Titled Vintage Shops London, Michelle’s new book features over 50 of her fellow London-based vintage stores and markets, so wherever you are in the city, you can easily find somewhere for a good old rummage amongst objects with a story to tell.
When I became interested in interiors around 15 years ago and started blogging about it, my first love was vintage style. I started my now vast collection of interiors books with titles such as Flea Market Style by Emily Chalmers, and Bazaar Style by Selina Lake. While my taste and style has evolved and changed over the years, vintage has always been a staple in some shape or form. Buying vintage, whether it’s furniture, objects or clothing, offers so much in terms of variety, with styles from so many eras available, there truly is something for everyone. Furthermore, with sustainability at the forefront of many purchasing decisions these days, opting to buy second-hand is more important than ever.
The small format book is the perfect size for slipping into your bag on your next London visit and is divided up geographically, covering north, south, east, west, central and the city, so wherever you may be you can easily flick to that section. The Old Cinema in Chiswick was where I acquired a couple of my first big furniture purchases back in 2009, when we moved into our first home, so it holds a special place in my heart, and it’s lovely to see it still going strong all these years later, proving the longevity and evergreen appeal of vintage for the home.
I only live an hour out of London on the train, but with the pandemic it’s been such a long time since I’ve spent time in the city and I really miss it. For me, a perfect day in London is picking an area to explore, popping into much-loved shops or new discoveries, with a break for a leisurely lunch, followed by more mooching. Michelle’s book has certainly ignited the flame to get back into our wonderful capital again to enjoy more of those inspiration-gathering days. I love the contrast of the two venues pictured above – Pure White Lines at Mare Street Market and Patina in Chatsworth Road; both so different in aesthetic and approach, but equally as appealing.
Whatever your vintage preferences, there is no doubt London has you covered and this lovely little book is a great guide for seeking out some of the best spots to spend your time hunting down your next second-hand gem!
Buy Vintage Shops London from Michelle’s own website, or from wherever you buy your books. Published by Pimpernel Books.
