Visit to "Old Town" and vintage stores in London

[willyto]

Tomorrow morning I'll be flying to the UK to visit Old Town in Holt. I will be there for a couple of days and then later I will stay in London for 5 days.

I've already contacted them and I'm looking forward to meet them and buy some of the garments they produce. I'm still deciding which designs I will choose but since here where I live in (Barcelona) winter is not really cold I may choose the cloth having in mind that soon spring and summer will be with us so definetely no Harris Tweed for me.

I'm almost convinced to buy at least a suit by buying a Stanley jacket , Straight Edge Waistcoat and Vauxhalls trousers. I would like to hear your opinions and some recommendations on cloth and which styles do you think are worth choosing over the others. I already own a pair of High Rise green corduroy trousers I got from Ebay and they are really high quality but I'm looking to get some of the other styles.

On the other hand I will have plenty of time in London to visit vintage and thrift stores but as you can imagine I have absolutely no idea where to start looking so here I am again asking for some help to find what you think are the best vintage shops to visit while I'm in London. Unfortunately here in Barcelona I haven't had any luck finding vintage shops that sell the kind of stuff we're interested in so I'm hoping that I can get some cool items in London.

Since I'm solo traveling I will have all the time for me so I will try to make some pictures during my trip and share them with you when I'm back at home.

 

[Dreamofgilgamesh]

A word to the wise, I'm not all that far from Holt, and Holt isn't far from the North Sea. There's some beautiful countryside and beaches for you to visit but it's damn cold here. Bring some warm clothes with you!

 

[GHT]

If you know London, you will know that there are numerous markets, but some of the best vintage markets are what as known as pop up, meaning the market organiser books a large venue for just one day, then sells space to vendors to display their wares.
Given that you have very little time and will probably access any responses via your phone, I suggest you use this link, where you can get further links to the sort of outlets that you seek.

 

[Benproof]

"I'm almost convinced to buy at least a suit by buying a Stanley jacket , Straight Edge Waistcoat and Vauxhalls trousers."

I've no idea what any of these means. I must have missed out of my edumacation!

The Time Out guide link above is too non-specific. I love Columbia Road, but you will be really hard pressed to find a single garment there. They specialise in household wares, bric-a-brac, flowers (weekends, in spring - autumn) and jewellery as well as designer tiles. Of their 'fashion markets', I'm not sure if anyone has any success buying anything from Camden Market. It's mostly overpriced, seedy second hand stuff which only students pay for.

Time Out isn't all evil though: http://www.timeout.com/london/shopping/vintage-shops-in-london

is a little more successful in capturing some of the vintage shops.

http://www.timeout.com/london/shopping/londons-ten-best-thrift-stores

probably captures some of their more interesting discoveries (which they mostly cull from twitter and Facebook these days).

If you're shopping, there must be loads of better suggestions than Time Out, depending on what you're looking for:

GQ Magazine: http://www.gq-magazine.co.uk/article/best-london-vintage-menswear-shops

Some real gems in The Chap:

http://thechapmagazine.co.uk/content/section_links/vintage.html

A word of caution though: I'm sick of "Buying British" labels, only to find "made in Turkey" or made somewhere else from many fake British companies, which trade their shares as an English company, and outsource production elsewhere. I'm just getting into tweeds and discovered this shop from The Chap:

http://www.tweedmansvintage.co.uk/

It shows me how much I really i don't know about clothing at all

Enjoy your visit!

 

[Dirk Wainscotting]

You might also try shops not in London since you'll be in Norfolk. London has variety, but it's also expensive and the 'vintage' shops are mostly dominated by 'hip' people who are aware that there is a market for old clothes and they charge for it.
A lot of the vintage shops routinely take the best pickings from out-of-town (and in-town) charity shops, you can do that too and avoid the price mark-up.

Since supermarkets and discounts shops have decimated the high streets, you won't have to look far for second-hand clothes shops.

 

[Dirk Wainscotting]

"I'm almost convinced to buy at least a suit by buying a Stanley jacket , Straight Edge Waistcoat and Vauxhalls trousers."

I've no idea what any of these means. I must have missed out of my edumacation!

They're specific names of some of Old-Town's product line.

 

[Benproof]

Thanks...! I looked it up and found:

in Norfolk, England!

What a fantastic English tailoring shop! I love their idea of stencilling out the patterns and letting the customer decide which fabrics to carve up and order. A bit like a tailor, but more...'Old Town'. Maybe Norfolk is a nice place to go to get out of London

 

[Edward]

The OLd Town Tweeds are superb. Everything, really, but if you want to really go for it, look at their heavy tweeds. I'd have bought a suit from them by now, but I've never been able to get to them (with being a non-driver, they're an expensive train, then bus, then taxi away, with, at the time I latg enquired, no guarantee I'd fit anything they do).

If you have the option, try on as many different items from them as you can, and keep a note of your sizes. Makes buying from them in future much easier as you can just order online.

When are you going to be in London? We should see if any London loungers are up for a pint and showing you round the markets...

 

[tropicalbob]

I wish I hadn't seen this thread. That Old Town Marshalsea Navy Cord jacket will be tormenting me until I finally cave in. Why even resist? I've a birthday coming up in just four months. I work hard, damn it. I deserve it. I do.

 

[Benproof]

"The OLd Town Tweeds are superb. Everything, really, but if you want to really go for it, look at their heavy tweeds. I'd have bought a suit from them by now, but I've never been able to get to them (with being a non-driver, they're an expensive train, then bus, then taxi away, with, at the time I latg enquired, no guarantee I'd fit anything they do)."

It's true - Norfolk is a good sprint away from London. It's well worth renting a car or bike to get around - Hunstanton, Wells Next the Sea and the Broads are all really stunning. I guess this is the country where tweed developed its reputation for braving the elements and the cold wintry climates. Anyway, their work ethic and workshop/studio reminds me abit like Nigel Cabourn's Garden where he crafts and designs his clothing.

Looks like Old Town have some representation in London. I'm dithering over Harris Tweed vs Donegal Tweed. Shame if their sizing doesn't fit.

 

[GHT]

I guess this is the country where tweed developed its reputation for braving the elements and the cold wintry climates. Anyway, their work ethic and workshop/studio reminds me abit like Nigel Cabourn's Garden where he crafts and designs his clothing.

You may like Nigel Cabourn's Garden but for me, tweed & Norfolk can only mean: George Goddard.

 

[Benproof]

Thanks for the George Goddard reference. I confess I've only been to Norfolk three times

How do you go picking a tweed out of such a range, if they can create custom tweeds for specific families. Looks like Norfolk has some very interesting heritage!

 

[willyto]

Excuse me for my late response. Just spent all Tuesday morning traveling to get to Holt. I had quite an adventure with the trains and then buses. The last train I had to catch couldn't make the route because of some rail failure. They put a bus to get to Sheringham and had the pleasure to enjoy the views of the roads.

I'm on wifi when I can at the hotels. I already visited Old Town store last evening and I can't express what a lovely feeling it was. Jane who was there was absolutely fantastic and friendly. I met a couple of japanese guys who came all the way from a city north of Tokyo. They're traveling England for a week with car but they don't really speak english. They told me or tried to tell me that they worked at Beams which appeared in one of the labels of Old Town clothing, I didn't quite catch the story because we mainly communicated by gestures. Very nice and cool guys. They asked to take a picture of me because of my moustache, I may appear again in some japanese facebook or pages.

I just had breakfast(Best english breakfast I've ever had) and now I will go to visit the store again to order some things. I already tried some jackets and waistcoat yesterday and I love the style... which is great but also dangerous for my wallet.

After feeling and having a look at the cloth I may have to take back my words and order Some Harris Tweed stuff... Decissions decissions.

Thank you all for the help and I will report back when As soon as possible. I'm wearing today dark green corduroy High Rise trousers frol Old Town I got from Ebay and suspenders I bought yesterday. I'm starting to think I'm an Old Town fan.

I'll try every piece of clothing I can and write down the size in order to be able to buy from them again without having to travel but I'm sure I'll visit again. Everyone is so friendly.

They're releasing a new shirt with buttons that go all the way down and slimmer than the pull overs. Not in their page yet but they have it in store. It will take the slim pull over shirt place that was mainly made in cellullar cotton.

Thank you all for reading. I hope I don't sound too excited

 

[Sloan1874]

Just to revive this thread, I've been emailing Old Town about their Stanley jacket - looking for something light to wear for work during summer. I'm swithering over cloths: swatches of twill, drill and cord are on their way to me, but I'm interested to hear from people about their own jackets, whichever design, in terms of drape and quality etc.

 

[GHT]

I just had breakfast(Best english breakfast I've ever had)

If you enjoyed that, you will love a fish and chips supper. Try cod and chips, seasoned with salt and a generous splosh of vinegar.

 

[Denton]

Just to revive this thread, I've been emailing Old Town about their Stanley jacket - looking for something light to wear for work during summer. I'm swithering over cloths: swatches of twill, drill and cord are on their way to me, but I'm interested to hear from people about their own jackets, whichever design, in terms of drape and quality etc.

I have a Stanley jacket that gets a lot of wear. Old Town have a very particular sensibility. They don't make exact reproductions of garments in old styles; they simplify the lines and leave out fiddly details. They don't use the eye-catching colors and contrasts that you sometimes see on old workwear. So the styles recall late 19th and early 20th century clothing, but they also have a modernist simplicity. (I would argue that their "unity suit" is most representative of their vision.) The clothes look simultaneously old and new, which is an effect that I really like.

Their fabrics and colors are great. My Stanley jacket is in biscuit twill; I also have trousers in canvas, medium weight drill, and corduroy. Everything they make seems very sturdy. The twill has gotten a lot softer after a few years of wear. The canvas seems to have shrunk somewhat -- I can't turn up the cuffs anymore.

 

[Sloan1874]

Sounds great. Do you have any pics you can share, Denton?

 

[willyto]

I absolutely forgot about this thread. I knew I forgot to do something when I came back from London. I will post pictures of the clothing that arrived and describe my experience as soon as possible. For now I'm showing you some quick pictures I took.

It came in 2 boxes like this one(The other stuff is from Scottfrasercollection)

Don't mind the wrinkle on the right shoulder, it is not there at all normally, I carried my bag in the shoulder all day and I didn't put the jacket correctly after.

I got a lot of compliments and it really is sturdy and well constructed. Mine is Royal Blue cotton in medium weight and I'm afraid it could be too hot for Barcelona's summer so I'm definetely getting some things in Linen next. Their new shirts in italian cotton are just...amazing, they feel so soft.

 

[Sloan1874]

And that's the Stanley, Willyto?

 

[willyto]

And that's the Stanley, Willyto?

Yes, it is. I tried on the Marshalsea and the Stanley and those are the ones I love the most.

I'm wearing the High Rise trousers, Stanley jacket, vest and one of the new standard shirts (Jacket, shirt and vest are a 40 and the trousers a 32).

Sizing can be tricky with Old Town and that's the reason why they recommend visiting.

They have updated the products with a new photoshoot:

Stanley jacket