Vintage style

[Hoolahoophop]

Just wondering if anyone can recommend any shops for 1920s-1940s styles.

I would like to dress like I have just walked off the set of a fabulous David Suchet Poirot set.

I'm not sure where to shop to make sure that I am still getting good quality material and finishes rather than 'dress up' clothes.

Will have a scout around the vintage markets, but I have seen loads of shops that specialize in 50s and 60s styles so thought there must be some for 30s clothes.

Thanks.

https://theseamstressofbloomsbury.co.uk/collections/all

There's a big difference in the styles of clothes from 20s to 40s but genuine 1920s clothes will be rare, fragile, very expensive and in sizes which won't fit most modern women. You might be slightly luckier with 30s and 40s but I wouldn't hold your breath.

There are pastiche brands of which Seamstress of Bloomsbury is the best known. You say you don't want "dress up" clothes but to my eyes the pastiche brands are "dressing up"

I think its dress up quality i am worried about @IHaveAlwaysLivedintheCastle I bought some 50s dresses for an occasion from one of the pastiche brands and it felt cheap and cheaply made. Not well finished.

30s is my favorite. I'm all about the cloche hats. Have made in the past some lovely fish tail skirts worn with light weight blowses. Gorgeous bias cut dresses, floaty sleeves and backless. Wide leg trousers with halter tops. So maybe a 70s does 30s vibe might be my ideal.

40s do better work wear. 20s for party nights who wouldn't want a flapper dress!

Just how the eras make me feel.

Yes, I appreciate that it was the quality of material etc, I'm just not keen on pastiches, no matter how well made.

Ghost London still do quite a bit in 30s and 40s influenced styles. Also worth looking for vintage Ghost pieces on ebay etc https://www.ghost.co.uk/clothing/dresses#?viewAll=true

I was just thinking monsoon do some bits that would fit the bill. But they always make everything so long, and I am rather short of stature!

Try House of Foxy - prices are higher but I think they do a lot of pieces that feel more authentic. You could also try Miss Bamboo - I've never ordered from there so can't speak to the quality but really liked a couple of 30s inspired things they've posted recently. If you want to explore original vintage there are lots of very passionate sellers and many of them will happily source or go through their collection for you if you let them know the kind of thing that you want. (Warning, can get expensive...!). Could try Maggie Mae in Shrewsbusy or the Looking Glass in Bridgport just for starters.

If you're looking for the real thing, I can only think of a couple of places where I might still expect to find original 1920s-1940s clothing. They're both in London:
Tintin Collectables - in Alfie's Antiques in Marylebone:
https://alfiesantiques.com/user/146
Oliver Vintage, next to Portobello Market, note limited opening hours;
https://olivervintage.co.uk/

I'm not saying they're the only ones but they're the ones I know. (I don't live in London.) There might also be one or two dealers left at Camden Passage in Islington but last time I went, all the ones I knew had closed.

You could look out for specialised vintage fashion fairs, e.g. there's one in London around one a month: 'Frock Me'. I've never made it there but the photos always look fabulous.
https://www.frockmevintagefashion.com/

There are plenty of other vintage stops and vintage markets markets but that specific era is very hard to find these days - for obvious reasons. There are online dealers too but I don't use them so can't tell you much about them.

Also, as IHaveAlwaysLivedintheCastle says, anything you do find will be knocking on for a century old and have a price tag to match. I have some 20s and 30s dresses but I wouldn't wear them now because they're too fragile

You might have more luck searching for 1940s tailoring, which I still come across from time to time and which is much sturdier and still stands up to daily wear.

Vivien of Holloway do amazing vintage style clothing, all hand made in the UK.

She no longer has a shop but is still available online and Vinted etc

The only thing with her clothing is you have to go by your body measurements as she uses 'old vintage style' sizing so if you are for eg a size 14 her clothes you would probably need her advertised size of an 18

There are Facebook buy and sell pages and she is on them to give advice etc

Rokit in London and Armstrongs in Edinburgh are the big name vintage shops I know of. Armstrongs displays pre- WWII clothes but they're not for sale. It's a while since I was in Rokit but I think it's the same.

This Etsy site has lovely stuff, mostly from 50s and a lot of 70s Laura Ashley, Jean Muir, Jean Varon and a couple of 1940s dresses.

Elephant London

For vintage inspired rather than originals or reproductions Palava is the obvious choice for 50s dresses and cardigans and 40s little tweed jackets and landgirl trousers and dungarees. The shapes are of the period but the patterns aren't.

Have a look at:

Seamstress of Bloomsbury
Vivien of Holloway
House of Foxy / Pretty Retro
Weekend Doll

Thank you all, lots of shopping suggestions

I love Etsy for vintage finds.

Sea of vintage and simplicity is bliss are fabulous. The latter has mostly 50s clothing but there are also few 20s-40s gems, like this gorgeous 30s dress.

I also like xtabayvintage on insta.

Toast have a lot of things with a 30s style, I have a lovely chambray dress with a tie to the neck and a slightly dropped waist, they’re also great for high waist and wide leg in their trousers. As a seller of vintage I agree the real deal will be fragile and absolutely tiny.

Joanie is also quite good for 30s through to 70s vibes. Generally decent quality too.

@Hoolahoophop Are you a member of any online chat groups dedicated to fashion from these decades? I belong to a couple on FB and there are some great suggestions for places to shop on those. There are also independent seamstresses who produce their own clothes from period patterns. Might be worth a look.

Nancy Mac has a very Thirties vibe. The RTW business has folded now but you will find pieces on Vinted etc. The designers have moved to a bespoke-only model called The Rare and the Beautiful which is obviously at a higher price point but the clothes really are gorgeous. I’d love to own one of their silk-velvet jumpsuits one day.

@AppleMacCheese please can you link or pm me the Facebook groups? I'm a member of House of Foxy one but wouldn't mind a more general one. Thanks.