What?: London-based boutique offering a cool, eclectic pick of clothes and toys for 0-10s. Fancy Kids is a champion of eco-friendly production and beautiful design, and works with independent designers from all over the globe to ensure that every one of its products satisfies both criteria. Largely an online business, the company has been known to hold the occasional pop-up to showcase its collection, with short stints in Hampstead, Islington, Portobello Road, Chelsea and Piccadilly in the last year. We visited the Hampstead shop in July so were prepared for the potential wallet-battering that a trip to another pop-up might precipitate.
Where & When?: Fancy Kids will be popping up from 8th-14th May at 142 Ladbroke Grove, just a two-minute walk from Ladbroke Grove tube (Circle, Hammersmith & City).
Best Bits: This cool online store stocks too many beautiful brands to mention, but highlights include Tiny Cottons’ botanical collection, Tao & Friends’ conversational cartoon prints, Theodore’s character rompers and Igi Natur’s illustrated bodysuits. I’m also slightly obsessed with Ettel Bettel’s printed bandana bibs and Playforever’s handcrafted model transport toys.
Worst Bits: FK can be a bit on the expensive side, but that’s (literally) the price you pay for stylish, ethically sourced and produced products you’ll have a job to find elsewhere. Ladbroke Grove seems like a slightly quirky choice of venue for this upmarket boutique, which stands temporarily nestled among an abundance of fast-food outlets, betting shops and off-licences, but don’t let that put you off. Fancy Kids’ pop-ups are always well worth a visit, wherever they may be.
Price Range: Expect to pay from £5 for a cute pair of socks up to £350 for a super-luxe French cashmere jumper. Toys start at £10 for a retro-cool organic rubber bath toy and peak at £80 for a future-heirloom crochet squirrel. There are a couple of sale rails in-store and much of the stock is discounted for the duration of the pop-up, so it’s worth a browse even if your budget won’t stretch to designer cashmere.
Did We Buy?: We invested in a so-cute-I-could-poo stripy summer bodysuit from Spanish brand Tiny Cottons, which was on sale with a third off the original price. Ideally I would have bundled the entire contents of this store into my rucksack and done a runner, but I assume that would be frowned upon.
Bab fiddles with Wooden Story’s gorgeous Rainbow Blocks Toy at the Fancy Kids pop-up, Ladbroke Grove
bablands.com 