The British Are Coming – South Philly Review
The Edge by Lex C South (April 3, 2008)
Philadelphia and London might not seem to have much in common (except for gloomy weather), especially considering the South Philly trademarks of cheesesteaks, the Eagles and Italian BYOs versus a city that calls soccer “football” and regularly serves dishes like mince pies.
Food and sports aside, there’s at least one frequency where the cities are on the same wavelength: Fashion. According to London native Elena Brennan, who opened her shop Bus Stop Boutique, 750 S. Fourth St., a year ago, the young, arty crowds in Philly are starting to look more and more like the Euro hipsters of East London. Brennan has decided to celebrate - and stimulate - the fashion-savvy connections between her new neighborhood and hometown. Zooming in on trends that have jumped the pond, the boutique owner will host a party April 25 that’s cleverly dubbed British Invasion.
“The original British Invasion was more about music, when the Beatles and The Kinks in the 60s and 70s invaded America,” Brennan, who now lives in Bella Vista, said, adding with a laugh, “Now it’s my British Invasion: Elena is here in Philadelphia.”
After years combing East London’s sprawling clothing markets, Brennan came to Philly eager to introduce overseas labels. During the Invasion, Brit-based designer Irregular Choice will make a special appearance and the first partiers to arrive will get complimentary goodies from its funky, colorful collection. The label’s trademark shoe design - which consists of playful images like a little girl with oversized bows in her hair talking on an old-fashioned telephone or dewy-eyed teddy bears printed on the soles - has been a hit, Brennan said, especially since it’s hard to find in Philly.
Although this event does drift away from the shop owner’s usual local-centric mindset (since opening, Bus Stop has hosted exhibits for local artists, First Friday shindig-sales and trunk shows for Philly designers), Brennan loves her Fourth Street home and is celebrating her one-year birthday April 10. An epitome of Philly-London fusion, Champagne along with a decadent display of shoe-shaped cupcakes and sugar cookies created by West Philly bakery Wally Scott will be served, DJ Reve will play British tracks and birthday gifts from Look from London Hosiery will be on offer.
Adding to the all-hail-Britannia vibe, designer F-Troupe’s spring collection will be introduced fresh off the rack from London. Along with handbags and jewelry, the label consists of shoes made from material found at garage sales and street markets that have a vintage-looking, ultra-alternative style. For example, Brennan referred to a pair of small mesh boots with rubber soles that are transparent and embroidered with polka dots of purple, gray, silver and brown.
London might be known as one of the world’s fashion centers, but it looks like South Philly just might be on the same path. And with shops like Bus Stop bringing over never-before-seen British designers as well as supporting local musicians and artists, it seems a relationship between two cities is quietly, stylishly developing on Fourth Street.
Now how’s that for filling a culture gap?
