Norfolk best boutiques and loveliest labels, by Rachel Buller
Natty knits
If you love chunky knits – and fancy trying your hand at making your own this winter, take a look at the new range from Norfolk company The Mercerie.
Set up by Sue Maton from her kitchen table, her knitting and crochet kits enable you to make your own pieces and come complete with everything you need. Or of course you can cheat and buy them direct from her, ready made.
We love the very much on trend Folklore crochet shawl, inspired by traditional decorative folk art with large floral motifs and bold colours and made from super soft merino wool. (The kit is £55, and includes 10 balls of merino wool).
If you want to impress the man in your life, why not make him the supersized Bramble knit scarf for Christmas? Made from the Mercerie’s 100pc British Aran wool, you can choose from 12 beautiful colours. (Kit is £45 includes 8 balls of Aran wool). The Mercerie also sells patterns and plenty of other kits to suit every skill level – from beginners to the seasoned professionals.
www.themercerie.co.uk, 07790 421646.
A forever present
If you want to treat a loved one to something extra special this Christmas, why not invest in an iconic Rolex watch?
Norwich’s newest jeweller Francis Wain has a fantastic selection of classic pre-owned Rolexes priced from £2950 to £7500. Not only are they beautiful, luxury timepieces, they are a forever present which can be handed down through the generations.
Francis Wain is a family business which has been trading in Norfolk for more than 50 years and as well as their King’s Lynn shop, they have just opened their first store in the city at Chapelfield – just in time for the busy festive shopping period.
Francis Wain, Unit 11, Merchants Hall, Upper Ground Floor, Chapelfields, Norwich, NR2 1SU, 01603 767246, www.franciswainjewellers.com
Winter staples
Update your winter wardrobe with these classic staple pieces from Italian boutique “and” shirts in Norwich’s Royal Arcade.
Focusing on simple, neutral colours and styles, the store’s latest range of knitwear is great for both work and casual wear.
The grey chunky knit cardigan, £85, is perfect teamed with a pair of jeans for a day to day look which is not only warm but on trend this season. The light weight wrap over jumper, £79, is available in grey and black, and the simple stylish round neck jumper, £59, looks great under a jacket and comes in grey and navy.
and shirts, 6 The Royal Arcade, Norwich, NR2 1NQ, 01603 283718
Funny feet!
Whatever their age, kids will love a pair of animal slippers from cool eco company Sew Heart Felt this Christmas.
Norwich children’s boutique Coccolino has a fantastic range of the funky slippers – choose from Finlay the fox, Shirley Sheep, Darci Donkey or Rory Rabbit, all for £26.
Sew Heart Felt products are designed in Britain and then hand made by women across the world using local traditional crafts and skills. The company is committed to fair wages, good working conditions and forging close long term connections with its teams of workers to help provide financial security and sustainability for not only them but their children.
Coccolino also stocks a great range of cool kids wear from popular French company Petit Bateau and popular British label Lily and Sid, which not only look fab, but are warm and practical for the winter.
Coccolino, 25 Timber Hill, Norwich, NR1 3JZ, 01603 633533
www.coccolinonorwich.co.uk
Beautiful bangles
Take a look at the new collection of hand painted bangles from Halcyon Days, now available from Jarrold.
The company was founded in 1950 as an emporium of antique gifts in Mayfair in London, making beautiful enamel boxes. Today, it uses those same traditional English enamelling techniques and highly skilled artists to create these statement bracelets.
At £145, wear them alone or treat yourself and pair them up – they really are a work of art for the wrist.
Jarrold, 1-11 London St, Norwich NR2 1JF, 01603 660661, www.jarrolds.co.uk
Ultimate luxury
Famous luxury brand Cartier is now available in Norfolk – exclusively at Winsor Bishop in Norwich.
Founded in France in 1847, Cartier is world renowned for its iconic style pieces – from the 1940s Panthère brooch created for Wallis Simpson to the diamond necklace for Bhupinder Singh the Maharaja of Patiala.
The Calibre de Cartier steel men’s watch, £5600, is contemporary and refined and equipped with the new Manufacture Cartier movement; The Ballon Bleu de Cartier, £4050, is an elegant watch for both men and woman with a blue sapphire nestled inside.
Winsor Bishop, 39-43 London Street, Norwich, NR2 1HU, www.winsorbishop.co.uk
