I use to live in Highgate, now just down the road in Crouch End but anyways, I just loved passing NOTSOBIG to see what the window displays had to showcase this time round. I always got suckered into their lovely shop because I saw something gorgeous in the window. And let me tell you they carry some lovely lovely brands! Especially smaller newer brands, which I love about them. Jane owner of NOTSOBIG focuses on bringing new unknown brands into the shop. I was just in NOTSOBIG the other day and bought Edith a beautiful Seesaw dress, an example of a newer brand that is going to just take off! Their shop may NOT BE SO BIG but it's bursting full of style and eloquence. You must pay them a visit and see their gorgeous selection.
www.notsobigshop.com
31a Highgate High Street
N6 5JT
0208 340 4455
I had a lovely chit chat with Jane and this is what she had to say:
1. Tell me about
yourself, what is your background?
I grew up in a
family that had hotels and restaurants, so I was raised with a love of food. I
had my own restaurant in Highgate Village for ten years. It was hard work but I
always told people you need a passion for your work to get real satisfaction
out of it.
2. How did
notsobig come about?
Notsobig was
launched in June 2000. It came about because I had a child. In life the only
thing that is constant is change. I had to re-access and change my lifestyle to
accommodate my son whom I wanted to see growing up. He inspired me to open a
children's boutique, as good boys clothes were hard to find at the time
3. What kind of
customer are you buying for?
My customers like
clothes that are stylish, fun to wear and not heavily branded. I believe that
the quality and style of the garment far outweighs the importance of the brand
name behind it.
4. Who are your
favourite childrenswear designers at the moment?
Currently I have a
soft spot for Pale Cloud for girls and Finger in The Nose for boys. My
favourite part of the job is sourcing new, often relatively unknown labels for
my boutique, so my favourite labels are constantly changing.
5. Any new
designers you are really excited about?
At the moment I
really love the two new British labels
Little Troll and Gravel and Grass.
6. If you had to
pick one outfit for a boy and one for a girl, what would these outfits be?
I love the Eve
dress by Soft Gallery and the Finger in the Nose Golf Heather striped polo; they're
both really practical for everyday.
7. Do you have a
favourite place you can go and gain inspiration from?
I always gain
inspiration by running daily on Hampstead Heath.
8. If you could
collaborate with anyone in the world, who would it be?
Kiernan Shipka
from Mad Men always looks great. I'd love to work on a collection with her for
those tricky early teenage years.
9. How would you
describe your style?
I love
understated, high quality garments that I feel comfortable in and can get a lot
of wear out of. Acne has taken up a large part of my wardrobe and fits in
perfectly with my lifestyle.
10. What's the
best advice you have received?
If you don't
believe in what you are doing then why would anyone else?
11. What advice
can you give us?
The happiest
people don't have the best of everything; they just make the best of everything
they have.
12. Any exciting
news or plans for notsobig?
The number of
smaller labels that I stock exclusively in the UK is rapidly growing. I'm
working hard to source more beautiful, lesser known brands and continue to
support more emerging labels.
13. Favourite
childhood memory?
When I was eight
my Mother took me to Harrods, bought me a beautiful dress and told me not to
tell Daddy how much the dress had cost.
American Outfitters |
Quenotte |
Soft Gallery |
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