I am very sad to say that Shikasuki has closed it's doors in Primrose Hill. This was a very sudden decision and we apologise to anyone for whom this has been a surprise.
My father John and I created Shikasuki 8 years ago. I designed the store and hunted out all that amazing vintage treasure from all over the world and John has run the shop. We have loved every minute, but now John has decided it is time to retire, sit back and enjoy a slower pace of life, whilst I am getting busier..... I have had a beautiful baby girl, left Primrose Hill and moved to the country!
We were truly thrilled that you voted Shikasuki as London's "Best Designer Vintage Boutique" for 2 years in a row, as well as "Best Vintage Womenswear Boutique" this year, in the Vintage London Awards. A heartfelt "Thank you" to all of you who voted and to all our wonderful loyal customers over the years. You have all become friends and we will miss you all!
So, I am currently taking a little time out to "be mum"......but watch this space!
Please follow Shikasuki on Facebook and @shikasukilondon on Twitter for news....
With lots of love to you all, Rachel
Thursday, 18 October 2012
Wednesday, 8 August 2012
London Fashion Weekend Autumn 2012
London Fashion Weekend is on its way again and Shikasuki is as thrilled as ever to be involved, this time with our beautiful vintage treasures appearing in the LFWE promotional magazine The Edit and on the LFWE website.
Styled by the inimitable Miss Molly, with her trademark "paper bag full" (usually Miss Molly herself jumping out!), on a 60s London theme; it all looks rather wonderful!
Miss Molly: "As always Rachel Ducker at Shikasuki knows her stuff and I sourced this beautiful little bag amongst her collection to add a vintage twist to our theme. This piece (front right in the paper bag) is embroidered and beaded from the 1950's, just before our Sixties trend, but this proves you can mix all your decades to create your look."
Styled by the inimitable Miss Molly, with her trademark "paper bag full" (usually Miss Molly herself jumping out!), on a 60s London theme; it all looks rather wonderful!
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| LFWE homepage: vintage necklaces, belts, bracelets and beaded bag from Shikasuki...plus Miss Molly herself! |
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| LFWE homepage: vintage "gold" bag from Shikasuki |
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| A close up of Miss Molly's lovely "bag full"! |
Miss Molly: "As always Rachel Ducker at Shikasuki knows her stuff and I sourced this beautiful little bag amongst her collection to add a vintage twist to our theme. This piece (front right in the paper bag) is embroidered and beaded from the 1950's, just before our Sixties trend, but this proves you can mix all your decades to create your look."
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| LFWE designer catwalk page: vintage yellow beaded dress, vintage nude lace dress and vintage satin bag all from Shikasuki on the LFWE catwalk at Somerset House |
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| LFWE gallery page: vintage bracelet from Shikasuki |
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| LFWE The Edit magazine: vintage "gold" bag from Shikasuki |
Tuesday, 7 August 2012
The Vintage Guide to London Awards 2012
We are absolutely thrilled...chuffed to bits...tickled pink even, to announce that we have won the "Best Designer Vintage" category in The Vintage Guide To London's Awards for the second year running!
As if that isn't exciting enough, we have also won the "Best Womenswear" category as well!
A big thank you to Lena and all the team at The Vintage Guide to London and a massive thank you to everyone who chose to vote for Shikasuki...every one of you...from all of the Shikasuki 2011-12 team, Rachel, John and Elle.
See all the other winners and runners up on the Vintage Guide to London.
Monday, 26 March 2012
London Fashion Weekend 2012
So here are the pictures of Shikasuki Vintage on the London Fashion Weekend 2012 catwalk. The theme of the show was "Prim Rose"....very appropriate for Primrose Hill's Shikasuki! Hosted by Zoe Hardman and perfectly styled, as ever, by the amazing Miss Molly.
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| Shikasuki Vintage bag and waistcoat (photo © Paul Demuth) |
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| Shikasuki Vintage beaded tulle dress (photo © Paul Demuth) |
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| Shikasuki Vintage duster coat and bag (photo © Paul Demuth) |
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| Shikasuki Vintage beaded cardigan and bag (photo © Paul Demuth) |
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| Shikasuki Vintage beaded dress and bag (photo © Paul Demuth) |
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| Shikasuki Vintage tulle and lace dress (photo © Paul Demuth) |
Photographer Spencer Sunar, (who was responsible for our stunning pictures from London Fashion Weekend 2010), also took some beautiful backstage pictures this year.
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| (photo © Spencer Sunar) |
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| (photo © Spencer Sunar) |
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| (photo © Spencer Sunar) |
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| (photo © Spencer Sunar) |
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| (photo © Spencer Sunar) |
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| (photo © Spencer Sunar) |
Tuesday, 14 February 2012
London Fashion Weekend
It's that time of year...London Fashion Weekend is nearly upon us again...which reminded me that I haven't yet shared the pictures of the Shikasuki pieces seen on the runway last year. Hosted by the wonderful Zara Martin and styled by top stylist Miss Molly.....here they are. Enjoy!
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| Lady Brights - vintage pink bag from Shikasuki |
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| Lady Brights - vintage colour block bag from Shikasuki |
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| Lady Brights - vintage colour block bag from Shikasuki |
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| Lady Brights - vintage green bag from Shikasuki |
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| Lady Brights - vintage pink jacket from Shikasuki |
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| Swan Vesta - vintage Ossie Clark dress from Shikasuki |
Saturday, 3 December 2011
My apologies to everyone who has been waiting for Christmas…
It seems our original vintage christmas decorations have become quite famous over the last few years. With thanks to the "Antique of the Month" feature in BBC Homes and Antiques magazine, on the wonderful Wee Birdy and from the lovely ladies at Liberty London Girl, Happyland and Peacock Feathers and Diamond Rings. The phone has been ringing off the hook with requests over the last few weeks, from those wanting vintage, cosy, home christmases to designer stores wanting to add that final precious sparkle to ther store displays.
I started sourcing these treasures about 6 years ago. They gave me that wonderful warm, nostalgic, festive feeling…I could almost smell the pine needles and mulled wine. Modern decorations can be very sleek, chic and beautiful…..but they just don’t do that.
I started with seasonal treasure from America…….1940s and 50s glitter dusted glass baubles with Santa sleighs and jolly fat snowmen. You just knew they had listened to Bing and Frank…watched ‘It’s a Wonderful Life’ every year and then been carefully packed away for next….lammetta still clinging on. And for the top of the tree? A Holt Howard choir angel with pink or white feathers and a beautiful porcelain head…all 1940s Marcel waved hair and red lipstick.
The more I got immersed in the world of vintage christmas, the wider I spread my search. As wide as the former USSR; Russia and the Ukraine…..now here I found treasure! Think of those bleak cold Cold War winters……now these are the last things you’d imagine in them. So much colour, glitter and so much humour! From the sugar coloured, glitter dipped, glass pine cones telling stories of frozen forests from ancient fairy tales, to the characters inhabiting them; the Babushkas, Russian bears, long bearded St Nicolas and frogs forever waiting for their princesses. Now who wouldn’t want all that glittery mystery and fairy tale fantasy from far off lands twinkling away on their christmas tree??
So, again my apologies to everyone has has been waiting for the twinkle to arrive in NW1. Delays have been due to my own little twinkle, who arrived a few months ago and she has been taking up a lot of my time…… : )
I started sourcing these treasures about 6 years ago. They gave me that wonderful warm, nostalgic, festive feeling…I could almost smell the pine needles and mulled wine. Modern decorations can be very sleek, chic and beautiful…..but they just don’t do that.
I started with seasonal treasure from America…….1940s and 50s glitter dusted glass baubles with Santa sleighs and jolly fat snowmen. You just knew they had listened to Bing and Frank…watched ‘It’s a Wonderful Life’ every year and then been carefully packed away for next….lammetta still clinging on. And for the top of the tree? A Holt Howard choir angel with pink or white feathers and a beautiful porcelain head…all 1940s Marcel waved hair and red lipstick.
The more I got immersed in the world of vintage christmas, the wider I spread my search. As wide as the former USSR; Russia and the Ukraine…..now here I found treasure! Think of those bleak cold Cold War winters……now these are the last things you’d imagine in them. So much colour, glitter and so much humour! From the sugar coloured, glitter dipped, glass pine cones telling stories of frozen forests from ancient fairy tales, to the characters inhabiting them; the Babushkas, Russian bears, long bearded St Nicolas and frogs forever waiting for their princesses. Now who wouldn’t want all that glittery mystery and fairy tale fantasy from far off lands twinkling away on their christmas tree??
So, again my apologies to everyone has has been waiting for the twinkle to arrive in NW1. Delays have been due to my own little twinkle, who arrived a few months ago and she has been taking up a lot of my time…… : )
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| 1940s to 1960s Christmas Decoration Charactors from Russia and Ukraine |
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| 1940s to 1960s Christmas Decoration Glass Pinecones from Russia and Ukraine |
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| 1950s Christmas Decoration Holt Howard Angels from USA |
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Christmas Decoration Display during December 2011 at our Primrose Hill Boutique |
Wednesday, 20 April 2011
Ossie Clark
One of the earliest videos of Ossie Clark featuring Alice Pollock too- how cool were they?
1966 when they were only just starting out and seen as the next big thing for London Fashion. You also get to see a little bit of the interior of legendary shop Quorum in this video.
We want Ossie's glasses.
Tuesday, 19 April 2011
Tales of Endearment visit
The lovely Natalie Joos graced us with a call a month or so ago asking if she could pop in for a photoshoot for her incredible blog Tales Of Endearment (we were already massive fans before she called!) so of course we couldn't wait to have her and her muse of the day, Fashion Director of Russian Tatler Anya Ziourova round. Check out her blog post on Shikasuki HERE.
Thanks Natalie!
Beaded autumn leaves
Well, if you're following our twitter (www.twitter.com/shikasukilondon) you'll already know that this autumn we are featuring gorgeous little boxy 1950s cardigans with amazing beaded flowers, leaves, tassels and poodles! We have a window and rack full of them; waiting for you to come and play with! From classic chic ivory, through candy and jewel tones, to uber stylish jet black with oh so subtle beaded explosions and satin borders. Hand beaded in 1950s Hong Kong for the discerning post war American market, the detail and workmanship is amazing and they are soooo soft; made from lambswool, angora and cashmere. Just what you need to snuggle up into this winter and yet still look oh so so stylish and unique. Wear with your Louis Vuitton 1950s inspired full puffed out skirt, your curvy "Mad Men Joan" wiggle dress or just thrown on with jeans...you really can't go wrong with this one!
"Now we are 6.."
Now that the lovely Elle has started this blog, it is about time for me to introduce myself too and share a little story with you.
Six years ago this week I picked up the keys to a sludgy green, run down building on the corner of a quiet North London street in Primrose Hill. This once elegant building had spent over 100 years as a grocers, the 1970s as a party shop, a recording studio for Kylie and Take That in the 1990’s and finally an empty and derelict set of offices. Hardly the stuff of dreams eh?
Here it is, isn’t it a beauty?
Well, I did have dreams, or grand plans more like. My name is Rachel and I am the creator of Shikasuki. I had been thinking about “my shop” for many years, which is strange, because if you had met me and asked me what plans I had for my life it wouldn’t even have hit the short list…it was just a thing that bubbled along in the background, quietly un-noticed.
I had always been a artist, from as soon as I could get my chubby little 2 year old fingers around a crayon….but I also had an overwhelming passion for history, something that could be as massive as the great castles of Edward 1, down to the broken detritus of Victorian life that I dug up in my 1970s South London back garden. Then I turned 11 and suddenly there was nothing more important than the clothes that I wore and my desire for those clothes NEVER to be boring, or the same as anyone else’s….
So, where is all this going and how does it end up on that quiet corner of Primrose Hill in the Autumn of 2004?
Well, I guess that green rundown shop was to be the culmination of all the above and what the intervening years had to throw at me. By 18 I was still torn between my 3 passions; art, history and fashion….which one…which one? I would ask myself over and over. Well, I couldn’t choose, so I decided to study one after the other and see where it took me. Art managed to ensconce itself firmly at the top of the list, so off I went to Central St Martins. Five years later I left Newcastle University with a degree in Fine Art under my arm. Roll on degree number two then? Well, no…..that is where the plan ended. Behind all this there is another story, that of my health, which had been gradually leaving me from the age of 17 and by the time I got my last train back from Newcastle to Kings Cross in 1993, had finally left. All plans and dreams were put carefully in boxes up on the shelf for later……all except these random thoughts of how “my shop” would be…that kept jumping off the shelf without my noticing….
By 2004 I realised that “later’ was never coming. Waiting to “get better” had gone on too long. So I looked on that shelf and saw that over the years those 3 separate boxes had melded into one and I had been doing the melding all the time….they had become “my shop” years ago.
So there I was, standing on that corner, keys in my hand and such a clear vision in my head, formed steadily over the last 10 years. Art, fashion, history, art, fashion, history, art, fashion etc etc…you get the picture. So when I thought of art did I think of the high brow conceptual hoo-ha of the era? No….I though of art with beauty, warmth and humour; art that people actually wanted to spend their hard earned money on and live with in their homes. When I thought of fashion was it the latest “it” dress swinging from the rails of Selfridges and Harvey Nicks? No, it was the exquisite vintage treasures I had wardrobes (and my brother’s garage…yes honestly!) full of; those that inspired the contemporary trends. A consuming passion since the day, in 1981, that my mum cast out the 1970’s from her wardrobe and I grabbed the stunning original 1930’s crepe and satin dresses and hung them reverently in mine! And when I though of history did it have to be the pyramids in Giza, or the Hypogeum in Malta? No, it was the beautiful ephemeral detritus of the everyday lives of women… the things that are closest to them… what they wear! (Think of any important moment in your life…now I defy you not to remember what you were wearing. See?)
All these ideas and thoughts had come together and very firmly recreated themselves as shikasuki.
This was to be a shop of four shops; Shikasuki Vintage, Shikasuki Gallery, Shikasuki House and Shikasuki Wardrobe (watch this space for that one…it’s exciting!) A completely new idea. Would it work? Would people understand? Would they like it? Well, there was only one way to find out….
So, we’re back to that autumnal street corner…again! Did I open the door to a beautiful sparkling palace…um no. There was a long way to go. But a vintage shop back then, that doesn’t need much work I hear you say? Some black rails and a few old rugs, maybe a frock or two hung up on the wall and a curtained over corner to try things on in? No? No chance, not this one!
Shikasuki wasn’t just a shop, it was an idea. A new idea. It was white, WHITE; a sparkling white box of an idea. A clean, bright, shiny, modern, dazzling white box. White floors. White walls. But not just any white walls, shiny white plastic from floor to ceiling! And a mirror? Yes let’s have a mirror…but let’s cover the whole of the back wall from left to right and from floor to ceiling to reflect all that sparkling white and you in your beautiful Shikasuki dress and jewels, now twirl…. et voila…you have Shikasuki!
This was going to be as far from a “rummagy vintage shop” as I could possibly get on the oh-so-small budget. It was a vintage clothing boutique, a gallery and lifestyle shop. Yes, all together, with the clothes displayed as carefully and thoughtfully as the art.
Just because an item is vintage does not mean you should treat it with less respect than the latest designer offerings. In my world you treat it better. Just because it is vintage does not mean you have to put it back in its era; that time is gone, it’s the past. To quote L.P.Hartley at the opening of The Go-Between, “The past is a foreign country: they do things differently there.” “Here, here”, I say, let’s be here and be now. It doesn’t matter what era it was from, what shoes it was worn with. The pieces I choose are timeless and effortless, mixing perfectly with a contemporary wardrobe. They shine out against this perfect white foil, this stark white box with their own presence, in all their colourful and dazzling glory. And oh what treasures they are…but more about them on another day….
Now this was a family affair (remember those years of horrible illness…well that hadn’t changed). My dad slaved away on the drill and the sandpaper (and now on the till every week….which makes a much nicer sound than the drill!), my uncle translated my to-the-millimetre scale drawings (yes I am a complete control freak) into the wonderful curved white ocean liner shelves. My sister-in-law laid the floor in the changing room, and my cousins went wound with brooms clearing it all up! Three months and sooooo much hard graft by everyone later, we had turned this:
…into this:
Yes, that is me! I am severely camera shy and so make the most of it…these will probably the first and last you’ll ever see…am I joking?...um..no!
And yes, the changing room is black, shiny shiny jet black. Well, it just makes all that beautiful white whiter doesn’t it?
So did it work? Did people understand it? Did they like it?
Well yes, yes and yes! It took some adjusting to, people would pause as they came in. Suddenly they didn’t understand what they thought they had understood so well. Things shifted a bit, their eyes had to wander up and down and round and round. Breaths were taken slowly, questions were asked carefully…
“But it doesn’t look used… are you sure it’s vintage?”
“Yes, it’s just in perfect condition”.
“But it’s exactly this season, are you sure it’s vintage?
“Yes, it’s perfect editing and selection”.
“Oh……..So what’s downstairs?”
“More.”
……tap tap of footsteps on the stairs…….pause….…SQUEEAAAL!!!!
I think they like it?
It’s such fun counting to 5 and waiting for that squeal. It still comes all these years later, every time a new friend arrives for the first time.
So what has changed over the last 6 years? Some of the interior has changed slightly. At first we sold menswear, oh such chic menswear, but after a couple of years we sacrificed the boys…sorry boys…but the girls just had greater clothing needs and the space was too precious. The boys have had a bit of a rough deal to be honest. We had a “boyfriend corner” in every room. A comfy chair and boy-friendly magazines to while away those long trying-on-and-then-trying-on-and-on-and-on-and-then-trying-on-the first-thing-again-and-buying-that hours. We still have the famous curvy white plastic banquette upstairs though, upon which many a boyf still whiles away a relaxing hour, until he notices the Engineer Pub through the glass and mutters as he quickly disappears “….back soon, tell her I’m…..”
The ethos of the shop? No change there. Still showing the best of the best in all it’s glory, set off against the timeless and now infamous white box. Over the years we have introduced new products. A truly huge unique collection of cards…all images of our vintage gems and tongue in cheek nonsense. “Cute-as” mugs and a dinner service depicting images from my “woman and home” series of paintings…and there’s so much more to come I couldn’t even begin to tell you about it all here. I am still as much of a control freak over what goes IN the shop as I was about my shelves being correct to the millimetre. I won’t ever change…and I don’t think I should. It’s good to want perfection, to work hard to achieve it, so that my customer knows what they are getting and can carry that shikasuki bag home with confidence… (or very soon order it online with shikasuki.com... sooo exciting!!!)
And that quiet street corner? Well it has a glowing white box on the corner and it’s not so quiet now… the most delicious grocers, Melrose and Morgan is right opposite, Sardos restaurant on the little path slipping elegantly down to the Regent’s Canal and the famous Primrose Bakery is next door. The Engineer on the other side gets busier and busier… you’d better book that table in the garden in advance this summer… you’ll need a rest and a long cool drink after all the time you’ve spent playing at Shikasuki!
Here’s the outside today:
And finally do they like it? Well here’s what the people say:
Matthew Williamson
“Rachel, the shop owner, has an incredible eye for fashion as a total work of art”
Matthew in Shikasuki.
Alice Temperly
“I love it at Shikasuki. Great selection of fun wearable vintage and quirky jewellery. Brilliant collection of very desirable Ossie Clark”
Lisa Snowdon
“…you need a good few hours to do this vintage shop justice. I’ve found beautiful Ossie Clark Pieces, amazing handbags and perfect one-off party dresses.”
Sadie Frost and Jemima French
"A fabulous vintage store in Primrose Hill. It’s like a treasure trove, perfect for discovering handbags and pieces of jewellery that nobody else will have. With the most stylish of dresses and a gallery of fine art, prints and glass-work it’s impossible to leave empty handed."
Vogue
"An enchanting shop filled with pristine vintage finds, including remarkable well-preserved Ossie Clark originals. Thoughtfully curated charm”
The Vintage Guide to London
“Primrose Hill vintage boutique Shikasuki has been hailed one of the capital’s best vintage shops. And rightfully so. The careful selection of vintage womenswear and accessories is second to none…”
Time Out shopping Guide 2007
"..Shikasuki.. the best vintage shop for accessories."
Time Out shopping Guide 2009
"Could this be the perfect vintage shop…?"
Six years ago this week I picked up the keys to a sludgy green, run down building on the corner of a quiet North London street in Primrose Hill. This once elegant building had spent over 100 years as a grocers, the 1970s as a party shop, a recording studio for Kylie and Take That in the 1990’s and finally an empty and derelict set of offices. Hardly the stuff of dreams eh?
Here it is, isn’t it a beauty?
Well, I did have dreams, or grand plans more like. My name is Rachel and I am the creator of Shikasuki. I had been thinking about “my shop” for many years, which is strange, because if you had met me and asked me what plans I had for my life it wouldn’t even have hit the short list…it was just a thing that bubbled along in the background, quietly un-noticed.
I had always been a artist, from as soon as I could get my chubby little 2 year old fingers around a crayon….but I also had an overwhelming passion for history, something that could be as massive as the great castles of Edward 1, down to the broken detritus of Victorian life that I dug up in my 1970s South London back garden. Then I turned 11 and suddenly there was nothing more important than the clothes that I wore and my desire for those clothes NEVER to be boring, or the same as anyone else’s….
So, where is all this going and how does it end up on that quiet corner of Primrose Hill in the Autumn of 2004?
Well, I guess that green rundown shop was to be the culmination of all the above and what the intervening years had to throw at me. By 18 I was still torn between my 3 passions; art, history and fashion….which one…which one? I would ask myself over and over. Well, I couldn’t choose, so I decided to study one after the other and see where it took me. Art managed to ensconce itself firmly at the top of the list, so off I went to Central St Martins. Five years later I left Newcastle University with a degree in Fine Art under my arm. Roll on degree number two then? Well, no…..that is where the plan ended. Behind all this there is another story, that of my health, which had been gradually leaving me from the age of 17 and by the time I got my last train back from Newcastle to Kings Cross in 1993, had finally left. All plans and dreams were put carefully in boxes up on the shelf for later……all except these random thoughts of how “my shop” would be…that kept jumping off the shelf without my noticing….
By 2004 I realised that “later’ was never coming. Waiting to “get better” had gone on too long. So I looked on that shelf and saw that over the years those 3 separate boxes had melded into one and I had been doing the melding all the time….they had become “my shop” years ago.
So there I was, standing on that corner, keys in my hand and such a clear vision in my head, formed steadily over the last 10 years. Art, fashion, history, art, fashion, history, art, fashion etc etc…you get the picture. So when I thought of art did I think of the high brow conceptual hoo-ha of the era? No….I though of art with beauty, warmth and humour; art that people actually wanted to spend their hard earned money on and live with in their homes. When I thought of fashion was it the latest “it” dress swinging from the rails of Selfridges and Harvey Nicks? No, it was the exquisite vintage treasures I had wardrobes (and my brother’s garage…yes honestly!) full of; those that inspired the contemporary trends. A consuming passion since the day, in 1981, that my mum cast out the 1970’s from her wardrobe and I grabbed the stunning original 1930’s crepe and satin dresses and hung them reverently in mine! And when I though of history did it have to be the pyramids in Giza, or the Hypogeum in Malta? No, it was the beautiful ephemeral detritus of the everyday lives of women… the things that are closest to them… what they wear! (Think of any important moment in your life…now I defy you not to remember what you were wearing. See?)
All these ideas and thoughts had come together and very firmly recreated themselves as shikasuki.
This was to be a shop of four shops; Shikasuki Vintage, Shikasuki Gallery, Shikasuki House and Shikasuki Wardrobe (watch this space for that one…it’s exciting!) A completely new idea. Would it work? Would people understand? Would they like it? Well, there was only one way to find out….
So, we’re back to that autumnal street corner…again! Did I open the door to a beautiful sparkling palace…um no. There was a long way to go. But a vintage shop back then, that doesn’t need much work I hear you say? Some black rails and a few old rugs, maybe a frock or two hung up on the wall and a curtained over corner to try things on in? No? No chance, not this one!
Shikasuki wasn’t just a shop, it was an idea. A new idea. It was white, WHITE; a sparkling white box of an idea. A clean, bright, shiny, modern, dazzling white box. White floors. White walls. But not just any white walls, shiny white plastic from floor to ceiling! And a mirror? Yes let’s have a mirror…but let’s cover the whole of the back wall from left to right and from floor to ceiling to reflect all that sparkling white and you in your beautiful Shikasuki dress and jewels, now twirl…. et voila…you have Shikasuki!
This was going to be as far from a “rummagy vintage shop” as I could possibly get on the oh-so-small budget. It was a vintage clothing boutique, a gallery and lifestyle shop. Yes, all together, with the clothes displayed as carefully and thoughtfully as the art.
Just because an item is vintage does not mean you should treat it with less respect than the latest designer offerings. In my world you treat it better. Just because it is vintage does not mean you have to put it back in its era; that time is gone, it’s the past. To quote L.P.Hartley at the opening of The Go-Between, “The past is a foreign country: they do things differently there.” “Here, here”, I say, let’s be here and be now. It doesn’t matter what era it was from, what shoes it was worn with. The pieces I choose are timeless and effortless, mixing perfectly with a contemporary wardrobe. They shine out against this perfect white foil, this stark white box with their own presence, in all their colourful and dazzling glory. And oh what treasures they are…but more about them on another day….
Now this was a family affair (remember those years of horrible illness…well that hadn’t changed). My dad slaved away on the drill and the sandpaper (and now on the till every week….which makes a much nicer sound than the drill!), my uncle translated my to-the-millimetre scale drawings (yes I am a complete control freak) into the wonderful curved white ocean liner shelves. My sister-in-law laid the floor in the changing room, and my cousins went wound with brooms clearing it all up! Three months and sooooo much hard graft by everyone later, we had turned this:
…into this:
Yes, that is me! I am severely camera shy and so make the most of it…these will probably the first and last you’ll ever see…am I joking?...um..no!
And yes, the changing room is black, shiny shiny jet black. Well, it just makes all that beautiful white whiter doesn’t it?
So did it work? Did people understand it? Did they like it?
Well yes, yes and yes! It took some adjusting to, people would pause as they came in. Suddenly they didn’t understand what they thought they had understood so well. Things shifted a bit, their eyes had to wander up and down and round and round. Breaths were taken slowly, questions were asked carefully…
“But it doesn’t look used… are you sure it’s vintage?”
“Yes, it’s just in perfect condition”.
“But it’s exactly this season, are you sure it’s vintage?
“Yes, it’s perfect editing and selection”.
“Oh……..So what’s downstairs?”
“More.”
……tap tap of footsteps on the stairs…….pause….…SQUEEAAAL!!!!
I think they like it?
It’s such fun counting to 5 and waiting for that squeal. It still comes all these years later, every time a new friend arrives for the first time.
So what has changed over the last 6 years? Some of the interior has changed slightly. At first we sold menswear, oh such chic menswear, but after a couple of years we sacrificed the boys…sorry boys…but the girls just had greater clothing needs and the space was too precious. The boys have had a bit of a rough deal to be honest. We had a “boyfriend corner” in every room. A comfy chair and boy-friendly magazines to while away those long trying-on-and-then-trying-on-and-on-and-on-and-then-trying-on-the first-thing-again-and-buying-that hours. We still have the famous curvy white plastic banquette upstairs though, upon which many a boyf still whiles away a relaxing hour, until he notices the Engineer Pub through the glass and mutters as he quickly disappears “….back soon, tell her I’m…..”
The ethos of the shop? No change there. Still showing the best of the best in all it’s glory, set off against the timeless and now infamous white box. Over the years we have introduced new products. A truly huge unique collection of cards…all images of our vintage gems and tongue in cheek nonsense. “Cute-as” mugs and a dinner service depicting images from my “woman and home” series of paintings…and there’s so much more to come I couldn’t even begin to tell you about it all here. I am still as much of a control freak over what goes IN the shop as I was about my shelves being correct to the millimetre. I won’t ever change…and I don’t think I should. It’s good to want perfection, to work hard to achieve it, so that my customer knows what they are getting and can carry that shikasuki bag home with confidence… (or very soon order it online with shikasuki.com... sooo exciting!!!)
And that quiet street corner? Well it has a glowing white box on the corner and it’s not so quiet now… the most delicious grocers, Melrose and Morgan is right opposite, Sardos restaurant on the little path slipping elegantly down to the Regent’s Canal and the famous Primrose Bakery is next door. The Engineer on the other side gets busier and busier… you’d better book that table in the garden in advance this summer… you’ll need a rest and a long cool drink after all the time you’ve spent playing at Shikasuki!
Here’s the outside today:
And finally do they like it? Well here’s what the people say:
Matthew Williamson
“Rachel, the shop owner, has an incredible eye for fashion as a total work of art”
Matthew in Shikasuki.
Alice Temperly
“I love it at Shikasuki. Great selection of fun wearable vintage and quirky jewellery. Brilliant collection of very desirable Ossie Clark”
Lisa Snowdon
“…you need a good few hours to do this vintage shop justice. I’ve found beautiful Ossie Clark Pieces, amazing handbags and perfect one-off party dresses.”
Sadie Frost and Jemima French
"A fabulous vintage store in Primrose Hill. It’s like a treasure trove, perfect for discovering handbags and pieces of jewellery that nobody else will have. With the most stylish of dresses and a gallery of fine art, prints and glass-work it’s impossible to leave empty handed."
Vogue
"An enchanting shop filled with pristine vintage finds, including remarkable well-preserved Ossie Clark originals. Thoughtfully curated charm”
The Vintage Guide to London
“Primrose Hill vintage boutique Shikasuki has been hailed one of the capital’s best vintage shops. And rightfully so. The careful selection of vintage womenswear and accessories is second to none…”
Time Out shopping Guide 2007
"..Shikasuki.. the best vintage shop for accessories."
Time Out shopping Guide 2009
"Could this be the perfect vintage shop…?"
Bracelets
We just recently had a bit of a move around on our ground floor and have just put out a whole load of bracelets which have been carefully collected and selected over the past year specially for this display.
They are catching all our customers attention as they make the perfect gift (who doesn't love a vintage bracelet?) or treat for yourself.
We are ignoring the fact the weather feels more like winter some days and what better way to feel summery than to wear one of the fun, bright chunky charm bracelets!
For a photo of our display, check out our Twitter
.
They are catching all our customers attention as they make the perfect gift (who doesn't love a vintage bracelet?) or treat for yourself.
We are ignoring the fact the weather feels more like winter some days and what better way to feel summery than to wear one of the fun, bright chunky charm bracelets!
For a photo of our display, check out our Twitter
.
Pick of the Week!
Once a week, we will be featuring a "Pick of The Week" where we pick our favourite item of the moment so that you can have a little bit more of an idea of the kind of treasures we have in our Primrose Hill store! Remember, you can always give us a ring on 020 7722 4442 to enquire about the item!
This week we picked a beautiful 50's yellow chiffon cocktail dress with white flower beading, £175.
Italian Vogue Shoot
A few weeks ago Vogue Italia came and shot a video inside Shikasuki and the idea was about following plus size model Emily around to her favourite haunts in London. In the video, you can see her looking through the dresses upstairs and also wearing an outfit from Shikasuki.
You can check out the video for yourself HERE
You can check out the video for yourself HERE
London Fashion Weekend
Back in February, Shikasuki were asked to supply a vintage collection to form part of the catwalk show at London Fashion Weekend. Styled by stylist to the stars, Miss Molly, of course, we were more than happy to get involved with such an exciting event!
The show was called "Vintage Glamour" and all clothing, jewellery and bags included were original vintage pieces from Shikasuki.
For those of you who aren't familiar with London Fashion Weekend, it is a 3 day event held at the official British Fashion Council space, Somerset House. It is the week after the official London Fashion Week and all of the On Schedule shows and also uses the Fashion Week catwalk in the centre of the courtyard. It is a chance to see both upcoming designers as well as established designer's shows and also the first chance to buy the amazing creations seen on the catwalks too.
Here is the "Vintage Glamour" show by Shikasuki...
Last Monday, the catwalk show was also aired on "Britain's Next Top Model" on Living TV. As a task "reward" two of the contestants walked in the show.
See the clip below with Shikasuki pieces on at 6.15 minutes into the clip:
The show was called "Vintage Glamour" and all clothing, jewellery and bags included were original vintage pieces from Shikasuki.
For those of you who aren't familiar with London Fashion Weekend, it is a 3 day event held at the official British Fashion Council space, Somerset House. It is the week after the official London Fashion Week and all of the On Schedule shows and also uses the Fashion Week catwalk in the centre of the courtyard. It is a chance to see both upcoming designers as well as established designer's shows and also the first chance to buy the amazing creations seen on the catwalks too.
Here is the "Vintage Glamour" show by Shikasuki...
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| Shikasuki Vintage beaded dress and beaded lucite bag (photo © Spencer Sunar) |
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| Shikasuki Vintage chiffon dress, lucite bag and crystal necklace (photo © Spencer Sunar) |
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| Shikasuki Vintage beaded dress and woven bag (photo © Spencer Sunar) |
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| Shikasuki Vintage beaded chiffon dress (photo © Spencer Sunar) |
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| Shikasuki Vintage beaded dress and lucite bag (photo © Spencer Sunar) |
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| Shikasuki Vintage beaded chiffon dress (photo © Spencer Sunar) |
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| Shikasuki Vintage Ossie Clark dress and crystal necklace (photo © Spencer Sunar) |
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| Shikasuki Vintage Zandra Rhodes chiffon dress (photo © Spencer Sunar) |
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| Shikasuki Vintage Ossie Clark dress and Pierrot necklace (photo © Spencer Sunar) |
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| Shikasuki Vintage Biba sequin jacket and lucite bag (photo © Spencer Sunar) |
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| Shikasuki Vintage chiffon and sequin dress and metal belt (photo © Spencer Sunar) |
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| Shikasuki Vintage Ossie Clark trouser suit and chunky necklaces (photo © Spencer Sunar) |
Last Monday, the catwalk show was also aired on "Britain's Next Top Model" on Living TV. As a task "reward" two of the contestants walked in the show.
See the clip below with Shikasuki pieces on at 6.15 minutes into the clip:
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