Shopping suggestions for London and Stockholm?

[indigo]

We will be going to London and Stockholm for some family events and I was wondering if anyone has suggestions for great kids' clothing stores? DH will probably only let me go to one or two stores but even so it would be fun to check things out "across the pond." We're all set for dresses for a while, I think, so much as I would love to see the fancy-dress European options, I'm thinking we'd be better off with casual wear - like wonderful Scandinavian sweaters, maybe a little Barbour (sp?) jacket (hmmm, maybe still too expensive)? And does anyone know if you can buy a Paddington Bear at Paddington Station? (I know you can get them online but I thought it would be cute to get one at the source, so to speak.)

(and BTW I am de-lurking with a vengeance this week! Does that get me brownie points somewhere? ;0))


indigo
DD 7/04
http://www.gynosaur.com/assets/ribbons/ribbon_garnet_6m.gif
twelve months and counting!

[deenass]

Last winter someone posted pictures of clothing from NEXT (which I'm told by a British neighbor is like the GAP over there). She brought me some stuff for DS when she was in England and i LOVE it!!!!! They don't ship internationally so I'd definitely check it out if I were over there!

[jk3]

I was going to suggest that too. I remember the pictures of the pieces with the monkeys and trucks. So cute!

Jenn
DS 6/3/03

http://lilypie.com/baby2/030603/2/5/1/-5/.png

[bonbon98]

In case you need to "shop" the website before you go:

http://www.next.co.uk

DH is going over to the UK next week, so I have to get my list together!

Bonny
Mom to E&E 5/7/02

[tadylkat]

My brother and his fiance live in London by Earl's Court (Chelsea/So. Kensington). I'll have to send them an email and see if they have any suggestions. I was there last summer and wanted to visit Harrod's but didn't get a chance to. I hear that you could spend a week (and a fortune) in there.

[indigo]

NEXT collection - v. cute! Maybe a raincoat ("mac?") for DD - how British!

Harrods - I *definitely* want to go in there. Is it at the Neiman's level, or more like a Nordstrom's with high-end and mid-range departments?

So excited - I love shopping in other countries, it's fun even just seeing how they set up their displays differently!

indigo
DD 7/04
http://www.gynosaur.com/assets/ribbons/ribbon_garnet_6m.gif
twelve months and counting!

[kalebsmama]

My brother picked up a couple of shirts from Next last year. One won't fit DS until this fall/winter but the other he wore alot. I love it!

[deenass]

Harrod's for me was more like a museum then a store (and I'm a shopper). One thing that I really didn't like was that I had to pay to use the bathroom, seriously despite having bought something in the store.

It is definitely high end.
Do be sure to check out the Princess Diana/ Dodi Fayed SHRINE (pics of them and the ring he "bought " her along with an eternal flame).

[ethansmom]

IMO, they have mid and high-range departments. You can certainly find something to buy! ;-) Sorry, but all my visits were pre-child, so I really didn't check out kids' clothes, although i have received several nice things from there as gifts.

BTW, if I remember correctly, if you have tea there, you can use the bathrooms for free. ;-)

LOVE their food court!

[leeming]

Next definitely has cute stuff - but my favorite stores for kids clothes in London are Mothercare (on Oxford Street) and H&M. Relatively well-priced and really cute!!! I did a lot of baby clothes shopping in London, too. Warning, everything in London (and probably in Stockholm, too) is REALLY pricey.

If you go to Oxford Street by the Marble Arch tube stop, you can hit H&M kids, Mothercare, AND NeXT all at once - they are all within one block of each other. So maybe your DH would let you do that? :-)

Non-clothing-related - hit a Pret-a-Porter for great croissants. Seriously, my DH goes to London fairly often and he ALWAYS brings back several almond croissants. They're better than anything we have around here.

(de-lurking, too!)

[tribecamom]

I think it means ready to eat not ready to wear LOL--anyway it is awesome :)

[LoveMyBabyBeans]

I have one for Sweden. It's a store called Polarn O. Pyret or PO.P and they have ADORABLE (not cheap though) clothes for babies and kids. I got Andie an outfit in Gothenburg last year and they have 5 or 6 locations in Stockholm. Their website, that I shared below, is only in Swedish, so if you don't know the language you just have to click around. I'll give you the direct link to the locations though. Their clothes are very Hanna-ish.

Website:
http://www.polarnopyret.se/index.asp

This link shows their locations in Stockholm:
http://popbutiker.eurokund.info/listabutiker.aspx?q=2

Enjoy your trip!!

Kerry

[emmalin]

There are so much to see and buy in Stockholm. Here are a few.
Polarn & Pyret - classic great quality expensive
Kappahl - They have clothes for the whole family, great kids stuff.
Lindex - every time we go back I go in there, good quality, and great prices.
There are a lot of boutiques in Stockholm too.
The exchange rate is getting better for us too, so it might not hurt your pocket book that much.

Enjoy!
emmalin

[leeming]

Doh! You're totally right. (embarrassed grin) We just call it "Pret".

[indigo]

Thank you all!! I will check out as many stores as I can (probably more in Stockholm since we are staying with family - more people to watch the munchkin while I shop! :0)). What fun! I'll report back when we return in August.


indigo
DD 7/04
http://www.gynosaur.com/assets/ribbons/ribbon_garnet_6m.gif
twelve months and counting!