No one even knew London had a fashion week until Kate's white horse bucked its reigns and trampled the newsstands. Now even the novice fashionista is all a-buzz about the "London Look." What, pray tell, is this London Look?
An aristocratic lineage that brags of fine tailoring and international appeal with just a taste of extra-dry British humor, it's all the rage from SoHo to Tokyo. Highbrow urban elites such as Burberry, Wolford and Thomas Pink have been popular in the States since the '80s. As proof, see Christian Bale and Chloe Sevigny a la American Psycho. New York's and LA's boutique-replete avenues have long enjoyed London's fashion contributions, though the interior West hasn't yet had a proper introduction. This transatlantic fare was quiet and refined until French Connection United Kingdom tossed a bit of British wit into the fashion lexicon with its FCUK campaigns just before the millennium.
Cue the retail masterminds at Caesars Forum Shops, ever ahead of the consumer curve, where neatly enclosed in their new expansion is a miniature Jermyn Street of Las Vegas' very own. For old-world luxury, there's Thomas Pink, Truefitt & Hill and Penhaligon's, each boasting an impressive résumé of royal service, true purveyors of fine goods the world over. These established houses can offer provenance, but it's Ted Baker that has the London Look.
Rife with East End-meets-West Coast irony, this newcomer highlights London's take on the West's obsession with jeans. Fun without the vulgar intentions of being funny, the store itself is a fitting illustration of the wares within. It is a delightful mix of camp and contemporary, with velvet-paneled walls in just the right hue of mulberry and traditional furnishings painted in eye-popping primaries. So follows the fashion: expertly tailored jeans-couture for the hipster with a Monty Python sensibility.
For the boys, Baker has handsomely tailored shirts in bold stripe patterns and a well-cut pant to suit all occasions. For girls, he offers a collection of jersey that drapes divinely. A credit to Britain's reputation for classic coats, Ted Baker's jackets are among the reasons why even fair-weather Westerners buy winter wear. Truly remarkable are his low-key knits that transcend season. With an emphasis on proper fit and fine finishing, Ted Baker is determined to take the shabby out of the oh-so-chic casual revolution. I suggest popping in for a visit but be wary, the faux-British accent is a stretch even for Mrs. Ritchie.
Jennifer Henry has got the goods on what to get and where. Email her at
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