If someone said to you, “Hey let’s go to St Pancras, shopping?” It’s fair to say your reaction would be less than ecstatic. However, if someone said, “Hey, fancy going to Paris?” Your reaction would be slightly different. Well, this is exactly the situation I recently found myself in. Myself and the long suffering Mrs Mc are celebrating 10 years of togetherness, feel free to insert any number of, you get less for murder jokes here, I’ve a list as long as your arm. And me being the old romantic I am, booked us a little jaunt to Paris, the city of romance, yes La Ville Lumière, to sample the sites, the sounds, the joie de vivre of the French Capital.
Now here’s where the fun starts, no the reveal of this little surprise evoked the right emotional reaction, but when we are stood outside our Cab at St Pancras and I experience that heart sinking moment when I say, “Did you grab that bag on the stairs on your way out Darling?” And you get the answer you most certainly were not looking for, “Errr no I thought you had picked it up Sweetheart.” So how do we play this one out, do we;
- Turn around and explain how were you expected to pick up a bag when you were already laden down with every other piece of luggage we posess, including a bag between your teeth. In rather raised tones, which would result in the ruining of the entire weekend and there being very little love in the city of Amour. Or
- Do I take a very deep breathe swallow it up and say, “never mind, at least we have all your clothes my Darling. I’m sure I can pick up something along the way.”
We all know what followed next, yes, anything for an easy life, number 2 all the way. So it starts, my mind racing, thinking, Ohhh dear God, please let there be at least an M&S clothes store at St Pancras all I need is something like a black shirt and obviously the essentials needed for an outfit when your luggage is currently languishing at the top of your staircase several postcodes away.
So imagine my shock, delight, surprise when I’m confronted on entering the automatic doors of St Pancras International station. Encased in a Uber modern terminal originally designed by, William Barlow, St Pancras International originally opened in 1868 and for its time was seen as an engineering marvel – it was the largest enclosed space in the world and provided the grandest entrance into London.
However, nowadays, the engineering marvel is still very much present but the station itself has now become a destination in its own right, boasting more shops than any other railway station, its own fresh produce market, the longest Champagne Bar in Europe and a Gastro Pub. Of course we see the traditional names you may expect M&S, WHSmith and Boots, thank goodness, but these are joined by the likes of Whistles, Joules, Thomas Pink, Oliver Bonas, Dune and Gant to name but a few.
Greeted with this very welcome prospect, what else is one to do, plus with time to kill, drop Mrs Mc off at Fortnum & Mason, yes you did read that correctly, St Pancras boosts its own branch of said luxury retailer, for a relaxing Cuppa, while I de-stress with a spot of retail therapy. OK the course of action is to assemble the versatile essentials to get me through a weekend where all I have is the outfit I’m stood in, some underwear, a deodorant and an electric toothbrush. First stop, one of our favourite retailers Whistles. I mean this is a no brainer, I need directional, stylish, versatile menswear and as always I’m spoilt for choice. After much deliberating I went for this great Navy sweatshirt design knit, smart enough to wear over a shirt if the weather takes a decidedly frosty turn or worn on its own with my trusty jeans.
Then onto Dune, do you go for Brogues, can’t go wrong, Oxfords, the old faithfuls, a Monk Strap, can be worn with anything, ohhhh the Penny Loafer, they look equally great in a formal or casual setting.
Feeling the stress leave me, almost like an exorcism, I’m drawn to Thomas Pink, I need a formal shirt, of course where else would you go ? Covering the entire spectrum of shirting from Gingham to Stripes, from Paisley to Houndstooth, what do I go for ? With the help of the super skilled and knowledgeable staff the choice was simple.
One last stop, better collect the better half so we don’t miss our Eurostar and next stop Paris. International crisis averted. Stress levels back to manageable levels and divorce lawyers not needed, what was all the worry and fuss all about. Sorry, more Champagne you say ?
