Where to look for vintage in London?

[cambridgedrone]

I've been dressing classily for a while, but aside from a few accoutrements (cufflinks) the realm of vintage has been totally unexplored by me. So, could any of you UK-based loungers possibly be convinced to give me a few pointers on good places to look for vintage clothes in the old Metropolis? Ideally, places relatively affordable for a graduate student (if such there be), or if there are any places that are better for formal wear I'd especially love to learn about those.

 

[Lauren]

Portobello Road flea market

 

[Baron Kurtz]

Bertie Wooster in chelsea for formal wear and vintage savile row goods ... if he's still open.

bk

 

[Marc Chevalier]

The attics of country estates. (You may have to illegally trespass to do this.)

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[Salv]

There's a fairly comprehensive list here but it doeesn't seem to have been updated for a while.

These are two of my usual stops when vintage hunting -

Radio Days - 87 Lower Marsh, SE1, just behind Waterloo station. Mainly women's wear, but some good British mens suits and overcoats.

Beyond Retro - 110-112 Cheshire Street, E2, in a turning off Brick Lane. There are a few vintage shops along the road, but this is the best. I bought a mint condition, never worn, two-tone gold and green raincoat here for £25, and a '50s Woolrich hunting jacket in a dusty pink and brown check for £20. There's some good denim, a few decent shirts and the occasional gabardine jacket.

Also there are a few vintage shops along Brick Lane - two branches of Rockit and at least one more whose name escapes me.

And a good call by Lauren for Portbello Road - go on Saturday and wander around the stalls under the Westway at Portobello Green.

There are several shops in Covent Garden in the streets around Long Acre that aren't on that list I linked to at the top. I can't remember the names or exact locations but they're clustered in the area bordered by Long Acre, Sheldon Street, Mercer Street and Bow Street. See this map.