While recent fashion weeks, including last month’s Paris Haute Couture, may have pivoted to virtual iterations for the time being, the world of luxury fashion is still crying out for connection and personal experiences. Cue the high fashion pop-up, which this summer is cropping up all over the city as a way to elevate a brand’s latest launch and connect customers with this season’s most coveted pieces. Here’s our pick of the finest fashion pop-ups to check out this month.
Dior pop-up at Harrods
Never one to miss an opportunity to launch in style, Dior has unveiled its covetable Autumn/Winter 2020 ready-to-wear collection with a fashion pop-up store at Harrods. Several key pieces will be making their worldwide debut at the luxurious department store, including brand new velvet iterations of some of the brand’s most distinctive bags.
Lady D-Lite
Small Brim Bucket Hat
Included in the shop – which, in keeping with the decadent pieces, is clad in opulent velvet – you’ll find a new design of the house’s classic bob hat along with a range of scarves (perfect to use as luxe face coverings in these Covid-19 times) as well as a selection of the brand’s most iconic handbags, including the Saddle, Lady D-Lite and Dior Book Totes. What’s more, shoppers will be able to have any purchases they pick up personalised by an on-site artisan using the fashion house’s exclusive ABCDior service.
The Dior x Harrods fashion pop-up will be running until 30 August; 87-135 Brompton Road, Knightsbridge, London SW1X 7XL
harrods.com
Alighieri’s Old Town
Responsibly sourced, London-based jewellery brand Alighieri, which earlier in the year won the prestigious Queen Elizabeth II Prize for Design at London Fashion Week, has brought Florence to the heart of Shoreditch with a new pop-up that combines food and fashion. Their ‘old town’ shop is all about reuniting communities and features a tabaccheria that sells postcards to send to friends and a pastel-hued store with wooden shutters reminiscent of the jewellers on the Ponte Vecchio Bridge.
Between 15 and 22 August, visitors will also be able to book in for dinner at the on-site restaurant, Casa Luna, which will be catered by gourmet food delivery service Pasta Evangelists. Expect platters of antipasti, hand-rolled pasta and punchy aperitifs, as well as a 20% discount in the store for anyone who books a table. And keep an eye out for the resident black cat, which roams around the mini town.
Alighieri’s Old Town will be running until 22 August; 4 Dingley Place, Shoreditch, London EC1V 8BP
alighieri.co.uk
Fendi’s Peekaboo Bar
If you visit the Fendi store on Bond Street this summer you might notice something a little different – to celebrate their iconic Peekaboo bag, the Italian fashion house has created a travelling pop-up café experience in the middle of the boutique, complete with chic bar stools in sherbet yellow candy stripes, a white neon bar sign and a long counter, all the better to admire the fashionable wares.
Mini Peekaboo Bag
from £2,590
Handbag Strap
from £980
Handbag Handles
from £290
Reminiscent of a retro Italian café, instead of cappuccinos and biscotti visitors here will be able to pick up and customise a Peekaboo bag, mixing and matching three key elements to create their own bespoke version. Over 20 different options for the body of the bag are on offer, with a choice of materials including calf and patent leather, while a removable handle sees 25 different variations, including plexi leather and glitter finishes. The finishing touch? A Defender cover, which you can personalise further by adding your own initials. Just think of it as the ultimate pick ‘n mix counter.
Fendi’s Peekaboo Bar will be running until 21 September at their New Bond Street boutique; 141 New Bond Street, Mayfair, London W1S 2BS
fendi.com