London Shopping?

[kamikat]

I'll be in London for a few days in mid-June. My husband will be working, so I'll have day time to explore of my own. Are there some good vintage or charity shops that I should check out? I'll be staying in Marylebone, if that helps.

 

[AdrianLvsRocky]

Hi Kamikat,

I rarely go to London and, to be honest, the only shop I've had time to visit the last time I went was Vivien of Holloway - http://www.vivienofholloway.com/?gclid=CNngvaGr1a8CFWwntAodYwTccA

I did find these guides which may be of some use??

http://www.timeout.com/london/shopping/features/4475/London-s_top_20_thrift_stores.html

Laura

http://www.thevintageguidetolondon.com/tag/vintage-shops-london/

 

[Edward]

Portobello Road is worth a visit, on a Saturday especially. The stock can be hit and miss, but the market area around the Westway flyover is often quite good and turns up some good deals. The arcade right on the market is also the home of What Katie Did, purveyor of vintage reproduction and vintage inspired ladies' underwear. I am reliably informed that the quality and durability of WKD's products are as pleasing to the wearers as they are to the aesthetic sensibilities of some of the rest of us.

Don't bother with Camden - Camden Council and the landlords sold out the soul of that market a few years ago, and for the most part the only vintage stalls left are places trying to hawk mainly tat from the Eighties at vastly over-inflated prices.

Spitalfields and [edit]Brick Lane [/edit] (best on a Sunday) area can be a source of quite good stuff - hit and miss, but if you have the time to hunt through Beyond Retro on Cheshire Street (can't miss the almost permanent boycott protest outside it, which objects to BR's selling of second hand fur), among others in the area (there's currently a thread running about this elsewhere on the FL, I think in the OL), and you know what you're after, you can find a few bargains.

Fairy Gothmother is also in the Spitalfields area now (one of the refugees from old Camden). They formerly specialised in corsets, but I gather since they moved have also expanded their own Lulu & Lush line into vintage & VI underwear and clothing (dresses and skirts, mainly) more generally.

 

[Miss Sis]

Hi Kamikat,

Edward means Brick Lane in the above post, incase you are looking for info on a Brock Lane and can't find it!

I'd say try Camden Passage (completely different place to Camden Lock, BTW) at Angel on the Northern Line. They have a little market there on a Saturday and it is smaller and much easier to get round than Portobello Road, which I find is mostly vastly overpriced these days and incredibly crowded, unfortunately.

Another place that I like to browse, but rarely buy much is Alfies Antique Market off the Edgeware Road which is close to Marylebone. A couple of great places for looking if you get a chance such as Sparkle Moore plus a few more affordable places on the first and second floors. Find them at: http://www.alfiesantiques.com/

Lastly, since I'm often passing by, I do pop into Radio Days by Waterloo Station fairly often. I woudn't go out of my way to go there, but if you happen to be going to say, the Imperial War Museum (and I'd highly recommend going there), then it's only down the road. http://www.radiodaysvintage.co.uk/

Have fun!

 

[kamikat]

Thanks!
Is Retromania worth a look?

 

[SheBear74]

Now I want to go to London, after reading all of that!!! Hope you have a great trip Kamikat. I have never been outside of the US.

 

[Miss Sis]

I just had to Google it to see where it was!

Yes, I have been there. No, I wouldn't say it was worth a trip. Very overpriced for alot of 60s and 70s stuff, from what I remember, even if it is essentially a charity shop. London is chock full of vintage places, but like everything, it depends what you're looking for, and prices are hardy ever what I would describe as cheap.

If you are Central, a visit to Grey's is always nice. The Mews down the side (not accessible from inside the main building) has a big vintage section right down the back. Not cheap, but nice to look at. There is also a jewellery seller in there called Gillian Horsup who always has great things. She is a lovely friendly lady who always has time for a chat.
http://www.graysantiques.com/

 

[Drappa]

I know it is really exciting, but I wouldn't count on finding too many deals in London itself - it is hopelessly overpriced! I assume you only have a bit of time, but if you do any trips outside of London you may have a better chance of finding affordable vintage. It could be a bit of a culture shock, especially since there seems to be much more vintage, and better priced, in the US.
Not sure if you wanted to look at fabrics, but Goldhawk Road has many fabric shops in varying price ranges that may be of interest to you. For pricey but nice cottons check out Liberty. Hope you have a great trip!

 

[Edward]

Hi Kamikat,

Edward means Brick Lane in the above post, incase you are looking for info on a Brock Lane and can't find it!

Oops - thanks! Edited!

I know it is really exciting, but I wouldn't count on finding too many deals in London itself - it is hopelessly overpriced!

True enough, for the most part. I'm told Bath is better.

 

[Miss Sis]

It's like everywhere - sometimes good, sometimes not so good. I do find quite alot of things in Bath and sometimes the prices are high, sometimes low.

There was a fantastic shop called Vintage to Vogue in Central Bath but since the change in ownership (still under the same name), it's not nearly as good as it was and at least three times as expensive!

 

[Kate O Potato]

Funnily enough, I was in the What Katie Did boutique for the first time yesterday. You really must pay then a visit, the girls in there are so lovely and helpful! VoH obviously us worth a visit, and you can get Tara Starlet clothes downstairs at the Topshop on Oxford St. There used to be a couple of good vintage shops off the Seven Dials in Covent Garden, but I haven't been up there for a while... Nor have I been to Kingly Court in Carnaby St lately, but there used to be a vintage shop or two there, as well as a fab rockabilly hair salon!

 

[kamikat]

I'll pass on What Katie Did. She doesn't carry anything for big gals. I do plan on finding a shop that carries Freya and Fantasie bras so I can pick up my favorites at local prices. I also want to find a shop that carries Miss L Fire shoes.
This is a working trip for the Mister, so there won't be any out-of-town jaunts this time, unless the possibly Glasgow meeting is confirmed.

 

[Miss Sis]

Kingley Court off Carnaby Street seems to have lost almost all the vintage clothes shops that were there, which is a shame.

Debenhams and House of Fraser department stores on Oxford Street both stock Freya and Fantasie and that is about as central as it gets in London! I don't know about Miss L Fire, I'm afraid.