Stylish things to do: London December 2019

By Rebecca Gonsalves on 17/12/2019

There's so much partying and present-shopping in the run-up to Christmas that it's easy to overlook making plans for the last days of the year.
A little down-time is a good thing, but too many hours spent slumped on the sofa can feel draining in its own way.
If you're at a loose end, read on for the fashionable things to see and do that will help you make the most of the Christmas break, whether you leave the house or not.

Tim Walker 'Karen Elson, Sgaire Wood & James Crewe', London, 2018 (c) Tim Walker Studio

See an exhibition, or three, at the V&A

If you're all shopped out then head to the V&A where there are fashion artefacts galore and some truly excellent exhibitions.

In need of a post-Christmas pick-me-up or looking for some inspiration to face the new decade? Visit Tim Walker: Wonderful Things and marvel not only at the photographer's seemingly endless creativity but his partnership with set designer Shona Heath, a fitting reminder that team work can make the dream work.

Spending time with family can get you thinking about their history. The joy of the Mary Quant exhibition comes not just from the era-defining miniskirts and boots, but from the women who wore her clothes in celebration of the changing times in which they lived.

Is too much never enough when it comes to sparkles? A meander around the V&A's reopened jewellery gallery will provide plenty of inspiration for your New Year's Eve outfit.

The V&A is closed 24, 25, 26 December. Check here for opening times

WHEN

21 Sep 2019 – 08 Mar 2020, 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM

WHERE

V&A
South Kensington, Cromwell Road, London, SW7 2RL

Curl up with a fashion title

It's undeniable that a swathe of time off needs to be accompanied by a good book. But who said it has to be fiction?

There were a host of new fashion titles published in 2019, with plenty of dreamy-image-heavy coffee-table tomes to lose yourself in at this time of year.

If you're looking for inspirational stories as well as visuals then look no further than Supreme Models: Iconic Black Women who Revolutionized Fashion by Marcellas Reynolds.

Lose yourself in a fashion documentary

Fashion is at its unforgettable best when it's telling a story, which is perhaps why excellent fashion documentaries have proliferated in recent years, shining a light on everything from the hard work that goes into a collection to the inspiration, and even heartbreak, that drives certain designers to create.

Netflix currently has rich pickings: McQueen; Manolo: The Boy Who Made Shoes for Lizards; Dries; Jeremy Scott: The People's Designer; and House of Z profile designers. In Franca: Chaos and Creation, the late Italian Vogue editor is celebrated by her son, filmmaker Francesco Carrozzini.

Looking for something a little less high-brow? Styling Hollywood is a glimpse behind the red carpet with the up-close-and-personal element of American reality TV.

Download Drest

If you've got an interminable journey back home after Christmas, or simply plan to scroll a little differently come the New Year, now might be just the right time to download Drest.

The luxury fashion styling game launched this autumn and is a fun way to while away some time, playing with looks, exploring trends and responding to briefs in order to build points and unlock more items. It's a brilliant way to get a fashion fix without actually shopping.

The best new shops and boutiques in London

Take a chance on bricks and mortar

The Boxing Day sales used to be a big deal, but the retail calendar has changed a lot in recent years and sales now start well before Christmas.

Whether you're bargain hunting or not, the dwindling days of the year can still make for a timely shopping trip: just avoid the fevered crowds on Oxford Street where you can, and head instead through the doors of some of the exciting new boutiques that opened in 2019. From Louis Vuitton's art-filled flagship to Casa Loewe's craft appeal, you might just be surprised by what you find.