Monday 25 October 2010

Sifting thrift; picking through London's second hand clothes shops

I can’t claim to know all the vintage and second hand clothes outlets in London, but I’ve got a few favourites I’d love to share. Here they are for your perusal, complete with descriptions of what each has to offer the seasoned bargain hunter:



 

Image courtesy of Pandora's website

 1. PANDORA DRESS AGENCY (WOMENSWEAR)
Tucked away in a residential backstreet behind Harrods, you’d never stumble on Pandora by accident. If you’re label-hungry, it’s a revelation: a haven where the great and the good of Knightsbridge deposit their once-worn designer wear. This is no jumble sale. We’re talking clothes less than two years old: Chanel bags, Chloé dresses and velvet trimmed Valentino suit jackets, organised according to colour and size. These swanky items have seen one cocktail party, at a push two, and then been abandoned. It’s the clothes equivalent of a pedigree dog pound. It would be cruel not to take something home with you.

For some of us, myself included, the price tags will cause heart palpitations. No £10 bargain bins here. But rest assured, these clothes have been reduced to a snip of their original cost.

BEST FOR: celebrity spotting, making wish lists, haute couture, designer cocktail dresses, evening gowns and wide-brimmed hats.

DOWN SIDE: makes you feel like a hobo.
ADDRESS: Pandora Dress Agency, 16-22 Cheval Place, London, SW7 1ES
VISIT PANDORA


2. RETRO WOMAN/RETRO MAN
If you like Pandora, and money's no issue, you’ll probably like these two shops. Standing only a few doors apart on the same stretch of road, Retro Woman/Man are prominent fixtures in Notting Hill’s vintage scene. The stock is designer orientated, varied, but dates further back than Pandora’s, with quirkier statement pieces. Both offer clothes, shoes and accessories.

RETRO WOMAN
BEST FOR: For my money, this place is best for footwear – specifically, towering heels. Miu Miu, Jimmy Choo, YSL; stunning shoes line the entire right hand wall. Retro Woman also stocks a nice range of smart trousers, and is always harbouring a few stunning dresses under its wing; I've spotted classics by Fendi, Stella McCartney and Donna Karen on previous nose-arounds.

DOWN SIDE: Like Pandora, price tags can still be high. Don’t come here hoping for an entire new wardrobe, come with a specific item in mind, perhaps for a special event.

RETRO MAN
BEST FOR: Retro Man doesn’t only cater to the Portobello dandy. Paul Smith items, checked shirts and tweed blazers are counteracted by high tops, vintage parkas and all things Nike.

DOWN SIDE: As with Retro Woman, prices are too high for a big, bargainous shop.

ADDRESS: 32 Pembridge Road
Notting Hill Gate,
London, W11 3HN
NO WEBSITE AVAILABLE
 
 
Original background image courtesy of John French Photography

3. DOLLY DIAMOND (Ladies and Gents)
Situated just along the road from Retro Man/Woman, towards Portobello Road, this is great for those of you who love a bit of Granny chic, or the romantic, lace-swaddled look. Vintage wedding dresses, tiaras and gleaming pearls decorate the window display.

BEST FOR: Evening and dinner wear, leather gloves, fur shrugs, brooches, hats, bridal hair pieces and veils.

DOWN SIDE: Don’t bother if you go for casual, comfortable styles.

ADDRESS: 51 Pembridge Road
Notting Hill Gate,
London W11 3HG
 

Image couresty of urbanjunkies.com

4. MARSHMALLOW MOUNTAIN (Ladies and Gents)
Just off Carnaby Street in the lovely Kingly Court, Marshmallow Mountain always has a wicker hamper outside its doorway containing reduced goodies. Inside, things get much pricier, although their costume jewellery, hairclips and sunglasses are generally good value for money. The shop is small, so stock is limited, but varied nonetheless; last time I visited they had little black dresses, gold sequin tops and fluoro prints.   

BEST FOR: cowboy boots, faux gold jewellery, floral dresses with hefty shoulder pads, leather skirts, body con dresses (think Madonna, the early years).
 
DOWN SIDE: bags and belts from here will make your wallet wince. You can get something just as good, but for less cash, at the West End branch of Beyond Retro, which is five minutes round the corner in Great Marlborough Street.

ADDRESS: Ground Floor,
Kingly Court,
49 Carnarby Street,
London W1


 
 
5. ROKIT (Ladies and Gents)
Rokit’s a well established chain, with stores in Covent Garden, Camden and Brick Lane. Brick Lane’s branch is handily divided into two parallel shops, with the dearer stuff in the Rokit Vintage outlet, so you can choose where you snoop according to budget. In my experience, the Covent Garden branch is the best value for money. It’s the biggest of the three, too.

BEST FOR: High waisted denim shorts, velvet suit jackets, novelty t-shirts. (Covent Garden branch)
Heavily sequinned or beaded dresses, brooches and necklaces, silk bomber jackets, smart shirts.(Brick Lane Vintage branch)
ADDRESS: 42 Shelton St, Covent Garden, WC2H 9HZ
 

 
6. THE VINTAGE STORE
Crouched on the corner of Cheshire St, just down from the Brick Lane branch of Rokit, is The Vintage Store. More trend focused than many vintage shops, it’s currently offering exquisite brogues and boat shoes, chunky work boots, oversized wool/mohair cardis and black leather shorts. They even have a row of old fold-out theatre seats in red velvet, where you can perch to try on shoes. The staff are friendly, prices reasonable, and something outrageously brilliant is always blasting from the speakers.
BEST FOR: flats, ankle boots, knitwear, leather shorts.

 DOWN SIDE: Teeny weeny changing room; not great on weekends when the crowds descend.
ADDRESS: 182 Brick Lane, E1 6SA
 
 
                                                                                                                                                 
7. BRICK LANE SUNDAY UP/BACK YARD MARKETS
Come here for real bargains. The Sunday Up and Back Yard Markets will bring out the East End hustler in you – try to haggle whenever possible. Some stallholders are friendlier than others, but it’s worth a shot. You can get anything and everything here; bric-a-brac, jewellery, food, footwear and clothes galore. If you prefer markets to the self-satisfied ambience of some high end vintage shops, come here; you’ll enjoy browsing.

BEST FOR: Unexpected finds, testing your haggling capabilities.

 DOWN SIDE: If you prefer trying your clothes on before buying them, markets aren’t always a safe bet. Unless you’re an exhibitionist.
ADDRESS: Ely’s Yard, The Old Truman Brewery, E1 6QL
 
 

8. BEYOND RETRO (Ladies and Gents)
Of all the vintage shops in this list, Beyond Retro is the one you’re most likely to know. Their yellow, anchor-patterned bags are rife in Brick Lane, Oxford Street and Carnaby Street, dangling from the arms of men wearing war-torn straw boaters and girls with cut-glass fringes. If you’re in Central London and fancy shopping for second hand basics, pop into their Great Marlborough St Branch. For something a bit more eccentric, head to their giant warehouse outlet in Cheshire Street. This is a real treat for the eyes, top notch for fancy dress costumes, or just a snoop.  

BEST FOR: (Great Marlborough Street) Levi’s shorts, lumberjack shirts, patent leather bags, leather bombers, mohair and wool jumpers, sports jackets, tea dresses, belts, fur jackets.
(Cheshire Street Warehouse) Fancy dress – tutus, sequin spangled leotards, animal print, top hats, spandex leggings, cheer leader skirts, plus more standard items, as above.

DOWN SIDE: Beyond Retro’s mannequins are always kitted out in themed, eye-popping ensembles, but generally you’re not allowed to try these outfits on. They stay on the manikins until the display changes. This can be frustrating; ask for an estimation of when the item will become available and whether you can reserve it.
ADDRESS: EAST END WARHOUSE
110-112 Cheshire Street, London E2 6EJ
WEST END STORE
58-59 Great Marlborough Street, W1F 7JY
 
 
 

9. BETTY AND GERTY (for ladies, in the main, and men with very small feet)
Hidden away from the main portion of Camden Market in The West Yard, Betty & Gerty is my favourite place to snoop for shoes, bags and cheap jewellery. Whether you’re after brogues, ankle boots, pumps or heels, Betty & Gerty will have something to offer you, and the staff are always happy to help. Take time to check out their earrings and necklaces: kitsch plastic animals, feathers and the occasional all-out chav chain await you. Ask about their second stall, which you can get to via a nearby flight of stairs. This is where the discount stuff is, so don’t miss it. Shoes for a fiver? Go on then.

BEST FOR: Quilted bags, footwear, quirky earrings and faux gold necklaces.

DOWN SIDE: Not so great if you’ve got Neanderthal feet. The majority of shoes are below size 7.

ADDRESS: 69 The West Yard, Camden, London NW1 8AF
 
 
 

10. VINTAGE FURS AND SKIN BAGS (Womenswear)
Hilary Proctor specialises in fur, real and faux. If you want to buy a good quality fur coat this winter, have a gander at her shop in Camden’s Stables. Genuine or fake, the coats are soft and luxuriant, often with beautiful linings. There are hats and shrugs, too. Not everyone’s cup of tea, certainly, but don’t write it off; I found it fascinating just looking around. It’s like a cloakroom at a 1950’s Hollywood party. Whether you’re a faux-or-nothing pioneer, or a genuine-mink-only girl, Hilary has something for everyone.   

BEST FOR: Fur coats, croc and snakeskin bags, faux and genuine.

DOWN SIDE: To state the obvious, this is not for vegans, anti-fur campaigners, or the squeamish. The dead fox faces gave me the heeby jeebies. 
ADDRESS: D29 & D32 Horse Tunnel, Camden Stables Market, NW1 8AH
On Saturdays, Hilary's Furs can also be found at Shop 6 Admiral Vernon, 141 Portobello Road, W11 2DY
NO WEBSITE AVAILABLE
 
 
 
 
11. RETRO CITY (Ladies and Gents)
Again, this is a specialist outlet. Come here for your leather and suede jackets, many of which are crammed onto £10 racks. They have just about every style, shade and size under the sun. Fringed? Studded? They’ve probably got it.

BEST FOR: Suede jackets, Matrix coats, biker chic.

DOWN SIDE: If you’re not into your leather and suede, there’s little else to sustain your interest here.
ADDRESS: D9 Horse Tunnel, Camden Stables Market, NW1 8AH
NO WEBSITE AVAILABLE
 
 
  

12. WHAT GOES AROUND COMES AROUND
If you like Beyond Retro and Rokit, you’ll like What Goes Around Comes Around. Located in a line of large vintage shops, you can always find long rails of logo patterned 80’s t-shirts and a rainbow display of Converses.

BEST FOR: Colourful Converses, trainers still in their boxes, denim cut offs, 80’s and 90’s tees.
ADDRESS: Camden Stables Market, Arch 47, NW1
NO WEBSITE AVAILABLE

*COMING SOON!*
A review of the East End Thrift Store’s Sunday jumble sale
AND
new features on charity shops/army surplus stores.

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