Lime Green Bow, an appointment-only luxury vintage shop in Notting Hill, feels like shopping in your older sister’s wardrobe – if you're lucky enough to claim an older sister boasting an eclectic collection of designer pieces from the likes of Alaïa, Pucci, Moschino, Zandra Rhodes, YSL, Chloe and Vivienne Westwood. Clemmie Myers, the one-woman band behind the operation, travels from New York to Berlin to get her hands on these incredible vintage pieces – and then presents them in her studio for your perusing pleasure. For vintage shoppers who fancy a touch of class and a personalized shopping experience, Lime Green Bow is a dream – and chimes perfectly with the ethos, and budget, of Notting Hill creative types. The cosy showroom-cum-office, with racks of one-off gems bordering the room and a make-shift screen (vintage, naturally) for when you inevitably want to play dress up, is eccentrically cluttered. Clemmie natters away like a sibling as you flip through the curated selection of statement pieces. Although she’s only been in this location since January 2013, it fits her offering like a glove. Perched a few floors above The Candy Milliner hat shop, and across the road from Edwin’s, the laid-back All Saints Road reflects the casual luxury of the area – and is just out of the way enough from the crowds of Westbourne Grove and Portobello Road.
The by-appointment factor may imply a hit to the wallet, but price wise there’s a range to suit a few budgets, although if you’re looking for bargain items you’re better off heading down the road to the Portobello Market vintage stalls. The summer sale rack was particularly appealing with everything for £60 or less, while the big name designer pieces sell for hundreds. Our favourites among these were a black YSL floor length skirt, a cropped two-piece jumpsuit made from Liberty fabric from the '50s, an Alaïa shirtdress, and a retro wrap-around Gucci belt. Before paying a visit to the shop, it's worth checking the store's website, where Clemmie has uploaded most of the clothes and accessories for your perusal. And if you do decide to wander over, prepare to stay for a little while…this is the type of shopping that shouldn’t be rushed.