Fashion Markets & Vintage
What the Butler Wore
Tucked behind Waterloo station, What the Butler Wore has quickly gained a reputation as THE vintage destination in London for one-off 60s and 70s pieces. Featured in Time Out's Good Shopping Guide for several years running, it attracts party-goers, stylists, and fashion insiders. What the Butler Wore is the result of the combined efforts of a trio of gals that each ran stalls in vintage markets across England until 1995, when they combined their passion for sourcing from the closets of groovy grannies and far flung countries to create a vast vintage wonderland.
More Information
Careful and Curated
Herman Brown in Edinburgh displays clothes like antiques with an emphasis on curating a total look that includes the proper accessories. You don't buy a piece so much as a complete look at the vintage boutique. The owners have been at it for 25 years, traveling frequently to find the right pieces to display alongside their 1940s dresses and men's collections that will always include cufflinks. They currently feature their own capsule collection, "HB electronics," which is a 1980s inspired assortment of slack heeled shoes, puff dresses, and Day-Glo 80s leggings.
More Information
Old Spitalfields Market
Old Spitalfield's Market hosts tons of independent designers in London's trendy East End neighborhood of Shoreditch. Sunday is the big day at the market for fashion with stalls spilling out into surrounding streets. Around April, Alternative Arts presents it's platform for independent designers at the market, Alternative Fashion Week. It's open to everyone, free to participate, and runs for a full week featuring locally sourced designers, materials, and models. While there, you can also stop in Absolute Vintage, rated as one of the top 100 vintage shops in the world.
More Information
Edinburgh's Grassmarket
Having the cheery distinction of being both a medieval marketplace and a site of public execution, the only horror in the Grassmarket today is showing up dressed like anyone else. Vintage is what The Grassmarket does brilliantly. Armstrong's Vintage Emporium has the distinction of being part of Franz Ferdinand's vintage stomping grounds - it's particularly known for vintage highland wear. Also not to miss is Godiva Boutique, which not only stocks vintage, but also has a made to measure line, where you get private consultation with a designer.
More Information
Cardiff's Vintage Arcades
Shopping in Cardiff consists of playing around in arcades; some are modern malls, but search out the ones that have been active for over 100 years for vintage fashion. In High Street Arcade, you can find Hobo's Vintage Clothing with its impressive collection of groovy 60's and 70's pieces. At the Morgan and Castle Arcades, find designer goods in stores such as Woodenwood, Floyds, FairTrade and I Claudius. Or try Eccentrix for fetish footwear. There are more funky clothes at Mambo in the Royal Arcade. Learn more about Cardiff, Europe's Youngest Capital, at www.visitcardiff.com.
More Information
Cabbages & Frocks
Rated as one of the ten best markets in London, this market was started by food-loving fashionista Angela Cash. Stalls satisfy even the most demanding tastebuds and there's a range of retro and vintage clothing, plus work from independent designers and craftsmen and women. This market runs Saturday only, but for a full list of London markets, check out the London Market guide.
More Information
West End
Head down Byres Road in Glasgow and discover what's on offer. The West End is a close-knit community with an indie feel and credibility and a collection of innovative designers and vintage stores. Starry, Starry Night is tucked away on Dowanside Lane/Ruthven Lane and has such an extensive collection ranging from 1930's cocktail dresses to hip 70's clothing that it's frequented by theatre companies. For a truly unique one-of-kind look, you can try Glasgow's vintage newcomer, Brigette. To get your Old Skool cavities hit up a retro sweet shop I Love Candy.
More Information
60's Pop Décor at Graig Wen
Guests at Graig Wen, a B&B overlooking the Mawddach estuary near Dolgellau, can experience 60's Welsh music in rooms decorated with album covers of Welsh language pop from the 60's and 70's. Owners Sarah Heyworth and John McKenzie-Murdoch said they thought guests would be interested to see there was more to Welsh music than Tom Jones and male choirs. The records bring a colorful twist to some of the more traditional interiors at Graig Wen.
More Information
A reason to get UP on Sunday
Among the best markets to find hip, edgy designers is the Old Truman Brewery's Sunday (Up)Market and the nearby Backyard Market. Located in the Old Truman Brewery just stone's throw away from Old Spitalfields these markets are just another good reason to go east in London to collect vintage and one-of-a-kind pieces. You'll also find cheap jewels and some seriously off-the-beaten path design shops - like Absurd who, inspired by Camus, draw their inspiration from three concepts: revolt, freedom, and passion. Markets are open on Saturday and Sunday.
More Information
Manchester Fashion Market
The Manchester Fashion Market is open every Saturday on Tib Street, in the city's creative, buzzing Northern Quarter. You'd find the latest up-and-coming designers and indie labels from all over Manchester. You can also shop check out vintage boutiques like Rags to Bitches, which was voted by UK readers as one of the top 10 boutiques in Britain, or try Oklahoma for cool kitsch like gumball machines and neon chandeliers. Round it out at Vinyl Exchange or stroll around Afflecks Palace for a myriad of clothing stalls.
More Information
Vintage Fashion Fairs
Leeds Vintage Fashion Fair is rather new but has plenty of vintage fashion from 1900 to the 1980s for sale. Blind Lemon Vintage travels the country and will be in Cardiff on November 15th. London Vintage Fashion Fair has over 100 leading vintage fashion retailers come together for the big grand daddy of vintage fairs.
More Information
Subscribe
Click Here to get news, tips, and insider secrets delivered right to your email inbox with our email newsletters.
