Oxford Street Shopping, London, courtesy of visitlondonimages/britainonview
If you aren’t too put off your favorite obsession after viewing the mishaps that befell Rebecca Bloomwood in the book and movie, “Confessions of a Shopaholic,” then London is definitely the place to be this spring, with the exceptionally decent exchange rate right now and the brilliant sale fares from Kansas City. And for anyone who enjoys the thrill of the hunt, London offers (in my opinion) the best shopping experience in the world. For big and little gals (and lots of guys, too) who love nothing better than to indulge in a little well-deserved Retail Therapy, London is a godsend.
I took my daughter to London a few years ago during her Spring Break, and it turned out to be one of our best mother-daughter trips ever. Even world-weary teenage girls who consider themselves to be too cool to hang with Mom will change their minds when they spy Oxford Street or Covent Garden. And London’s Topshop on Oxford Street is a Teen Paradise. (I love it, too! Hey, if it’s good enough for Madonna, it’s good enough for me.)
If you’re in London to attend the opera “Carmen” at Royal Albert Hall, you definitely need to set some time aside for the shops. Many Americans (movie stars and commoners alike) would never think of visiting London without paying a visit to that hallowed shrine for all shopaholics, Harrods. Even though Harrods has lost its Royal Warrants, it’s still an absolutely fabulous place to shop, with its vast seven floors of luxury goods (that you never realized you couldn’t live without) and marvelous Food Halls, with aromas that excite all your senses. And you shouldn’t even think of leaving Harrods without checking out the Urban Retreat, the ultimate destination for the beauty enthusiast. In addition to its wealth of luxury treatments and services, the Urban Retreat offers the Haute Parfumerie, which is nothing short of olfactory heaven. How can any fashionista resist?
Selfridges has become a shopping sensation in recent years, with its designer collections by the likes of Stella McCartney, Vera Wang, and Diane Von Furstenberg, as well as complimentary hair and makeup consultations from some of the UK’s top beauty artists. This spring, Selfridges is bringing a host of in-store appearances from the top names in beauty, from Trish McEvoy to Anestis Cobella. From March 8-13, you can discover the guilt-free “Happy Hour” at the Clarins counter and meet the Clarins angels for a glass of champagne and self-indulgent treats, including Skin Care Hand Treats and Mini-Makeovers.
I never visit London without doing at least one “mall crawl,” and one of my favorite shopping destinations in Central London is Whiteleys, just three minutes from the Bayswater tube station. Whiteleys is not only home to some fabulous branches of shops like H&M, Marks & Spencer, and Zara, but it’s now boasting a brand-new (and visually stunning) restaurant, Cha Cha Moon, a noodle bar with London-style class.
Well, what are you waiting for, fashion divas? Grab those shopping bags and go! (Rebecca Bloomwood, eat your heart out!)
Author’s note: This is the second in a three-part series on Spring Flings in London. You can read the first part here, and the third part here.
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