*Cue moaning old lady mode* I remember the days when I could take a gander at Rokit in Camden Two or wander up to Stables Market and buy a dress for a tenner for a night out when a ritzy/razzly top from Topshop just wasn’t going to cut the mustard. Gosh those days were pretty sweet. Sadly only a dose of good luck in a charity shop and jumble sales can score me some bargains nowadays. That or trekking outside of London to lands afar.
So when I heard about East End Thrift Store, touting itself as ‘The Last Fair Deal in Town’, I had to investigate further. The Time Out team (don’t knock this non-fash mag…they’re pretty spot on when it comes to London shop spots…) recommended the store as part of their top 20 thrift stores. Of course, by ‘thrift’ they mean vintage as I’d classify ‘thrift’ as ‘charity shop’ rummaging. Still, the name is supposed to be self explanatory and the location being just a leeetle bit too far away from the Brick Lane/Hoxton/Shoreditch hub is in fact well-suited.
Once the alleyway walk is over, the store itself is well organised, clean and pretty packed. It’s not Virginia-vintage, it’s not quite Peekaboo Topshop vintage but it serves you well if you hunt and look at each piece properly. Whatever sort of vintage it’s suppsoed to be, the real point is…practically everything is a tenner or less. Again, exactly what it says on the tin. The stuff that is a bit pricier tended to have some sort of heavy beading or bouffant prom dress qualities. The tenner for outfit for a night out practise is clearly not dead yet….and it was well proven when some Art School Club Kids (they need capitals because of their louder than life outfits…. wire and perspex headdresses, leopard print, cartoon bags and tutu’s….) were there hunting around and trying things on… definitely on the prowl for something to swirl around in dancing…
Me? I got boring and stuck to thing things that I actually needed… a beautiful white dress that although is a funny length could not be resisted because of the swirling crochet detail and a back fastened up with tons of white fabric buttons… it will be a ‘swanning-around-oddball-sort-of-pretty’ dress to wear with Converse.
Ok, whilst I was sticking to the white dress section and being boring… I did digress as the florals on this dress were just so…well…. juicy! Of course, the puffball skirt thing underneath had to be done it to give it some Balenciaga SS08 oomph but sans puffball works too…
ooooh, i love! that floral is definitely fantastic. and i love the neckline/shoulders on that one too. it looks like a little capelet…?
Awesome. Wish there were such great thrift stores in Canada.
the layered tights almost give your legs a neon glow! i like how they subtly make the pink in the floral dress really pop
I MUST GO THERE!!!!
K
so jealous of the floral dress. so good!
Oh I love both outfits! Just bought a pair of red Converse high-tops and looking at the way you paired your Converse I’m thinking I need a khaki colored pair too!
Also is that red leggings under white opaque leggings? (:
that floral dress is just *yum* with fantastic shoulder detail to boot x
The floral is good. But I think you got really lucky with that white dress. It’s deceptively simple looking but *really* well done and versatile. I got so lucky today in a consignment shop with a heavy deets hand stitched coat & a fabulous, structured knit sculpture thingie…seriously, in a year of bin sorting I would be lucky to find one of these pieces. I am literally beside myself. A successful hunt!
It’s really fun to do bargain hunting from time to time, you’ll never know what interesting pieces would come your way.
The floral dress does give that Balenciaga SS08 aura.
It would also be nice to be paired w/ satin heels (that’s just me though). 🙂
you look phenomenal in the floral.
you look phenomenal in the floral.
Out of both looks the first is my favorite. It is put together so well. I love how its styled. Hope u can come by my blog sometime!
You lucky bastard! I’ve got to get my arse on a plain to England. Wow what fabulous finds!
I love that white dress the way you dressed it down with the jacket and Converses. The diaphanous dress can be layered over so many things.
I love the layout of that shop—the belt display is great. You made nice choices with those dresses, especially that crazy floral!
I love your the second dress, you always pair everything together so well.
And this is somewhat off topic, but the post you made in regards to Topshop’s fall preview…I was wondering if that mini cape is available in stores right now?
The second dress looks so Balenciaga. The blue and pink on it really ‘pop’
great find!
thrift stores like that always get me down because even if I know there’s something worthy hidden under tons of clothes, they are so messy that I think I’ll never find anything
I’m going up to London in two weeks time, and this is totally a NEED TO VISIT.
ooh, love the white dress looks fabulous on you!! I am GOING to that thrift store toute suite!! great blog susie BTW loving your style & what you do 🙂 xx
Great buys! I was already planning a visit and now you just made it a must!!!
ah the good old times ^^
but the shop looks awesome and your outfits are wonderful, i love both dresses and the beige shoes are greeeeat!!! 🙂
I wish there is such a great store in HONG KONG! I LOVE VINTAGE TOO!
Love the 2nd way your styled the white dress. The floral one is completely fabulous!
Amazing finds, the white dress could look awkward on some people but you wear it so well. This is why I need to live in London!
LOVE THE DRESSES… I think they both hit the super chic/weird/cool vibe… like OFF THE CHARTS!! The white dress will definately come in hand for a “paddle boat on the lagoon with a prasol”… or at least that’s what it makes me think of… The floral will look “tres tres chic” with some… um… let’s see bright pink converse!!
The longer dress is lovelier with the pointed patent heels.I love the minidress but, for the love of God,don’t do white tights!
Both are great but i have to say the second one is really fab! It’s so colourful – and short (i like short). And the tights look great. I just want to cover the second one in sequins!
i so very nearly went to have a look too yesterday. would have grabbed that floral dress in a second!
looks well forth a trip next weekend. thanks for the info.
wow!!!!
they have some really nice stuff for a super price.
when i´m in london next time i´ll surely be there.
http://dimonolo.blogspot.com
the floral dress you got is amazing
Excuse my ignorance, but what is “Virginia-vintage?”
yeah, Virginia-vintage? I live in VA and am wondering if there is some vintage scene I’m missing out on?!
Love the khaki jacket! Where ya got it from?
Hehe…sorry about the Londonisms…Virginia-Vintage refers to Virginia, a shop in London which sells REALLY expensive quite valuable vintage….it’s a beautiful place but waaaay out of my price range….
Valerie: The jacket is by Ann Demeulemeester – got it in a sample sale.
Quite split between the floral and the white dress…. ultimately I’ll get more wear out of the white one despite its tricky length but the floral one was irresistable…. becase as Ms. Spinach pointed out, it has an attached capelet thingy… (just at the front through which is a shame…)
I love the last look! The colors are perfect.
Oh my God-I could easily spend all of my money there. I wish I lived by stores like that!
That first dress is stunning, I like the second one a lot, too.
this dress is killer!!
hi susie, just back from visiting the store (and spending £££s!) – thanks for recommending it, the guys that run it are so nice too! They were taling about throwing a summer party in the shop – I think all style bubble readers need to go for a meetup!! xx
my friend went there as soon as it opened and she spoke to the owner. he said he used to collect vintage for Topshops all over the country and hand-picks all the clothes himself. he said they were going on some trips to like paris and america to collect more expensive things (but nothing too expensive) and open a second floor
This is one of my favourite places in London by far. Much better than a dirty Primark binge, I managed to find some really awesome stuff there the last time and almost always just have a great time looking around, rocking out to the crazy music blaring on the speakers and chatting with the super-amiable proprieters. Suits my student budget just amazing and it’s great knowing I won’t look like a head-to-toe highstreet clone due to monetary restrictions. Love your finds, especially the floral dress!
beautiful dresses! both of them, even the “boring” one ~~~ and by the way your blog rocks!
That’s down the road from me, sort of. I was walking up the excrutiatingly long road on my way home, when I saw a bright neon-yellow sign with big black bold font with “thrift store” on before gandering in. It makes a nice change from going to Brick Lane.
I remember as a youngster going there and buying vintage dresses and skirts with my dad or my cousin for £2! Of course in those days, no one cared whether anything was vintage. It’s “nice”, but also a bit frustrating seeing the Shoreditch Art Twat move in and hiking prices up everywhere. What’s worse is when one walks up/down Brick Lane and BG, they all look like they’ve just walked out the same shop. Even though your style is a bit out there (in my opinion), I definately appreciate the individuality you have and how daring you are, even with vintage stuff!
I have to visit next time I´m in London! Thanks for such a great blog. I am a huge vintage fan especially couture. Checkout my website if you have time. Thanks!
http://www.laboutiquevintage.com
xxx