Virtuoso Life - November/December 2007 - (Page 142) Experts’ Picks Hong Kong Best shopping: Central DistriCt: The Landmark Center for big-name luxe; Prince’s Building, which isn’t “as overwhelmingly large as Landmark”; Alexandra House is “designer central”; Peddler Building, which is “directly opposite Landmark in location and offerings.” Kowloon: Tsim Sha Tsui for “great knockoffs,” Nathan Road for “hot new designers in Hong Kong’s SoHo” and “a world-class selection of brands.” Must-buys: Custom suits and shoes, silk robes and pajamas, watches and brand goods, antique lacquer boxes, jade, a chop (a personalized carved signature stamp), furs, handbags. / Virtuoso’s travel advisors share London Best shopping: Knightsbridge for Harvey Nichols, Harrods, and “designer shops and local gems”; Sloan Square and Kensington’s High Street, “where London’s fashionables shop”; Oxford Street for “international atmosphere, great people watching”; Covent Garden, where boutiques are side-by-side with unusual finds at Covent Garden Market and Neal Street. Must-buys: Royal Blend tea (Fortnum & Mason; 181 Piccadilly; 44-20/7734-8040), woolens, Henry Watson’s pottery (44-13/5925-1239; available through department stores), perfume from Floris (89 Jermyn Street; 44-84/5702-3239). Fashion finds: Emma Hope for “shoes your girlfriends will drool over” (53 Sloane Square; 44-20/7259-9566), Jermyn Street for “fashion-forward menswear,” Lulu Guinness’ “great shoes and purses” (3 Ellis Street; 44-20/7823-4828). Jewelry: Hatton Garden’s “long-established firms offer classy pieces at upmarket prices”; Bond Street, “where you go to splurge”; Theo Fennell for “high-quality, society jewelry” (The Courtyard Royal Exchange; 44-20/7623-4380); Asprey for “exclusive British products and design accessories” (167 New Bond Street; 44-20/ 7493-6767). Fashion finds: Gateway Shopping Complex for jewelry, tailored suits, eyeglasses (“Take a prescription with you”); Granville Road’s factory outlets at the center of Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon; Ashneil for remarkable custom handbags (Shop 114 Far East Mansions, 5-6 Middle Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon); OMM for trendy Asian-inspired clothing (G69 Telford Plaza I, Kowloon; 852/2730-6377). Jewelry: Nathan Road has “everything from classic to hip”; China Arts & Crafts purveys semiprecious stones (various locations); stalls and shops crowd Kowloon’s Jade Market (Yau Ma Tai shopping district). Art: The Wyndham Street, Hollywood Road, and SoHo areas; the shop Chow Tai Fook (various locations). Caveat: “Beware of fakes; stick to reputable businesses.” Art: Oxford, Regent, Bond, and Walton streets; Greenwich Market (arts and crafts on weekends; antiques Thursday and Friday); Fine Art Commissions (7 Bury Street; 44-20/7839-2792). Antiques: Kensington Church Street (“If you can’t find something here, you (HONG KONG) JTB PHOTO COMMUNICATIONS, INC./ALAMY, (HARRODS) MOTOFOTO/ALAMY, (SYDNEY) DENNIS COX/ALAMY Antiques: Wyndham and Cat streets for Chinese and Japanese furnishings, statuary, opium pipes. “Many dealers put away their best offerings in warehouses or back rooms for safekeeping, viewed by appointment.” If you’re buying something expensive, “spring for an independent appraisal.” aren’t looking”), Portobello Road Antiques Market (“World’s largest antiques market on Saturday”), Grays Antiques Market for “serious collectors” (58 Davies Street; 4420/7629-7034). Landmark Center, Hong Kong. Harrods, London. 142 V I RT U O S O L I F E
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