Boutique and Unique - Stanwells, Lymington and Bournemouth

You don't need to be in London to enjoy designer labels and stylish independent boutique shopping.  

Not too far from us in Lymington, you can find Stanwells, where new edgy brands sit alongside classic or cult labels, including Victoria Beckham denim, Alice Temperley, Diane Von Furstenberg and Joseph.

They have another store in the increasingly trendy Westbourne, in Bournemouth where staff are friendly and knowledgeable and you can browse at leisure.

And if you can't make it to their store, you can check out their website and do some online shopping instead.

All images (c) Stanwells.com

Boutique and Unique - Hambledon Gallery, Blandford Forum, Dorset

Another great reason to live in Blandford - Hambledon Gallery on Salisbury St.
Slightly off the beaten track this shop is a hidden nugget of retail treasures.  

They have two floors full of beautiful things: women's and children's clothes, toys, glass, china, toiletries, table linen and quilts.  And if you really insist I suppose any of their products would make perfect gifts too!

The upper level is devoted to beautiful designer women's clothing.  Labels include Great Plains, John Smedley, Masai Ali Capellino and Johnstons Cashmere.

Downstairs in the toy shop, we love their traditional and wooden toys.  It is a veritable treasure trove for little people.  Labels include Charlie & Lola, Olive & Moss, Trunki suitcases and the Very Hungry Caterpillar.

There is something to cater for home makers too.  Vintage inspired baking utensils, paper party pieces, glassware, picnic essentials and gardening implements too.

    

And their stylish window displays are sure to tempt you in - at any time of year.

All images (c) the Hambledon Gallery

     

Boutique and Unique - the Vintage Bazaar, Hartley Wintney

A date for your diaries.  Next Saturday, the 27th April at The Victoria Halls in Hartley Wintney, the Vintage Bazaar will be holding another of their amazing fairs with over 30 traders selling vintage clothing, textiles, collectables and homewares.

The Vintage Bazaar was set up three years ago by Lizzie and Clare who came up with the idea.  They felt that Frome was a perfect venue to sell all things vintage as well as Clare's fabulous cloche hats. The Bazaar has now spread to other towns. 

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Exhibitors include Rebecca's Aix  and Les Jolies Choses 

as well as Angela's Vintage with their lovely display of nostalgic items from the 1930's and  1940's which includes English Embroidery, Linens and Haberdashery.

     

Refreshments are available in vintage style thanks to Lavinia's Tea Party 

The Victoria Halls are in Hartley Wintney, Hampshire. and doors open at 9.30, finishing at 3 pm.

Surf's Up - Lavender House Vintage

Just had to share this website when I stumbled across it.

    

Lavender House Vintage have a passion for all things antique and vintage, and stock an ever changing range of authentically chic and shabby pieces for you and your home. And although they are based in the historic city of Lancaster in the North West of England, they deliver nationwide.

    

As a little girl, Emma helped her mother on her Portobello Road antiques stall and developed a passion for all things vintage.  

    

From this passion a business has flourished and if you fancy a bit of browsing, there is a wealth of treasure on offer: worn painted French and English furniture, clothes and jewellery, faded textiles and well travelled period luggage.

   

We defy you not to find something you'll covet and probably end up buying.

    

Boutique and Unique - Papyrus, Blandford Forum, Dorset

One of the advantages of living in a market town is that you get great boutique shops.  And Blandford has several.  The first you’ll come across as you walk up Salisbury St is a great little gift shop called Papyrus.

 It sells gifts and homeware, stationery, jewellery and beautiful clothes by Noa Noa amongst others.  If you can't find a gift here, be it for a man, woman or child, family or friend, then you're just not trying!  Oh, and there's lots of lovely trinkets to treat yourself to as well.   They also have the most beautiful window displays which they change regularly and prove a constant source of inspiration.  

    

And after you've tired yourself out with a bit of retail therapy you can stroll up the hill and put your feet up in the lovely Forum Café where Terry will look after you with a cappuccino and perhaps some lovely lemon drizzle cake.  Tastes so much better from an independent emporium than a chain.