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.
Make Do & Mend
26 May, 2008 @ 7:16 pm
Great tip off. Yes tres sad and I’ll be hot footing it down as I love fities scarves.
Make Do & Mend
26 May, 2008 @ 7:16 pm
Great tip off. Yes tres sad and I’ll be hot footing it down as I love fities scarves.
Make Do & Mend
26 May, 2008 @ 7:16 pm
Great tip off. Yes tres sad and I’ll be hot footing it down as I love fities scarves.
Make Do & Mend
26 May, 2008 @ 7:16 pm
Great tip off. Yes tres sad and I’ll be hot footing it down as I love fities scarves.
Karate Boogaloo
27 May, 2008 @ 1:32 am
Thats too bad to hear about this. The vintage stores in New York died a long time ago. Or if they’re still in business they’re WAY over priced and its just a load of crap from the late 70s and 80s.
By the way, since you’re in London, do you know Paul Gorman? He wrote a great book on music fashion called the Look, and has a cool blog at http://rockpopfashion.com/blog/. Check it out.
Tim
Rollergirl
27 May, 2008 @ 8:17 am
Thanks Tim, yep, got his book and recommended it a couple of posts down …!
susie_bubble
27 May, 2008 @ 11:19 am
It’s such a shame and me thinks it is the rising rents that is closing a lot of joints down…. or just an evolution in vintage selling in general…
July Stars
27 May, 2008 @ 2:07 pm
The Antique Clothing Shop? Shit … That’s such a shame. I’ve found some great stuff there. Very sad.
Sharon
28 May, 2008 @ 1:06 pm
Hi disneyrollergirl-love your blog!! would you like to trade links with an essex girl who also loves vintage fashion? seriously, this is a such a shame-it seems a lot of people are opting to go online now-but this does not recreate ambience or atmosphere.
the fashion assistant and her camera
29 May, 2008 @ 2:04 pm
oh my….I didn’t know they’re closing next month!! I’m always at Portobello Market every sat and didn’t notice anything about their closure.
K
Queen Michelle
30 May, 2008 @ 11:55 am
In the (now) twice yearly visits I make to London, I have only managed to get to one vintage shop (Beyond Retro) and I feel like they will all be gone by the time I’m down again. Such a shame. There really are few greater shopping pleasures than rummaging through a vintage shop.