an assortment of treasures at Lulu's Antiques
We love vintage. In fact, we’re borderline obsessed with it. Liza is a great vintage shopper. She has an eye for what looks good and, as is ever important for a vintage shopper, a good tailor to adjust her treasures to make them contemporary. Emily is still learning the art, but what she lacks in experience she makes up for in enthusiasm…
second time around - a long-time favourite of many vintage shoppers
So, recently we decided it was time to head back to our favourite haunts, where we’ve bought some of our favourite pieces, and see what they had for us. It’s a strange feeling before you go vintage shopping – you know there will be walking, you know that you need plenty of cash (swiping your card is above and beyond the technological abilities of a vintage shop) and you know that you’re going to have to wade through piles of nastiness before you find something wonderful. But, it also brings with it a sense of excitement, a sense of forging ahead into the unknown. Will today be the day that you get your hands on that Chanel chain-strap bag? Will you end up with an original Lanvin cocktail dress for 50 bucks? Hey, this isn’t LA so the odds aren’t high, but there’s still a chance and that’s what makes it so intoxicating.
fur and a leather briefcase bag at glitterati
So off we go. Liza armed with her camera and (rather unwisely) wearing a pair of heels (first rule of vintage shopping, go comfy) and Emily charged and ready to spring should her eye fall upon a treasure. We headed to Cape Town’s Long Street and started at the vintage stall Lulu’s Antiques, which imports a lot of their stuff from Europe and America. How, we don’t know. When Emily asked the elusive little man in charge he tapped the side of his nose and said, “We get them, that’s all you need to know.” Intriguing. They have fantastic leather shorts, if you’re brave enough, 60s sundresses as well as a mishmash of antique Polaroid cameras, furs, boots and costume jewellery.
piles and piles of hats
Tragically, when we headed to the next two shops on our list, we discovered they’d both closed down. We wandered up and down Loop Street looking for Pandora’s Box until we thought we were going mad and the man who runs the coffee shop Cupcakes etc (which is now where Pandora’s Box used to be) became concerned about our frantic pacing and asked us in for a coffee. The other was Never on a Sunday – which is now occupied by a hairdresser. The owner of the salon said no one had supported them so they had to close. Tragic. Especially seeing as Liza bought a beautiful dark green blazer there a few months ago for only R50.
Emily rifling through the racks
That’s part of the reason we wanted to write this post. Vintage is a look that’s not going anywhere, as it were, and if we want to continue to have a choice then we’re going to have to support our little shops and get the word out there. So, wherever you are in South Africa – Jo’burg, Bloem, Empangeni, Pofadder… wherever… tell us your favourite vintage place to shop and let’s help keep them afloat.
I have been researching for the past 2 and a half years and have found over 90 places in the western cape to buy vintage clothing including at least 25 vintage stores that are NOT in Long street. Email me for more info skyelee@absamail.co.za