AUSTERE and elegant, VV Rouleaux houses a staggering array of ribbons, trimmings and braids. Owned by Annabel Lewis, author of The Ultimate Ribbon Book, the premises could happily provide trimmings for the complete works of Jane Austen. Basic stain starts at 30 pence per metre, while Mokuba's floral ribbon - a series of tiny blossoms and leaves in rust, mauve and burnt cherry - is priced at £36.55 per metre. Hats can be trimmed; £15 for same thing simple up to £40 for an elaborate creation (excluding materials).
VV Rouleaux, 10 Symons Street, London, SW3, (0044-171-7304413), Mon-Sat 9.30 a.m.-6 p.m. (Nearest Tube: Sloane Square).
ESTABLISHED in 1830, umbrella specialists James Smith & Co moved to its current premises in 1857. Still with original wooden panelled shop front, the name is picked out in antique gilt calligraphy. Lines of umbrellas crowd the interior, with traditional frothy ladies' parasols priced between £100 and £200. Walking sticks are cut to measure in the shop and cost from £10 to £2,000, while conventional umbrellas start at £10. The choice here is magnificent.
James Smith & Co, 53 New Oxford Street, London WC1, (0044-171-8364731), MonSat 10 a.m.-5. 30 p.m. (Nearest Tube: Tottenham Court Road).
APPARENTLY the inspiration for Charles Dickens's book of the same name, The Old Curiosity Shop, dating from 1567, came into the hands of Ian Reid and Daita Kimuta two years ago. The sign on the door permanently reads Closed, so you have to knock loudly to gain entrance. The two owners are usually in the basement crafting their now famous hand made shoes. Priced at £220 a pair and not necessarily to everyone's taste, their newest design resembles the deformed feet of a bunion sufferer. The dark and dusty interior, its walls and ceiling without a single right angle, also stocks unusual knitwear by Japanese designer Shinya Nomota and clothes by AKI.
The Old Curiosity Shop, 13-14 Portsmouth Road, London WC2, (0044-171-4059891), Mon-Sat 11 a.m.-7 p.m. (Nearest Tube: Holborn)
THE white washed walls and bare floor boards of Warris Vianni & Co act as a perfect backdrop to a collection of exquisite fabrics, original creations by artisans in exotic weaves with unexpected colours and vibrant hues. Heavy brocade panels, organzas intricately woven with metallic thread and Fortuny pleated tussores all unfold in a brilliance of shades. Prices range from £7.95 for a metre of silk organza, and rise to £200 for exquisitely beautiful silk paisleys. Even if prices are too high for your budget, it's worth just going to look.
Warris Vianni & Co, 85 Golborne Road, London W10, (0044-181-9640069), Mon-Sat 10 a.m.-5. 30 p.m. (Nearest Tube: Ladbroke Grove).
CREATIVE Beadcraft Limited boasts the most extensive range of beads and trims available in London. This unique shop is a favourite among the city's costumiers and designers working for the likes of the BBC and English National Opera as well as a motley assortment of students from nearby St Martin's College of Art and Design. Starting at 85 pence for 1000 seed beads, prices rise to upwards of £20 for a metre of metal diamante trim. There are free demonstrations on the 7th and 8th of June next, when you'll even be able to learn how to make your own tiara.
Creative Beaderqft Limited, 20 Beak Street, London WI, (0044-171-6299964), Mon-Fri 10 a.m.-5. 15 p.m. (Nearest Tube: Picadilly Circus).
WITH a newly opened Japanese tea room at the back and the largest selection of Japanese vintage kimonos and haori (short jackets) in Europe at the front, Asahi is a brilliant find for all orientalists. Rummage around in the bargain box and pay as little as £5 for an item or opt for an intricately embroidered wedding kimono priced from £500. Owner Aria Kovatzis scours Japan regularly for authentic garments, mostly dating from the 1920s to the 1950s. Asahi, 110 Golborne Road, London 40, (0044-181-9607299), Mon-Sat 10 a.m.-6 p.m. (Tube: Ladbroke Grove).
ORIGINALLY from Dublin, Trish Morrice is now the owner of Arthur Morrice, a rather special optician shop in London's Beauchamp Place. The walls, painted with striking Renaissance style murals, slide back to reveal wooden cabinets' filled with unworn vintage frames. Dating from the 1930s, 40s and 50s, this collection offers a tribute to three generations of optical history as well as being a delight for all nostalgics. Real tortoise shell frames are upwards of £500, while rare solid white gold wire frames are £2,500. However, prices' start from as low as £40 and a wide selection of contemporary frames is also stocked. Arthur Morrice, 13 Beauchamp Place, London SW3, (0044-171-5844661), Mon/Tues 9.30 a.m.-6 p.m., Thurs-Sat 9.30 a.m.-7p.m., (Nearest Tube: Knightsbridge).
SQUEEZED into a tiny site in Covent Garden V B. Morrison stocks a comprehensive range of leather goods at unbeatable prices. The catch is that he provides no refunds, repairs or after sale service. Morrison opens whenever it takes his fancy and you are instructed by a large sign to choose what you want from the window display before you enter. A small vanity case in tan leather is a steal at £17 and a large sturdy satchel costs £45.
V.B. Morrison, 50 Neal Street, London WC2, (0044-171-8360928), Opening times flexible so telephone in advance. (Nearest Tube: Covent Garden).
FAMED as corsetieres to Queen Elizabeth II, Rigby & Peller offers an unrivalled service in underwear for women. Bras start from £26.95 including an expert free fitting. Most women discover that they have been wearing the wrong bra size, information which is sure to be invaluable for future comfort. The shop also specialises in mastectomy fittings and offers a wide selection of specialised underwear and swimwear.
Rigby & Peller, 2 Hans Road, London SW1, (0044-171-5899293), Mon-Sat 9 a.m. -6 p.m. (Nearest Tube: Knightsbridge).
THE words compact and bijou would exaggerate the size of The Hat Shop's tiny premises. Nonetheless, it crams in an extraordinary selection of hats ranging from the outrageous - to the elegantly sophisticated. Prices are reasonable, ranging from £5.95 to £215. With over 30 labels including Kangol, Stephen Jones, Fred Bare, Peter Bettley and Misa Harada, there's sure to be a hat here for every imaginable occasion. A 1920s feather cloche for £138 accentuates the bones of your face and is stunning.
The Hat Shop, 58 Neal Street, London - WC2, (0044-171-8366718), Mon-Sat 10 a. m.-7p.m. (Nearest Tube: Covent Garden).
BODY adornment specialists Into You set the trend for what has become one of the largest growing fashion statements of the 1990s around the world. The owner Teena Marie will pierce every conceivable nook and cranny of your body, for as little as £20.
Into You, 144 St John Street, London EC1, (0044-171-2535085), Tue-Fri 12 midday-7 p.m., Sat 12 midday-6 p.m. (Nearest Tube: Angel).
AMONG the large metal cabinets of Jess James's modern and minimal shop, exotic fish and beautiful jewellery compete for, attention. A showcase for many of the world's best and most innovative jewellery designers, Jess James displays established names such as Wright & Teague alongside new names such as the brilliant Diana Porter. Prices start from as low as £20 but rise quickly to £1,706 for a yellow diamond set in 18 carat gold suspended with a platinum surround and engraved with the inscription, La Lumiere de ma Vie. For that price, it would want to be.
Jess James, 3 Newburgh Street, London WI, (0044-171-4370199), Mon-Fri 11 a.m.-6. 30 p.m., Sat 11 a.m.-6 p.m. (Nearest Tube: Oxford Circus).
IF you've ever laboured under the weight of self consciousness, then this service is not for you. Your Ideal Silhouette offers a computerised analysis of all your bodily dimensions, producing a personalised 10 page report which details your body's strengths and weaknesses. It also gives head to toe advice on what to wear to maximise your potential. £70 for a private consultation, with £50 each for a group of four to six.
Your Ideal Silhouette, Creative Image & Associates Limited, (0044-171-3521055). By appointment only.
THIS beautiful shop offers a heavenly range of quality buttons from Europe and around the world," promises the shop card of Celestial Buttons and a visit to the premises certainly won't leave you disappointed. Prices range from 16 pence for something basic to £8.50 for hand beaten silver buttons. Friendly staff give expert advice, making this the perfect button shopping experience.
Celestial Buttons, 54 Cross Street, London N1. (0044-171-2264766), Mon-Sat 10.30 a.m.-6. 30 p.m. (Nearest Tube: Angel).