Four years ago hailed the onset of my vintage pilgrimages, and Digbeth Cow became my Mecca…read more Previously only acquainted with the rare fruits of charity shops, the abundance of second-hand goodies took me to vintage Heaven. Never before had I seen so much paisley and so many shoulder pads!
The best aspect, in my modest and honest opinion, is the building itself. It's like a warehouse, stripped down bare. It's raw. The clothing rails descend from a rather lofty ceiling on chains. If you are anything like me, you will forget this, and get quite a fright when the rail in front of you starts to swing...all part of the fun though, naturally. The overall effect is jolly impressive, to my simple mind.
Once you've finished gazing at these suspended rails, you'll pick your jaw back up off the floor only to drop it again when you take in what it actually on the rails. Clothes. Reams and reams of beautiful, eccentric, retro, old-fashioned, elegant and quirky clothes. Once you've picked your jaw off the floor a second time, you will start to grin. And then, then you will rush excitedly to the nearest rail to begin your feverish rummaging through this magical offering of treats.
Exaggerating? Hardly.
I will offer some advice here. In order to appreciate Digbeth Cow to the extent it deserves, requires at least an hour of your precious time. Otherwise you will leave worrying that you've left behind some lovely shirt hanging undiscovered in the corner you never made it around to. Trust me. I now even have a method to prevent this from happening. I start in one corner and snake my way up and down the rails from one side of the shop to the other, stopping every so often to escort the growing pile of clothes on my arm to the fitting room. I don't leave anything to chance!
Think beyond the dresses and jumpers you have come to expect in these establishments (though you will of course find them aplenty also), but think also of high-waisted trousers, cast-off denims, pointy shoes, leather handbags, collections of old-school prom dresses and treasure chests of belts and scarves and hats. Oh it makes me swoon.
There is one problem I have with this store. I have never been able to leave empty handed. Never. Thus I have resolved to avoid it like the plague when the stability of bank account is threatened. Desperate times, desperate measures. They even accept cards now, so I can't even protect myself by not carrying cash...
To this day Digbeth Cow remains my favourite of the 'chain' (there are also stores in Manchester, Sheffield and Nottingham, and Cow 2 in Birmingham city centre) and my preferred place to shop for frills and frocks and all things made of cloth (and leather!)