Visit Molly Meg at 'Vintage' at The Southbank

Molly-Meg has a shop in The Secret Arcade's Children's passageway and is dedicated to bringing 20th Century Modern design icons to the world of children. By offering a carefully selected range of “Miniature classics” for children by leading designers, her aim is to show that good design is not just for adults. Visit her shop here.

When she isn't busy with her wonderful website Molly can be found at the most interesting events such as the amazing Vintage festival, the world’s biggest dressing up box and Vintage Marketplace held right on the Southbank Centre in London. Entry to the market is free!

Proceeding the success of Vintage Goodwood last year Wayne and Gerardine Hemingway bring their award winning concept to the Southbank Centre. Taking its lead from the Festival of Britain (1951). The festival will celebrate musical, fashion, film, art, design and cultural lineages, from the 1920s to the 1980s, and offer a glimpse of where we go from here. The 21 acre Southbank site will be transformed into a Vintage wonderland. All the wonderful clubs, bands, fashions, art, and design, film, shops, vintage retailers, dance lessons, makeovers, workshops that made Vintage 2010 so memorable will be there along with some cool new Thames boat party surprises.

Why not get down to the Southbank and say hello or if you cant quite manage to get there why not have a wander through the Secret Arcade and visit Molly-Meg at her shop in the Children's passage! She has some great new products - the vintage Rupert Bear rocker is our favourite!

Look out for Molly-Meg as our next Shopkeeper of the Week and take a peek into her world of “Miniature classics” !

Shop Keeper of The week - Simply Roses

What could be more perfect for a summer treat than to luxuriate in the scent of roses! As a professional florist, Carolyn Dunster (Owner) has worked with just about every variety of flower but given the choice she would opt to use roses every time:

"They are always the star performers in any mixed bouquet and they are the perfect flower to work with. Roses are amazingly versatile - beautiful as a single stem or bunched together en masse; they come in a breath-taking palette of colours and as a cultivated cut-flower they know no seasonal boundaries."

Simply Roses was born out of Carolyn's personal passion for the world's favourite flower. Her range of rose-inspired body, bath and home fragrance products is a luxurious hand-picked collection created to reflect the natural beauty of a Simply Roses bouquet.

Rose Argan Soaps

Widely acclaimed as a miracle oil, argan oil which is extracted from the kernels of the argan fruit contains high levels of vitamin E, natural anti-bacterial properties and essential fatty acids that all work wonders on the skin. Long-known as a beauty secret in Morocco, the fruit is harvested from the argan forests in the south west of the country and local Berber women consider the extracted oil to be an elixir of youth. Combined with rose oil, organically grown argania spinosa is the star ingredient of our wonderful new soap made exclusively for Simply Roses.

Simply Roses's signature scented candles

The signature scented candle is delicately fragranced with the perfume of early summer roses. The wax which is of the highest quality has been coloured a soft pale pink. It has then been hand poured into a black glass votive for a beautiful and distinctive look. The burning time of the candle is approximately 30 hours - fantastic value!

Not satisfied with providing us with gorgeous products to pamper our bodies and home , Carolyn has introduced a range of rose inspired edible treats! These range from a wonderfull rose tea infusion, Rose Tisane, a blend of pure verbena, mint and rose petals that will promote relaxation and well-being by the cup to the newly launched Rose Meringues ! These are made to order and require a minimum of 48 hours notice for delivery to all central London postcodes. Perfect for a special occasion, they are crisp on the outside, chewy on the inside and sensationally flavoured to replicate the taste of a rose in full bloom.

Rose Tisane

Rose Meringues

We take a few moments out with Carolyn to take quick peek into her rose filled world!

How would you describe your e-shop ?

Simply Roses is a rose-inspired lifestyle emporium.

Who/what are your biggest influences?

My biggest influence comes from the fresh roses that I buy weekly at Covent Garden Flower Market. The signature pink labels and organza ribbon that I use on my packaging were chosen to match the colour of the Milano Rose.

Where is your favourite spring/summer place to visit for inspiration?

My favourite place for sping/summer inspiration is the Chelsea Physic Garden - a walled garden oasis in the middle of London. It is a scented apothecary's garden that provides a blissful refuge from the hustle and bustle.

What is your favourite item from your current collection?

My favourite item from my current collection is my pure distilled rosewater - the scent is truly uplifting.

Do you have any new items/collections about to be launched?

I have just introduced rose-flavoured meringues to my range of rose goodies - I make them myself to my own recipe. They are chewy on the outside and marshmallow-like on the inside. When you bite into them you get an instantaneous hit of rose which is like inhaling the deep perfume of a rich garden bloom.

What do you enjoy most about being one of the shops in The Secret Arcade?

The shops in The Secret Arcade have been selected for their originality. The site is beautifully designed down to the last detail and if I were to have a real bricks and mortar shop I would want it to be the same vein.

To view all of Simply Roses wonderful products go to the Simply Roses shop in The Perfume and Beauty Passage in The Secret Arcade. Simply Roses has also been been invited by the Royal Horticultural Society to stage an exhibit in the Rose Marquee at the Hampton Court Flower Show which runs from 4-10 July 2011.

Rose of the Year 2012 - Moment in Time

Anyone For Tennis?

Yes it is that time of year again - summer is officially here when we dust off our tennis rackets and get out the strawberries and cream. If you really want to get into the spirit why not grab a bargain at Turner Pockock Cazalet with 40% off their fab range of vintage tennis and cricket inspired wallpapers. We love, love, love these brilliantly sophisticated designs - they look great any time of the year!

Tennis - vintage Wallpaper from Turner Pocock Cazalet

Cricket - Teal
Wallpaper from Turner Pocock Cazalet

Turner Pocock shop in The Secret Arcade

To view or purchase Turner Pocock Cazalet wallpapers go to their shop at Shop 2, The Home Decoration Passage at The Secret Arcade - don't forget to look out for the 40% special offer on the 'Sporting' collection only.

Shopkeeper of the Week - Olive Loves Alfie

In a world where it's possible to buy an outfit for a child for under £5 it's important to offer an alternative, more ethical choice. Considering the origins of each piece, whilst remaining fun and exciting without being too expensive is not an easy thing to pull off, but children's lifestyle shop Olive Loves Alfie seem to do it with ease - and browsing their online shop is addictive.

It's a bit of a cliche to say 'I wish they did that in my size' but this is exactly what we scream when we look at the coral floral dress, dip-dyed vintage frock and butterfly leggings.

But have no fear, founder Ashlyn Gibson has responded to this desire and added a collection of adult sized Marimekko clothes - so now both mother and child will look equally wonderful!

We take a few moments out with Ashlyn to take quick peek into her world.

How would you describe your shop?

It's like my home, full of colour and print with an eclectic sense of style

Who/what are your biggest influences?

I have been collecting things for as long as i can remember and rarely go out without a camera so my influences are far and wide.

olive's quirky individual style (my 8 year old daughter) is a major influence on the children's clothing that I buy for my store.

What is your favourite item from your current collection?

The liberty print floral cushion from la cerise sur le gateau

and the new Plivi bag from Marimekko and the balloon dress from mini rodini.

Where is your favourite place(s) to visit for inspiration?

It could be one of so many places. Solitude and stillness play a valuable role in inspiration. Being able to free your mind and begin on something new with a blank canvas is incredibly valuable.

I love staying in my mums beach hut in The Hebrides where I feel humbled by the vastness of the sky and in awe of the ever changing sea. It is always the calm before a new project.

Do you have any new items/collections about to be launched?

Lucky boy Sunday...a wonderfully individual range of keepsake toys and homewares from Denmark.

Plus the Marimekko womenswear high summer collection.

What do you enjoy most about being one of the shops in The Secret Arcade?

it's a great endorsement for any independent retailer because it embraces individuality and acknowledges originality by selecting the very best of UK online retailers.

Visit Olive Loves Alfie in the Chlildren & Toys Passage

Shopkeeper of the Week - Dark Horse + 20% Off Offer

The name Dark Horse is such a clever name for Jenny Hattersley's jewellery label. Not only is the term Dark horse used to describe something which is little-known but then emerges to prominence (which she is quickly doing), it also alludes to the collection's equestrian inspiration.

Describing herself as having "an almighty passion for haberdashery" Jenny uses traditional saddlery techniques and mixes leathers with a wide variety of contrasting materials (think giant chandelier crystals, glitter and dip-dyed silk fringing) to create statement pieces that appear both historical and futuristic.

Our favourite piece from the current collection is the Art Deco Bow Necklace which reminds us of the classic 1927 film Metropolis, and as Jenny is generously offering all Secret Arcade visitors 20% off* all items in her shop we might just treat ourselves.

We drag jenny away from the sewing machine for few moments to talk to us about her inspirations...

How would you describe your shop?

An eclectic mix of unique statement jewellery and accessories which are handcrafted from premium leather and fine haberdashery trims. Inspired by English eccentricities, each piece fuses traditional techniques with fashion-forward styling.

Who/what are your biggest influences?

Mother nature, rock & roll, colour and print.

What is your favourite item from your current collection?

The tassel necklaces,- they're so versatile and will transform any outfit!

Where is your favourite place(s) to visit for inspiration?

Out-of-season seaside towns with that great British combination of blustery beaches, tea rooms and charity shops for inspirational finds.

Do you have any new items/collections about to be launched?

Yes, all my summer pieces are blossoming now - on the whole I've gone for a much more decadent feel this season using my trademark neutrals with floral brights, heavy embellishment and fringe accents.

What do you enjoy most about being one of the shops in The Secret Arcade?

The Arcade concept really suits my work with it's angle on tradition, quality and heritage and the concept of a select and creative collective really appeals and I feel honoured to be a part of it.

Visit Dark Horse here...

*Simply type in SECRET at the checkout to redeem the 20% discount

The Secret Arcade Needs You!

There are reportedly over 500 pre-1900 shopping arcades still in existence in Britain. Given our enthusiasm for all things arcade related, we have started a campaign to document as many of these as possible and we need you to help us! We would love to hear from you with any information you may have about historical shopping arcades in your town - and it would be great if you could email us a photo or two!

The Royal Arcade, Norwich

Our ambition is to build an archive of surviving arcades, both those that have sadly gone into decline or those that are thriving. We will have a permanent ' The Secret Arcade Needs You' link on the blog so we can upload information on an ongoing basis . All of your contributions will be credited to you and your town or if you wish you can remain a 'secret arcader', that's fine by us!

To take part simply email us with your findings, great or small to office@thesecretarcade.com with the subject as 'The Secret Arcade Needs You!'

Disclaimer: The Secret Arcade reserves the right to discount any entries that are deemed unsuitable.

A Potted History of the Shopping Arcade

Definition: An arcade - a covered pedestrian shopping alley - provides comfortable, stylish and safe shopping away from the dirt and clatter of the street, not to mention the rain (a bit like The Secret Arcade).

Paris was the cradle of the shopping arcade (originally known as shopping palaces). Built to provide a haven for the new breed of Parisian fashionistas - away from the narrow streets without pavements and crowded with horse-traffic, amongst other things we wont mention.

Galeries de Bois, Paris

Starting with the Galeries de Bois in the 1780s, arcades gradually spread across Paris, with a burst of building in the 1820s. The arcades of this decade mainly have pitched glass roofs. The Galerie d'Orleans, which replaced the Galeries de Bois in 1828-30, was the first to be covered by the glass tunnel vault which subsequently dominated arcade design.

Galerie d'Orleans, Paris 1828

Arcades suited the British climate. London has two fine early arcades. The Royal Opera Arcade was built by Nash and Repton in 1816-28. The elegant design with a dome over each bay was the inspiration for several others. But it was soon outshone by the outstandingly successful Burlington Arcade built in 1818-19 to the design of Samuel Ware.

Burlington Arcade, London

The Victorian imagination ran riot with the possibilities of wrought and cast iron: the County and Cross Arcades in Leeds are among the most flamboyant and Cardiff has no less than five arcades from this period.

County and Cross Arcades, Leeds

To take part simply email us with your findings, great or small to office@thesecretarcade.comwith the subject as 'The Secret Arcade Needs You!'

Shopkeeper of the Week - The Littlecote Soap Co.

The founder and creator of The Littlecote Soap Co. Elaine Stavart, gained initial inspiration for her business from a market in France where there was 'one stall with handmade soaps beautifully laid out like a pastel rainbow'.

Since that holiday Elaine has created a small empire of beautifully packaged natural handmade soaps, bath products, skin-care and toiletries all made with natural ingredients from her workshop and farm in the Buckinghamshire countryside.

Using both contemporary and traditional methods all the products are made in small batches in The Littlecote Soap Co's workshops to ensure the highest quality. Bath products are vegetarian-friendly, not tested on animals and are packaged with eco-friendly packaging.

Here we take a few moments out with Elaine whilst she takes a break from mixing up new ingredients and cutting soaps.

How would you describe your e-shop?

Organic handmade artisan soaps and toiletries made in the heart of England. Traditional recipes with fun and contemporary twists (like the Gin & Tonic range below).

Who/what are your biggest influences?

The hedgerows, fields and gardens of England.

Where is your favourite spring/summer place to visit for inspiration?

Open Gardens around the country in June are filled with beautifully scented flowers and provide inspiration for our natural ranges.

What is your favourite item from your current collection?

The English Bluebell Organic Soap

Do you have any new items/collections about to be launched?

The first scent in our "Fine Fragrance" range "White Spruce" with Spruce, Lime, Amber & Moss

What do you enjoy most about being one of the shops in The Secret Arcade?

Being a part of England's most unique online collection of handmade treasures.

Visit Littlecote Soap Company in the Perfume & Beauty Passageway