Anthro finally takes a Euro-bow

So this is a few hours ahead of Anthropologie's official opening in London, but given that it's a good effort, I'm sure they'll overlook this. When shoppers, or at least VM sensation seekers make their way through the doors tomorrow morning they will be in for a surprise. Although the 'living wall' - a 50ft high structure containing 1,000s of plants - has been pretty well trailed, what will probably be less well-known is that the store also contains a full-size fabric narwhal (yes, it's one of the smaller cetaceans found in Arctic waters which has a unicorn-like appendage emerging from the middle of its face), algae blooms made from white bin liners and mannequins wearing crockery skirts.

All of which is certainly impressive and designed to make you gape. But will it compel people to dip into their pockets? The pricing of many of the articles, even allowing for its Regent Street location, certainly looks ambitious. That said, there is quite a lot, especially in the homewares area that falls into the upper end of the impulse buy category.

You'd be hard pushed to find a better merchandised range in London at the moment and almost every card has been played in this VM Royal flush. It seems probable that Anthropologie will garner column feet rather than inches and that its unveiling will be the signal for much rejoicing among the VM community.

The second store will open on Kings Road, by which time Anthro's European chief, James Bidwell, will have had sufficient time to gauge its long term future. Hard to call this one, but go see.