I live in west London and in one month it will be 10 years since I moved from New York City. It’s crazy to think that. I lived in London from when I was six months old to seven years old, and don’t remember much from that time except the uniform I was wearing to school. I grew up in Paris, which in my eyes is not that different from London in the sense that it is a big, vibrant city with a lot to offer in terms of diversity, culture, art, fashion – all the things that interest me.
My home is in Little Venice. We moved here after my first-born because it remained very central (we used to be in Notting Hill). It has this countryside vibe with the canal, the houses and all the greenery. It’s a very calm and residential area. People like to walk along the canal, and maybe rent a little boat from Paddington which can take you to Regent’s Park. There are also some cute restaurants on the canal – one of my favourites is a fish restaurant called The Summerhouse.
When it comes to clothing shops in London, Koibird is one of my favourites. It has a selection of very eclectic brands and the shop itself is just really worth going to – it’s so colourful and fun. A short walk away is Fiorucci. I love this brand and its shop in Soho. And if you go there you have to visit Alex Eagle Studio, which is just down the street. It’s a multi-brand store with lots of art around. You feel like you are in someone’s very chic living room.
I love vintage clothing. I am also very lucky my grandmother has many Chanel pieces that she keeps handing over to me. Just recently she gave me a Chanel yellow wool coat, it’s divine. Last time I was in Paris, I got myself a leather jacket from Kiliwatch – it sells industrial-chic vintage pieces for men and women. If you’re visiting London and want just one area for clothes shopping, I would say head to Marylebone. You have the big retailers like Selfridges and John Lewis, but also all the smaller ones and independent stores.
Find out more about Tara’s creative work at tarazadeh.com
