Bookshop owner Claire de Rouen was a unique individual. In wake of her recent passing, AnOther pays tribute to a woman who will be remembered for her much-loved London shop, her generosity, exquisite taste, a remarkable depth of knowledge and her
Claire de Rouen was a unique individual. Her eponymous, much-loved independent London book shop boasts a brilliantly curated selection of fashion and photography titles and a loyal customer following. Claire herself, who sadly passed away on Friday after a long illness, will be remembered for her generosity, exquisite taste, a remarkable depth of knowledge, continued support of upcoming talent and her striking demeanor – a chic, sharp black bob, immaculate clothes, her beloved pug, Otis, always in tow.
The book shop, opened in autumn 2005 following encouragement from photographer Bob Carlos Clarke, was once described by photographer David Bailey as "the best photographic bookshop in the world". For the unfamiliar, it is located above a sex shop at Charing Cross Road in central London; a lengthy busy stretch of street renowned for its specialist and second-hand bookshops. It's uniqueness, much of it the result of de Rouen's direction and enthusiasm, lies in its carefully themed window displays, an unusual selection of new titles alongside rare and out-of-print editions and its customer service, attracting those from the once neighbouring Central Saint Martins as well those including the late Alexander McQueen, photographer Nigel Shafran and actor and filmmaker Benecio del Toro.
"Claire was an incredibly private person – particularly guarded about her age – so I was touched by the way she shared fascinating stories of her past"
I had the pleasure of interviewing Claire in 2007, an experience I'll never forget. Claire was an incredibly private person – particularly guarded about her age – so I was touched by the way she shared fascinating stories of her past. An upbringing in the Egyptian city of Alexandria, time sent at a "snobby English girls' school" and the Chelsea School of Art, meeting her first husband the American actor Reed de Rouen in the 50s, a bout of modelling ("it didn't last, I was far too self-conscious") and the beginning of her longstanding love affair with books. I particularly enjoyed her typically modest reaction to David Bailey's admiration of the shop, citing her passion as the reason if its success:"He likes me I think but I'm not sure why. He's always so nice to me and teases me all of the time by trying to find out my age. He's outrageous!"
Claire de Rouen passed away on Friday January 13, 2012. The shop, located at 121-125 Charing Cross Road remains open, run by the team Claire worked closely with.
Text by Laura Bradley
