A Walk Down Vintage Lane

Cheshire Street beams with vintage charm. A walk here leaves me feeling doused in bygone glamour. When I walk away it follows me like a perfume, lingering in a way that can't be forgotten quickly because it's timeless. Some of the best little details of the past decades can be found here to make a modern day Audrey Hepburn out of me.  Here I can walk away with a fur stole, hat with a bow, lace dress and satin shoes, pillow cases with flowers and doilies with lavender stitching. 

Pictured inside:

The Shop house of fabric, tablecloths, pillow cases, clothing from baby to adult, and endless accessories.

Retitled - a 1950's heaven complete with a perfume spritz behind the changing divider while you decide over tea cups and hairbrushes and satin shoes. 

Pictured outside:

Vintage Heaven for coats line with fur and vintage dresses, shoes, and purses.

The Vintage Bean for a pick me up coffee, elderflower spritzer, or glass of red. 

Vintage Emporium

I would like to live as poet above this cafe/shop and come down every day for a cup of coffee and inspiration. Time forgot to touch this pink facaded building and stepping inside completely immerses you in perfectly preserved vintage and bohemian London. I am beyond smitten, full out in love...

I'll Find Myself Along the Way

Maybe it's just me, but coming out of the holidays has been like trying trying to squeeze out the last bit of honey that's stuck at the bottom of the bottle. I can't quite seem to get my flow back, but I've been quite happy baking a chocolate lavender cake with my sister-in-law, Hannah and galavanting around London stopping in the cafes that have especially warm lights and little treats served on tiered plates. In the midst of all this I am applying for jobs and trying to get my feet on the ground while talking about a project with Matt and Hannah that adds a little twinkle to my eye that's been a little dim lately. I was hoping to put up a recipe for this post, but instead I'm waiting on some special ingredients to arrive. But I hope to present it soon. ♥ Below you can see that H and I have made it back to Brick Lane. It was a cold day that my glittery tights couldn't protect me from so we didn't wade through the Sunday crowd long. We ended up at Chez Elles again, which I've already talked about, but I finally had my good camera with me. There Hannah says in a sighing voice, "it's like every bite is made with love," and we ooed and ahhed over our shared brunch of French toast and a meaty platter. The other shop pictured is This Store Rocks (it does ;) ).

Brick Lane Cafes

In the dimly lit winter days cafes are like worlds of refuge. It's as if the dark days of London can't be bad as they make the warm cafes with their aromas all the more warm-hearted. You go through the doors with jingling bells and if you're lucky enough to sit down and stay you will feel strange leaving, like waking from a dream and realising the world has carried on just as it had before.  While you seem different. Lighter, happier, with a rosiness returned to your cheeks. 

Brick Lane is my favourite place to find vintage in London. Two of my favourite cafes serve as bookends to this lane and it's side streets.  Begin at the top of the street or the end as long as you stop at one or both of these cafes.  

(my instagram journey through brick lane)

Chez Elles Bistroquet

45 Brick Lane, Poplar, London Borough of Tower Hamlets, E1 6PU

Hours:

Monday Closed

Tuesday-Friday 11:30 am-11:30 pm

Saturday 10:30 am-11:30 pm

Sunday 10:30 am-6:00 pm

Parisian, beautiful waiters with French accents, floral cups with saucers, Edith Piaf serenading you from the '30s, cookies, pain au chocolat, brunch, candle lit dinners

~ Shops along the way ~

The Vintage Emporium

14 Bacon Street, Shadwell, London E1 6LF

Hours:

Monday-Friday 

11 am–10 pm 

Saturday-Sunday

10 am-10 pm

Victorian styled, the owner's dogs next to you, big tea cakes sprinkled with dried fruits and nuts, gorgeous vintage shop below, old old songs, homey yet like no home you've ever been to