Beyond Retro’s flagship vintage superstore houses a vast but well-edited collection of vintage and second-hand clothing for men and women, all under a pleasingly Art Deco roof. Once you’re done rifling through the racks – or perhaps when you just fancy a mid-shopping refuel – take a pew in the on-site café, which keeps up the kitsch vibes with vintage tea sets and tables made from old Singer sewing machines.
London might be known for its shiny department stores and swanky boutiques, but shopping in the city doesn’t have to leave you scared to look at your bank balance. While the biggest bargains in the capital will still be found at charity shops, swap shops and weekend car boots, its thrift and vintage stores still boast great value for money – especially if you stumble on something high-end at a cut price.
Part of the thrill of exploring thrift shops’ racks is that element of surprise. You never know just what is waiting for you among the piles of clothes, shoes and accessories. What’s more, each store feels unique, highlighting the personal tastes and curation skills of their owners and staff – the perfect antidote to the often uniform feel of high street chains. The fact that it’s also an eco-friendly alternative to fast fashion is the icing on the cake.
The Time Out team can spend hours digging through multicoloured rails, hunting down dream buys and pieces to give a fresh spin on the clothes already on our shelves at home. One of my favourite ways to spend a Sunday is trawling the shops around Brick Lane and pouncing on cool new items to update my wardrobe.
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