Collectif

Sind gestern nach langer Suche extra dorthin gefahren, diesen Shop gibt es aber leider seit Dezember 2014 nicht mehr!

Collectif store is heaven for any vintage style lover. It stocks a wide range of clothing for every occasion — this is great, as my pet peeve with many vintage-​style stores is that they limit their stock as if we all can wear nothing but strapless swing dresses all year round, rain or shine. Here, there is a good range of party dresses, but also a decent range of work appropriate more subtle clothes, or practical cardigans.
The quality is decent, and the clothes just don’t have that tacky costume-​like feel which you get from many wannabe vintage designs.
There are multiple branches of this store in London, but I think this is the best one (widest variety, and doesn’t get as busy as the one in Camden). Also, I got the impression that this branch stores the biggest collection of hats.
Their hats are my weakness — very good quality and fit, and the designs have just the right amount of vintage subtlety in them, so you can wear them even with very ‘toned down’ elegant outfits.
The staff is really nice and helpful with sizing questions, etc. With Covent Garden nearby so you can have a nice coffee or a glass of wine after a successful shopping spree, what’s not to love? :)

Collectif offers a wide selection of retro clothing: pencil dresses, swing dresses, cardigans, jackets, coats, blouses, high-​waisted trousers… You can dress from head to toe in Collectif, and everything is vintage inspired.
The quality of the clothes is good, I’ve bought two of their cardigans (and a dress) and after washing them several times they’re still in excellent condition. The sizes are a bit on the bigger side though… so maybe you want to size down if you’re in between sizes. For a retro/​vintage reproduction brand they are –surprisingly– not too expensive.
This shop is fairly small but packed with clothes and accessories, and the staff is very friendly (they let you browse in peace)! I prefer this one to the shop in Camden, it’s a more relaxing place to shop. Also, don’t forget to visit the basement, where you can find the clothes that are reduced in price.

Now we’ve all heard of Vivienne Of Hollway haven’t we? How about Tara Starlet? Limb clothing? All these labels are fabulous vintage, rockabilly inspired clothes thought up by UK designers and made in England. Collectif is one of these fabulous brands, but luckily for me their marketing must be rubbish as it’s just not on people’s radar.
This shop has been many things, mainly sample sales, but now it has transformed itself into the somewhat shabby yet totally adorable shop stocked to the brim with leopard print wiggle dresses and sailor boy sundresses. At around £50 a pop they are so much cheaper than the other brands yet the design is sometimes a little off, or the fabric a little too crazy. These guys have been around since 2001 and use the same styles every year, just in different fabrics. In this shop at the back you’ll even find a selection of samples. All shapes and sizes and starting from £10.
I have always thought of this shop as tat tourist clothes but if you really have a look, you’ll find a fabulous selection of punk rock n’ roll wear that will have you toe tappin’ in no time!