A blogger's shop trail is one that no one will probably know about save for fellow bloggers and readers. Due to the nature of blogging, it is such that one blog will write about what another blog wrote about and the chain grows longer and longer. Fashionologie [1] first turned me onto The Urban Collection [2], the online vintage store, a while ago and even plugged them when Fashionologie was featured in Grazia [3]. Then I couldn't resist blah-ing [4] about it. Then Queen Michelle discovered [5] the delights that Dree (the owner of The Urban Collection) picks out. Now everyone [6] is giving The Urban Collection some serious blog loving. What's not to love? Regularly updated stock. Pieces that are contemporary looking and 'pop' at you. Quality checked. Sized so by and large not too much altering needs to be done. Sent to you with a personalised card. The only failing would be of course is that when an item displays that Sold sign, your heart sinks as you know that item is one of a kind and never to be seen again.
Tuxedo Dress $92 [7] // Paisley Shirt $39 [8] // Bordeaux Plush Tent Dress $67 [9]
Metallic Slouch Top $38 [10] // Grape Leather Peplum Jacket $69 [11] // Violet Tunic Dress $39 [12]
A furry coat with military detailing which I had ordered a while back, meaning to take it Paris Fashion Week with me, had been sitting in Friern Barnet post office for the past two months waiting for me to deign to pick it up. Since weekdays are out, I made a note to pick it up every Saturday but the lazy 'croissaint and Guardian in bed whilst watching Saturday Kitchen' routine hampered me every time. Until today, when on the busiest post office days (last X'mas posting date etc...), I chose to pick it up.
I thank the skies that it didn't get swallowed up by the disasterous system that is Royal Mail. It's perfectly roomy, has this beaten-up grey leather stripe detailing with shiny buttons and is beautifully lined with satin. It's got a texture that slightly alludes to fur but is more like furry moleskin. Vintage Balenciaga coat aside, this will keep me going for a while...

Links:
[1] http://www.fashionologie.com/fashionologie/2007/06/old_but_not_out.html
[2] http://www.theurbancollection.com/
[3] http://stylebubble.typepad.com/style_bubble/2007/11/that-is-not-me.html
[4] http://stylebubble.typepad.com/style_bubble/2007/08/the-catwalk-and.html
[5] http://kingdomofstyle.typepad.co.uk/my_weblog/2007/10/urban-urchin.html
[6] http://jottingsofafashionista.blogspot.com/2007/12/ive-got-love-for-you-if-you-were-born.html
[7] http://theurbancollection.com/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1112&category_id=2&manufacturer_id=0&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=33
[8] http://theurbancollection.com/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1125&category_id=2&manufacturer_id=0&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=33
[9] http://theurbancollection.com/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=902&category_id=2&manufacturer_id=0&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=33
[10] http://theurbancollection.com/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1141&category_id=2&manufacturer_id=0&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=33
[11] http://theurbancollection.com/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1144&category_id=2&manufacturer_id=0&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=33
[12] http://theurbancollection.com/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=912&category_id=7&manufacturer_id=0&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=33
[13] http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b183/susie_bubble/Style Bubble 6/urbancoll.jpg
[14] http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b183/susie_bubble/Style Bubble 6/urbcoat1.jpg