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- Unexpected new streets in London
One of my favourite things about London is discovering a whole new world around the corner of my familiar path. The other day it was a street, just one down from my usual walk, that I suddenly stumbled across – where rows of tall, Victorian buildings covered in roses stretched up towards the sky and vaults led into the most beautiful little mews.
My favourite is of course when this unexpected finding has something to do with antique jewellery, and today I will take you along to a treasure trove that in the very heart of London’s Mayfair:
Grays Antique Centre, Mayfair
Just around the corner from Bond Street tube station you will find Grays Antiques Centre. The front part of the building houses fine antique jewellery, watches, silver, objects d’art etc, and at the back of the building you will find Vintage Modes, where the most glorious collections of jewellery, vintage frocks, antique lace and textiles reside:
Peeking down the stairs into Vintage Modes at Grays Antique Centre
You enter the building at the back, and you will find that there are several shops lined up along the walls in the upstairs area – with everything from antiques to costume jewellery. Now make your way downstairs and go all the way to the back, where the walls are draped in red velvet and covered in dresses, hats, shoes and jewellery – you have arrived at Vintage Modes!
A promise of gorgeous vintage clothing and jewellery collections…
You will meet the following vintage specialists here – these bios are from their own Vintage Modes website:
Vintage dresses and scarves at Vintage Modes
It is obviously all in the sequins and the sparkle!
GILLIAN HORSUP – has been buying and selling vintage costume jewellery and accessories for about 30 years. She started selling in markets and antiques fairs and is now part of Grays’ Vintage Modes. Gillian sells vintage jewellery including Art Deco, early plastics (such as celluloid and bakelite), jet, Czech and Italian glass, silver, 20th Century, Lea Stein and Butler & Wilson. She also sells vintage bags, compacts and other accessories such as powder boxes.
SUSIE NELSON – is a new addition to Vintage Modes and brings with her a wide knowledge of Vintage clothing and accessories. She has for sale a wide selection of clothes, handbags, hats and other accessories, from the 20th Century onwards – from periods as diverse as Art Deco to 1990s glamour.
JUNE VICTOR – with avid collectors as parents, June’s interest in Vintage clothing has been a natural progression. June began trading in Brighton in 1970, working closely with the TV and film industry, and made the transition to London by opening a shop at Alfies Antique Market. June has for sale an ever increasing collection of 20th Century, and earlier, costume and accessories. Her stock includes lace, linen, silk, taffeta and embroidered dresses, shawls, hats, bags, umbrellas and much much more.
… and last but not least, our very own ARABELLA BIANCO, whose pieces have featured quite a few times here on the blog! We are of course saving a whole blog post to her collection from my last visit, but here is a sneak peek:
A preview of Arabella Bianco’s jewellery collection at Vintage Modes…
So, my lovely, instead of trawling through you regular vintage shops, do pop by Vintage Modes next time! They are so conveniently situated in Central London and I can promise you that you have never seen anything like this place: the chandeliers and glimmering mirrors will make you feel like you have stepped back in history, to Hollywood’s heydays, and you probably wouldn’t be surprised if you suddenly saw Marlene Dietrich or Brigitte Bardot browsing the collections next to you!
You can find them here: Vintage Modes, 1-7 Davies Mews, Mayfair, London W1K 5AB
Decades of Elegance 