London vintage shop moves to San Diego...

[herringbonekid]

The Girl Can't Help It, formerly of Alfies Antiques Market, Marylebone (and before that Camden Market) is moving to the U.S.

Owned by Sparkle Moore (American) and Jasja Boelhouwer (Dutch) the shop has been going since the late 80s and stocks high end menswear, ladies wear, objet d'art and cocktail paraphernalia, mostly leaning toward the late 40s - 50s glamour-Hollywood-rockabilly side of things. London's loss is San Diego's gain.

 

[metropd]

Very cool!

 

[splintercellsz]

Awesome!

 

[Edward]

Not one I was ever in here.... I suppose I'm too late for a glorious closing-down sale?

 

[Miss Sis]

I liked a bit of a look about in The Girl Can't Help It in Alfie's, but it was very expensive, so I never did more than browse.

I wonder what will take their place in Alfie's now? Will have to see when I'm next up that way.

 

[Two Types]

The owners always seemed very nice and friendly (as are most of the dealers at Alfies - as are the staff of the rooftop cafe, always worth trying if you are in the area). But the stock at The Girl Can't Help It was too American (and too expensive) for my taste.

 

[Guttersnipe]

It's also worth noting, aside from here vintage clothes activities, Sparkle Moore is an original 1950s rockabilly performer with quite a cult following:

[video=youtube;17WsBf7k7P0]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=17WsBf7k7P0[/video]

[video=youtube;K_AW1fG8GM0]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K_AW1fG8GM0[/video]

[video=youtube;UwC5GPDxyio]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UwC5GPDxyio[/video]

[video=youtube;1HHGfPg-obA]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1HHGfPg-obA[/video]

[video=youtube;iaFB__-H-EY]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iaFB__-H-EY[/video]

 

[herringbonekid]

It's also worth noting, aside from here vintage clothes activities, Sparkle Moore is an original 1950s rockabilly performer with quite a cult following

...though this is not the same Sparkle Moore obviously, but someone who has adopted the name.

 

[Mr Badger]

Gail and Jasja are good friends of mine, and their stock has always been hand-picked and high-end, by far the best selection of 40s-50s clothing and accessories in London, at least with an American focus...

The fact that The Girl Can't Help It's stock was acquired on numerous buying trips to the US and not bought from established bale-pickers, plus the sheer cost of doing business in London itself, meant that their prices were always higher than my pocket would allow, but compared to the money being charged by Japanese dealers (or the notorious Cheap Jack's in Manahattan!), they were still good value. I'd heartily encourage anyone in San Diego or environs to pay their new shop a visit!

BTW, rock'n'roll fans will be intrigued that Gail was Heartbreakers manager Leee Black Childers' assistant during the time that Johnny Thunders and co. took part in the (largely cancelled) tour of the UK with The Sex Pistols in 1977...

 

[Tomasso]

London to San Diego sounds like such an odd move......

 

[herringbonekid]

London to San Diego sounds like such an odd move......

why's that ?

 

[Two Types]

It can't be a good time for the established vintage clothing stores in London. I have also heard that 'Radio Days' (in Waterloo) is planning to close down. I'm not sure if a final decision has been made, but closure is a distinct possiblity.

 

[metropd]

Because San Diego is the least stylish city in the United States. San Diego is the epitome of Anti-Elegance and Anti-creativity.

 

[metropd]

San Diego is the triumph of mediocrity.

 

[metropd]

But I look forward to having a new place to shop.

 

[Baron Kurtz]

Hopefully San Diegans can afford it!

They always had a lot of nice rockabilly-type stuff, but never much really old stuff. Unless you count the single white shoe (the other one was apparently stolen, but the price tag remained the same).

bk

 

[BR Gordon]

Because San Diego is the least stylish city in the United States. San Diego is the epitome of Anti-Elegance and Anti-creativity.

Ain't that the truth.

 

[Tomasso]

why's that ?

What Metropd said.