Guest post: East London vintage shops

By Yuli Linssen-Kaminitz

East London has endless vintage shopping options which make it awfully hard for a new fashionista to know where to begin. However, there are few shops that stand out with their originality, selection, quality and service.

Visiting these shops will make you realise few things very quickly: there is no better therapy than shopping, clothes make you tremendously cheerful and your bank account is not always big enough to accommodate all your needs and desires.

The Dressing Room: Entering the shop will soon give you the feeling you just arrive to an old, trendy disco club. The interior includes retro lighting sets, colorful wallpaper and a lot of funky attitude. Browsing through the fully loaded racks you will be able to find everything from 40-year-old elegant gala dresses, silk scarves, crocodile boots and so much more. If you are looking for a branded handbag you will be able to choose from: Fendi, Chanel and Gucci.
Get updated directions here (it’s currently relocating)

Absolute Vintage: This is truly the Mecca for vintage clothing. One of the most popular shops around East London and also the best vintage shop in London for 2008 – according to In Style magazine. The shop provides new stock every two days, and has an enormous selection of vintage clothes and recently opened an online shop. For those of you who were not lucky enough to be born in the UK – Absolute Vintage offers world-wide shipment. Let the spending begin…
15 Hanbury Street, E1. Visit the website here

Beyond Retro: Old school sneakers and sweat pants, prom dresses from the 40s, handpicked blouses and many more treasures! David Beckham and Kylie Minogue are huge fans and it is not difficult to understand why: hundreds of new items arrive to the shop daily, the quality of the garments is excellent and clearly the shop’s buyer has an amazing taste in clothes.
Cheshire Street, just off Brick Lane (lots of lovely shops on this street). Visit the website

Rokit: Started as a simple market stall in Camden, this vintage empire is now spreading over four stores in London. The style of the shop is funky, joyful, quirkily and mostly unique! Even though Rokit became tremendously popular all over London you can still be sure that if you purchase something, it will be one of a kind! Many items from the shop reach magazine fashion spreads and T.V productions.
101 & 107 Brick Lane. Website

Vintage Hart: This small, super cosy shop is the ideal place for some 50s-80s findings. Range of accessories, jewellery, hats and also some unusual looking contemporary items which will be perfect to build the most distinctive look for a night on the town! Website

Let us know of any other worthwhile vintage clothing shops in East London…. and check out The Vintage Guide to London

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