Heads up for the Londoners:

[Baron Kurtz]

Beyond Retro on Gt. Marlborough St W1 has a multitude of 1950s and early 60s suits in stock. Beautiful pieces. there's one particular early 50s cream flannel that's a piece of art.

check them out.

There is no longer a very early 30s Macy's suede jacket

bk

 

[LondonLuke]

Good stuff, just got back in London earlier today. Shall check it out very soon! What's the range of sizes like?

 

[Baron Kurtz]

Mostly 38-40, as usual.

bk

 

[reetpleat]

What kind of prices are they getting for that stuff these days

 

[Baron Kurtz]

They usually charge 60 GBP for a suit. This is about standard at the more reasonably priced London vintage shops. The look is "in" because of Mad Men.

You wouldn't believe me if i told you how cheaply priced they had the 30s suede.

bk

 

[Feraud]

You wouldn't believe me if i told you how cheaply priced they had the 30s suede.

bk

Do tell. And post a pic when possible!

 

[Edward]

Sounds like a good score. Beyond Retro is a great place - I've found lots of reasonably priced stuff in there. You'll have to dig through a lot of later tat, but they're not the den of overpriced 80s sportswear that most so-called vintage shops are in London now! Last time I was in, which must have been October, they had a fair few battledress blouses, which I was looking at. Alas, they were all a touch too small for me, but till very preasonably priced for what I believe were post-war, 50s, maybe early 60s, pieces - in and around GBP25 or so.

 

[stephen1965]

There is also the 'original' branch (I think) of beyond retro in Cheshire Street , off Brick Lane in east london which often has some ok stuff plus a smaller selection of higher priced older vintage gear. Does anyone go to Spitalfields market on Thursdays(not Saturday/Sunday) where there are some really good (though expensive) vintage clothes stalls? Also how about greenwich market? I used to go there a lot 20 years ago and a few times since but not recently. Is that any good these days? Lastly, when is the best day to go to Portobello, for vintage clothes, is it still Friday and Saturday morning?
Perhaps the London contingent could organize a map of clothes stores in London. I can think of a few in East London, mostly around Brick Lane/Cheshire Street as well as Old Hat, Hornets, Bertie Wooster etc in West...

 

[feltfan]

Sigh

Wish I'd seen this thread before going to London for the
holidays, rather than afterwards! I'll have to look more
carefully next time. I did go by various stores and wondered.
Saw nothing good in larger sizes in Portobello. Tried Bermondsey
on Boxing Day, following bad advice.
X-mas is not a good time to shop in London.

Awfully warm, dry weather you have.

I wore my 50s Stetson Sovereign Ambassador 20 a
few days and got a lot of stares (at least compared
to an average day in the SF Bay Area). Must be tough
to dress vintage in London if you're not wearing a bowler.

 

[artful dodgette]

awwww, my boyfriend works at the central branch of Beyond Retro,

He brings home some great stuff! especially 40s knitwear! ill let him know to keep up the good work!

 

[Baron Kurtz]

I wore my 50s Stetson Sovereign Ambassador 20 a
few days and got a lot of stares (at least compared
to an average day in the SF Bay Area). Must be tough
to dress vintage in London if you're not wearing a bowler.

I've never had any trouble. Far less than in hicksville, Indiana.

bk

 

[Baron Kurtz]

Some more heads up:

In the Cheshire Street branch of Beyond Retro there are several pairs of size 38 waist white Arrow brand boxer shorts. Probably 1950s stock. At least 2 pairs are new in packet. Also at least one nice 50s suit - i think it was £45.

Just along Cheshire Street (towards brick lane) one of those little vintage shops (i don't remember its name, but one of that row of 3 on the righ hand side - not the shoe shop, not the one that only deals in women's and not the one that only deals in men's) has a 50% ff everything sale on. There is a nice, larger sized, horsehide jacket - probably 1950s - marked down from £100 to £40. Not a perfect jacket, but at that price …

Rokit have a sale on (all branches). There is some nice stuff. There is no longer a 40s Penney's Marathon "whippet clone"

bk

 

[Baron Kurtz]

Well the store mentioned above is now closed.

The cheshire street branch of Beyond Retro now has 2 1950s leather jackets if you know what you're looking for. There is no longer a 1940s Canadian leather jacket - almost Holy Grail.

bk