It’s a bit geeky and predictable that I consider Time Out London a perfectly sound shopping guide.  It’s just such an obvious ‘name’ but the truth is, I look forward to reading its ‘Consume’ pages every week and seeing what new boutiques they have checked out.  Afterall, I can’t inform myself by experience alone and the people writing the articles are clearly writing like they too are seasoned London shoppers as opposed to sounding like a generic travel guide.  So I was eager to see what Time Out had for their annual Top 100 London Shops List. 

I haven’t had time to quibble over the rankings of where some of my favourite shops have come in but immediately, I have noticed some big omissions in my opinion.   One in particular who I expected to skim over in the list, and yes, I am damn well repeating myself is Shop at Maison Bertaux.  Simply for the fact that Pippa Brooks, the owner of Shop at Maison B, is a Soho boutique legend (read more on Ponystep) should have got Shop at Maison B on the list.  No broken record playing here but let’s see....we have the combination of a legendary patisserie/cafe and cute clothes in a basement.  We have delightfully fun staff and an ambiance that encourages random discounting at any given weekend (subscribe to their newsletter and you’ll know what I mean...).  An interior that has personality and is personable.   

Then there's the selection of labels and wares themselves... By all means, A.P.C. and Sonia by Sonia Rykiel can be found elsewhere but I doubt the pieces could be sold with as much enthusiasm, pretty presentation as they do at Shop at Maison Bertaux.  Post-shopping warm feelings of jubilation just don’t come easy these credit-crunching days and a simple APC dress (though as demonstrated below, the SS08 offerings aren’t the usual cotton smock affair...) bought at Shop at Maison B, puts a different slant on what is a minimalist label.    

I'm hoping their incomplete webshop expands from the current wee selection of three different kinds of Madame a Trois tea sets to include attire for wearing whilst drinking tea from the pretty cups... just so that non-Londoners can get a bit of lovin' from Madame too...