Claridge is a part of this world and apart from it. Courtesy of a protected lease inherited from his father, Claridge is the last resident of Bond Street, alone among the window displays of brands such as Dior, Cartier and Asprey. But they absolutely have to have a Bond Street address. It's known as a mid-range Monopoly property, a tube station that's about to be plugged into Crossrail, and as the place where flush oligarchs go to bid on sparkly things they don't really need.
The thing is, Bond Street doesn't actually exist. Finished spitting out your tea? Let us explain. Check Google Maps. In fact the area is widely known as Bond Street — it's just not technically called Bond Street, and hasn't been for centuries.
Briefly, yes. These are Royal Warrants granted by members of the Royal Family to firms which particularly please them and which supply them with goods or services. The large and famous suppliers of untold luxury goods and gifts, Asprey's, is a good example. Surely the Queen doesn't need a passport and certainly she never carries money!
Asprey's, however, deserves a visit and is guaranteed to have that very special something to take back to a very special somebody. Aladdin would have thought this was Christmas and Easter all rolled into one.
By this stage we're only about a third of the way up the street and only skimmed the surface of what's worth seeing. Just beyond the flower-seller's barrow, the road dips down to Conduit Street on the left. Over a refreshing drink it's worth reflecting that you're sitting on the edge of what was London's first main water supply. From this point onwards there is a gradual shift of emphasis in Bond Street.
Haute couture fashion slowly gives way to more modern shops as one approaches Oxford Street. At this point on Bond Street one encounters the rather chic and very feminine department store, Fenwicks. Then, while one's female companion shops, it's worthwhile drifting into Milton's at No. Here, half a mile up the road, one is still sitting in what was once the Duke of Clarendon's gardens. And if the Duke had not fled the country as a traitor it might still be a garden to this day.
Thus it is to Sir Thomas that we owe the existence at latest count of 25 shops selling shoes, handbags and luggage; 27 menswear shops; 2 linen specialists; 32 jewellers, goldsmiths and silversmiths; 4 furriers; 3 hairdressers; 18 fine art galleries; 34 fashion houses; 10 major antique dealers; and 4 specialists in china, glass and porcelain.
There are one or two other rarities as well. Roosevelt, who are portrayed sitting on a park bench in conversation, sculpted by Lawrence Holofcener. The statue, which is very popular with tourists, was unveiled in May by Princess Margaret and was erected by the Bond Street Association to commemorate 50 years since the end of World War II. In , maquettes of the sculpture which are replicas, since Holofcener did not make any as part of the original artwork or design were sold at Bonhams.
The plot of the film Bond Street centres on items purchased from shops on the street. Bond Street is also a square on the British Monopoly board, and is the most expensive of the green-coloured set that also includes Regent and Oxford Streets. The three streets are grouped together because of their shared history in shopping and retail.
0コメント