Vintage Shopping-By Appointment

Thank you Daily Candy for leading me to this special place in Notting Hill, the second-hand clothing heaven on earth, Chic & Seek. Call up for a "relaxed" appointment (020 7229 4308) with lovely shop/home owner (that's right her shop is her home), Tara Nash-King, for the vintage ride of your life. Meandering in Notting Hill, you'll find her shop in a  "sleepy mews just stones throw away from Portobello Road and Ledbury Road." It's actually off All Saints Road, the coolest street in Notting hill where my fave Italian Restaurant, The Ripe Tomato, sits.

The mews house stocks the most beautiful dresses, shoes, handbags and everything vintage from the most exclusive designers and all for a quarter of the original retail price. She calls it "top-end fashion uniqueness available to all." Okay, okay, it's still expensive, you'll tell me, but the just for the experience, it's worth it. In one corner, you'll dig out a really special Roberto Cavalli dress while in the other you'll stumble upon awesome Gucci studded sandals.

Roberto Cavalli, size 8, £250

Gucci Sandals, size 36.5, £145

And it's not over! You'll also revel at the sight of last season's Louboutin platform sandals!

Louboutin Sandals, size 37.5, £135

Vanessa Bruno here, Isabel Marant there. Marni and Dries van Noten everywhere! It is truly as if you've stumbled into Ali Baba's cave, and without the weird men in Aladdin pants chasing after you!

Isabel Marant boots, size 38, £110

And guess what? You know that putrid old clothes smell that most vintage shops seem to carry around with them wherever you go? Chic & Seek doesn't have it! In fact, it smells amazing! 

Anyways, forget about the smell-bit...just hear me out. If you're not ready to spend the money, convince a friend to take you along with them, and take in all the beautiful colors, garments and sparkles around you. It's like waking up on Christmas day when the tree is more beautiful than ever and all you want to do is put your nose in it.

ps: if you're feeling cold and lazy, you can order online!
ps2: Spring cleaning is closer than you think. If you want to clean out your closet of some cool designer stuff, she takes that in too and you'll get a share of the money if she's able to sell it!

The Road with All the Cool Saints, continued

The autumn has officially kicked off and I'm sure you ladies are all eager to get on with the Autumn gear and slip into those hot boots of yours. Let's face it, boots are cool, and yes, very very London. I have a favorite pair myself that I have been saving for a very special autumn day. They are eagerly waiting for me to pick them out of my sea of ballerinas, sandals and little white tennies. They are perfect and I love them and I wouldn't swap them for any other pair ever, nuh uh...I just have to switch out of summer mode...hmmm.

They do the trick wonderfully with anything from a mini skirt and some thick grey wool tights to over some skinny blues and a warm cozy jumper. You can get yourself the exact same pair at The Jacksons on the lovely All Saints Road in Notting Hill. And if you're willing to invest for a pair of sandals for next summer, they have a really lovely selection of those too.

The shop is a cute little boutique that you wouldn't normally see if you were to aimlessly walk down the thick artery of Westbourne Park Road on your way to the Westbourne Pub or Portobello Road. But then again, after following all of my fantastic entries on the All Saints Road, you might just know better by now. And after all of my fantastic entries, you are could be closer than ever to reaching local status, and that, my zesty bloggers, is a pretty awesome achievement.

Here is the catch: the boots cost around £240. They're a great investment though and the shopping experience on the All Saints Road and at The Jacksons makes it worth your while. And you might just want to be patient and wait til the sales hit the town so you can get them for a whopping £180, just like I did. Ah, and I love them so, I really do!

                                          The Jacksons, All Saints Road

The Road with All the Cool Saints

I have been in the mood for some alternative sightseeing lately and if you're used to the Notting Hill crowd- no comment, I know, I am one of them- you'll be really excited to discover the breath of fresh air that is the adorable alternative All Saints Road. This street is a little slice of heaven right off the busy Westbourne Park Road and minutes away from the touristy Portobello Road in Notting Hill. The All Saints Road is, in fact, my latest discovery and my most exciting one at that. Remember my entry on the Dutchie bicycle? You must. That was the moment you questioned your LondonZest loyalty and considered navigating away from the crazy bike girl blog and going back to the good ol' Perez. Well, if you're still here- you rock- then you'll probably remember that the Bicycle Workshop was also a quirky inhabitant of this cutting-edge and unique street. I know most of you don't care much for two-wheeled recommendations and that you'd prefer reading about yummy restaurants...Well, hold your horses, I've got just what you want.

If you're craving some Italian home-style cooking and looking for a cool alternative to the Notting Hill classics such as the Oak or Osteria Basilico (no bashing, all loving), look no further cuz you've found your match on the zesty tucked away All Saints Road just heartbeats away. The awesomely divine pastas and pizzas at The Ripe Tomato will make you drool all over your recently acquired American Apparel v-neck tee and make you want to switch from occasional visitor/tourist to local regular. You'll be able to choose anything from the classic Amatriciana and Carbonara pasta dishes to the always-a-success quattro formaggi pizza; and the great thing is, you'll savor every last bit of it, cuz it's just so damn good and well, so damn cheap. This hot spot boasts diners that are trendy, diverse, cool, quirky and original. You'll think that they've just wheeled themselves over with their Dutchy from their quirky flat round the corner just to meet up with their equally quirky and cool friends. I'll have to reiterate this for you: this is a must go and a must check-out!

                                    The Ripe Tomato, All Saints Road

I Don't Believe in Peter Pan, Frankenstein or Superman

I have been developing a secret crush lately...

No, the object of my obsession is not the pretty blonde from the photograph, though that might have made this blog a whole lot more fun to a lot of you...anyways, no, it's not, so get over it. It's what she's holding onto!!! Isn't it adorable?  I love it! I want one! I am simply head over heels, madly in lust, butt crazy in love with the Dutchie Bicycle! It is the picture perfect of what I've always wished for in my first adult bike: stylish, fun, elegant, and with a splash of vintage. And I know this may seem crazy to some of you, but over the last few months, I have found myself to be completely infatuated with this Dutchie cutie, snapping pictures with my iphone left and right, spreading loads of confusion and irritation around me...trying to control my urges to touch, grab, steal! The point is, I want a bicycle!!! Is that clear??? I just want one! Make me a bicycle, Clown!!!

Or to make it clearer (Wedding Crashers, Hello??!!!), I have used the lyrics of our beloved songwriter and amazingly talented performer, Freddie Mercury, to express to you the direness of my need...

I don't believe in Peter Pan
Frankenstein or Superman
All I wanna do is

Bicycle bicycle bicycle
I want to ride my bicycle bicycle bicycle
I want to ride my bicycle
I want to ride my bike
I want to ride my bicycle
I want to ride my bicycle....
 

Okay, it must have sunken it by now. You've all shaken your booties to this song at an 80s party, don't lie, I saw you, and I was there, shaking it too.

So, I know I'm supposed to write about London gems, and I'm getting there, trust me, but I just thought I should share a couple of my personal iphone pics just to prove to you how obsessed I am.

Pretty cute, huh? I thought so...(I'm pretty sure the second one is only a display:)

Attention zesty bloggers! For all interested in purchasing a recycled vintage bicycle, here in London, look no further, cuz you found your gem, and it's called The Bicycle Workshop, located on All Saints Road near the Ladbroke Grove tube station. They offer tons of awesome services, from bike, lighting and dynamo sales, to repair, fixing and smart bike-owner's advice.

                                  The Bicycle Workshop on All Saints Road

What can I say? I'm sold.