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Written by Carly Temple | Wednesday, March 12, 2008 |
Beyond Retro
Beyond Retro has to be our favourite vintage emporium in London. Their two London stores are packed to bursting with thousands of handpicked items hailing from the late Victorian era to the late 1980s. Their shops are packed to bursting with thousands of handpicked items such as prom dresses, 50s skirts, rock t-shirts, lacy lingerie, lumberjack shirts, chain strap bags, 80s high top trainers and full tulle petticoats. With skirts starting at as little as £6-8 you’re bound to bag a bargain too. Staff are creamed from the creative London scene and are always on hand to lend their fashion expertise. Lose an entire afternoon in their huge Cheshire Street warehouse off Brick Lane, or pop into their smaller Great Marlborough Street store for a vintage fix when you’ve tired of Oxford Street. We caught up with one of their 
representatives to find out what’s behind the buzz of the shop at the heart of the London creative scene…
Hello Beyond Retro. Could you tell us a bit about how the store started out?
Beyond Retro started in 2000 in a converted warehouse in the East End. We originally only sold wholesale, but gradually started selling to the public too.
So what’s so good about vintage clothing?
Vintage clothing allows you to get a unique and quirky look for far less money than you’d pay on the high street. Now that most clothing is mass-produced in such huge numbers, there’s a real cachet in being able to wear something that no one else has.
You stock items from a wide range of eras. Which one tends to be the most popular with your customers?
The 1950s is always popular, as the styles from that era tend to suit modern figures. The full hips and busts are really flattering. At the moment we’re also selling a lot of very bright, graphic styles from the 60s and 70s which fit with the current boho-tech trends on the catwalks.
Where do you source your pieces from?
Our clothes are sourced from all over the world, but mainly from Canada and North America.
What’s the most exciting or rare vintage piece you’ve ever come across?
We sourced a beautiful collection of one woman’s vintage dresses last year. It was amazing to see how her style evolved throughout the different stages of her life.
Which pieces should vintage shoppers be snapping up for summer?
Kaftans and jumpsuits! Also any 1970s wooden wedge heels. And anything with a Hawaiian print.
You have shops in Stockholm as well as London. Do you think people wear vintage differently in Sweden?
Swedish shoppers are a bit more conservative than our London customers. They tend to go for the classic pieces, whereas in London people are more interested in creating their own individual look.
You sponsored the London Fashion Week party for Aganovich. Is supporting London design talent important to you?
Absolutely. Many designers come to Beyond Retro for inspiration, our clothes are used by stylists working in all areas of the media, and our stock is trend led, so we do feel that we’re very much a part of the fashion scene in London. The Aganovich party was a great opportunity to get involved with London Fashion Week, and our staff performed at the event with their own projects (Ipso Facto, The Broken Hearts and The She Set).
Music and fashion obviously go hand in hand at Beyond Retro. Tell us about the gigs your host in your Cheshire Street store….
We have live music in our Cheshire Street store every Saturday at 3pm. The gigs are a real platform for new music, and we have played host to acts such as Paloma Faith, The Bishops and Comanechi. If you’re interested in playing at our store just send an email to music@beyondretro.com.
And finally, do you ever have any celebrity customers?
We have quite a few celebrity customers: Dita Von Teese, Kate Nash, Henry Holland, Agyness Dean and Daisy Lowe all shop at Beyond Retro.
Beyond Retro: 110-112 Cheshire Street E2. Tel: 0207 613 3636. And 58-59 Great Marlborough Street. Tel: 0207 434 1406.
And here’s our guide to the best of the rest of London’s vintage stores….
Absolute Vintage
An Aladdin’s cave of vintage treasure. Particularly worth a look, is their vast shoe collection.
15 Hanbury Street, E1. Tel: 0207 247 3883
Blondie
Situated just around the corner from it’s sister shop, Absolute Vintage, this vintage boutique offers more of an edited selection of pieces. Seek out the pick of vintage designer shoes, bags and stand-out dresses (including Chanel and Dior) amongst the chandeliers and chaise lounges.
Unit 2,114-118 Commercial Street, London E1. Tel: 0207 247 0050.
Annie’s
This little gem in Camden passage sells the most beautiful vintage clothing and fabrics from a range of eras. Look out for intricately beaded clutch bags, pretty parasols, feathered hair-bands, evening boleros and antique lace, which always proves to be popular with brides to be.
12 Camden Passage, N1. Tel: 0207 359 0796.
Rokit
A well loved favourite amongst vintage shoppers. Head to their second shop on Brick Lane for more special items, where you’ll find frothy prom dresses, kooky vanity cases, beaded knitwear and cool sunglasses.
101 & 107 Brick Lane, E1. Tel: 0207 375 3864.
Burt & Mary Vintage
Don’t miss out on this great little vintage shop on your way up to Beyond Retro on Cheshire Street. Although somewhat more bijoux than the huge Beyond Retro warehouse, there are still some great pieces to be snapped up. Make a beeline for the circular rail of dresses in the middle of the shop.
5 Cheshire St, E1.
Rellik
Set up in 1999 by three Portobello road stall owners, Rellik is one of the best places in London to find vintage designer pieces. Trail the rails for pieces from Vivienne Westwood, Ossie Clark, Terry de Haviland and many more amazing designers. Not to be missed if you want to get your hands on a piece of design history.
8 Goldborne Rd, W10. Tel: 0208 962 0089.
Black Out II
This weenie little shop is packed to the rafters with amazing period pieces. The best thing about it is the assistants’ vintage expertise. Be sure to ask them for advice on creating the most authentic looks.
51 Endell Street, London WC2. Tel: 0207 240 5006.
Cornucopia
This amazing vintage shop has long since been a well kept stylist’s and celebrity’s secret.
12 Upper Tachbrook Street, W1. Tel: 0207 828 5752.
Traid
Our absolute favourite charity shop. The branch that seems to get the most stylish second-hand pieces is Westbourne Grove, so drop in on your way to Portobello market. But shhhh… keep it a secret, or there’ll be nothing left!
61 Westbourne Grove, W2. Tel: 0207 221 2421.
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