Gone Shopping 2

London shops: RIP Flip

Jill from N8 has fond memories of Flip.

The arrival of Flip (American vintage clothing) on the London shopping scene at the end of the 70s coincided nicely with the Rockabilly revival - cheap chic at it's best. There were branches in three key locations; Covent Garden, King's Road and Shoreditch. The latter was a far cry from the uber cool district it is today, but interestingly held the best stock. It was mostly frequented by the cognoscenti hankering after a bygone era and students from the London College of Fashion next door. The stock was considered too esoteric for the other two branches which catered for a more mainstream clientele.

Glad rags at midnight

The Covent Garden branch was unusual in that it remained open until midnight every night except Sunday. Therein lay its appeal. Long after the pubs had called last round, the Long Acre branch would still be pumping out loud music and wooing the customers. Even at that late hour, who could resist rail upon rail of glad rags that hadn't seen the light of day for thirty years? The night was young and impromptu transformations were the norm. Whether it be a Schiaparelli dress for a tenner or a fifties satin party frock for a few quid more, it was time to ditch the Bobo Kaminsky jeans in favour of more singular attire. Try it on, keep it on, pay for it (although a lot of Flip habitu�s skipped that bit), then sashay on down to the Wag club feeling like a million dollars. Sadly, Flip went into receivership in 1985. The Long Acre site continued to trade for several years under new ownership but lacked the appeal (and vintage clothing) of the original. The Timberland store now trades at that address.

London shops: RIP Jones Brothers - chain in vain

A retail therapist laments the closure of a suburban department store with a touch of class:

Jones Brothers, Holloway Road, is a sadly missed example of the fast disappearing department store. A beacon of taste and sensible style amongst a haphazard, downmarket shopping parade, its mixture of old wooden panelling and bizarre layout (having to exit the store to locate different departments) can and could not be reproduced anywhere else. It was a haven of calmness and sophistication away from the dirty, noisy Holloway Road.

I used to meet my Grandma there who would travel from Stamford Hill on the trusty 253 just for the shopping pleasure (even though she preferred James Selby, a few doors down). So strong was public opinion against its closure that residents made a human ring around the store, but sadly the power of food won out and like John Barnes in in Finchley Road, Jones Brothers is now a Waitrose.

Off the record in Whitechapel

One of our readers has alerted us to the closure in October of Whitechapel record outlet, Paul for Music, which apparently has been in business for 50 years. That is pretty impressive. Did you buy your vinyl there? Leave a message for us and tell us what it was like.

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Messages

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Message:	13/13
Date and time:	05/09/2010 at 14:30:46
Sender:	Nick M

Some of the things i remember from my time living in London,i was coming home one night and it had just started to rain,having no jacket and living on the piccadilly line made my way to Flip on Long acre ?,then planning to get the tube home from Covent Garden it was open till midnight and always heaps of people there.I bought an American air force rain coat in a bluey green colour i think paying about 4 pound for the jacket,2 pound for a lining to keep me warm and 2 pound for the belt.It was a damm good coat,i lent it to a a mate one day and never got it back. Getting the night bus home and the party carrying on and as i lived at one of the last stops before the night bus terminated at Heathrow asking the driver to wake me up,which they always did. The nightclubs.The Opera House at the Piccadilly theatre,its sloping dance floor Philip salon in his best and downstairs Tasty Tim i think on the decks,Ben & Andy,The Boilerhouse Boys in Kingston.The MFI club,Solaris with Roscoe,who used to cut my hair at Demop i can't remember where it was now,not far from the clothes shop Demob the Westworld parties at Fulham studio's and at Fulham baths Wetworld.Ill write again when i have a bit more time hope this will do feel free to edit etc.

Message:	12/13
Date and time:	11/12/2009 at 04:29:27
Sender:	Bill

Thinking of that era reminds me of Dickie Dirts in Stratford East that used to have a huge stock of jeans at knock down prices if your pocket didn't run to buying in Jean Jeannie in High St Ken. Of course, its a Weatherspoon Pub now sigh.

Message:	11/13
Date and time:	11/12/2009 at 04:23:32
Sender:	Bill

Ah! Flip Clothing stores. They had a great collection of original US 1950's shirts that lasted for me for years. Weren't they located on Curtain Road (north of Gt Eastern St) on the right hand side just past New Inn Yard? Quite small and dingy as I remember...

Message:	10/13
Date and time:	22/11/2009 at 22:38:34
Sender:	John Pittuck

I read with great interest the article on the long departed, and greatly missed Flip Clothing stores.I'm currently working in an office in Great eastern street, and for the life of me don't seem to be able to remember what street the nearby Flip was on if anyone can,please help!.

Message:	9/13
Date and time:	29/09/2009 at 20:38:37
Sender:	Celia Lunn

I have fond memories of Gamages Department Store in Holborn.I was only 7 when it closed in 1972, but will always remember the "sleigh ride" at Christmas. You went into a litle room and sat in rows of seats as the scenery went past on each side of the room. Then the ride became bumpy and you eventually "arrived" at the North Pole! I would be interested to hear anyone else's memories of this.

Message:	8/13
Date and time:	26/04/2009 at 00:05:25
Sender:	Statuescher

I worked in Flip in the early 80's and was big into the Rockabilly scene at the time. Some of the clothes that passed thru were amazing and I wish I had bought and kept more. It was the maddest place to work - we were drunk or stoned most of the time! It will never happen again, I don't think economics support anything other than the big multiples in London now.

Message:	7/13
Date and time:	23/08/2008 at 23:38:33
Sender:	Alan

Nice writing. You are on my RSS reader now so I can read more from you down the road.

Message:	6/13
Date and time:	21/03/2008 at 04:55:09
Sender:	Unknown

Sorry, but what is kimerikas? Jane.

Message:	5/13
Date and time:	27/10/2007 at 20:55:08
Sender:	curious

Who is/was Bobo Kaminsky?

Message:	4/13
Date and time:	03/07/2007 at 00:39:52
Sender:	Chasefield

Sorry, should have made it clear I was talking about Jones Brothers. Trying to find the name of the last manager.