Beyond Retro (London, UK)

While the French are masters in effortless chic, one of the nations to have defined effortless vintage the best are probably the British. It's not all that surprising considering the U.K. has some of the best vintage shops out there and that many eager shoppers have taken full advantage of them. Starting at a young age, most British will have embraced vintage as a great means to source unique pieces that have a history yet somehow also reflect their own personality. They are a cheaper alternative to overpriced designer goods and mass-produced high street items. In terms of individuality and quality, nothing can compete with that army jacket from the 60's or the 20's flapper dress. And if these pieces could talk, they'd probably have some great stories to tell.

From left: channeling 50's prom, 80's pink prom, 40's summer look.

From left: inspired by Mary Poppin's Barbershop look, Mayan Gold, Nautical style

(all images & clothing: Beyond Retro)

It is for this reason I keep going to thrift stores, even though I actually lack the patience to sort through piles of clothing. A perfect area to seek out vintage if you're ever in London is virtually any store around Brick Lane. One of the best selections can be found in Beyond Retro, an overwhelmingly huge store located in a converted warehouse that stocks well over 10 000 items. It's been humorously tagged as 'selling dead people’s clothes to meet the sartorial challenges of east London’s beautiful people'. Though I'm sure some items have been donated by people that are alive and doing well - at least that's what I'm telling myself.

The frilly items hanging from the ceiling are prom dresses and tutus.

Even if you're not the most patient shopper, it's well worth a visit, because they have clothes, bags, shoes and other accessories to suit every taste. Loyal fans include everyone from students and musicians, to costume stylists and celebrities... the latter of course making this place more popular than it used to be. Despite extensive media coverage, the store has thankfully retained it's warehouse look and also its reasonable pricing.

While I was there, the staff were preparing a prom-corner in the store, with a selection of dresses from the 50's - 80's. A small display towards the entrance featured some vintage hats from a recent millinery exhibition that was hosted by Stephen Jones. This is probably the only non-jumbled section, because everything else will require a bit of digging. Evening gowns and party dresses (starting at £50), old leather biker jackets (starting £40), scarves as low as £1, printed day dresses for £18, bright heels (around £20) and anything else you might need or never knew you needed. You can even get wedding dresses here (starting at £60), but from what I heard, this is the ultimate destination for people seeking an outfit for parties or a costume for special events, because items like these just can't be found anywhere else.

Many many shoes...

The range of clothing is quite remarkable, probably due to the fact that items aren't just sourced from the U.K., but all around the globe, whether it's vintage kimono gowns from Japan or 70's jumpsuits from New York. Garments and accessories span the decades from the 1900's to the 90's, which might give an idea of just how many pieces the store holds. Amazingly enough, the vintage experts at Beyond Retro go through 350 000 items a day to handpick what ends up being sold on the sales floor (I could spy some of them working away in the mezzanine area). It's also always interesting to see older looks which have suddenly become popular again. If you don't want to splurge too much on harem trousers or a tie-dye top, you're bound to find a cheaper version here. Of course not all styles will look too modern, but the retro vibe will just be part of the charm.

Impressive hat selection on the left. Right: an entire wall of bags and purses.

People spend an average of 2-3 hours in the store and I can see why. I didn't have that much time, but could have easily spent an hour just in the shoe and bag section. And if I ever need a hat, this is the first place I'd come to, because I've rarely seen so many well-made unique pieces in one store. Besides party dresses and evening gowns, there were many many casual day dresses, mostly in colorful prints, that would be perfect for the summer. Quite a few girls had at least 15 of them draped over their arms, while somehow managing to browse for more.

More dresses than I could handle.

If that isn't enough to get you going, Beyond Retro likes to host special events and invite bands to play live in-store during the weekends. A second store has opened up near Oxford Street if you prefer a more central location, but the selection isn't as big. Those in Sweden are also lucky, as Beyond Retro has several outposts, mainly in Stockholm. The vintage retailer has also promised to make a web store available soon, so hopefully everyone will be able to get some of their amazing vintage pieces online in the near future.

(individual images: Beyond Retro)

Address: 110-112 Cheshire Street, E2 6EJ London
Opening Hrs: Mon-Sun: 10:00-18:00
Beyond Retro Homepage