Hello, you look nice today. Thing fourteen in my series of buying one thing from every shop on the Crystal Palace triangle is from my all-time favourite shop in SE19, and frankly my favourite clothes shop anywhere…
The shop
D Solos . An independent men’s and women’s fashion boutique “for those who are always looking forward” (👋) just next to the Everyman cinema on Church Road.
We’re not awash with clothes shops around here, but the ones we do have are 👌. (See also: thing six from Simon Carter).
Founded in 1999 which (by my maths) means it’s in its 25th year, D Solos stocks enduring and stylish pieces from quality brands like Nudie Jeans, Paul Smith, Replay, Universal Works and Scotch & Soda. Plus bags from Sandqvist, and shoes from Red Wing, Grenson, Flower Mountain, Veja, GH Bass and Yogi.
The people
The D is for Dennis Brown, the solo for sole proprietor.
Which makes him a hard guy to Google, because late crown prince of reggae Dennis Brown performed solo, and did a legendary gig in Crystal Palace in 1984. Our very own Dennis Brown, though, is the alive-and-kicking crown prince of fashion buying, and king of customer service.
Buying clobber at D Solos is the closest I’ve ever come to having a personal shopper. Dennis is a phenomenal fashion filter. His shop feels a lot like a rack of options he’s personally picked out for you to try on.
With such brilliantly-chosen pieces you can’t go far wrong, but Dennis also gives hands-on, helpful style advice of a kind that’s increasingly rare. It’s genuinely wonderful.
The many things
Take a look around:
I’ve bought a tonne of great pieces here over the years, that have mostly now become firm staples in my wardrobe. Grenson boots in black and brown. Paul Smith trainers, tees and overshirts. My Ucon Acrobatics backpack. Several pairs of Replay and Nudie jeans. A cracking Universal Works relaxed jacket. Plus all sorts I’m forgetting.
I have a fashion conscious colleague, Jason, who really knows his clothes. Whenever he compliments me on something I’m wearing (usually correctly guessing the brand) it’s always something I’ve bought from Dennis.
The one thing
Yeah right! I bought two things. On this visit I came home with…
First, this PS by Paul Smith shirt jacket, with press-stud fastening.
I’m always on the lookout for things that don’t trigger my wife’s koumpounophobia – that’s a chronic fear of buttons and is a real thing. Plus things to combat my cucullomania – that’s a crippling addiction to hoodies I just made up (but the struggle is real).
Second, this pair of Nudie jeans (Lean Dean Black Skies).
Dennis even got them tailored for me cos – as a man nearing 50 – I’m slightly bigger around than I am long (and than I’d like to be). Which is why I need Dennis’s help to make all of this [gestures up and down] look good.
D Solos is at 23 Church Rd, London SE19 2TE and open Mondays 12-4, Tuesday – Saturday 10-6, and Sunday 11-4. There is a website here (selling gift vouchers only) and you can follow them on Instagram.
