Electro-pop star Astrid S on the six best vintage stores in London
Hunger goes shopping with the Norwegian pop princess.
[T]he latest noir-pop sensation to come out of Norway? Meet Astrid S. The rising talent – real name Astrid Smeplass – hasn’t even released an album yet and is already garnering global attention thanks to an MTV Europe Music Award win, lending her vocals on a Katy Perry track and releasing a slick six-track EP earlier this year. The 20-year-old’s inimitable Scandi-cool style deserves a shout out too. A snoop on her Instagram account, which has accrued nearly half a million followers, and you’ll find the singer has a strong penchant for glam sportswear (it’s a thing). While she’s currently based in Oslo, vintage shopping is her first pit stop whenever she visits London.
“Going from one side of London to the other you get such a range of style and taste, it’s almost like you’re changing cities,” Astrid tells Hunger. “I like the vibe in East London – the look is very relaxed. People here are so good at making something look sophisticated but still casual and work in everyday life.” From picking up Kate Moss-style 90s garms to stellar second-hand menswear, we spent an afternoon shopping with Astrid S in her six favourite fashion haunts in L-town…
Serotonin Vintage
“Serotonin is really great because of the amazing designer selections. Every piece in there is designer and it’s great putting different items to different years. I love the pink wall in the back when you walk in with the Sex Pistols posters, etc. It’s great when you want to buy a one-off, more expensive piece. I love this Charlotte Simone coat, it’s very fabulous and very Carrie Bradshaw… I’ve started to rewatch all of the Sex and The City so I’m kind of obsessed with her right now. If I’m going out, after a few beers I might dare to take this out of the closet.”
E1 6SB, @serotoninvintage
Vintage Basement
“I really like this place, the walls and ceiling are covered in vinyl and it has a really relaxed vibe. It’s also really filled with clothing, the racks are completely stuffed so if you spend a little bit more time in there than usual you can really find some cool stuff. I really liked the fit and style of this sequinned, floor-length dress – it has an open back and thin straps. I would like to have more pieces like this in my closet because I think you can wear it down with a pair of sneakers and some cool socks. This is perfect to wear if I have a day off in New York or Paris.”
E2 6ED
Rokit
“Rokit is of course one of the most popular vintage stories in London but I think it’s got such a wide variety of clothing which is why it’s so popular! You can find a range of things – from full body snowsuits to really cool accessories or designer bags. This neon-pink Ski jacket reminds me of my Mom’s skiing jacket. These were really big in the 80s in winter in Norway and during Easter we have parties for after ski, often 80s themed, so I can wear this with big curly hair.”
WC2H 9HZ, @rokitvintage
Vintage Store London
“I like this store because it has a lot of athletic-wear, which I love. They have lots of really cool retro tracksuits and they also have a pretty cool section of designer items. They have a great range of denim, especially Versace. I also love this Chinese-style of dress – I actually have a lot of them on my Pinterest board. I’ll wear this with sneakers and a bubble winter jacket to be more casual.”
One of a Kind London
“This shop is legendary since it has had crazy clients like Kate Moss and Naomi Campbell coming here since the 90s, which of course is really cool. The pieces they stock are all really unique and beautiful. This is great if you want a killer designer accessory that no one else will have.”
The Vintage Showroom
“This is a menswear vintage shop that stocks a range of really unique and cool pieces. They do anything from vintage military and work clothing from 50 + years ago to sportswear from the 90s. As I mentioned, I really love shopping and wearing menswear and this place has such great menswear. They especially have amazing coats.”
