Mutton's guide: Boutique watch: MAY

Opened in June 2009, Peter May's boutique sits at 61b Lancaster road, off Portobello road, at the more bohemian end of an increasingly gentrified W11. Its neat and elegant shop window contrasts with the hustle and bustle of the nearby market and captures the charm of a neighbourhood where creative types, market stall holders, yummy mummies, tourists and Afro-Caribbeans happily rub shoulders .

MAY specialises in dresses, drawing on Peter May's 30 years of design from his early days on the King's road to more recently creating The Dispensary's own line in Soho. Some of his designs go back 20 years and have become signature pieces, updated every season in slightly different versions. The shop also features carefully selected vintage pieces which nicely complement his designs. I saw some amazing (real) fur tops, including a glamorous platinum mink jacket for your perfect Golden age of Hollywood look.

His jersey dresses, from £95 to £160 are come in a variety of lengths, from short sleeves to 3/4 or long sleeves. Belted in different way, they flatter the figure and can be dressed up or down with different accessories and shoes.

Another very successful style is the flared dress which comes in crisp cotton (£145) or sumptuous silk (£340). With more muted colours for the winter, black, grey, navy, we can expect bolder shades for Spring/Summer: in particular a couple of bright greens and possibly a radiant turquoise that was being measured when I visited the shop.

That style evokes parties, fun times and celebrations and brings to mind Dior's New Look. Peter May is happy to take on bespoke work and looks forward to a busy wedding season.

Christian Dior
Drawing of the New Look silhouette Archives Christian Dior

MAY also features beautiful handmade shoes from husband and wife Tim & Fiona Slack Shoemakers. Their more mainstream line, AUDLEY, started in 1988 retails in 30 countries but they sell and show their bespoke and custom made line at 32b Lawrence Terrace (off Golborne road) with extending opening hours (Monday to Friday) from the week after next. The shoes beautifully complement Peter May's dresses and are stunning in their own right. I tried a wide variety of models from flat Derbys with contrasting coloured soles and piping to vertiginous strappy sandals, with a very comfortable heel despite the height. The shoes retail at around £250, depending on models and are on sale at the moment. A bespoke service is available in a wide variety of wild and wonderful colours for an additional cost of £50.

You might also want to take the man in your life along if he likes bicycles as T&F Slack have developed a new side to their business. They make bespoke fixie steel frames, beautiful old-school leather cycling shoes to wear with or without clips and a limited cycling clothing line. Mr Mutton was dead impressed and I had to stop him from ordering a frame on the spot (£800 for a bespoke frame).