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Feature: Jenny Coggins
IN THE opening strains to Breakfast at Tiffany's, Holly Golightly
is gazing into her favourite shop.
Throughout the whole of the film, she searches for a place that
will make her feel like she does when she is there, somewhere
that will help her beat 'the mean reds'.
Until only two years ago, I had a shop, that, like Holly, help
me beat my moody blues.
It was called Neal Street East. Split over several floors were
profound and spiritual books, saris, toys, cushions, candles.
Visiting the shop was a marvel in itself.
The chilled out staff worked happily and in harmony with the
hoards of people who came in out of curiosity, and spent ages
playing around.
Inevitably, one always left with a new purchase, not because
they felt guilty and pressured, but because it offered so many
delights.
It is unlikely that another shop will offer me hours of intrigue
again. But I am still in search of somewhere new, anyway.
If you, too, are yet to find a shop to make you smile, then
try following the simple rules below…
Rules to finding your happy shop
1. Can you enter the shop and leave without having purchased
something? If you can look without feeling you have to buy something,
then you are onto a winner.
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2. Don't be put off if you can't afford to shop there.
If you are happy to window shop around Prada, then go for it.
As with Holly, a happy shop is a place full of dreams, and not
necessarily ones you can afford on every visit.
3. Like with choosing a partner, make sure your happy
shop is reliable and consistent. If a shop isn't open on your
days off, you'll not have the time to bond with it. How can you
drop everything to head down there when the closed sign is turned
around?
4. You should feel comfortable enough to visit on a bad
hair and clothes day. Holly may have felt moved to dress up in
her LBD and pearls to visit her happy shop, but you shouldn't
need to drag out your stilettos and suit just to visit. Your happy
shop should invite you in, no matter what you are in.
5. Distance is a factor; is it accessible to you from
home and work? You need to be close enough to be able to visit
the shop on a regular basis.
A little help for locating Your Happy Shop
For retro fun, Yellow Submarine is spot on. Situated at
38 Earlham Street, in Covent Garden, it sells original 70s clothes
and all, with a disco ball spinning overhead. The staff add to
the fun and are really helpful. Tel: 020 7240 0908.
Chocoholics will fall in love with L'artisan du Chocolat.
Based at 89 Lower Sloane Square, beautiful care and ingredients
go into the delectable chocolate produced and sold here. Weekly
tastings are organised and you can call for more information on
020 7824 8365
For beauty products see Zarvis, at 4 Portobello Green.
Selling a good selection of bath products in a friendly atmosphere,
you'll find all sorts to relax you and pamper you as a welcome
treat away from Boots! Call 020 8968 5435 for more details.
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