My immediate instinct when I move to a new area is to try and explore the nooks and crannies and not to jump on the tube and go to supposed 'civilisation'. Even the 'dodgy' areas of London have something to offer up and I've lived quite a few parts of it to know that it's always best to seek things out.  I'll be frank.  I wasn't exactly thrilled at the prospect of living a stone's throw away from Arsenal's Emirates Stadium even though Gunners fans aren't a rowdy lot.  However, a minute away from my doorstep doesn't just lie a burger van and a fake Arsenal merchandise stall (the smell of beer and onions comes wafting up to my flat on match days... er... yum...).  There are two amazing second hand furniture/retro stores where I've already spent a fortune. 

Then there's 21st Century Retro better known as '162 Holloway Road' which is on...duh... 162 Holloway Road.  I don't think I've ever lived SO close to such a comprehensive vintage store.  It also makes me ashamed that all this time, myself and everyone bangs on about Beyond Retro, in the back of my head, I did know that 162 Holloway Road is just as cheap and just as good as BR.  Alas though, Holloway Road never used to be a place I frequented and only drove past as my mother took me to Chinese school in my youth (fear and dread were the feelings running through my head as opposed to excitement over a vintage store as invariably I hadn't done my homework...).

I wasn't allowed to take pics on my visit but I will get round to it just to show you how STUFFED the place is.  Everything oddly seems to be £20 and under... big dresses, coats, cashmere sweaters and shoes galore.  My buys were £7 a pop which does mean I am in danger of going back to my old ways of nipping out to buy an emergency top/dress for a night out... quite literally, it would be 'nipping out'.  I'm also in danger of being distracted when asked to say buy some milk/bread and instead be diverted into 162.

This coat is deceptively demure as from a far, it just looks like a normal navy coat but then up close, touching the fabric, it's this nylon, nubby, bumpy sort of texture.  Quite odd to describe and quite odd to wear too.... I'd be fine with just wearing this as a dress coat.   

The boyf did comment that the top is a little 'nu-rave', but in or out (urgh... did I just say that...), I was attracted to the fact that the top came with a matching visor and of course features my favoured black sequins.  The print is also crying for doses of toning down which I'm more than happy to do.