VIBE MATURED ECLECTICISM FOR HAVE-IT-ALLERS

For one-street buying, Islington’s high street delivers. Running from Highbury Corner to Angel, it’s like the ideal music act: commercial but credible enough to satisfy most tastes.

‘I love the variety,’ says Jane Shepherdson, Whistles CEO and a local. ‘There’s clothing, food, furniture, vintage, restaurants and bars. The combination ensures it isn’t too pretentious.’ It is also the heartland of champagne socialism, so ponder that while you embrace capitalism.

First, the tasteful midpoint. You have Jigsaw for gorgeous knits and affordable leather bags, Toast for yummy-mummy loungewear (think Japanese ikat kimono gown) and Christmas decorations, and Petit Bateau for your petits choux. Whistles, at the Islington Green end, also has the brand new men’s collection: his and hers go-to style.

Boutique-wise, Diverse has been keeping N1’s style queens fashionable for nearly 30 years with prime ready-to-wear brands such as APC, Stella McCartney and Isabel Marant. There are also Church’s brogues, Charlotte Olympia sexy heels and even sexier Fleur du Mal lingerie. For men, Sefton offers the right brands in their highly edited collection — Edwin, Acne, Norse, Adidas… and those covetable wallets by Commes des Garçons.

N1’s thoroughfare is also a dream destination for interiors geeks. Twentytwentyone, with an intelligently curated range of furniture, stationery, ceramics, rugs and knick-knacks, also sells vintage pieces in mint condition, alongside Scandinavian design classics. Across the road, Aria offers a slightly more eccentric collection of homewares, luggage, gifts and furniture in an old music hall. Abigail Ahern, the eponymous store of the talented interior decorator, is worth a visit for eclectic home gifts. After Noah does a small selection of vintage homewares but focuses mainly on children’s toys and books. Igloo is another indie children’s shop selling toys and clothes for our Instagram stars of the future.

Finally, vintage. Camden Passage is a Dickensian walkway, set back from Islington Green, housing top-notch antique and vintage stores. Annie’s, the most famous, does wondrous antique lace and furs. ES Pit stop Ottolenghi makes delectable Middle Eastern fare to eat in or go Must-buys Whistles menswear cashmere hoodie, £250; wooden toys or puppets at After Noah (from £3); Lyngby porcelain vase, from £74, at Twentytwentyone Abigail Ahern, 137, Mon-Sat 10.30-6, Sun 12-5; abigailahern.com After Noah, 121, Mon-Sat 10-6, Sun 11-5; afternoah.com Annie’s, 12 Camden Passage, N1, Mon-Sun 11-6; anniesvintageclothing.co.uk Aria, Barnsbury Hall, Barnsbury Street, N1, Mon-Sat 10-6.30, Sun 12-5; ariashop.co.uk Diverse, 294, Mon-Sat 10.30-6.30, Sun 11.30-5.30; diverseclothing.com Igloo, 300, Mon-Wed 10-6.30, Thurs 10-7, Fri-Sat 9.30-6.30, Sun 11-5.30; iglookids.co.uk Jigsaw, 66 Cross Street, N1, Mon-Fri 10-6.30, Sat 9.30-6.30, Sun 12-6; jigsaw-online.com Ottolenghi, 287, ottolenghi.co.uk Petit Bateau, 125, Mon-Wed 10-6, Thurs-Sat 10-6.30, Sun 11.30-5.30; petit-bateau.co.uk Sefton, 196, Mon-Sat 11-7, Sun 12-6; seftonfashion.com Toast, 133, Mon-Sat 10-6.30, Sun 12-6; toa.st/uk Twentytwentyone, 274-275, Mon-Sat 10-6, Sun 11-5; twentytwentyone.com Whistles, 135-136, Mon-Wed & Sat 10-6.30, Thurs-Fri 10-7, Sun 12-6; whistles.com