Elaine's is very different from the mainstream vintage movement that seems to be happening everywhere now, and this is evident as soon as you enter her emporium of classic and one off items. As I walked in I met a woman trying on a floral pinafore dress, very on trend, who straight away asked me what I thought. I replied that with some good accessorising and high heels, I thought the dress would look hot. I blethered away with her for ages, realising she was the owner of the shop, and said I was feeling jaded with the high street, and was hoping to get lucky with some vintage, as I was on the hunt for a dress for a wedding, and was in fear of the dreaded moment when you walk in preened to perfection and find that someone has the same outfit as you.
Elaine immediately got to work personal shopping for me, sifting through rails, holding up patterns and sizes against me, and giving me truthful, much appreciated opinions when I started to try the dresses on. I love an honest shop owner, as there's nothing worse than someone telling you that you look gorgeous, when you know fine well that tight bit of Lycra around your tummy is not in the least bit flattering.
The trying on process itself was a joy, as I got changed behind an old fashioned screen with copies of Vogue from back in the day piled up inside, and other pieces of nostalgia pinned onto the walls for my perusal. Eventually, after much twirling in front of the mirror, I went for a vintage Chloe dress, very reasonably priced, and a bright green one off dress from a Finnish designer. That old school feel of shopping at Elaine's, where the owner really cares about interacting with the customer, while getting to know you and using their love of the clothing to help you find what suits, really shone through here, and far transcends the typical high street shopping scenario, as there is actually some value attached to the experience of buying vintage clothes. I thought Elaine, and her carefully selected assortment of collectable and unique garments were just fabulous, and I will absolutely be returning here, in the hope of attaining some more beautiful apparel. read more