London

Photo: Unsplash
The city of London is home to beautiful art, rich history, and stunning landmarks. However, if sustainable shopping is one of your favorite pastimes, you’ll be delighted to learn that London is also rife with must-visit vintage stores, making it a haven for major vintage enthusiasts.
Whether you’re a native or a tourist, there’s an abundance of opportunities to shop vintage in the capital of England. One of my favorite spots is the famous Brick Lane Market. Located in East London, this iconic market is the city’s biggest vintage clothing spot, and remains a popular attraction for a reason. On any given day, the market is bustling with shoppers, while the mouthwatering smell of eclectic foods lures you to keep exploring.
Photo: instagram.com/oldspitalfieldsmarket
So, if you’re looking to spend a few pounds mindfully, keep scrolling to learn more about which vintage stops you need to add to your agenda the next time you’re in London.
Vintage Market
Photo: instagram.com/bricklanevintagemarket
After grabbing a bite to eat, I encourage you to make your way to the Vintage Market, where vintage experts from around the United Kingdom showcase their clothes. Here, you’ll discover a wide range of treasures, from vintage denim and unique accessories, to glamorous fur coats and colorful decor that span across decades (think 1920s, 1990s, and everything in between). When you shop here, you can expect to walk away with something that’s one-of-a-kind.
Old Spitalfield Market
Photo: instagram.com/oldspitalfieldsmarket
Looking for something to do on an ordinary Thursday? Made up of a community of traders, the Old Spitalfields Market is another can’t-miss spot, especially for its Thursday Antiques Market.
Whether you’re on the hunt for some Victorian screens, a 1930s steam trunk, or a vintage chaise lounge, you’ll likely find it here. And if you want more information on these antique pieces, the traders are happy to tell you everything you’d like to know. It’s a prime opportunity to build your knowledge and collection of antiques.
Hunky Dory Vintage
Photo: Instagram.com/hunkydoryvintage
Hunky Dory Vintage is another Brick Lane Market gem for sustainable shoppers. They carry a wide range of vintage clothing pieces, including band tees, cool jackets, and statement-worthy accessories that allow you to showcase your distinct sense of style. Bonus: the items are in excellent condition and are just waiting for you to give them new life!
Levisons Vintage Clothing
Photo: Instagram.com/levisons_london
Before you wrap up your shopping spree, don’t forget to stop by Levisions Vintage Clothing, also tucked away in the streets of East London. This hotspot handpicks rare vintage pieces and specializes in workwear, military clothing, and knitwear, making it a great location to diversify your wardrobe. They add new items to their stock on a weekly basis, providing plenty of opportunities for shoppers to find an absolute treasure.
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Photo: Getty
Kate Middleton and Prince William have touched down at the U.K. premiere of Top Gun: Maverick.
On May 19, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex attended a screening of the Top Gun sequel starring Tom Cruise at Leicester Square in London, England. Middleton walked the red carpet wearing a black-and-white off-shoulder gown by Roland Mouret that was perfectly complemented by her husband’s classic black tuxedo. The Duchess kept her neck bare and her loose, straight hair away from her face to showcase a par of dainty starburst diamond earrings.
While Prince William kept his look relatively simple, he snuck in one nod to the Top Gun franchise on his velvet shoes, which featured a jet plane design. Prince William previously served as a pilot in the Royal Air Force, as did his brother, Prince Harry.
The film’s star, Tom Cruise, reportedly feels he has “a lot in common” with the Duke of Sussex. “We both love England and we’re both aviators, we both love flying,” Cruise said on the red carpet, per My London.
Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge arrive for the “Top Gun: Maverick” Royal Film Performance at Leicester Square on May 19, 2022. Photo: Getty
Though the Duke and Duchess were each other’s dates to the event, it was Cruise who lent a hand to Middleton as she ascended a flight of stairs.
Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, is accompanied by Tom Cruise as she arrives for the Top Gun: Maverick Royal Film Performance at Odeon Leicester Square on May 19, 2022. Photo: Getty
Ahead of the screening, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge also met with cast members Jennifer Connelly, Miles Teller, Glenn Powell, and Jon Hamm.
From left: Miles Teller, Jennifer Connelly, Jon Hamm, and Glen Powell meet Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, at the Royal Film Performance screening of Top Gun: Maverick in Leicester Square on May 19, 2022. Photo: Getty
According to reports, this isn’t the first time Prince William and Kate Middleton have viewed the sequel to the 1986 classic film about a band of elite fighter pilots. In the 2022 sequel, Maverick (Cruise) makes his return to the Top Gun Naval Fighter Weapons School to shepherd a new group of airmen, including the son of his late best friend, Goose (Anthony Edwards), played by Teller. Cruise had reportedly invited the couple to an even more private screening in March after hearing Prince William was a fan of the original film.
Top Gun: Maverick hits theaters on May 24, 2022.
Originally published in Glamour.com

Photo: Courtesy of Burberry
First Covid, then Brexit officially happened, and now war in Europe… It is fair to say that the world has been through some tough times. Naturally, as history proves over and over again, in moments of instability designers turn to creativity, but also look inside, searching for codes that give its followers reassurance and a feeling that, while all might be collapsing, clothes can provide a sense of belonging and some sort of soothing familiarity. Maybe that’s why Burberry’s FW22 show, presented last Friday in London outside of the official fashion week calendar, was one of the most British – and might we add strongest – collections by Italian designer Riccardo Tisci, who joined the brand in 2018.
The invite. Photo: Manuel Arnaut
The sense of feeling at home started way before the event, when guests received invitations in the form of embroidery hoops emblazoned with the words “Thank You Very Much.” The message was clear: even though Tisci is known for his modern, streetwear approach, this collection also aimed to celebrate the importance of the human touch. After all, London has just lifted all its Covid restrictions, and this was the first in-person show for Burberry since the pandemic started.
Photo: Getty
Attended by Naomi Campbell, Carla Bruni, Kate Moss, and Euphoria star Jacob Elordi, the Burberry show took place in a majestic room at Westminster Hall, which also houses a century-old organ. Without any seating, guests stood in front of an elevated stage, leading to different tables set with all types of silver cutlery, porcelain plates, and crystal glasses that could have been borrowed from a scene of Gosford Park. It was on these dining tables covered in white linen and spread across the room that models stood showcasing the new designs, reaching each table by walking in between the guests.
Kate Moss. Photo: Getty
While fashion was about to be served, music was also a key ingredient at this runway show. And not any music, but magnificent, epic melodies by composers Max Richter and Michael Nyman, interpreted live by the London Contemporary Orchestra, and a 100-person choir.
Photo: Courtesy of Burberry
Although the setup was quite maximalist, Burberry’s designs didn’t get lost in the drama. On the contrary, the designs were equally grand – from deluxe streetwear to lavish feathered ballgowns – and seemed in tune with the ambiance. Being faithful to the real DNA of Burberry, all the main signature codes of the brand were revisited, and deliciously twisted: the Burberry check first used in the 1920s took over looks from head to toe; trenchcoats became long dresses; and kilt and red hunting jackets got urban twists. There were also light trenches dressed with orange polka dots, something you could imagine Diana, Princess of Wales wearing if she was still alive today. Accessories wise, baseball caps, XL headbands, over-the-knee boots and glasses straight out of a very glamorous science fiction movie completed the looks.
Photo: Courtesy of Burberry
As any fashion banquet requires a tasty dessert, one of the most Instagrammed moments of the show (besides Gigi Hadid’s new platinum blond ’do), was a sequence of looks bejeweled with sparkles and crystals, starting on the models’ faces and ending in confident shirts that seem perfect for a night out in a London that is finally buzzing again. This was fashion that fed the soul – and a promising new chapter for Riccardo Tisci’s take on Burberry.
Discover more key moments from the show below.
Photo: Courtesy of Burberry
Photo: Courtesy of Burberry
Photo: Courtesy of Burberry
Photo: Courtesy of Burberry
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After the rain, comes the sun.
Off the official schedule, the fashion set flocked to Wapping, in the East End where Sarah Burton brought Alexander McQueen, one of fashion’s most important houses back to home turf for the first time in 20 years.
Tobacco Dock’s Yellow Park was transformed into a giant bubble-like structure designed by architect Smiljan Radic, that perched on top of an 11 story car park. The Shard and the Gerkin looked on proudly, providing a magnificent backdrop of a somewhat burdened city.
Photo: Courtesy of Alexander McQueen
“I am interested in immersing myself in the environment in which we live and work, in London, and in the elements as we experience them each day. We moved from water – and the mud on the banks of the Thames – to the sky and the ever-changing, all-encompassing magnificence that it represents,” said Burton.
The collection darted between hard and soft, in the way Burton does with pure joy. Exquisitely tailored jackets offset with bomber jacket sleeves and dramatic corseted full-skirted gowns, interjected by fierce leathers and parachute skirting. Buckled dresses printed with imagery depicting sunrises and clouds drew inspiration from the skyscapes the McQueen team had captured from the studio balcony.
“The artwork for the prints in this collection was shot from the rooftops of the studio where we are lucky enough to have the most incredible views of the city: from Saint Paul’s Cathedral to the London Eye. We watched the weather and captured the formation and coloration of clouds from daybreak to nightfall and documented changing patterns, from clear blue skies to more turbulent ones,” said Burton.
Lara Stone, Emilia Clarke and Vanessa Kirby. Photo: Getty
The push and pull of darkness and light and the unpredictable powers of nature were brought to life by a particularly clever casting; a menagerie of character models challenging the industry’s perceived ideals felt both honest and authentic in its delivery. While friends of the brand, such as actors Vanessa Kirby, Emilia Clarke, and Kosar Ali, sat dotted between guests as a sound installation by John Gosling featured Massive Attack’s Safe From Harm and Daniel Avery’s Yesterday Faded echoed around the bubble.
“I love the idea of the McQueen woman being a storm chaser. Storm chasing is not only about the beauty of the views but also a sense of mystery and excitement about embracing the fact that we can’t ever be sure of what might happen next. To give up control and be directly in touch with the unpredictable is to be part of nature, to see and feel it at its most intense – to be at one with a world that is bigger and more powerful than we are,” said Burton.
Naomi Campbell. Photo: Courtesy of Alexander McQueen
As Naomi Campbell closed the show in a cropped black jacket splashed with crystal raindrops, the sound of thunder reverberated around the bubble, perhaps acting as a microcosm for how small and ultimately powerless we are in comparison to nature and its often brutal and unpredictable elements. Has Covid-19 changed us? I think so. These are quieter and more reflective times and Burton’s intimate and dignified collection felt optimistic we are moving collectively in the right direction.

Read Next: 9 Life-Giving Alexander McQueen Dresses That Look Like Art

Photo: Getty
The reason why Princess Diana didn’t wear a headpiece in her visits to children has been revealed, and it is a heartwarming one. Claudia Acott Williams, curator of Kensington Palace‘s new exhibition, Royal Style in the Making on June 3, stated the reason as “you can’t cuddle a child in a hat.”
According to Williams, the late Princess of Wales also abandoned the royal protocol of wearing gloves because she liked to hold hands when visiting people or shake hands and have direct contact.
The exhibition in the London palace, showcasing some of Princess Diana’s most memorable outfits to commemorate her passing 20 years later, features the sketch of a blue floral dress she wore when visiting children or hospitals. Designed by David Sassoon, it became known as her “caring dress” because she knew that children loved the bright, floral pattern. Williams adds that the Princess wore big costume jewelry because “she would pick children up and they would play with it.”
Photo: Getty
“She understood how what you were wearing could really convey warmth… it could reinforce hierarchy or it could undermine hierarchy and create more of a relationship,” says Williams.
Matthew Storey, curator at the Historic Royal Palaces, says that the example “really illustrates just how carefully she considered the people she would meet when selecting outfits for her many public engagements.”
Also included in the exhibition is Princess Diana’s wedding dress, loaned by her sons Prince William and Prince Harry, which is on public display for the first time in more than 25 years. The gown, which the late Princess Diana wore to marry Prince Charles at London’s St Paul’s Cathedral on July 29, 1981, was designed by David and Elizabeth Emanuel. It has a fitted bodice overlaid with panels of antique Carrickmacross lace originally belonging to Queen Mary.
Photo: Getty
The dress is on display with the princess’s 7.6-meter sequin-encrusted train, which is the longest in British royal history to date.
The exhibition will be closed on Thursday, July 1, on what would have been Princess Diana’s 60th birthday.
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