On (not) finding vintage patterns in London
I am looking for some tips. I am heading to London on Friday (it’s my first time; I live in the US) and I am wondering where you find vintage patterns there? I guarantee you I am not looking for the same size pattern, so I’m no competition.
Hi Brooke! I have some good news and some bad news.
The bad news is that London isn’t the world’s most deliriously awesome vintage shopping destination if you like the thrill of an undiscovered bargain. The supply of vintage goods here isn’t as big as in the States, and deadstock is nearly unheard-of. Because space is at a premium in the UK (many houses don’t have attics, basements or garages), there aren’t as many places where amazing stuff can languish unregarded for decades before emerging for 50p at a car boot sale. (It turns me green to read American and Aussie bloggers’ posts about the unbelievable vintage hauls they find at estate sales and op shops.) So a lot of vintage over here is in fact deliberately bought in from the States for resale, and there aren’t as many OMG amazing finds in charity shops and the like.
Also, the cost of living in the UK is relatively high — in London it’s horrific — and that cost is often reflected in vintage pricing. Add to that the sticker shock you’ll undoubtedly experience when spending US dollars in the UK, and you’ve got a recipe for disappointment.
To put the icing on the cake (of disappointment?), the craft revolution is still in its infancy here, meaning that only a few vendors seem to have woken up to the fact that there’s a demand for vintage patterns. I actually don’t recall ever having seen more than a sad handful of vintage patterns in a London shop, although Melissa of Fehr Trade recommends This Shop Rocks on Brick Lane.
Cake of Disappointment, £14.95.
The good news is that I don’t get around London shops nearly as much as I should, so what do I know? Carla of Rueby Retro recommends Camden Stables for vintage treasures, and you may have good luck there. And if you’re passing, charity shops are always worth whipping into for a quick look.
The other good news: If you’ve got time to make a day of it, there’s a vintage fashion fair seemingly every weekend in London — there’s the London Vintage Fashion, Textiles and Accessories Fair, the Vintage Fair, the Vintage Fashion Fair, the Clerkenwell Vintage Fashion Fair, Frock Me! and a bunch of others you can track down just by Googling “london vintage fashion fair”. Brooke, you’re spoiled for choice this weekend — both the LVFTA Fair in Hammersmith and the Vintage Fashion Fair at Earl’s Court fall on the 16th. Get up early, though, as I’ve heard the best pickings go before noon.
Still more good news: Once you head out of central London, the situation changes. In smaller towns and suburbs, the stuff in charity, antique and junk shops is less likely to have been picked over. The shopping also tends to get better as you travel north, and if you’re planning on going any place where the demographic is older — a seaside town with lots of retirees, say — definitely set aside some time for visiting the charity and antique shops. Probably my happiest charity-shop moment in the UK occurred when I discovered an entire suitcase full of 1950s, 60s and 70s British patterns in Lerwick, Shetland.
The best news of all: One of the best places to shop for vintage British patterns may just be the comfort of your own home. I’ve bought several off eBay — the Bestway dress in my last post cost US$8 from a Canadian eBay seller. It helps to think laterally with your keywords (“old dressmaking pattern” is a good start), as the best bargains come from sellers who are less knowledgeable about what they’re selling. You can also search by the names of British pattern companies from the era. I’ve listed a bunch here.
Best of luck to you, Brooke, and feel free to look me up for a cup of tea or a refreshing pint.
Readers! Know of any secret caches of vintage patterns in London or the UK in general? Tell us about it in the comments — inquiring minds want to know!
You marvelous, marvelous women. THANK YOU. If I can swing it, I’ll go to Brighton (and Arundel!). I’m definitely in for Camden Stables and the vintage fairs on Sunday.
This brings an entirely new dimension to the trip: not only am I going to one of the most amazing cities in the world, I’m now on a quest for vintage patterns and goods. (And maybe an evening gown.) I am over the moon, and I wouldn’t be here without you all. Thank you!
The Lanes area of Brighton is great, and a lovely day out from London for tourist and native alike. There’s are various vintage and antique shops, including a mammoth one that goes on forever and has piles and piles of stuff dotted around including boxes of old patterns hidden under piles of scarves and clothes and wotnot (can’t remember the name, but it’s HUGE and there’s a turnstile to get in). I picked up a great scallop edge blouse pattern for £1.50, which is bargainlicious for the UK. They also have jars and jars of old buttons and buckles.
The vintage pickings are slim here, too. Or people think you want patterns from 1984. Shudder.
Alfies Vintage market http://www.alfiesantiques.com/,walking distance from Paddington has a stall called Persiflage who has patterns and buttons etc. She also used to go to the Hammersmith vintage fair, so you might find her at both.
If you go to Alfies you might pop in to see Ninas Hair Salon (1st floor, follow signs) even just for a looksie.
Have fun!
What a fascinating post! I’m in the US and there’s an older lady currently unloading her stash on me. I never thought about how the abundance of storage around here can lead to the flood of vintage stuff in shops and ebay. But there are other reasons I want to visit London. . .
I’ve had a real hard time buying from british ebay’ers just because I have to really love the item AND feel really flush to pay the shipping from Britain to USA. LOL Last time I bought something from england I bought my sister a Wallace and Grommit car shade. She lives in Colorado and uses her car shade religiously at least from may through october.
The great thing about living in London is that it makes everywhere else (except maybe Tokyo and Moscow) look so idyllically AFFORDABLE.
I’m based in South Wales (I know, it’s waaaay too far away for a day trip) and there’s not a huge vintage scene here … yet. We just had the second vintage fashion fair of the year held in Cardiff Bay that had a few vendors selling a small amount of patterns (a dozen or so on three stalls). Even here vintage clothes are very expensive if bought through vintage sellers. I pattern buy through Ebay mostly, import from the States if there’s something I particularly like and can’t find on Ebay UK. I’d love to go to North Wales and check out their charity shops, it’s a more isolated area of Wales and there could be some great treasures hidden up there. If I make it, and should I find anything, I’ll let you know!
Look for charity shops in small and relatively wealthy areas: Henley, Upper Basildon etc. You might not find any patterns, but you’ll find some killer evening gowns.
Alas these places are not in London and it’s been a good four years since I’ve been in Blighty so they might now be overrun with chavs.
As Susannah mentioned, Camden Stables market is my “go-to” in London for vintage. If you’re starting at Camden Town tube station, the market is to the right coming out of the station. If you keep walking up that road well past the market, there used to be a charity shop on the left side of the road up there. No guarantee it is still there, but it had some older stuff when I saw it last.
Everytime I’ve been in the UK though, money & luggage space has been a huge factor in what I buy. So I don’t have much. Brighton is actually a way better town for vintage, it somewhat seems to specialize in it; but vintage, not thrift. I highly agree that you will have better luck in small towns and if you go to Brighton, Arundel is just a bit away and has a wicked castle and a few good antique shops. Brighton isn’t far from London and is a really nice seaside town to visit.