I had a lovely time in London last week visiting all the vintage stores there. It was interesting to see the English perspective on secondhand clothing as it compares to the U.S. I got to meet the shop owners and peruse their back rooms and latest arrivals. I love my job!
My first day there I hit Portobello Rd. up in the North East part of the city in the Notting Hill area. This winding little street is lined with brightly colored building that remind me of Charleston. The street is peppered with antique marlets, secondhand furnishing shops and vintage clothing stores. This seemingly quiet hidden treasure on a week day turns into a jam packed caravan of people on the weekends when the antique markets open and treasure hunters go on the prowl.
Traveling North the first shop you come to is One of A Kind, and that is certainly is! When you walk in you can easily get distracted by the dangling crinoline skirts and fancy frocks hanging above you head. This shop uses every square inch of its walls and ceilings to display the merchandise.
I am convinced that the store used to be someone’s apartment because there are little rooms that form a maze of hidden treasures that you simply must sift through. There is the shoe room, the coat closet, the men’s boudoir, and if you are deemed special enough, there is the back room. Here the most prized items are kept including antique frocks, couture gowns, and one off runway pieces that have inspire stylists and designers over the years. One of A Kind is located at 253 Portobello Rd.
These next three shops are all right next door to one another making it very convenient to shop. Mensah is a located at 291 Portobello Rd. It is a sun filled, airy boutique with a tight selection of contemporary women’s vintage. Here you will find day looks and accessories in great condition between 30-50punds.
Next door is 295 Portobello. This pink shop is popping with a little bit of everything. There are party accessories: hats, gloves, bow ties, and cumber buns. There are also racks and racks of casual vintage pieces from the 60-80s.
Across the street 282 Portobello, a new shop on the block only being open about a year. This store has a rustic feel from its wheel barrow props to its saloon style dressing rooms. Makes perfect sense that here they specialize in vintage leather goods including an array of leather jackets and about 1000 boots and shoes!
Keep walking north. Cross under the freeway, and take a right on Golborne Rd. Jane Bourvis is located at 234 Golborne Rd. This store is a historians dream! Owner Jane Bouvis collects Edwardian and turn of the century dresses and antique textiles. On display along the walls and dangling from the ceiling are richly embellished fabrics too delicate to be worn again, but exquisite to look at.
Jane does sell some vintage and antique dresses, but usually she copies the designs into other antique or vintage textiles, sometimes slightly adjusting the shape to better fit today’s vintage brides or Cinderellas. She also makes romantic whimsical head pieces out of vintage feathers and other old materials.
Rellik is a high end vintage boutique located at 8 Golborne Rd. Every single piece in here has a design label. In fact, the shop specializes in vintage Vivienne Westwood! This brightly lit store plays fun 80s tunes which will get you in the mood to shop. They have a wide selection of mint condition garments that are priced to sell. This store is a haven for stylists, designers, and the discerning fashionistas who want top quality, memorable pieces.
Tags: antique market London, London, Mensah, One of a Kind, Rellik, vintage stores, vintage stores in London
Just found this oneline store with Authentic RL Polo shits have been looking for a while and even have been to ebay but its all fake there. Big Pony Polo RL !
Enjoy