New Zealand hair and make-up stylist Rose Jackson of Decadia Vintage knows her vintage. Rose gives Thread her insider’s guide to Vintage London with this Monday to Sunday week plan…
New Zealand hair and make-up stylist Rose Jackson of Decadia Vintage knows her vintage. Rose gives Thread her insider’s guide to Vintage London with this Monday to Sunday week plan…
Over the past ten years there has been a huge surge of interest in the old and already loved. Due to many factors including a changing economic climate, people’s tendency to tint the past with a rosy nostalgic hue, a growing distain for large multinational companies dictating homogenous trends to the masses, and well let’s be honest the sheer love of a bargain, it seems that vintage style is still hot right now and here to stay.
London is perfectly placed historically and geographically to be at the epicentre of the vintage zeitgeist. Still infused with “make do and mend” attitude from the World War Two, and with a plentiful population to fuel supply and demand, it truly is the spiritual home of all things from days gone by. From stores and markets, to events, fairs and car boots, vintage style is being hawked everywhere.
More is more is the adage that rings most true for London, and this is especially true for the vintage scene. More old clothes, furniture, swing dancing and high teas than you can shake a Liberty print scarf at. The volume of vintage goods, especially coming from such a small and young country like New Zealand, is mind-boggling, and quite frankly perilous to the bank balance!
One can easily become overwhelmed with where to go and what to do, especially if you only have a limited amount of time to spend in the capital, so with this in mind here are Decadia’s top vintage picks for a perfect vintage lover’s week in London.
MONDAY Central London Landmarks
Orientate yourself by checking out the Vintage Guide to London and Timeout websites. These are both excellent internet resources to find the best vintage events in the city, whatever time you find yourself there. Start the week off the right way by taking tea at Brown’s in the heart of the city, and then walking through Trafalgar Square (Mary Poppins pigeon encounter optional) and along the Thames to the east, finishing up at the Tower of London. Marvel at the gorgeous jewels on display and imagine yourself as Princess Margaret doing something outrageous in an ermine edged velvet cape.
TUESDAY West London Culture
If you only make it to one museum or gallery in London, make sure it is the Victoria & Albert Museum in South Kensington. It houses the most astounding collection of treasures from times past, including the most immaculately displayed selection of historical costumes, priceless jewellery and textiles from around the world, as well as countless other bits and bobs that will take your breath away.
Until 6th January 2013, the V&A is also hosting the Ballgowns exhibition – a sumptuous collection of eveningwear from the 1950’s to today. To see couture this close is a rare treat, so make sure you feast your eyes and feed your heart before it finishes.
When you have a serious case of museum fatigue, take a leisurely stroll down to Harrods and explore the food court – there can’t be many in the world have oyster bars, or mermaids holding clam shells for that matter! Impress your nana and pick up a Harrods tin filled with boiled sweets.
WEDNESDAY North London Treasures
If you love vintage, the only place to be on Wednesday is Angel. Camden Passage Market opens at early in the morning and has an eclectic range of goods packed in to 200 metres of cobbled streets tucked behind the cookie cutter retail main drag. A veritable waterfall of china, packed racks of 1940’s to 1980’s frocks, antique illustrations and rugs, and plentiful costume and authentic antique jewellery treasures.
There are so many amazing clothing stalls, but the one you absolutely must visit is Annies.
You can find out more about the eretheral and exquisite fashion history contained in Annies here. Keep up your shopping strength by grabbing a coke float at the Milk Bar on Camden Passage, a cute reproduction of that classic 1950’s teen hangout that has a fantastic selection of retro and vintage sweets and treats.
After you have done your dash at Camden Passage, head north to Holloway Rd (a brisk half hour walk or just catch the 43 bus from Angel) and check out Vivienne’s of Holloway – a real institution and one of the leading reproduction vintage clothing stores in the world. They cater for all sizes and have a good eye for fit and colour. Save a little bit of change for a post spending spree Mint Julep or Whisky Sour at 67 Colebroke Row – a seriously stylish retro cocktail bar, winner of numerous awards and always smartly attired staff who know their stuff.
THURSDAY London Markets
You can’t visit London without a trip to Borough Market. It is absolutely heaving on Friday and Saturday so if you can go on Thursday, go! Peruse the delicious fare on offer, marvel at the surrounds, smells, sounds and the beautiful light that filters into the covered section of the market. Then make your way up to Spitalfields Market – also a must do and also a lot more pleasant to visit on a Thursday.
After you have had a good fossick, head to The Painted Lady – a vintage hair salon owned by expat New Zealander Belinda Hay, and get one of the talented stylists there to whip you up a gorgeous finger wave or victory roll do. Head to the Ten Bells on the corner of Fournier St (where Jack the Ripper used to drink no less) or the Golden Heart (where the art crowd get leathered) for a pint and then head home to listen to the Peppermint Candy radio show on Jazz FM. Presented by Amber Butchart and Nisha Thirkell, these girls play for the international fashion crowd and know how to get a room swinging.
FRIDAY Central London Hijinks
Start your Friday off in fine style, with morning tea at the Ritz – admittedly a little bit boring and not quite as posh as you would hope for, but an institution none the less so don your finest vintage wares, enjoy the hushed ambiance and soft piano accompaniment, and revel in the sumptuous surrounds.
After getting your fill of endless tea and scones head straight to Liberty’s – quite simply the best department store in the world. The most gorgeous Tudor style building, incredible window displays (Smith & Caugheys take note!), and even a florist at the front door, so when you walk in your experience of the store is rose scented from the start. Put aside lots of time to just wander aimlessly around the gorgeous old floors, and before you leave stop at the ground floor accessories department for a hand-rolled silk Liberty print scarf.
Just down the road from Liberty is Beyond Retro – celebrating it’s 10th anniversary this year and purveyors of an excellent selection of vintage and retro clothing and accessories from the 50’s onwards. Avoid Oxford St if you can – full of the heaving masses and a rotating screen of the same 10 mega retail giants over and over again – and instead find your way to Lambs Conduit St, which hosts an excellent array of independent stores and eateries offering unique and individual wares. Do take the time to visit Ben Pentreath at 17 Rugby St, managed by talented expat New Zealander Bridie Hall, who has her own line of thoughtfully designed and beautifully elegant homewares, including decoupage plates that feature unique vintage and antique paper prints, and delicately scented candles.
After you get your purchases home safe, run a bath, pour yourself an early evening aperitif and head out Ronnie Scott’s, the veritable jazz institution in the heart of Soho, wearing your finest feathers and beading to evoke the Bright Young Things from the Jazz Age.
SATURDAY West London Wonders
Saturday is the best day for the markets in West London. If you can get yourself out of bed early, hop on the Jubilee Line and start your day off at the Kilburn Car Boot Sale. Always interesting and varied, you never know what you will find and compared to the more established markets, you will definitely be able to score some great bargains.
Then have a spot of morning tea and steel yourself for the vintage extravaganza that is the Portobello Markets – equal parts overwhelming, amazing, sprawling and mind blowing. It’s too hard to single any one shop or area out, but just take your time (and preferably a friend who knows their way around), don’t be afraid to bargain and keep an eye on your belongings at all times! What Katie Did vintage style lingerie has a store in the Markets which is definitely worth a visit and the pokey little vintage clothing and jewellery arcades are also a must see.
After your shopping blowout, have a little cultural excursion by taking a show or attending a Sing-a-Long- Sound of Music session in town, then swing dance the night away at one of the many venues around the city.
SUNDAY Eclectic East London
You need not go anywhere else but East London on a Sunday. Take a stroll starting from Aldgate East, heading right through Brick Lane, the fast beating heart of the East End and concluding at the bustling, blossom filled flower markets in Bethnal Green. As you take this walk you can’t help but get a sense of the past centuries that London has lived through. To the left – where Jack the Ripper stalked the cobbled streets, to the right – small high lofts where the Huguenot weavers plied their silk trade and straight ahead the Jewish bakeries selling salt beef bagels that have never-diminishing lines of hungry people spilling out the doors. For more information on the history of the area, check out the fabulous Spitalfields Life blog that delves deep into the area and its colourful past.
There are quite possibly more vintage stores per square metre in this small city enclave, than anywhere else in the world, and it even boasts a vintage department store – The Brick Lane Blitz. There are also so many markets to check out in East London on a Sunday – Petticoat Lane, Spitalfields, the Up Market, Columbia Rd amongst others, so start early and soak up as much as you can.
When you are getting a little weary take tea at Time for Tea, owned by Mr Johnny Vercoutre, who has authentically restored his Shoreditch High St premises to 1940’s perfection, or have your hair and makeup done at Powder Room, a gorgeous girly haven on Columbia Road that will primp and preen you to vintage perfection.
Words and Photos by Rose Jackson of Decadia Vintage
September 2012
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