>>I’m one of those really unhelpful bloggers who tell you things when everybody is already clued up. I am however making up the fact that I made the mistake of selecting a few of my favourite vintage spots for the November issue of Vogue China with this bit of address mis-information. Therefore I thought I should let it be known that Merchant Archive, has now moved from its slightly out-of-the-way-but-oh-so-charming location of Kensal Green to the more-convenient-but-ever-so-slightly-obvious Notting Hill. The move came up quite suddenly for Sophie Merchant and so she left the Lipton general store interior where these photos for Vogue China were taken and has upped her treasure trove of vintage to a new two-floor shop on 19 Kensington Park Road.
I have to stress the success browse-to-buy ratio of Merchant Archive. Everyt time I turn up to hassle Sophie to let me shoot her place for such and such a magazine, I manage to come away with a real ‘piece’. Not some random filler skirt, jumper or top but a thing of beauty that deserves not the crappy Ikea plastic hangers but the nice Morplan sturdy wooden ones where I don't hang multiple items on.
In this picture, I’m wearing a 1930s tea dress that came back with me on the Vogue China shoot at the old address. The green kimono finally made the trek home when I saw it for a second time at the new store. I think Merchant Archive is the only place where ripped-up and falling apart is actually an admirable quality.
This neon pink and green dress that blinded a few people outside Jil Sander last season was another one I saw, wore and pawed at the Vogue China shoot.
Both portraits photographed by Kate Cox
The new store is a lot airier and together with a new logo and window storefront decal, Merchant Archive has been given a bit of a facelift. Still, Sophie still managed to dig up some original features in the store. Just as she left the black and white tiling and the beautiful cornicing in the old store, here, she discovered a bricked-up fireplace on one wall. Not surprisingly business has been brisk. Notting Hill is not short of vintage stores but it’s also not short of the customer who appreciates premium vintage. As always, the likes of Florence Welch has been a regular customer at Merchant Archive, not that it’s the sort of place that needs celebrity endorsement to get people appreciating the period, whimsicality and quality of vintage that Sophie goes for.
Here are a few more reminders of the things that I’ve gotten from Merchant Archive. The black mini dress with pearl beaded sleeves even has its own special box. Never thought that I'd be the sort of person to have 'special boxes' for one item of clothing. Then again, I also never thought I'd have categories of hangers either.
(Left: Black mini dress with pearl beading. Right: Panther printed silk top and matching skirt. Both from Merchant Archive)
Susie, that top picture of you is stunning!
Kate
http://www.thrillofthechaise.com
amezing pics!!
love the fabric on the clouse above!
http://babylovesfashion.blogspot.com/
The store looks amazing, such a quaint place.
-Good Wear Day-
Lois x
That black pearl mini is beyond gorgeous!
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x
Love your outfit so cute 🙂 and you are very pretty
http://haideeandco.blogspot.com
God that place looks amazing. I really love the slightly random decoration and the unique look of all these pieces. Good vintage can be so hard to find….
LOVE the black dress with the beadings!
Words cannot do justice to the love I have for that “blinding” neon dress! You look amazing in the black mini dress as well!
The shop looks great, and so do you in all the pictures! You look stunning in black!
nice accessories !! Love it !!
http://www.younglington.wordpress.com
oh susie, you do have the most wonderful outfits 🙂
http://hellosheana.blogspot.com
OMG!!!! pure style!!! By Claude – recetas faciles
Gah, that store looks dreamy. And the black dress with the pearls, sweet jesus I am jealous.
gaudyalternative.blogspot.com
That black pearl mini looks fantastic on you!
Glad to have discovered your blog. Love your sense of style. The LBD looks gorgeous!
Oh Susie! You’re extremely lucky to have the opportunity to frequent little gems like Merchant Archive! So lovely. x
Suzi x
For the Love of Audrey
What an enchanting store space!
And I love the pearl- detailed dress! Real pearls?
Why have they photoshopped a chunk out of your face in that photo?! You really don’t need photoshopping, damn magazines!
Oh wells…. Vogue China has deemed me to have a fairly normal Asian attribute of a round/full face. Sadly they’re speaking to an audience of similarly round/full-faced Chinese women who probably aspire to a pointy/narrow face. To be honest, I’m surprised they even featured me with me too-small eyes and bingo wings…
The back mini is gorgeous! xx, M
http://www.themarcystop.blogspot.com
that delicious peach/blush/ballet slipper pink slightly padded/quilted cropped (bed?) jacket you are holding up is divine. seriously so.
love your blog.
love you.
nice work, lady 🙂
love from us at teamgloria x
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D&A
the black pearl mini looks lovely on you 🙂
vorm uitstekend elders in het lichaam met de persoon.Doordat Ed Hardy echt niet veel pricy als model kunnen deze meer ten gevolge van Ed Hardy ook geschikt om de in de nabijheid van en bovendien kostbaar varieiten.
Oh no have they moved, I live just around the corner from them in Queens Park
I used to be in there all the time, love love love the black mini with beading, so inspiring to see the old collection again x
You’re so naturally beautiful, I wish more models were like you!