LONDON LIGHTS UP!

KEE@FSWMAG.COM

Harrods at night

If Harrods is too mainstream and Establishment for your eclectic taste, try Kokon To Zai, the funky and incredibly hip and happening boutique at Greek Street, off Oxford Street. Here Sasha and Marjan are hamming it up with Alex Quay and Atika the Malaysian Ford Supermodel winner.


I AM NOW LIVING IT UP IN LONDON WITH DATO NANCY YEOH, HER 8 YEAR OLD FEISTY SON ALEX QUAY AND FORD SUPERMODEL ATIQA! WE ARE LIVING AT DATO NANCY'S COOL FLAT AT HIGH CLASS, WORLD FAMOUS CANARY WHARF THE NEW FINANCIAL DISTRICT OF LONDON.

As usual, first thing Alex and I did was to visit the top people's store Harrods and also its neighbour Harvey Nichols just to gawk and gasp and go gaga over their annual window display. I must have looked like I was to the manor born in my new fur coat and snake necklet as when I entered De Beers boutique in Harrods and asked to see their Talisman watches, only one watch was taken out from the safe to show me---a stunning, jaw-dropping white and black diamond solid platinum watch so encrusted with diamonds I could barely tell the time. The lady said "You should be able to make out the time after a while as you may need getting used to it. Anyway you can always wear it as a piece of jewellery.

"This watch was made for you. The instant I saw you I knew you would love it!" she gushed truthfully as she was correct. I loved the timepiece but hated the price.

At first she said it was around L 600,000 (RM 3 million) but said she would check for the actual price since I was the first person she ever showed the watch too so she was unsure of the exact price. Either that or De Beers customers just sign on the dotted line without bothering about plebeian details.

She exclaimed triumphantly, "Oh I have good news. It is only L 450,000!"

Which is around RM 2.3 million, a saving of RM 700,000!

Since I left my millions at home, I also made a detour to Old Compton Street and its immediate environs to check out funky stuff. I wandered aimlessly on Greek (not Geek) Street trusting my luck and what should I find but Kokon To Zai, the coolest and sexiest and funkiest boutique in Soho!

Kokon To Zai stocks clothes, accessories, shoes, bling, bags, belts, leathergear, leggings and everything else you can imagine and some things you never imagined, like a stole akin to a feather boa but of course their version consists of feathered balls shaped like rugby balls and footballs! Just sling them over you shoulders and you are the King or Queen of the Ball!

As expected, the prices were a few hundred pounds per item, from L100 to L400 but the good news is that everything is 50% off! Said the store manager, "Whatever price you see, just halve it!"

Their offerings are different and unusual yet wearable. You can never find their stuff at Uniqlo, Zara or MNG! Off-beat, slightly batty and very fun and funky, exactly my style. More so when the day gets dark by 4pm in London and one really can do with some cheery colours, prints, polka dots and broad bands (big stripes, not your phone provider).

Suddenly two men in black strode in and of course they had to be the owners Sasha and Marjan. Both men are from Macedonia, homeland of Alexander the Great and with me was Alexander the Son of Dato Nancy. Both men made a big fuss of Alex Quay and kept asking him about London and Malaysia. Atika was asked to catwalk in front of them in case they need to use her for their photo shoot in future.

The Kokon To Zai team with Alex and Atika in their Greek Street shop off Oxford Street.


For a complete look, go to their website www.kokonkozai.co.uk and they also have a branch near Notting Hill enroute to Portobello Market also by the same name. And there is one in Paris too!

Kokon To Zai; www.kokontozai.co.uk
86 Golborne Road +44(0)208 960 3736

57 Greek Street (off Oxford Street) +44(0)207 734 8466

48 rue Tiquetonne +33(0) 1 4236 9241


Inside Kokon To Zai. The name means' Everything' in Macedonian!


A patriotic brolly outside Harrods

BELOW ARE THE WINDOW DISPLAYS AT HARRODS. THE THEME THIS YEAR IS 'A CRYSTAL CHRISTMAS INSPIRED BY SWAROVSKI', The highlight is a gown studded and hand sewn with Swarovski crystals on sale at L 230,000 or RM 1.15 million!



































































































THE END!