In with the Old

A London classic gets a face-lift

January 10, 2005: "Such are the changes which a few years bring about, and so do things pass away, like a tale that is told." So said Charles Dickens in The Old Curiosity Shop. But what did he know? Turns out the store after which Dickens reportedly named his novel is still very much around, though the old boy might not recognize the merchandise. Originally founded in 1567, Central London's Old Curiosity Shop recently reopened as a joint showcase for innovative Japanese footwear designer Daita Kimura and English shoe manufacturer George Cox, inventor of that thick-soled classic known as the brothel creeper. In addition to a full display of off-the-rack models, there is a room dedicated solely to custom shoes, where you can peruse the Cox archive and choose your own color and leather combinations. The shop also stocks a range of designer and one-of-a-kind clothes, including the first ready-to-wear collection by Kimura, who has previously designed shoes for the likes of Alexander McQueen and indie label Buddhahood. It was Kimura, in fact, who discovered the historic space about a decade ago and converted it first into a studio and now a store—proof that it takes a guy from Japan to preserve the fine art of English eccentricity.

13/14 Portsmouth St., London, (44) 207-405-9891