Ah, the joy of Christmas shopping! We bring you the edited highlights, without the hard
slog – and with not a congestion charge in sight. N16’s very own guide to
stress-free gift-giving, on your N16 doorstep. We’re not claiming to have covered
every option – but we’ve tried to bring you bits of the best, for your present
giving pleasure.
Over the years, we’ve lost some old friends – Circa, Helsinki, Willow – but
blink, and a new shop-front is bursting with stuff we didn’t know we needed, but we
do now. No worries.
Gifts Boutique 103-105 Stoke Newington High Street, N16 0PH, 020 7923 9456. www.giftsboutique.biz Open:
10-6.30, Mon-Sat; 11-5, Sun. A surprising and convenient local source of Eastern magic:
Moroccan light fittings, ashtrays, dishes; affordable
wall-hangings; Rajput and Kerala throws (from £12); sparkling cushion covers from a
stunning £1.50-£8. Dive in and garner some unexpected treasures.
ff+m 184 Stoke Newington High Street, N16 7JD, 020 7923 1211 Open: 9-6, Mon-Sun.
‘West End gear at East End prices’: Christmas decorations, mirrors, good value
glass vases, candles and assorted baubles. A bit of household bling without breaking the
bank.
 Rosa
3 Church Street, N16 0NX, 020 7254 3467. Open: 9.30-5.30, Mon-Sat, exc 11-5.30 Thurs. The
estimable Rosa, good at dealing with nervous chaps: Chantelle bra and brief sets from
£70; Aristoc lacy tights and fishnets; basques; and jewel strings (aka very fancy
thongs). Add a little zing, with expert guidance.
Affinity 5 Church Street, N16 0NX, 020 7241 0898. Open: 10-6, Mon-Sat (may open on
Sundays in 2 weeks prior to Xmas). From £7.50 to nearly £200 – a range of rings,
necklaces, earrings, bracelets, from the simplest silver classics to some new-this-year
handmade costume jewellery with a beautiful 1920s period feel. Something special.
Metal Crumble 13 Stoke Newington Church Street, N16 0NX, 020 7249 0487. Open: 10-6,
Mon-Sat; 11-4, Sun. A Church Street legend. Our very own George and Roger have been busy
creating shed-loads of new hand-made silver jewellery just in time for Christmas. New this
year: minimalist 4-string amber necklaces, delicate and covetable; make your-own charm
bracelets; and chains and bracelets galore. Commissions undertaken, if you really
can’t find the piece you want.
Pieces of a Dream Rear, 49 Stoke Newington Church Street, N16 0AR, 020 7249 6576.
Distinctive glassware, lights, mirrors, vases, pots and boxes – quirky and clever
stuff.
Hub 49 Church Street, N16 0AR, 020 7254 4494. Open: 10.30-6.30, Mon-Sat; 1-6, Sun.
A relative newcomer with chutzpah a-plenty, and a Tardis-like feel to a tiny space awash
with goodies. With Christmas in mind, they’re stocking toiletries, evening wear,
jewellery, knick-knacks, candles, bath oils, bags, accessories, must-have hats and scarves
– if it ain’t there, just give up. The place to go for girlfriends who know
best.
 Texture
84 Church Street, N16 0AP, 020 7241 0990Open: 10-5.30, Tues-Sat. Special Texture gift
hampers with organic bath-time goodies; the softest woolly scarves in the world (from
Devon); the Stokie gift of the year – funky wine glasses recycled from Grolsch and
Corona beer bottles; organic cotton ‘home-wear’ (comfy-stuff, to you and me) in
a drawstring bag, exclusive to Texture (£35); organic cotton baby clothes; do-it-yourself
scarf knitting kits; and (from Texture’s wondrous new mail order catalogue), lavender
bags, eye pillows and a host of other goodies.
Route 73/Route 73 Kids 86 and 92 Stoke Newington Church Street, N16 0AP, 020 7923
7873 (Kids), 020 7923 3437 (Gifts) Open: 10-5.30 Tues-Sat, exc Thurs (late opening); 11-5,
Sun. Another Church Street institution, with toys galore in one branch, giftie stuff,
wrapping paper, fancy ribbons and cards in the other.
Hamiltons 96 Stoke Newington Church Street, N16 0AP 020 7254 1703. Open: 10-6,
Mon-Sat; 11-5 Sun. A cornucopia of eclectic and often surprisingly affordable gizmos and
goodies, from clever stocking fillers to fab furniture and rugs for giftgivers endowed
with deeper pockets.
Cobbled Yard 1 Bouverie Road, N16 0AH, 020 8809 5286 Open: 11-5.30, Wed-Sun. A
fabulous range of period collectables, from Victoriana via Art Deco to janglier 50s
pieces: for confident styleconscious gift-givers who know what their friends ought to
want. (And where better to acquire that small reward you know YOU deserve, after all that
selfless giving... ?)
|
