As London Fashion Week draws to a close, the spectacular Somerset House will morph into a giant shopping extravaganza for London Fashion Weekend (21-24 Feb). You can experience the buzz of the city’s biggest week of fashion by enjoying glamorous catwalk shows, insider talks and pop-up designer sales. The event is a shopaholic’s dream with more than 100 British designers selling one-off pieces, as well as their spring/summer 2013 collections at heavily discounted prices. Don’t leave without nabbing your free Radley bag! Tickets from £15.50.

Speaking of bags, The Cambridge Satchel Company has opened up its first-ever stand-alone store in Seven Dials, Covent Garden. Located at 15 Shorts Gardens, the former pop-up store offers quirky leather satchels, inspired by 1970s-style satchels, in an eye-popping array of styles and colours. If you want to personalise your bag, you can have your initials embossed on one.

British accessories brand Jack French London has launched a new pop-up shop at St Pancras Station. To celebrate the launch, the brand has created a limited edition St. Pancras bag. The deep-red bag reflects the colour of the station’s pipes, walls and tiles. Open until 13 March.

Are you passionate about popcorn? Then swing by the recently-opened Pop, Europe’s first popcorn boutique in Blenheim Crescent in fashionable Notting Hill, which produces an ever-changing popcorn menu. Forget sweet or salty, customers can munch on popcorn flavoured with orange caramel and chocolate, Bloody Mary, chilli and cheese, and English toffee and sea salt. Pop also sells a selection of cult drinks and sodas from the US, including A&W Root Beer, Vanilla Coke and Grape Soda.

If like me, you have a sweet tooth, Divine Chocolate is celebrating Fairtrade Fortnight with a pop-up shop in Seven Dials, Covent Garden (25 Feb-10 Mar). Expect lashings of chocolate to try, including Divine’s Easter range and new chocolate bar flavours, as well as a photography exhibition, Azonto Ghanaian dance lessons and the chance to meet some cocoa farmers.

Love is in the air in London’s shops and markets in the lead-up to Valentine’s Day on 14 February. If you want to find the perfect gift for your loved-one, London has a whirl of Valentine’s shopping events to tickle your fancy.

The spruced-up William Morris Gallery is hosting the E17 Designers Valentine’s Day Special this Saturday (9 Feb), where 20 artists will be selling their hand-crafted items, including prints and precious gems, corsages and customised cufflinks. Expect wandering minstrels, love poetry and choir singing. Entry £2. Children under 16 free.

In East London’s hip Shoreditch, pop-up mall Boxpark is hosting romantic events aplenty, including macaroon-making classes (from now until 13 Feb) and love-inspired nail designs by Boom Nails (14-17 Feb). Boutique lingerie brand Playful Promises will be offering 20% off its sexy stock, from lingerie sets to risqué satin corsets (14-17 Feb).

Carnaby Street is spreading the love this V-Day with shed-loads of inspirational gift ideas.

Head to the Marshmallow Apothecary pop-up (9-23 Feb) in Kingly Court to be prescribed a bespoke box of marshmallows. Lovers can feast on aphrodisiac flavours including ginger and chilli, which can be taken away or enjoyed in the café with a hot chocolate or cocktail. For handmade gifts, visit Kingly Court for the Craft Jam Fair and Market this Saturday (9 Feb, 12-7pm), which offers everything from cards and accessories to homeware and artisan food.

Sutra Kitchen vegetarian cooking school and deli is hosting a Valentine’s Day cooking experience for couples. Get steamy in the kitchen under the guidance of head chef Jay Morjaria and then enjoy your creations, including wild mushroom and thyme risotto. The class is £25 and includes a glass of bubbly. Email info@sutrakitchen.co.uk to book.

Put a smile on your Valentine’s face by popping into the newly re-vamped British perfume house Penhaligons, in Regent Street. The brainchild of UK designer Christopher Jenner, the plush emporium is all wood panelling, padded walls, onion dome chandeliers and ceiling roses inspired by Westminster Cathedral. Don’t leave without taking a sniff of signature scent Blenheim Bouquet, which was created in 1902 and worn by Winston Churchill and Oscar Wilde.

As well as stocking its hip, own brand merchandise, the store will feature designers such as APC, House of Hackney and Obey. The shop is currently promoting the store with a YouTube video which you can watch below. Look out for top London sights in the video, including Big Ben, Buckingham Palace, Piccadilly Circus and Tower Bridge.

If you fancy dressing your walls with an original artwork, swing by the Affordable Art Fair Battersea. Taking place from 7 to 10 March in Battersea Park, the fair will present work by established artists and emerging talents, all priced from £40 to £4,000. Every piece is available to buy and take home the very same day.

If you’ve got cash to splash, American fashion house Oscar de la Renta opened its first-ever flagship UK store in London last week, on the corner of Berkeley Street and Mount Street in Mayfair. The cavernous 3,000sqft store spans three floors and stocks accessories, fragrances, homewear, bridal lines and children’s clothes.

Bookworms who love Lewis Carroll novels can find Alice-themed goodies aplenty at new boutique Alice Through the Looking Glass. The shop’s star attraction is a £3,500 chessboard, handcrafted by Alice novels illustrator Sir John Tenniel. Victoria top hats and first edition Alice books are among the other curiosities on sale. Shoppers can also enjoy a cuddle with the shop’s resident white rabbit who lives in the window.

Shush! Silence is golden at department store Selfridges‘ recently-opened The Silence Room. Part of the store’s No Noise campaign, the ground-floor space offers a peaceful sanctuary for shoppers who are in need of some quiet time. The notion of having a quiet space in the store was originally mooted by founder Gordon Selfridge in 1909, but it was never put into practice – until now. Store insiders say shoppers have been using the space to pray, sleep and meditate.

By Janine Kelso

Calling all fashion lovers! If your wardrobe is in need of an autumn update, there’s no better place to rev it up than with a trip to Westfield London in Shepherd’s Bush, with more than 300 shops. I visited the mall last week and was wowed by the hot buys for autumn 2012.

Label lovers can find the latest trends in Westfield’s The Village where you’ll find all manner of luxury lines, from Burberry to Versace, but I made a beeline for the more wallet-friendly shops.

Those in the know are saying that black is back and that it’s time to show your rebellious side by going gothic with studs and crucifix details – or keep it feminine by sticking to velvets, feathers and silk. My top picks included a sumptuous black faux fur coat by Biba at House of Fraser and a rock chick-style studded black bag at Karen Millen.

Also making fashion waves right now are digital prints, with geometric and precision patterns leading the way. I popped into River Island where I found lashings of leopard print and tartan, with stand-out pieces including tartan trousers with black leather-look side panels and black boots with a zebra print heel. Fierce! “Leopard print has been popular for a while and everyone’s wearing lace and black at the moment,” River Island Shop Assistant Loren-Jai told me.

I swung by super-cool bimba & lola where I found a whirl of gorgeous brocades and embroidery, inspired by different cultures. Famed for its edgy designs, this Spanish fashion brand had some particularly gorgeous animal print fur coats and embroidered jackets, as well as scores of lovely leopard print loafers and ballet slippers, making it my favourite shop of the day.

When it comes to footwear, opulence is the order of the day with bejewelled shoes in fashion favour right now: think pointy studs and plenty of bling that will give any outfit instant wow-factor. I sneaked a peek at Dune’s footwear offering and was dazzled by polka dot court shoes embellished with sequins,  heels covered in metal studs, and crystal beaded court shoes for a truly bling-tastic look. There was even a spiked studded toe cap court shoe, which I wouldn’t like to encounter down an alleyway on a dark night!

Preferring to wrap up my tootsies in something cosier in the upcoming chilly months, I checked out UGG Australia, home to what is probably the world’s most famous comfy boot which I was told is like “wearing a teddy bear on your foot” by shop assistant Rudy. My fave shoes were fluffy flip-flops and bejewelled fluffy boots that Rudy said were “inspired by the Queen’s Jubilee and the Royal Wedding”.

And as for men, Reiss appear to have nailed the English gentleman look this season with its stylish suits and range of pocket squares – a handkerchief folded in a special way that’s placed in the breast pocket of a suit. “Old school stuff is coming back and our suits are very James Bond-style,” shop assistant Dewayne told me, working the accessory du jour himself with a fetching pink pocket hankie dashingly peeping out of the breast pocket of his dark blue suit jacket.

So if your wardrobe needs a refresh, head to Westfield London – or Westfield Stratford City if you’re based nearer East London – and you’ll be hot to trot!

Janine was a guest of Westfield

London is enjoying superb weather for this weekend’s annual Mayor’s Thames Festival as you can see from this photo. It was taken yesterday in The Scoop and you can see Tower Bridge in the background. And it’s not over! I’ll be heading down to the river later to enjoy today’s festivities and the spectacular parade and fireworks this evening. The event coincides with the Paralympic Games Closing Ceremony.

Have you ever been to the Mayor’s Thames Festival? What was your highlight?

Travelcard Cushion

In celebration of The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee, graphic designer Ashley Allen created a fantastic travelcard-inspired cushion. Lined with royal purple and representing a travel ticket to Buckingham Palace, this trendy piece will ensure you can relax like royalty.

Selfridges Pantone 109 Spork

If you miss hanging out in Selfridges‘ many cafés and bars, perk up your mealtimes with this handy spork, coloured in the department store’s signature yellow. Not only does it make forks, knives and spoons redundant, but  its vibrant colour means that you could probably use it to eat in the dark.

Lulu Guiness Phone Box iPhone Case

Available from Fortnum and Mason, this patent leather iPhone case  is a stylish replica of London’s iconic red phone boxes. Don’t leave it lying around, however, lest you return to find it full of tourists cramming themselves inside to take photos.

Samuel Johnson Cufflinks

Carnaby Street’s Things British shop sells these cute cufflinks, which display Samuel Johnson’s classic quote: “when a man is tired of London..he is tired of life.” Sure to be a great ice-breaker at parties!

London 2012 Olympic Games Wellington Boots Pin Badge

While wellingtons are lamentably not part of the Team GB kit, this fun pin badge will ensure you get a gold medal for style.

Hermes Foot from the British Museum

Entering the British Museum’s shop is like stealing into a Pharoah’s tomb: it’s full of wonderful objects but you just can’t take them all at once. We particularly love their plaster cast of Hermes Foot, taken from an unknown statue and which – according to the Museum – makes an excellent door stop.

House of Commons Port

After a tour of the Houses of Parliament, you can check out the gift shop that contains dozens of quirky souvenirs. Grab a bottle of House of Commons port for a delicious taste of power.

Wimbledon Net Measure with Pouch

If you can’t fit Andy Murray in your suitcase, you can at least take your tennis game to the next level with this pretty net measure (used to measure the height of the net from the ground) from the Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Museum.

Do you have any quirky souvenirs of London?

Give yourself something to look forward to after Christmas with our competition to win a day out in Seven Dials, Covent Garden.

One lucky winner will win £150 of shopping vouchers to spend in the shops of Seven Dials in the New Year.

The prize also includes cocktails and canapés for two at Brasserie Max at the Covent Garden Hotel - just what you need after a hard day’s shopping!

You’ll also get a complimentary blow dry at top hair salon Adee Phelan, so you’ll have a new  ’do to go with all your new stuff!

Enter now to win shopping and pampering in Seven Dials, Covent Garden

Get everything on your Christmas wish list (for once!) on a festive shopping spree at Westfield.

Enter our competition and you’ll win a £250 gift card to spend at Westfield London or its sparkling new sister mall, Westfield Stratford City.

And thanks to Westfield’s hands-free concierge service, you won’t have to lug your bags around – just pick them up on your way out.

After you’ve indulged in all the fantastic shops Westfield has to offer, you and a friend can skate under the twinkling fairy lights of Westfield London’s ice rink or under the stars at Westfield Stratford City’s outdoor rink – for free.

This competition closes on 8 December 2011 - just six days away – so enter now, before it’s too late…

Enter now to win a Christmas shopping spree at Westfield

We asked Independent Shoreditch for some highlights and advice on how to get the best from Columbia Road flower market this Christmas:

1) Closing time bargains. Although you – quite literally – get the pick of the bunch when the market opens at 8am, swoop in at 3pm for the best bargains. The louder the barrow boys shout, the better the deals.

2) Independent inspiration. There’s a total absence of high street chains on Columbia Road, giving your Christmas gifts the independent edge. Try Nelly Duff for art, Vintage Heaven for antiques, and Treacle for as many cakes as you can carry.

3) Christmas trees to make the neighbours blush. The market is a brilliant place to pick up a Christmas tree because of the variety on offer, from tiny potted trees to Trafalgar Square-worthy wonders. Check your ceiling height before you leave home.

4) Mouth-watering Sunday lunch. If you get peckish, try either Brawn or The Royal Oak. Brawn offers strictly seasonal fare, with as much as possible coming from local suppliers, while The Royal Oak still carries some kudos from its days as an early-morning watering hole for the market’s traders.

5) Strong arm tactics. All the plants and presents can add up. Be prepared to flex your arm muscles on the way home if you’ve over-committed yourself. Or alternatively, hope that Santa has also done his shopping on Columbia Road.

Columbia Road flower market and shops are open from 8am until about 3pm every Sunday. The shops will also be opening late every Wednesday in the run up to Christmas, on 30 November and 7, 14 and 21 of December, accompanied by festivities, seasonal food and live music.

Just off Piccadilly, Burlington Arcade is a gorgeous covered walkway with specialist shops lining each side. These shops offer a range of luxury goods, from jewellery to luggage to cashmere clothing.

The design hasn’t changed since it was built in 1819, and at 192 years, it’s the oldest shopping arcade in the country.

Burlington Arcade is currently hosting an exhibition celebrating the 150th anniversary of the tuxedo.  The Little Black Jacket exhibition displays beautiful tuxedos worn by the rich and famous including Frank Sinatra and Truman Capote.  

The exhibition also showcases tuxedos designed by students at the London College of Fashion, who have created their own interpretations of this British style classic for the modern day.

I was lucky enough to be given a tour of Burlington Arcade by Head Beadle Mark Lord.  Beadles are a rarity nowadays but when the arcade first opened they were all over London working as a substitute police force. 

Burlington Arcade proudly continues the tradition as the Beadles still assist with security and visitors. Mark was fascinating and told me many stories about the arcade, including how it originated – Lord George Cavendish built it for his wife after she complained that there was nowhere to shop and walk with her friends when it rained! 

The Little Black Jacket exhibition is open until 22 September 2011. Burlington Arcade is open every day from 8am to 9pm and from 11am to 5pm on Sundays.