online store. The MACHINE-A online store is full-screen video integrated allowing shoppers to browse through the video lookbooks, find information about the products, designers and their inspiration and combined with music, offers the very first immersive full-video online store experience. The site is also optimised for iPad, using the latest HTML5 video technology and touch controls built-in. Taking inspiration from MACHINE-A’s constantly changing window installations by commissioned artists, the video content of the entire site is seasonally commissioned to a new, upcoming fashion film-maker, stylist and art director every six months.

Tory Burch opens debut UK store

Tory Burch has announced the opening of the company’s first boutique in the United Kingdom. The London flagship store will be located at 149 New Bond Street and is scheduled to open this month. The boutique is located in a 19th Century townhouse, spanning across 4200 square feet. The décor, inspired by Tory Burch’s lifestyle concept, reflects the iconic style of Tory’s first flagship on Elizabeth Street in New York City. The first floor of the London flagship features company signatures like moss green floors, gold leaf mirrors, plum snow leopard curtains and orange lacquer details, but also residential elements like Imari vases, a regency shell chair and a George II claw foot side table. The second floor includes a living room for VIPs and special events as well as a library to relax in or to feature special collections. The entire Tory Burch collection will be available, including ready-to-wear, shoes, handbags, small leather goods, jewelry, eyewear and accessories. This will be the company’s second boutique in Europe; the first opened in Rome in October. Tory Burch is carried at 34 stand-alone stores across the US and Asia, www.ToryBurch.com and over 500 select department and specialty stores worldwide.

Malin+Goetz open first standalone in London

The New York apothecary range Malin+Goetz has announced it will be coming to London as it opens its first standalone temporary store at the St Martin’s Lane hotel on the 8 December for one month only. The Malin + Goetz Lab has been created to celebrate the launch of the brand’s new amenity program which will be available at the Morgans Hotel Group portfolio. The London launch at St Martin’s Lane will be followed shortly by The Sanderson in February. This new conceptual space will be manned by Matthew Malin and Andrew Goetz, the duo behind the brand; who will be answering questions and offering samples to suit each individuals’ skincare needs. Located in the hotel’s Front Room, the Malin + Goetz Lab will stock the entire Malin + Goetz unisex range of apothecary natural based skincare and guests will receive a discount to shop at the lab.

Fashion boutique HUB to open new store next month

Independent Men’s and Women’s boutique HUB is to open a new store in December at 2 Ada Street, London E8. The store stocks a unique blend of brands including ACNE, Barbour, Dr Denim, YMC, Wrangler, See by Chloe, Betty Jackson and Nudie Jeans. HUB also design two in-house labels, womenswear brand Beth Graham and Yarn for men. HUB is also available through the newly launched online shop www.hubshop.co.uk. Key styles include playsuits, dresses and masculine tailoring for women. For men, HUB provides casual tailoring and essential basics.

New online boutique Monica & Joe to launch next year

Monica & Joe (www.monicaandjoe.co.uk) is a brand new online womenswear boutique launching in January. The founders are husband and wife team, Joe and Monica Wahla, who have twenty years’ experience working in the fashion industry with luxury and high-street retailers. Combining their experience and passion for designer fashion, the pair have picked from their favorite contemporary designer collections and bridge brands. Some of the brands featured at the boutique include: Munthe Plus Simonsen from Copenhagen (exclusive to Monica & Joe); Danish Designer of the year 2010, Bruuns Bazaar; Margit Brandt; Bllack Noir; By Malene Birger; and French brands By Zoe and Ambre Babzoe.