If you’re a fan of vintage fashion then no doubt you will know that London is home to some of the best retro shops in the UK. Fashionable types don their finest threads and regularly flock to East and West London where most of the best-known vintage shops and markets are located. If there’s a bargain to be had then this is where to go. or is it?
Want to know a secret? You’ll have to keep it quiet though South London is a great spot for vintage finds. Yes that’s right, not usually a place one would associate with vintage style, this area of London has a variety of excellent shops hidden away. You just need to know where to look to find them. Or you can just read this guide and thank us for it later!
Cutty Sark in Greenwich
Located a few minutes’ walks from the famous Cutty Sark in Greenwich, this fabulous vintage emporium is well worth a visit. As well as vintage clothing, shoppers will also find a range of retro homeware and enough vinyl to host a thousand parties! The shop has a range of goods from the 30s through to the 80s but the main focus in the 1960s. Everything is reasonably priced too and they offer student discounts! Oh and if that isn’t enough they have a bargain bin too you never know what you might find.
What The Butler Wore
This little vintage boutique is located in Waterloo and provides the perfect antidote to high-street fashion with its unique selection of the 60s and 70s clothing. You won’t find tacky ‘fancy dress’ style pieces in here either, everything has been hand-picked for quality. Look out for original Mary Quant pieces for a true 60s look, oh and the resident cat Binky too not that he’s for sale of course!
Radio Days
Radio Days have located a hop, skip, and a jump along from What The Butler Wore in Waterloo. This vintage-retro den is a must-see destination for vintage-lovers visiting London; not only does it stock unique one-off vintage pieces dating back to the 20s but entering the building feels like taking a step back in time. Visualise row upon row of vintage clothing for men, women, and children alongside ceramics, electrical goods, perfume, 50s kitsch, and art deco pieces. There’s an excellent selection of vintage lingerie too with bullet bras and seamed tights – it’s all too easy to spend an entire day here.
TRAID
If you’re the type of fashionista to enjoy the thrill of the search then TRAID (Textile Recycling for Aid and International Development) in Brixton is the shop for you. Not exclusively vintage, this spacious charity shop also sells a range of ‘remade’ items too. It’s all very exciting.
You probably won’t find anything earlier than the 70s in these stores but that’s ok as the 80s and 90s have a lot to offer and guaranteed what you find will be easy on the purse-strings. Not only will you bag yourself a vintage-retro bargain here, but you’ll also be supporting a worthy cause.
Haynes Lane Vintage Market
This is said to be South London’s best-kept secret – or at least it was until now! Haynes Lane Vintage Market is located in Crystal Palace and prides itself in having two floors “literally crammed with stuff”! Buttons, belts, shoes, cocktail dresses, vinyl, electrical goods, jewelry, and much much more. This is an Aladdin’s Cave of vintage goods and strictly for those who like to get lost amongst the retro goodies in order to come out on the other side with their perfect vintage purchase.
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