Vintage in North West UK

[davidraphael]

I'll soon be in the North West of England using Manchester as a base.

Does anyone have any recommendations for vintage clothing and hat shops in that region?

Thanks!

 

[Methuselah]

J Wippell & Co on Princess St for hats, although it's mostly Christy's brand, but they also have some OK cloth caps.
Hat museum in Stockport is also worth a visit (not amazing, but it's free)
Northern Quarter / Affleck's Palace for vintage - mostly 70s / 80s student clobber, but there are some OK items once in a blue moon.
Christmas market sometimes has a hat stall too, when exactly will you be here?

 

[Two Types]

I'll soon be in the North West of England using Manchester as a base.

Does anyone have any recommendations for vintage clothing and hat shops in that region?

Thanks!

This shop is 23 miles outside Manchester:

ECHOES. One of Britain's best and most remote vintage clothing outlets, with men's and womenswear from the 1900s to the 1950s. 650a Halifax Road, Eastwood, Todmorden, West Yorkshire OL14 6DW. Tel 01706 817505. Echoes-vintage.co.uk

Fourteen miles from there is this company: "SPENCERS TROUSERS. FRIENDLY WORKS, BURNLEY ROAD HX6 2TL SOWERBY BRIDGE WEST YORKSHIRE 01422 833020 01422 839777 53.716778 1.909519. www.spencers-trousers.com"
They are a trouser makers and have been since the 1920s. I believe they hold original patterns for trousers they used to make back in the 1920s/1930s/1940s/1950s etc. (on their website they show the pattern they used for making plus-fours back in 1922).
They specialise in country cloths (moleskin and tweed etc) but also have some very good heavy cotton drill etc. if you are interested in getting them to make trousers for you from one of their original patterns, get in touch with them and let them know when you are coming over.
They can make trousers very quickly. I order from them by telephone and they usually post them to me within one week. They are very friendly and very helpful and will discuss anything you need. If you are interested in seeing some of their trousers, I can post some photographs of ones they have made for me.

 

[davidraphael]

Thanks for the tips. Much appreciated.

@Methuselah: Not sure when I'll be there, yet. Most likely some time in December, January latest.

I'm Manchester born and bred, but I haven't lived there for 20 years. Going to Afflecks will be a real blast from the past - I used to shop there in the 80s! I bought a massive 1940s overcoat from there for £10 which I wore until it dissolved.

Where are the Christmas markets? That's new to me; must have started since I left. So they sell second hand stuff?

@TwoTypes: The trousers look great!

 

[Two Types]

@TwoTypes: The trousers look great!

If you have a favourite pair of trousers, Spencers will copy them for you and keep the pattern on file. Then its simply a case of phoning them and letting them know what you need. Unlike some other companies, they don't charge for making the pattern from your original trousers.

Good luck on your trip back to the North West!

 

[Two Types]

I also found this list:
http://www.govintage.co.uk/directory.php

It was on a directory of British vintage shops, covering the northwest. However, I have no idea of how good any of them are.

 

[yorkshirechap]

I tried to find Echoes website but it does not appear to be live, best call before visiting to make sure the shop is still there.

 

[Methuselah]

Where are the Christmas markets? That's new to me; must have started since I left. So they sell second hand stuff?

I went & checked, all the hats are new, and nothing special sadly. Mostly wool felt. The Christmas market is mostly in Albert Square, every day until shortly before Christmas. Couldn't see anything else vintage sadly, but a nice selection of cheese, pork pies and mulled wine! There was also a vintage market in Picadilly Gardens, but that's only occasional.

Vintage shops in Manchester off the top of my head:

Ryan Vintage, Oldham St - cheaper tweed suits (£25) & jackets (£12-£15), mostly 70s/80s/90s
Oxfam Originals , Oldham St - I think all the other Oxfams send the better quality vintage here, but you pay the price for it, e.g. 1930s dress shirt £40
1st floor Affleck's Palace - there is a shop with about 5/6 1940s suits, also has a massively over-priced 1940s overcoat at £150!!! They are happier than most to haggle though - I recently talked them down from £45 to £30 for a tweed jacket
Blue Rinse, Oldham St - currently nothing of interest here, but you never know!
Pop Boutique, Oldham St & Affleck's Palace - 2 shops, tweed jackets and Pendleton shirts but nothing Golden Era

Central Manchester has virtually no charity shops, most vintage shops are over-priced and cater for 80s 'retro' gear for students.

My girlfriend goes to vintage fairs in the region, I'll ask her if she knows of any in the near future.

Best vintage shop I've been to recently was in Nottingham, I will try to find out what it's called - not in the North West but Nottingham is a nice city in parts so may be worth a trip.

 

[davidraphael]

Thanks a lot everyone, much appreciated - all this info will get my started when I arrive!

 

[Baron Kurtz]

That's probably Celia's vintage on Derby Road. Some very nice stuff in there …

Best vintage shop I've been to recently was in Nottingham, I will try to find out what it's called - not in the North West but Nottingham is a nice city in parts so may be worth a trip.

 

[avedwards]

That's probably Celia's vintage on Derby Road. Some very nice stuff in there …

That would probably be the one Methuselah referred to. It's an excellent shop and quite reasonably priced - I got the suit in my avatar for £85. They've recently moved a few doors up Derby Road and scaled down so that they now only stock things from the 50s and earlier.

Lincoln also has two vintage shops which are worth taking a look at if you're in the area.