The London Report Portobello Road Market Written and Photographed by Gail McClelland

One of my very favorite things about London is its glorious variety of vintage flea markets.  When I used to live in Glasgow, I would make the journey down to London, whenever the opportunity (i.e. a spare bed!) arose, so I could bargain hunt away my weekends. 
 
I adore visiting flea markets. Wherever you are in the world, they are always so interesting, full of people’s histories told through their old shoes, clothes, music, photos… somebody’s life, set up in a stall. I can spend hours just rifling through the items, imagining who they used to belong to and where they have been in the world.  

I think when it comes to London’s markets, it’s worth talking about them one by one as they are all so individual, with completely different atmospheres and histories. I couldn’t really pick a favorite - where I go just depends on what mood I’m in, how much cash I have and even what the weather is like!  (Outdoor markets are only so much fun in the pissing rain, after all.)
 
Portobello Road Market, (Located in West London) is one of the largest, and definitely one of the finest markets I’ve ever come across. Situated between Notting Hill and  Ladbroke Grove, this old market used to be a simple country lane (running from Notting Hill Gate to Portobello Farm), where rag-and-bone-men set up the occasional stall to sell off random bits of furniture and semi-valuable oddities. The market grew and grew until it became renowned for its wonderful bargains and collectables - attracting professional antique dealers and traders from across the country.  And along with the antiques came the vintage clothing, jewelry, music and almost anything else you might want to buy! Today there are over fifteen-hundred stalls each weekend. This is definitely the place for those with a nose for vintage bargains. 

The clothing stalls vary, displaying everything from heaps of belts and bags piled on the floor to the most amazing, intricately arranged stalls. Some of these stalls are assembled so beautifully and with such care, you are tempted to buy the whole stall. The best bargains for me tend to be the shoes.  My sister (who luckily has very small feet) recently managed to buy the most amazing vintage Prada court shoes (in a stunning red leather) for about $10.  They were slightly battered, but a hell of a bargain, nonetheless.  The specialist stalls sell beautifully preserved Dior coats/bags and fabulous furs (if you like that kind of thing) as well as other designer jewelry and sunglasses, etc. The prices are higher in these high-end stalls, but they are all one-offs and amazing just to look at if not to buy.
 
There’s a lovely atmosphere around Portobello, it’s an affluent part of London and the antique side of the market brings a lovely distinguished air to the market. On several occasions I’ve spotted some pretty well known celebrities, poorly disguised in big hats and glasses, rifling through the bargain shoe pile along with the rest of us.

Gail McClelland| Greenroom Digital
Fashion & Lifestyle
www.greenroom-digital.com

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