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Shop Til You drop
"Shop Till You Drop - Diary of a buyer - 2005"
The owner and buyer for chic Sydney store Parlour X, Eva Galambos, visits London twice a year to stock up on an eclectic mix of gorgeous pieces for her boutique. She took SHOP on her most recent buying trip....
THE STORE - "Parlour X has been opened for three years. Its not a conservative shop and we dont do basics. Everything had a point of difference, thats the whole philosophy behind it. Parlour X is for someone who wants highlight pieces such as a special top to wear on a first date, or a dress that will make you stand out at an engagement party.
THE BUYING PROCESS - "It can be really hard deciding what to buy when I'm on my own. I spend hours deliberating over my orders. I don't just decide there and then on the spot. I take it away with me, I number crunch, and I pretty much colour-code everything and storyboard an idea of what I see as the themes for next season."I buy pieces according to what I like. I ask myself, 'Would I wear that?' I think about how I choose my outfits each day. When I go to my huge wardrobe I look for things that jump out and grab me. When someone comes to the shop and they are going to part with their hard earned cash, are they going to say, 'I have something similar', or 'I have to have it, its unbelievable'?I just hope my style translates to other people."
WHAT I BOUGHT:
*Issa London - "Dresses made of silk Jersey. Everyone, from Kate Moss to Sienna Miller, is wearing this cult brand."
*Antik Batik - "Different to the last few seasons, this collection is more polished, glitzy and glamorous."
*Tocca - "The range is very 'New York' with a sophisticated tailoring. Its relatively conservative but you can team its things with more casual pieces."
*La Petite Salope - "Corset dresses and tops with incredible sequins and rope detailing. Deconstructed and quirky, but really sexy."
*Hussein Chalayan - "Although Parlour X isn't very sporty, I decided to get a few T-shirts and fun things."
*Siu - "This is a really cute English label. Lots of beautiful embroidery, but not in an ethnic way."
CACHAREL - "Cacharel is one of my favourite brands in the whole world. Last time I went to Paris on a buying trip I went with a friend to the Cacharel showroom. This four-foot-tall little old lady dressed up in a suit with her hair done, came out and said to us, 'Hello, I am Madam Cacharel'. We couldn't believe it, she was amazing. She must have been in her late eighties and she looked incredible."
TREND FORECAST:
"In my opinion, there are no real 'new' trends coming up. To me, it's all about the styling. There are loads of things we have in store that you can wear from season to season. Vivienne Westwood is one of those brands, so is Cacharel. Fashion at the moment, whether it's gypsy, hippie, '70s, tweed, suiting, camisoles, '30s, '40s, '50s - it doesn't really matter. It's totally about the styling, whether you are wearing it with a scarf or a necklace, or with bangles up your arm."
EXPRESSION & CREATIVITY:
"I'm not a 'blend into the crowd' kind of person. My form of creativity and expression comes clothes and how I put my outfits together. For me, everything in life is about presentation. This si reflected in my store. There are colours everywhere, but it is all merchandised as if everything is supposed to be in that exact spot."
FASHIONABLE FRIENDS:
"Camilla from Camilla and Marc worked for in her last year of studies before she finished her fashion degree and went to Florence for a year. She used to come across from Florence to London when I was on buying trips. We just have a ball together, we've become very close friends. It's also great to have someone to bounce ideas off - someone who really knows my style."
STORES:
"I love Shanghai Tang Fragrances, cashmere and silk pyjamas. My other favourite stores are Koh Samui, Harvey Nichols, Liberty, Browns, Matches (and all of Westbourne Grove), And I like Portobello Road - it's a huge inspiration for me."
CAFE:
"The Electric on Portobello Road is my favourite." FRAGRANCE: "The ginger lily perfume from Shanghai Tang is my signature everyday fragrance."
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