Oh right, yeah, Milan Fashion Week kicked off last Saturday and I’ve been living under a sizeable rock ever since that’s had me missing all of Paris to boot. Apologies for those of you that land here in search of collection dissection mere moments after models scuttle off the runway, but this season I’m letting all impressions stew a bit before ranting bitterly, or raving deliriously.
Instead, it’s time to reflect i.e. pore over some vintage. Ever since 9 Crow St. opened up a few weeks back, I’ve been meaning to trawl through the rails as every single one of my mates has been waxing lyrical after his/her first visit. This week, myself and fashion pour femme enthusiast Ali decided to check it out.
SO glad we did. Being fashion aware as they are, owners Emma Fraser, Edel Brady and Dean McDaid aren’t your usual vintage pushers that rake in whatever tat they can get their hands on and then peddle it at prices based on unbelievable mark-ups. All being clothing enthusiasts themselves, they’re discerning when it comes to stock; right now, instead of an abundance of twee tea-party floral frocks, you’ll find sexy leather hot-pants, and for the guys – it’s more about waxed cotton jackets and tailored trousers, rather than mismatching shoes and those pinstripe blazers.
^ 2/3 Owners: the v. sweet Dean & Edel
^ Me, getting mah browse on, and no, this post wasn’t sponsored by Wrangler.
^ Ali fondling a Breton stripe dress (I know – how did I restrain myself from stripping and trying it on myself then and there?)
The store itself is impressive, too, with old-world, cracked-in-places tiling on the ground and a long, battered black leather couch which offers perusers a time-out if they need it. Catholic iconography features heavily as well which pays tribute, I suppose, to the owners’ heritage, but also lends to the kind of time-warp feel they’ve managed to craft so well.
But it’s not all about making the rent, the guys are also keen to aid up-and-comers in the various fields of fashion, art and music in making their first step into the commercial arena by offering them free exhibition space. Already they’ve installed the work of Dublin-based illustrator Leigh Arthur who’s all about the grotesque made kind of charming.
^ Leigh Arthur’s work
Admittedly, when I heard about this venture first I was hopeful yet incredibly cynical at the same time. It seems I’ve been proven wrong. Cheap (from what I’ve seen, stock starts from around €5 and outerwear is around €50 mark), cheerful and set apart from the rest of Dublin’s vintage haunts, 9 Crow St. are here, and are determined to stay.
9 Crow St, Dublin 2
Lovely! Mine will be going up soon!
I must pay a visit when i'm next over. Did that used to be a record or comic shop? Glad to see some more vintage stores popping up around the capital though.
I have been to Dublin about 3 months ago and visited 9 Crow St, too. It was awesome, cheap and very cool. I liked it 🙂