What?: Probably the closest thing you’ll get to a European-style concept store in the UK, Bonton popped up on Notting Hill’s Westbourne Grove in late-2017 selling own-brand kids’ and womenswear, luxury nursery furniture and a wide variety of children’s accessories and toys. Founded by Thomas Cohen, son of Marie-France and Bernard Cohen of kids’ fashion house Bonpoint, Bonton feels distinctively French. Its kidswear feels fresher and simpler than its (literal) parent brand, but is still packed with the ruffles and traditional bonnet-and-bootie sets that Bonpoint has become famous for, and the accessories/homeware offer is full of innovative French brands like Djeco (wooden toys), OMY (colouring books and posters) and Moulin Roty (dolls, softies and wooden toys).
It’s mostly down to a matter of taste but I didn’t love the store as much as some of the concept stores we found in Amsterdam – e.g. the crazy-fun Big en Belg – but it’s still well worth a look if you happen to be in the area, and worth a trek if you love French kidswear. The space is pretty sizeable, with accessories and pocket-money toys at the front of the store, nursery furniture and homeware in the middle, and fashion at the back. We’ve been here twice and the staff have been friendly and helpful on both occasions whilst leaving us to browse without bugging us. On our second visit Babu commandeered the wooden dolls’ pram filled with Moulin Roty dollies and proceeded to parade around the shop smashing into everything with it before deciding what we should really be doing is playing hide and seek in and around the little teepee and the display bed – both of which seemed to be absolutely fine with the lady working in there.
Where?: Bonton is located at 235 Westbourne Grove, Notting Hill W11 2SE – a nine-minute walk from Notting Hill gate tube station.
Price Range: From around £10 for muslins, hair accessories and fancy soap up to £600-800 for posh nursery furniture.
Best Bits: I loved the French kids’ book corner, and the Bonton x Veja trainer collection is amazing.
Worst Bits: I’m not loving the clothing but it’s literally next door to Mini Rodini, if like me that’s more your thing.
Did We Buy?: We bought a Sonny Angel blind-box doll because we’re both obsessed.
Would We Come Back?: We already did, and we would again.
Babu goes shopping at Bonton, Westbourne Grove.
bablands.com 