As a vintage fiend and "huge thrifter," Sinead Wilcox is always on the hunt for an amazing vintage bargain.
Luckily, her day job as PR and social media assistant at vintage warehouse Blitz London provides plenty of inspiration and fabulous finds, while her blog, Hackney Rose, gives Sinead the chance to experiment with repro and authentic vintage from all different eras (and also features plenty of handy tips on how to embrace the vintage look without breaking the bank).
With some amazing bargains under her belt, like a pink 1960s dress and matching blazer – a steal for a fiver on eBay – and a boldly printed 60s co-ord Sinead bought at Hunky Dory Vintage (which got her snapped by The Sartorialist), Sinead has an knack for unearthing eye-catching retro pieces.
Don't miss her awesome vintage wardrobe and top tips on how to work any era into contemporary life – she's a fan of everything from the 1920s to the 1970s.
We shot her at work at Blitz London...
What got you interested in vintage fashion?
I started to be really interested in WWII history whilst at university (I was studying something completely different, haha!).
Seeing the womens' hairstyles got me hooked; that's where it all started. First, it was learning to do victory rolls and pin curls, then it spiraled into experimenting with outfits.
It wasn't until I moved to London and discovered Brick Lane that I got permanently hooked.
What's your favourite vintage shopping memory?
Finding the 60s co-ord in Hunky Dory Vintage would be my favourite memory. I was desperate to find something amazing and unique for London Fashion Week and after trying a million shops I stumbled across this beauty. It did very well - it got me photographed by Scott Schuman and on a 60s trend forecast for WGSN!
Where are your favourite places to source vintage items?
I am a huge thrifter. Living in East London means I am surrounded by vintage. I also work for one of the largest vintage stores in London, Blitz, so everyday I am like a kid in a candy shop. If I had to narrow it down I would say my two favourite places would be Blitz and The East End Thrift Store. They are both very different but offer both ends of the spectrum: Blitz is high-quality, hand-selected pieces whereas The East End Thrift Store is the complete opposite. Oh, and I love, love, love charity shops!
What do you need to watch out for when buying vintage? Top vintage-scouring tips?
As I said before, I thrift a lot of my vintage. I advise checking the item all over: trying it on will always reveal any holes or tears that you may have missed. Also, never buy anything that's too big - I am the worst at this. I love something so much that even if it's too big I'll buy it with the promise that I will get it altered but I never do!
When thrifting, I advise you to be patient and spend the time to really look because you will find something amazing. It may be a little smelly or creased but that can all be fixed and you'll end up with something great!
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