From sportswear to jewellery, we've got you covered
Vintage: it's fun, it's cool and it's good for the planet. You may well have heard of some of the big guns like chains Beyond Retro and Rokit, but how about something a little more specialist? Here’s a guide to some of London’s best hidden vintage gems.
Absolute Vintage
This east London vintage shop has always been a stop for vintage hunters making their way to Brick Lane, but it is really worth spending some good time here. If you are looking for an unusual dress for an event then there are racks and racks for you to go through. They also have a rather enticing wall of shoes on display as well as lots of casual, colourful bags. If you aren’t sure you want to go top to toe in vintage threads quite yet, this shop has plenty to offer the novice vintage hunter.
Absolute Vintage, 14 Hanbury St, London E1 6QR. Monday to Sunday 11am - 7pm.
Absolute Vintage
The Vintage Showroom
Founded in 2007 by Douglas Gunn and Roy Luckett, this central London shop specialises in vintage menswear. Occupying the former ironmongery F.W. Collins & Sons, this intimate shop specialises in international work, military and sports clothing. It’s an ideal spot for someone wanting to find that perfect French workman’s jacket, or looking for a gift for a rather sophisticated chum.
The Vintage Showroom,14 Earlham Street Seven Dials, Covent Garden London, WC2H 9LN. Monday to Saturday 11.30am - 7.30pm / Sunday 12pm - 6pm.
The Vintage Showroom
Alfies Antique Market
Alfies Antique Market, contained within an old department store beneath an art deco façade, is home to around 100 antique traders. Opened in 1976, it is a highly respected market, and a treasure trove of not only vintage clothes, but also modernist furniture and costume jewellery. Look out for Deborah Woolf’s specialist collection from designers like Ossie Clark, or Sheila Cameron’s collection of 1920s and 30s evening bags. There are also lots of dealers selling vintage jewellery; check out Tony Durante’s watches or necklaces or Gareth Brook’s unusual enamel jewellery. This is a serious market for those who really want to invest in carefully curated vintage pieces.
Alfies Antique Market, 13-25 Church Street Marylebone London NW8 8DT. Tuesday to Saturday 10am - 6pm.
Tin Tin Collectables at Alfies Antique Market
Fara
Fara is a vintage shop with a difference: all of the stock has been hand picked to go in their shops, meaning that you don’t have to shift through the weird and the wonderful and are almost guaranteed to find something amazing. What’s more, they are also a registered charity, working in Romania to alleviate suffering of children orphaned through political upheaval. These shops fund 81% of their charity work, meaning that your money is put to good use. With lots of great deals on vintage clothing, as well as more contemporary clothing, and with shops all over the UK, Fara is a great stop for any vintage lover.
Fara has shops across London. For more information, take a look at their shop listings here.
Blitz
This might be one of the largest vintage shops in Europe, let alone London, so well worth a visit if you want to refresh your wardrobe. Nestled just behind Old Spitalfields Market, this two-storey Victorian warehouse will cater to all your vintage needs, containing over 20,000 hand-selected pieces of clothing. They often carry vintage sportswear from the likes of Nike, Adidas and Reebok, as well as high-end designers like Moschino and Burberry.
Blitz, 55 - 59 Hanbury Street London E1 5JP. Monday to Saturday 11am - 7pm, Sunday: 12 - 6pm.
Blitz via website