Film Noir Buff Style Forum / Current Ivy Shopping Difficulties...

A Fine Sadness · 2021-10-06 04:25:27

Most of you, I'm sure, who are London-based, will make at least the occasional trip to Chiltern Street.
What else is there? Uniqlo? TRS has mentioned some locations for jeans - anything else doing?
In the sticks, as An Unseen Scene may tell you, it's a question of venturing into 'vintage shops' (spreading like a rash all over the place, even the market town I've been visiting each Monday lunchtime), only to find - for the most part - rails bulging with RL and Tommy H. You would die of shock if you found anything decent. A pair of cords say - ordinary kit - your size? plain-fronted? cotton? any alterations needed that will add on expense?
The charity shops - often better if you have the time and the patience. The staff will know RL when they see it and bung on a high price. Smedley can still be had for around the £5 mark if you're lucky.
New - in the provinces - shops which are now like self-conscious little boutique-museums, 'curating' their stock with websites that dance and sing. Sometimes quite good for shoes, though.
So, you trudge from one to the other, becoming increasingly dispirited.
Worse, you see something that's actually rather nice but it would have fitted you ten years ago.

An Unseen Scene · 2021-10-06 09:04:42

Current Ivy Shopping Difficulties...

....will get worse.

I guess they should, it's hey day was 50-60 years ago.

I'm not depressed about it, but we shouldn't really expect much at this point.

I think sometimes we're trying too hard to keep it current, when we're wearing what we like and enjoy it but it's an old style now.

There will be endless sources of Ivy clothing on eBay in a few years as people continually pass on. Sadly there was during Covid-19, I bought loads until I reflected on why it was available.

Yuca · 2021-10-06 09:33:13

The clothes are hardwearing and versatile, so I don't have a need to buy endlessly. With all the good new and vintage options available online, when I do want to get something it's not usually difficult. Although compared to being in NYC in 1955, yes it's a challenge getting the clothes I like.

A Fine Sadness · 2021-10-06 09:35:38

Online, though. It's like the ABE book-buying experience. A bit lacking in soul.

Yuca · 2021-10-06 09:41:03

And with risks. But I assume with far more variety than was available in the UK back then.

A Fine Sadness · 2021-10-06 09:46:42

Certainly it has its advantages. Book-buying, for example. The world is your oyster kind of thing. Same with clothing. Would have been impossible without Ebay in many respects. I'd still be wearing sackcloth and ashes. With a fused collar.

woofboxer · 2021-10-06 13:20:44

I would be surprised if any increase in the amount of Ivy clothing on ebay was connected with people dying in the pandemic.

Avoiding the thorny subject of Covid-19 death statistics; I would say it was more to do with people locked down and furloughed finally getting time to list that excess schmutter they’ve been meaning to get rid of for years.

woofboxer · 2021-10-06 13:25:55

Internet shopping - I don’t mind buying stuff on ebay as you are generally dealing with private individuals or small scale operators. But I have strong aversion to buying from Amazon and seek to avoid it, unless its unavoidable. Books; likewise I try not to use Waterstones, I would order from the local bookshop in Richmond even I have to wait a bit longer and pay a couple of quid more.

#1 2021-10-06 04:25:27

Current Ivy Shopping Difficulties...

#2 2021-10-06 09:04:42

Re: Current Ivy Shopping Difficulties...

#3 2021-10-06 09:33:13

Re: Current Ivy Shopping Difficulties...

#4 2021-10-06 09:35:38

Re: Current Ivy Shopping Difficulties...

#5 2021-10-06 09:41:03

Re: Current Ivy Shopping Difficulties...

#6 2021-10-06 09:46:42

Re: Current Ivy Shopping Difficulties...

#7 2021-10-06 13:20:44

Re: Current Ivy Shopping Difficulties...

#8 2021-10-06 13:25:55

Re: Current Ivy Shopping Difficulties...

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