Boutique of the Week explores the essential ladies shoe boutique Poste Mistress that aims to provide its clientele with the perfect shoe-shopping experience.
Situated in the heart of London in Covent Garden’s Seven Dials district, this private boutique is a hidden gem amongst its bustling surroundings. On the exterior, the quaint lilac hue of its shell can be seen from a distance along the cobbled streets of the West End. Upon stepping into the boutique, you become immersed in the utopic shoe heaven host to a meticulously selected collection of brands which showcase the boutique’s individual character. The store’s kaleidoscopic array of footwear serve the aesthetic well, creating a sweet sundae of colours that sent me floating off into a nostalgic journey through my childhood trips to the traditional sweetie shops.
Inside, the signature Poste Mistress décor comprises of an elaborate gold-framed mirror hanging from a feature wall of vintage wallpaper. Shoes are delicately placed on rococo fittings amid a multitude of retro ornaments, trinket boxes and vintage postcards, whilst a velvet chaise lounge furnished with intricately embroidered antique cushions stands alone in the centre of the boutique on which customers may sit while they try on shoes. The staff are personable and happy to devote time helping customers, evoking the old-fashioned intimacy of a Parisian Couture Salon and making for a pleasurable shopping experience.
The collection of shoes is unique with lesser known names standing proudly next to top end labels. Each style is selected for its own merit and not merely for the hype surrounding the brand who put their name to it. Jeffrey Campbell’s ‘Litas’ caught my eye – the studded heel of the lace up boots suggest a grungy yet feminine look that would complement a variety of outfits. These were placed next to the genius footwear collaboration between Vivienne Westwood and Melissa which has produced the scrumptiously sweet scented modern take on the jelly shoe. Whilst in the far corner, the more classic Hunter wellingtons and trendy casual Converse trainers are displayed in a variety of styles ready to dance their way through festival season.
The store offers a treasure trove of shoes ready to be cherished for years to come accompanied by a uniquely pleasant shopping experience which will ensure you never leave empty handed.
Brands stocked include:
Robert Clergerie, Kat Maconie, Sam Edelman, Acne, Dries Van Noten, Folk, Grenson, Opening Ceremony, Roland Mouret, Chie Mihara, Repetto, Sonia by Sonia Rykiel
They will also be getting two new brands in next week, these are:
Ilse Jacobsen (Scandinavian brand of rubber boots, which are 100% natural with felt lining)
T + F Slack Shoemaker (a Notting Hill brand – Poste-Mistress will be offering a bespoke service with these shoes whereby you can pick the colours and have them made especially for you)
Address: Poste Mistress, 61-63 Monmouth Street, Seven Dials, WC2H 9EP
Website: www.sevendials.co.uk
Written by Grace Williams
Google+
