It’s a London thing

The area around Portobello Market is still the best place to shop for vintage in London. Though it was freezing cold and wet when I visited back in September, my muse-for-the-day Clara Paget and I managed to get two incredible shops in that afternoon: The Vintage Academe on Ledbury Road and One of a Kind on Portobella Road.

The Vintage Academe is a chic wonder of a store. It stocks rare and top designer pieces one can only dream to own. Luckily we were not there to buy, but simply to marvel. And not not only did we get to try on everything our hearts desired, we also got an exclusive look in the downstairs stock room where the out-of-season collection is stored. We found a flawless, 1960’s grey Pierre Cardin dress (above), an amazing black, fringed, Versace skirt (below), a multi-colored Ossie Clarke peasant dress (below) and many other delectable things.

Clara Paget is an icy blonde British model-turned-actress best known for her role as Bella in St Trinian’s II, an adventure movie set in a boarding school with Colin Firth and Rupert Everett in the leading roles. Born and raised in London, 23-year old Clara is a loyal city girl who says she can’t go too long without its parties, music, parks, people, and humor. And vintage seems to be second nature to her. “I’ve always had vintage shops right at my doorstep, growing up in Portobello and now Camden,” where she lives with her boyfriend Oscar. “My mum had her own clothing stall in the Market. She taught me how to bargain shop. Though you have to be in the right mood because it requires a certain amount of patience,” she laughs. Clara is due to appear in the hilarious Johnny English sequel this year.

One of a Kind is a tiny, dimly-lit shop, a few feet from the Portobello Market. It’s stacked to rafters with some of the coolest, unthinkable finds. After you buzz to get in and your eyes adjust to the plunging darkness and overwhelming amount of fabric surrounding you, you can edit your search per decade, with a little help from the sales guy, who follows you with a spotlight. If you find your way to the back, passed the minuscule changing rooms, you enter a wall-to-wall room of shoes. I dare you to get past the register without buying anything. It’s that special! (Though I have to admit quite pricy…)

January 20, 2011

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11 Responses to “It’s a London thing”

  2. avatar
    RICHLILPOORGIRL - Reply

    I choked at the sight of that Pierre Cardin dress! Simply STUNNING. How adorable are you guys in the butcher shop? Love those dresses! I want one!

    xx
    -RLPG

  4. avatar
    Natalie Suarez - Reply

    wow! i love the outfits! and her blonde hair is GORGEOUS! 🙂

    natalieoffduty.blogspot.com

  5. avatar
    joy - Reply

    Yum to the food and to the clothes. The block print number is quite amazing.

  6. avatar
    FashionBookmark - Reply

    I absolutely adore the 1960's grey Pierre Cardin dress and Clara is truely beautiful!

  7. avatar
    An-sofie - Reply

    Dear Nathalie,
    I'm a girl from Belgium and I recently discovered you during one of my many fashionblog-surfsessions. I think you are such an inspiration! You are really someone to look up to! I don't want to sound silly 🙂 I am a student communication studies at the VUB and I want to write my thesis about fashion next year. I was looking for colleges for after my graduation to go for an extra master and I found the London College of Fashion which I think would be perfect! (Is it difficult to get in?) It was so funny when I read this story about you on SLU because you've almost done the exact same things. Moving to NYC is also on my A-list 🙂 If I will be half as succesful as you are one day than I will be more than happy!!! Keep up the great casting work and I love your vintage blog, defenitely writing down your adresses for my next hunt in Ghent or Brussels.
    Liefs,
    An-Sofie

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