Out with the old…


What is going on with London’s vintage stores, they’re all dropping like flies! First we lost Steinberg & Tolkien, then Cornucopia is about to go (though no date has been confirmed) and now The Antique Clothing Shop on Portobello Road is closing next month. Is it the competition from websites like Ebay that is forcing these places to close? Or high rents from landlords? It’s a real shame as I often get so much inspiration from browsing these dusty little dressing up boxes. When I got talking to Sandy at The Antique Clothing shop on Saturday she explained she’s been doing it for decades and just needs a rest now. I do understand but it’s still a terrible shame and in this case it’s a double blow as she’s closing her other shop The Vintage Home Store too. All’s not lost however. If you don’t get the chance to raid the shop between now and 20th June, the remaining stock will be auctioned in September by Kerry Taylor’s Auctions. But my advice is try and make it down in the next couple of weeks (note: it’s only open on Fridays and Saturdays) for some heavily discounted Victorian blouses, twenties wedding dresses and fifties silk scarves.