vintage clothing

VISITORS PLEASE NOTE THAT, DUE TO REDEVELOPMENT, THE ARCHES AREA AT STABLES MARKET HAS BEEN DEMOLISHED SO THERE ARE NO LONGER ANY SHOP UNITS THERE. SOME OF THE VINTAGE SHOPS WE MENTION HAVE BEEN RE-LOCATED AND WE REQUEST SHOP-OWNERS LISTED BELOW TO CONTACT US IF THEY ARE STILL IN CAMDEN SO WE CAN AMEND THIS NOW VERY INACCURATE PAGE. Rachel Foster writes: As an avid collector of vintage clothing for the past ten years, Camden is the perfect haven for me and luckily right on my door step. Here you can find one of the biggest concentrations of Vintage and Retro clothing outlets in London and probably Europe, a popular centre for discerning visitors from around the world. Despite increasing difficulties with the sourcing of fine original pieces you can still pick up some amazing one-offs here. With Kate Moss and Stella McCartney advocating it, vintage has again become highly stylish and attractive to fashion designers and fashionistas all over the world.
The Arches at Stables Market are an ideal place to start to look for vintage treats. Here a lane of shops, housed under a Victorian railway viaduct and unseen from the main market area, are crammed to the rafters with retro and vintage clothing. Though most clothing dates from the fifties through to the eighties it is possible to find some 1940’s pieces - certainly shoes and accessories. However I have yet to come across anything Victorian and very little pre-forties. The first of the Vintage outlets underneath the arches, What Goes Around, has an 80’s LA feel with American sportswear, vintage denim and 80’s trash shoes that are sought after since the eighties revival. You can pick up some one-off trainers, I’m told there are only 8 pairs of these in the world, don’t ask the price, you need to take out a loan. Some of the more eye-catching pieces are not for sale, but they look good on the wall - unfortunately. The stylish theatrical and art deco Viola Tricola - love the name - has stock hand-picked by its buyers and has a good selection. Viola offers a few customised military jackets & trousers although the price is high on these. Pop stars and chi-chi young things scour for a find amongst the colourful array of velour, fishnet and chiffon. Mens’ suits, eveningwear and wax jackets also available for those country weekends at the manor. Besides the eighties slant all over the catwalks and high street at the moment, the rock chick look is still maintaining it’s hold. Shops like Episode on Chalk Farm Road, or Lost n Found (in the Arches) have a wonderful selection, perfect for a night with the Queens of Noize or the latest indie rock. At kitsch-inspired boutique Lost n Found punk rock meets American Indian and Californian folk. Interesting décor and relaxed atmosphere means you can take your time and rest on the chaise longue in the spacious changing area at the back of the shop. Fashions span from tough guys and gals to the frillier, floral numbers. Depending on what mood you are in, go California Dreaming or Teenage Kicks.
If you are still in the Arches hunting for an elusive bargain and are really skint, go to Ship just to satisfy your urge to spend and come away with some sort of trinket. Ship has a confusing array of clothes packed and crammed into the rails, with the air of a cheap cut-price clothing shop - blaring signs indicating under £5 and under £10 sections. It’s a tourists haven and staff are friendly - I was told I could exchange some shoes if they were beyond repair. Wal-mart for retro Euro-kids. To find a funky customised t-shirt or jacket, Hide Out clothes have attitude and a tongue-in-cheek sense of humour. You can find some wonderful bits and pieces if you look, from spandex to oriental designs to modern Americana, and British and European retro. A special line in tour jackets has a price that reflects their obscurity value. Retro World has some good offers on at the moment and some brilliant customised military style jackets.
If, like me, you have a love of the absurd there are also quirky shops such as 844 Vintage Clothing (opposite Arch 50). Open just at weekends, this stocks US Vintage and if you want to buy an unusual gift, there are Japanese kimonos, antiques and porcelain toys. A few novelty items I noticed were, an ET bedspread and a batman outfit. It’s worth a look for pure curiosity value.
The Electric Ballroom, open only on a Sunday, has many more vintage clothing stalls than in the past and is now a definite must visit for bargain hunters.
The mini-emporium Modern Age Vintage has been at the top end of Chalk Farm Road for very many years and sells ballgowns, cocktail and wedding dresses, mens' fancy tuxedos, from 30’s-70’s. Racks of Hawaiian shirts, 50’s suburban living dresses. Tupperware-chic and everything for the teddyboy, and accessories too, this shop has a definite fifties feel to it and offers a hire service.
So Vintage Lives in Camden!