The Jackson Twins

On one of those rainy days that London does so well, what better option but to take refuge in the comfort of a welcoming boutique. Stepping inside The Jacksons's beautifully styled shop at number 5 All Saints road in London's Notting Hill (W11 1HA), soft light and mellow music give an immediate feeling of relief. Bucketing rain, low skies and gloom outside are forgotten in this oasis of calm. The shop's corner location normally allows plenty of light to come in through the two shop-windows, but on a rainy day, it feels like a cocoon of peace and beauty.

The focus of the boutique is the shoes and boots that the Jacksons design but it also features clothes of their own design or from other designers.  Their collection works across the age groups and has plenty to offer a 40+ woman: style, colour, wit, sexy but never slutty. It is not cheap, but worth the price, I think.  http://www.thejacksons.co.uk/

Their shoes that are both comfortable, witty and unique with a focus on colour.  I should also add that they come in half-sizes, a godsend for those of us who fall in between standard sizes. I owned a pair of their Mary Boot in a gorgeous taupe that I wore to destruction. Its low heel and slip on design made them the perfect "running around town" boot. Their new edition of that model (£165) comes in splendid colours and dispenses with the laces that quickly fell apart.

Their tall boots Milly boots are classics - their chic gaucho look is timeless, well-suited to the stormy and rainy season we are entering, perfect with a wide, floaty skirt and a long coat. They are priced down from their usual £260 price at £195.

I love their Union Jack collection, which brings this most iconic of flags at your feet. Cool Britannia might have taken a bit of a battering lately, but the flag still looks good! Their flat version comes at £145 and £155 in patent leather. The high heel comes at £170.

In the same theme, they also have a London bag, featuring both the Union Jack and Big Ben for the fanatical Brit fan.

London Bag, £25.

The boutique features beautiful dresses that I will come back to at a later date. As we are entering winter, I'd like to mention a relatively reasonably priced coat from Saltwater, the Cornwall and London based clothing label:  http://www.saltwater.net/. The Shetland wool princess coat comes at £249 in "grass" and "donkey" colours.

The "donkey" version is accessorised with a scarf from Cash Ca (£45), the delicious knitwear company.  The "grass" version of the coat, hanging in the window of The Jacksons brings some most welcome colour to the dull Autumn days!

The Jacksons shoes are also available from JW Beeton, 68 Ledbury road, W11 2AJ.

I would like to add that i have no connection, financial or otherwise with any of the brands mentioned.