Blondie

Pretty well organized vintage shop.
I didn’t go crazy or feel frustrated shopping in here.
They are really strict here… NO PHOTOS, NO DRINKS AN D NO FOOD!
They have a sister store right near by called Absolute Vintage.

thought their selection was great, but was put off by the store person (sales or security?) who followed me about almost the entire time i was in the store. i’m no winona ryder or a terrorist-​looking type so that was pretty sh*tty. better vintage shopping to be had stateside anyway.

Blondie is more than just a killer band from the 80s, it’s also a shop in east London that sells high quality vintage. This is not any old vintage, this is 60s, 50s and earlier vintage. It’s where you’ll find that little wow dress, or an amazing retro handbag.
This shop will also cost you your life savings. This is NOT a thrift store, it’s like an antiques shop for clothes. From experience I’d buy a few key pieces from here, not my whole wardrobe. Avoid shoes that you’d wear often as they’ll fall apart, they are older than your mum! Don’t expect them to wear well. But splash out on party shoes, as the wear and tear is a lot less.

When in london I always pop to blondie for inspiration on the shoefront — great selection — and it is pricey — but you wouldn’t each cheap caviar would you?
I didn’t like it when the owner popped in on my last visit – and motioned to the sales girl to keep an eye on me — while i was standing right in front of him. Poor taste — even for, well, a Brit.

I had a really horrible experience in this store. I tried on a dress for my friend’s wedding, which was great. Naturally, I wanted her approval to see if it suited the colour scheme, so my younger sister who was accompanying me took a picture of me to show her. Then my sister was told that photography/​sketching was banned. Fair enough, it wasn’t like it was a close-​up of any detail. So, my sister acknowledged that and said that she had taken just the one and wouldn’t take anymore. The shop assistant demanded to go through my sisters’ mobile and check all of her pictures and her picture messages. I was inside the changing room taking the dress off, but could everything that was going on outside. Then before I even had a chance to get my skirt back on, the assistant barged in WHILST I WAS IN MY UNDERWEAR and demanded to see my phone, which had a flat battery anyway, hence my sister using her phone to take a picture. I told her that I wasn’t taking any pictures, I was getting changed; WE’D HEARD HER THE FIRST TIME. I WASN’T LIKE SHE CAUGHT US AGAIN AFTER SHE’D TOLD US! She made us feel like criminals! I gave her back the dress, and had been completely put off. Her attitude absolutely stunk, she was so patronising. It’s not like we’re young girls just trying on dresses for a laugh. We are both professionals willing to pay a decent amount for something of quality. I would have bought that dress but I won’t go there again after that.

Blondie is the up-​market sister to ‘Absolute Vintage’, just around the corner in Shoreditch. It looks and feels more like a ‘real’ store than a shabby, over-​packed vintage store. With amazing beaded dresses, jackets, furs, bags, shoes and everything else usual in a vintage store.
The quality is higher than the usual vintage stores, and the price reflects this but is well worth it if you find a perfect item. Staff are a bit up their own arses. They usually look super-​cute though.

Blondie is what all vintage shops should be like. It is well-​organized, does not smell when you walk in, and has the best quality vintage I have ever seen in London. It has a gorgeous selection of shoes and boots. Many of them are branded and are still in very good condition, which is something I often find difficult to find nowadays in such stores. They also have a reliable assortment of leather bags, one of which I have been eying for a while now.
If the shoes and bags are not enough to captivate your attention, surely the lovely beaded silky gowns and warm, beautifully knit jumpers will. It is evident that the collection of clothes in store go through a lot of attention to detail and editing before ending up on the racks. Clearly, other shops should take example on their perfect ethic.
My only criticism, and I have noticed that some other reviews have already picked up on this, is the constant condescending behaviour of their staff.

They have a great selection of shoes — it is trully impressive.
I have spend many moment looking and trying on the gems they have here organized in colour storys and sizes.
A good selection of belts is here too and I have had a hard time putting down a great eightys gold leapard head buckle belt the other day.
They also have «designer» vintage bags and I was with a friend whom was looking for an original «chanel» — we had all the bags down from the top shelves checking —
— it was realized that alas… although the price as still expensive (£200.00 a pop!)
They were all fakes — so if you are searching for the real deal be careful —- chanel is a hard bargain to find.

Vintage boots and shoes galore! Situated on Commercial Street next door to Tesco Metro. This little shop with an electric sliding door has a huge collection of shoes and boots.
You walk in to an overwhelming array of shoes and boots predominantly situated in the centre and some scattered around the edges. Many of the shoes and boots are in very good condition but do tend to be smaller sizes. Do note that a vintage size 6 tends to be a size 5 by today’s standards.
There are also some vintage clothes situated on four rails throughout the shop. Mainly dresses, some skirts and a few jackets. Although I do prefer Absolute Vintage around the corner, this place is smaller and has a higher quality of clothing. However do note that is much more expensive.

Love it here. Really really really love it. I want to walk away with half of the stuff in here. And I wish I’d bought a grey dress that I saw in here last week. I may just have to go back and see if it’s there after pay day. Unlikely, but a girl can try.
The arrange everything by colour in here. Now, you’d think that is a good thing, but honestly, it kinda hurts my eyes to star and millions of pink dresses all at the same time. I don’t know about you but I’ve never though oooh I really need to buy a green dress today.
The shoes here are fab. That’s a lot of shoes. Easily 1000 pairs in here. Dammit I just love it here.
You’ll pay good prices for stuff and if you know vintage, you’ll know that £60 for a perfect vintage tea dress is a good price. If something isn’t very old, or is damaged then it’ll be cheaper.
Just like that grey dress I didn’t buy. Dammit.

Hands down the best vintage boutique in East London, Blondie is the more sophisticated sister business of the sprawling Absolute Vintage on nearby Hanbury Street.
Specialising in high-​end vintage by the likes of Charles Jourdan and Chanel, Blondie’s smallish premises on Commercial Street are decorated with faux-​Art Deco mirrors and chandeliers; chaise longues and literally hundreds of pairs of shoes.
With a focus on good quality accessories, Blondie is a must for those who like their vintage shops with well edited collections and without the retro flotsam that ruins so many would-​be-​brilliant vintage boutiques.
The perfect place to pick up special and unique vintage pieces, the only thing that mitigates Blondie’s almost perfect score is the occasional snootiness of its staff.

This is a small vintage shoe shop near Liverpool street. It has got the same owner as Absolute Vintage but this shop is more classy. They have got stuff from Hermes, Louis Vuitton and Dior. Its like being in shoe heaven. You will be amazed how many shoes they have when you enter. Open everyday!