Rokit (London, UK)

Rokit is pretty much an institution in the vintage world that is Brick Lane and most people I know either hate or love this place. Me? I do both, depending on the stock I find during my particular visit or the pricing of whatever item I'm interested in. Back in 1986 Rokit started out as a market stall in Camden before opening up actual brick and mortar stores. Like a lot of outlets in the area, it became immensely popular when the vintage craze hit the fashion scene. Even if you've not heard of it, chances are you've seen some of their stuff featured in editorials, as this place is still favored by many London stylists out there.

Rokit items featured in editorials - from top left: hat (Cosmo), dress (125), tulle underskirt (Harper's Bazaar), dress (i-D). Lower left: Military jacket (Vogue), veil (Elle), waistcoat (Vogue), dress (Look).

So what can happen when a store starts being overly hyped? Prices rise and the selection starts getting a bit average. I don't frequent Rokit enough to say if this is true, but my visits have been very hit or miss. Safe to say, the stuff here isn't the cheapest I've seen... by far. The selection isn't too bad, but not the biggest. For a larger selection and bargain prices, you might want to visit the previously featured Beyond Retro first. But the reason I do come here and think it's worth mentioning in a post, is that I really like the store itself.

Left: The very 'boutiquey' looking interior. Right: A seleection of dresses.

For those like me, who easily get overwhelmed by the wide array of clothes, accessories and shoes packed tight on racks or shelves of vintage stores, Rokit is much easier to handle. It's probably the perfect place for a vintage novice and also a good option if you're in the area but don't have the time to browse extensively. There's the faint musky smell that accompanies most second-hand places, but if you held your breath slightly while entering the store, you would probably mistake it for another regular boutique.

Left: An assortment of bags. Right: Neatly organized shoes.

There are two stores, almost side by side if it weren't for The Laden Showroom wedged between them. The store I entered first contained the more casual outfits and menswear. Everything was neatly laid out and all items were very easy to browse. For the first time I didn't feel I had to dig for stuff. I started with the bags, which were placed in various modern cube-shaped cabinets and consisted of mainly no-name brands though I found some Coach pieces as well. Shoes were arranged by color on a metal rack, while accessories such as belts, scarves or hats had their own stand. The clothes consisted mainly of dresses ranging from the usual 70s polyester number to elegant chiffon evening dresses. Prices for these started at about £35 for the simpler pieces, while more elaborate sequined items would set you back around £65 or more. Basically the prices were equivalent to what you'd spend on the high-street for something brand new - although the vintage option is of course more sustainable and you're bound to get something a lot more unique.

Left: More dresses, mainly from the 80s and 90s. Right: Casual wear.

Sweaters, knits and a good selection of jeans as well as denim cut-offs (including vintage Levis) made up the rest of the selection. I found a few great jackets, some of which had pretty decent pricing, including a thick wool blazer for £25. Scarves, sunglasses and jewelry are priced fairly low as well (starting at £1), so these are worth paying extra attention to. The menswear section is just as large and again consists mainly of casual attire, ranging from accessories, trousers and sweaters to outwear - with a good range of leather jackets.

A view of the menswear department.

I quickly popped into the second store, which houses the more classical vintage items and valuable pieces, evident by the fact that this shop actually had a security guard (either that or the security cameras were broken). The setting here was slightly more cramped but everything was still very well laid out. Some of the furniture here did look aged, so this environment definitely had more of a vintage feel to it than its neighbor.

Store No.2: Just as neat but slightly more cramped.

I found a great selection of cowboy boots along with my favorite item: military jackets. There were plenty of dresses from the 40s to 70s, including maxi dresses and more intricate beaded evening gowns. Those channeling the 80s will love the different frilly tutus and prom dresses. Pricing varied largely, depending on the condition of the item and fabric of the garment.

As with all vintage places, you will have to dig a little and not get discouraged if you see stuff you don't want or is too expensive. Despite the hype, I think you'll still get a good deal on clothing and accessories if you look hard enough and thanks to the shop layout, browsing is pretty easy. I found most of the coats and jackets to have fair pricing, especially as they were all well-made and can't be found for less (or at all) if you tried getting them new. Here and there you'll also spot a brand name, whether it's Adidas or Escada, so there's definitely a good mix going on.

More accessories...

There are two other shops in the city (Covent Garden and Camden), but for those not heading to London anytime soon, Rokit has it's own online store offering worldwide deliveries so take a look if you need a vintage fix.

(individual images: Rokit)

Address: 101, 107 Brick Lane, London E1 6SE
Opening Hrs: Mon-Fri: 11:00-19:00, Sun-Sat: 11:00-18:00
Rokit Homepage and Online Shop