Monday, July 16, 2012

London - Day 5 Portobello Road

Feels a bit funny to write the title of this post while sitting in my studio at home. We've been back in the States since very late last Wednesday night and I think...written with fingers crossed...that I've finally overcome the jet lag enough to write a coherent post so here goes...

Aware of our search for a tea set for the urchins, someone recommended Portobello Market to my husband. Being a fan of the movie Notting Hill and being aware that part of it was filmed along Portobello Road, I decided to that it might be fun to stroll along the street where Hugh Grant and Julia Roberts had also strolled.


What a delightful and interesting street to wander! The shops were filled with all sorts of bits - my favorite being a home decorating shop that sold door knobs, crystals, wooden letterpress, etc. 

Where Brick Lane had been ethnically diverse, Portobello Road was simply diverse. Tattoos + the shortest mini skirts ever + multiple piercings live alongside the obviously well educated and monied. As with Brick Lane, something caught my attention and just wouldn't let go until it had been explored. Portobello Road's something was AllSaints Spitalfields.

I had just crossed the street and was walking by a clothing store when several people in front of me stepped into the store's doorway to take photos of something inside.

 Row upon

 row upon

 row of 

 the most magnificent
 
 antique sewing machines lined the walls just inside the door.
And that wasn't the best part...oh no, not by half.


The best part was the fixtures that the clothing was displayed on. I don't know what the original use of half of the things were, but they were lovely and

rusted in places

 or just aged 

 and nicked from use.

 Shadows were cast by parts of printing or cutting tables

 while worn stools had stories to share.

 Shapes

 and sizes varied.

 There was a 25

 nearby 2 wonderful gears

 and 1 intriguing...butterfly?

Nearly 30 minutes later, I emerged onto the sidewalk still marveling over the fixtures in AllSaints and the fact that not once had an employee spoken to me, asked if I could be helped or inquired why I was taking photos or even if I had permission to do so. Perhaps they are accustomed to such actions/reactions from passersby...or perhaps they thought it best to leave the crazy lady photographing all the fixtures alone.

18 comments:

  1. What a magnificent Court of Miracles! I can't believe those sewing machines. I would probably have fainted out of pure delight. And your shot of the shadows projected to the floor is worth a prize!

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    1. Ersi, the sewing machines were amazing. Part of me was very tempted to count them just to see how many antiques were lining the walls.

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  2. Wow, I had no idea this existed! I feel such a thrill looking at those sewing machines. Next trip to London, I'll be heading straight to Spitalfields to seek this place out. Spitalfields Market on a Sunday used to be a great favourite of mine for buying unique, crafted, vintage items, but since they did the place up a few years ago I think it has lost a lot of it's Olde Worlde Charm.
    As for being ignored by shop assistants, you may have discovered that that's pretty common in the UK, especially in trendy parts of the East End, where many of the shop staff are Fashion & Design students, who are expected to cultivate an air of lofty superiority in order to do well on their course. It's an aspect of the London art & fashion scene that I really really dislike.
    Glad you're over the jet-lag now, and I hope you enjoyed your visit.

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    1. I love London and it was wonderful to have time to wander as I liked. Last time we stayed near Regents Park and our daughters were 1...and in the stroller...so it wasn't as easy to go in museums, etc. with them. That trip we visited Regents Park for duck watching, London Zoo [which is amazing] and restaurants.

      This time, my parents came to stay with the girls which allowed me time to explore parts of London that I'd yet to visit. Of course, we've had to promise the girls that they can join us next trip. They'll be of an age where it will be very interesting to see their reactions.

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  3. I do love All Saints' styling (although not the prices!). Not a butterfly, but a (ram's?) skull I think, their logo.

    Glad you enjoyed London!

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    1. AllSaints display and styling are wonderful. You're right - the prices are outrageous! I did actually look at a few pieces of clothing and was tempted to try a sweater on, but a quick calculation of the exchange rate had me putting it back.

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  4. I was lost for words J when I saw these..my mouth would have just been hanging open the whole time, but I know I'll have to visit next time we make it over that way. Were you allowed to touch them? PS - do you own a copy of NH the movie? I confess I do!

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    1. Ha! Of course I own NH! As well as Four Weddings and A Funeral. It's the British ensemble casting that is appealing...and Hugh Grant isn't so bad looking either.

      As for AllSaints, I kept wanting to phone or Skype you and Barry to say "Look what I found! No wait...over here!" Kept imagining all the lovely sculptures, jewelry and bits that Barry could make from it all...not to mention what you or I could do with the rusty parts.

      Not only could I touch the fixtures, but I DID touch them. Honestly, no one ever approached me or even looked in my direction as far as I could tell. More than once the thought ran through my mind as to whether or not it would be possible to just walk out [or roll out] the door with one of the fixtures. The pile of clothing on the floor was sure to be noticed though and the thought of having to call John from a British jail to ask him to come get me out had me rethinking my strategy a bit. Next time...

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  5. what a beautiful collection of sewing machines!
    I am guessing that they still work too...
    oh what I would give for the old singers I gathered years ago,
    thanks for sharing your Portobello stroll...

    xox - eb.

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    1. My mom had an old treadle Singer that she'd let me "sew" on. I remember loving the rock the treadle back and forth. Wonder where it is now?

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  6. What delicious images... I too would have been spending much more time looking at everything but the clothes. The sewing machines - Oh WOW!

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    1. The wall of sewing machines was amazing! I would have loved to have been able to photograph each one, but that reaching a few may have proved a bit tricky. I did finally step back to view the clothes, but only after taking all the shots.

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  7. there's an AllSaints store on Michigan Avenue in Chicago ... full of sewing machines in their display windows ... I noticed it as my cab flew by there the other day ... I need to go check it out

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    1. Thanks for the tip Peggy! I'll have to remember. Be interesting to see how the stores differ...and the prices. If you go, please let me know how it is.

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  8. J- unbelievable shop - no wonder there was a temptation to lift some gear. Intriguing emblem - positive space - skull and negative space butterfly - bit ring-yang. B

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    1. Oh! It was so tempting to wander out with one of two of fixtures...or to see if any of the gears were loose. You know, I lean on a fixture for a second and one of the gears just happens to fall off into my purse without my noticing until I'm back in the States. Odder things have happened. Not to me, but I'm sure to someone.

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  9. OOOH LA LA...like the previous commenter, I think I would have fainted dead away! What a fantastically, fantabulous place and I'm so glad you were able to click away without restraint so that you could show it to us here. Makes me want to jump on a plane and head right over there!!

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    1. If you're ever in London go! Peggy, who commented above, said there's an Allsaints in Chicago as well. I'll be checking it out if ever I'm in Chicago to see what if the fixtures are as fantastic.

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