If they gave out ‘Buyer’ awards then Tomo (the buyer here) would win it. God they have so much great, great stuff, it’s expensive but so worth it. They were the first stockists in London of Cheap Monday jeans, or so I hear from The Captain. Now The Captain is NOT one of the beautiful [...]

Hackney Wick is clearly on the up and the Hackney Pearl is definitely a symbol of that. Oh don’t worry the area still looks like a deserted wasteland only fit for amateur fashion shoots, but salvaged Formica tables, school chairs and copies of the observer are a slap across the face reminder of where we’re [...]

You might think that there wasn’t much in Hackney Wick and that’s because there isn’t apart from a lot of unemployed people who call themselves artists. Anyway for months i’d been going to a fairly nasty cafe as there wasn’t anywhere else. Then a great little place opened up, eclectic and quirky, like sitting [...]

It’s just so cute, tucked away at the back of a camera repair shop, and quiet and discreet with a few little tables and Simon and Garfunkel playing in the background (it’s that kind of place). The few customers here are total anoraks, wearing hiking gear including boots and said anoraks despite the fact that [...]

I’ve said it before but I’ll say it again, the current climate and by climate I mean the eco-bender we’re all on not the recession (I don’t have any money now but I didn’t have any before either) means I feel not on justified but holier than thou buying one-off creations from London and Tokyo’s [...]

I’m frequently drawn in to Bang bang by a cute pair of Chanel flats or a Vivienne Westwood jacket that I kid myself will be in my price range, they are after all second hand. That’s the problem with designer vintage, they charge you more than what the item cost brand new for the privilege [...]

There is little point really in reviewing vintage shops, (I might as well just list them) as they are more of less all the same and stock the same stuff depending on the trend. If leather jackets, lumberjack shirts or old t-shirts with baseball team logo’s on them ever go out of fashion most of [...]

http://www.shockandsoul.co.uk/
100 Islington High Street, London N1 8EG
020 7359 1490
Monday – Tuesday 11am – 7pm Wedneday 11am-8pm
Thursday – Saturday 11am-5pm Sunday 12pm-6pm

When it comes to vintage I think London trumps any other city. Well yes every vintage store sells the same stuff like it’s all sourced from some giant warehouse in the sky but at least it’s all somewhat affordable. LA used to be cheap, not any more, New York is so expensive you’d be better [...]

I’m standing outside Rokit in Covent Garden, pacing back and forth deciding whether or not to go in, I could just have a quick look, I doubt there will be anything I want, well what’s the point of going in then? Well there might be something I want, something that would infinitely improve my life [...]

Let it be known in no uncertain terms that I will never under any circumstances go anywhere near a multiplex cinema. I would rather trek to north London to a little gem known as the Phoenix Cinema. Built in 1910 and surviving two world wars, it’s believed to be the oldest purpose built cinema in [...]

Aside from The Everyman in Hampstead, I have never known comfort like this. Plush leather armchairs and footstools with cream coloured walls, red velvet-like recesses and golden trimmings and a bar where you can forget the usual packaged and processed fat food and expect Mediterranean snacks such as olives and crudités, stuffed quail eggs and [...]

What was once originally a brothel is now one of London’s longest standing quaint cinema’s, with ornate paneled walls, heavily coffered ceiling of Edwardian plasterwork, red velvet chairs and double love seats that are comfortable enough to fall asleep in (I did once, to the Royal Tennenbaums, I hate Wes Andersen, what was I thinking?) [...]

….is my favourite of all markets as it combines vintage clothes, amazing food and ingredients like what you would find at borough market ( 27 varieties of sweet balsamic vinegar and little testers on everything), flowers, organic shampoo, cupcakes, olives etc.. all set on one of my favourite streets in Bethnal Green and being in [...]

I love this little shop, it’s full of weird, colourful stuff, it could be the official outfitters for Central Saint Martins fashion students as most of the stock is totally over the top but makes the shop look good. Of course the only way to atone for being a little overdressed is by being always [...]