VINTAGE Style

The eternal appeal of nostalgia is vividly explored by Jess Cusack

if you’re on the hunt for menswear which sets you apart from the crowd and will last you forever, look no further than Radio Days on Lower Marsh, SE1. Among the treasure trove of vintage delights in the form of womenswear, childrenswear, memorabilia and accessories, they also stock impeccably well-made menswear, which can either totally transform, or simply update, your look.

Vintage Style Radio Days London Fashion
With the recent release of The Great Gatsby in cinemas, and the eternally popular Mad Men, now is the time to channel the dapper gent in a tailored suit from the 1940s and 50s, or add vintage accessories, such as hats, cufflinks and scarves, to your existing contemporary outfit.

Vintage clothing and accessories are becoming increasingly prevalent on the streets of London, which Radio Days co-owner, Lee, puts down to its emphasis on “individuality, not looking the same as anyone else. Our customers don’t want to conform to stereotypes when they dress, and showing your personality in this way can only breed confidence.”

“vintage is your own personal thing, you won’t look like anyone else

‘Personality’ is certainly one way to describe Radio Days, which was founded in 1993 by Lee’s partner, Chrissie, and continues to be run by the couple. The internal enchantment of the shop, which is a gold mine for fashion-lovers and novices alike, is mirrored externally by the shop’s infamous window displays. Curated and assembled by Chrissie, passers-by are coaxed into the shop by windows which have featured, to name but a few, a Wizard of Oz scene, a kitsch Hawaiian-style beachside, and a reconstruction of the iconic image of Marilyn Monroe’s billowing white dress.

Radio Days Vintage Style London
“They are the windows to the soul of the shop,” says Lee, “you get so intrigued by what’s behind them, and it really puts a smile on people’s face.”

However, when it comes to fashion, both male and female customers sometimes need a little encouragement to try a vintage style which they’re not used to wearing, and Lee attributes this to a ‘fear’ of fashion which is dictated by trend-forecasting magazines. Lee argues that instead, “vintage is your own personal thing, you won’t look like anyone else wearing mass-produced items.”

“People think that because it’s vintage, it’s cheap,” remarks Lee, “but you must remember that these clothes have stood the test of time: they will last forever, hence why you might pay a bit more for them. Quality, genuine vintage will hold, it will be well-made and durable because that’s how they made clothes back then.”

Radio Days not only sells vintage clothing and accessories, it also has a vintage attitude to match. Lee explained, “Radio Days is about having a good time, being old school, and treating the customer how they should be treated. Even if they don’t buy anything, it’s all about the customer and you’ve got to love what you do, that way they feel more at ease.”

Lee’s sunny disposition is certainly hard to find in the vast faceless superstores which populate larger high streets, and so often drain the fun and experience of shopping. Through Radio Days, Lee and Chrissie are bringing back both retro clothing and a timeless fashion philosophy.

Radio Days
87 Lower Marsh
Waterloo
SE1 7AB

t: 020 7928 0800
w: www.radiodaysvintage.co.uk

Also from this Edition:

	

	
			

						
		

			

		
			







	




	
Other Stories

	

		

			FOOD AND DRINK
		

					
			

									
											
							
														
							

						
														

			
	

	
	

	
	

		

			STYLE
		

					
			

									
											
							
														
							

						
														

	

	
	

	
	

		

			CULTURE
		

					
			

									
											
							
														
							

						
														

	

	
	
	
	
	

		

			FOR THE SOUL
		

					
			

									
											
							
														
							

						
														

	

	
	
	

	

		

			BUSINESS
		

					
			

				
No articles available
				

	

	
	
	
		
	

		

			PROPERTY