Vintage is simply better in London. No one understands this more than Jessica Steuart-Hoyler, who has transformed her love for fashion relics into pre-loved designer and luxury platform Reciety. Two and a half years since leaving the city, Steuart-Hoyler returns to London with little else on her mind save for visiting her favourite vintage stores. Below, she shares her tips for the best vintage shopping in West London, beginning with a trip to Portobello Road Market.
Portobello Road Market
On a weekend, I like to start vintage shopping at Portobello Road Market on the corner of Cambridge Gardens and Portobello Road. The vintage fashion market has been running for decades. There’s an eclectic array of stalls where you are bound to find a treasure for a great price. Vintage kimonos, denim, jewellery, one-off unique pieces, it’s all here. Factor in time to find the perfect piece.
Karen Vintage
Karen Vintage Boutique is a glamorous treasure trove. Karen and her husband Elton opened the store six years ago. Rihanna and Alexa Chung are clients, so you’re in expert hands here. You’ll find the most exquisite curation of vintage gowns and unique pieces from around the world (and an unexpected place to find a potential wedding dress).
282 Portobello
282 Portobello specialises in timeless tailoring and English classics – trench coats, suiting, evening jackets, tweed, leather, and silk scarves. Fashion designers are known to visit the store for inspiration. When asked about her approach to sourcing for the store, Claudia, co-founder of 282 says, "If it’s a maybe, it’s a no" – a good rule to live by. Claudia has a wealth of fashion knowledge, you’re guaranteed great conversation and insights when you visit. I left with a vintage brocade evening jacket and a bespoke double-breasted blazer by renowned British tailor Hector Powe, stamped with the client's initials and the exact date from 1950.
Found and Vision
Found and Vision is a fun, carefully curated vintage store founded by Karen Clarkson, Oxana Korsun and Rosie Meres. Their backgrounds in styling and costume making mean they bring their own distinct buying style and influences into the collection. From Lacroix to Loewe, you’ll find styles ranging from masculine, sexy or sophisticated, to 60’s and 70’s. Pieces from the store are often featured in Vogue, Dazed, Self Service and Document Journal.
Rellik
Rellik is an institution. The store has been around since 1999 and has a loyal customer base, many are stylists and designers from around the world. The store has an incredible curation of iconic pieces from the 60’s to present day from Issey Miyake, Dries van Noten, Vivienne Westwood, Comme des Garçons, Alexander McQueen and more. I could easily spend hours here. I fell in love and couldn’t resist a chic vintage Valentino evening jacket with ornate gold buttons – a piece I’ll treasure.
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