Not Now Cato

Hot dang!
OK, so I’ve got to the stage in life where the paunch belly has now been around longer than the skinny one that (looks back into the misty realms of the past) used to be there.
When a time like this arrives in any man’s life, the options of attack are as follows:
1. Diet, go to the gym and work that gut off.
2. Buy bigger clothes.
I opted for number two and Not Now Cato was my enabler.
Armed with a wee bundle of cash and a desire to pick up a couple of new waistcoats (a fat bellies dream!), I wondered in here with hopes and left with dreams.
Now, I’ll not waffle on too much, but suffice to say I like the dude in here. There’s the level of grump with the slight edge of cynicism, that I see looking out of the mirror at me every morning. Not negative, just realistic.
On top of that, the gear is great. Shopping on this occasion, rewarded me with two new waistcoats and a great wee shirt.
Happy boy walks home. Done.

Not Now, Cato is a wee treat of a place!
I went in on its first couple of weeks of opening and the owner was just such a lovely guy, talking fervently about how he’d wanted to start a business like this for years and now he finally got to do what he loved for a living.
I’m glad he did, it’s a really nice little shop to visit. It’s tucked away on the first floor of De Courcey’s on Cresswell Lane. The arcade has had a major facelift in the last few years, and if I’m totally honest until the upstairs shops reopened I thought it had lost its charm and become a trendy hangout for people who could afford it. It was beginning to lack originality but this shop, along with the others upstairs, have brought that missing element back to the mini complex. The owner is usually in and he’s very approachable, which can often result in you spending a lot of money but hey, if it works then don’t knock it! I’ve managed to find a few gloriously tacky numbers out of here which I live in, and the prices are great. What’s not to love?

Where has this place been hiding eh? I’m not sure if it’s new to Cresswell lane or if there is just so much going on down that little cobbled street that I’ve failed to notice it until recently.
Upstairs in the little De Courcy’s Arcade is a vintage shop I’m now going to include in my semi-​regular ruthven lane-​watermelon-​vintage guru shopping mash up.
Granted, this place is on the small side, but there are plenty of items that will make you want to un-​zip the purse. Good selection of men’s clothing too. Me likey!

Hidden upstairs in the De Courcy’s Arcade on cobbled Cresswell Lane is dinky vintage shop Not Now Cato. Small but rails and rails of quality vintage clothing. What surprised me the most about Not Now Cato was the huge array of men’s clothing — vintage shops often lay much more emphasis on female’s clothing but not this one.
There was a whole rail of lovely vintage tweed-​like jackets, patterned tank-​tops and chunky winter jumpers that were so cool that, for a second, I almost wished I was male (until I saw the funky girly belts that is…). Different in a good way. I’ll be back with the boyfriend in tow.