If you’re in Oslo (and summer is a great time to be there), then check out the fab boutique Freudian Kicks which opened a few months ago. Located in the Quaderaturet section, which has lots of museums, art galleries and boutiques, this independent store carries a mix of clothing and accessories. A lot of it is street-inspired, and plenty of Scandinavian designers are carried. Expect to find J Brand jeans, American Apparel, Gaspard Yurkievich and Sneaky Steve for cool trainers.  Freudian Kicks, Prinsensgate 10B, 0152 Oslo. Phone: + 47 22 42 93 00.

Bond excitement is reaching fever pitch this summer. The new Bond film trailer can be seen online here, and Penguin has just released a newly redesigned set of Bond books- along with a new Bond novel written by Sebastian Faulks. This summer, London’s Imperial War Museum will exhibit “For Your Eyes Only: Ian Fleming and James Bond”, and to really soak up the Bond feeling, Rocco Forte’s Brown’s Hotel is offering The Ian Fleming Centenary stay. So what’s the connection between Brown’s and Bond? It makes an appearance in ‘Icebreaker’ and the stylish Donovan Bar offers a wide range of decadent Bond cocktails.  A few of the Fleming Centenary package highlights include: overnight accommodation in a luxurious room or suite; two tickets to “For Your Eyes Only: Ian Fleming and James Bond” at the Imperial War Museum London; two Bond cocktails in The Donovan Bar, and a hard-back copy of Sebastian Faulks new James Bond Novel. The package starts at £315 and is available until 28 December 2008. For more information call 0800 988 4040. Brown’s Hotel, Albemarle Street, London W1S 4BP. Phone:  +44 (0)20 7493 6020.

Compiled by The International House and Karen Catchpole (note that ** selections are recommendations by iTravel iShop writer Karen Catchpole)

Shopping

Pied Nu
You’ll find a little bit of everything at this lovely boutique, from homewares, jewelry and clothing as well as beauty products. Designers carried include Cathy Waterman, Emma Hope, Les Chemin and Schumacher.

Fans of quirky design duo Viktor & Rolf should head down to the Barbican for the just-opened “The House of Viktor & Rolf.” This exhibit showcases the history of the fashion house, from their days as students at the Academy of Arts in Arnhem, to the brand today. The exhibit, which runs through 21 September, also touches on their collaboration with H&M and the opening of their funky 'upside down' store in Milan in 2005. Workshops include doll-making and how to make the perfect scent, and Viktor & Rolf have also taken over the Barbican’s gift shop, which is sticked with limited edition scarves, perfumes and books.

Dallas is hot in the summer, and if you need to cool off and don’t have your own pool, you’d better hope you are staying at the new Starwood owned Joule hotel. In addition to its swanky guestrooms and spa, this luxury hotel also has a stunning, outdoor rooftop pool. The Joule is all about big, Texas-sized style. Adam Tihany has done the interiors, and the in-house restaurant is by Charlie Palmer. Best of all, Nieman Marcus is just a block away. Rates start at $270. The Joule, 1530 Main Street, Dallas, Texas 75201. Phone: (214) 748-1300.

In the summer, when it comes to choosing your outfit in a heat wave, less is definitely more. So if you’re wearing a little sundress or a simple skirt and top, you have to make sure your accessories deliver a lot of pop. Cheap and cheerful, colourful bangles are a great start. Check out these eye-popping patterned bracelets from Kitson. The stretchy metallic bracelets are just $12 each – and will look great with a tan. Also available online at ShopKitson.com.

The Island Outpost group of hotels pretty much owns the coolest resorts in the Caribbean if you like laid back places with a twist, like Goldeneye, Jake’s and Strawberry Hill. Its latest and greatest project is the Geejam hotel in San San Jamaica which opened in March – although stars like Gwen Stefani, Bjork and India Arie will already be familiar with the property as it was a private recording studio. There are only seven rooms at the hotel, but in addition to the recording studio there is also a spa, gym and a bush bar. The property is close to Port Antonio and the much loved Frenchmen’s Cove beach. Rates start at $425. Geejam Hotel, San San, Port Antonio, Jamaica. Phone: (800) OUTPOST.

Just in time for the heatwave and for that summer share in Hamptons comes the first Manhattan Lilly Pulitzer store. Lilly prints are de rigeur in Palm Beach and New England, as well as certain parts of the Upper East Side. While some of the prints can be a little, well, much, the cotton dresses are really cute and just buying a Lilly accessory or two will add some much needed, preppy-approved colour to your outfit. And if it all does feel a little too much, head downtown to Tory Burch, which is a Manhattan take on New England prep. PS: for some great interior shots, check out this blog. Lilly Pulitzer, 1020 Madison Avenue, New York, New York 10021. Phone: (212) 744-4620.

Last summer when Whole Foods opened in South Kensington, I, like every other American in town, dashed over during the opening weekend to gawk at the 300 varieties of fruit and veg and buy some meat from a counter which seemed to stretch for miles. But I have to confess I have never been back, as it’s simply not in a convenient place for me. But Whole Foods could be seeing some fierce competition from Food Inc, which is opening this month in the newly refurbished Whiteleys shopping centre in Bayswater. The 6300 square foot space was created by the founders of Harvey Nichols food markets, so you know it’s going to be good. There will be a grocery, deli, cheese counter, plenty of wine and a fishmonger. And psss: Whiteley’s will also have an outpost of All Star Lanes bowling! Food Inc, 151, Queensway, Bayswater, London UK W2 4YN. Phone: 44 (0) 207 792 6020.

If the “summer” weather in San Francisco has you down, how about a spot of shopping to lift your spirits? Check out the new Built by Wendy boutique, which opens later this week. The company was founded in 1991 by Wendy Mullin, and she has been steadily opening Built by Wendy boutiques in New York’s Little Italy, Brooklyn and Los Angeles. Her San Francisco store is her fourth. Wendy's signature look is clean and preppy with a twist, and her collection includes men’s and women’s jeans, dresses, sweaters and shoes.  And if you’re a DIY kind of gal who wants to save a bit of money, you can also buy Built By Wendy patterns and sew your own blouses and dresses. Built by Wendy, 3520 20th Street, between Mission and Valencia, San Francisco, California. Phone: (415) 824-1562.