Are all the good vintage duds at your local thrift store gone?   Fear not, soon you’ll have a whole new decade to reference and pick through.   Now a mere 11 years into the history books, a fresh movement is afoot to declare the venerable 1990’s, “vintage.” 

Are we ready to ascribe the likes of Nirvana,  Pearl Jam, Wayne’s World, and the Spice Girls,  to the venerable “Vintage” label?  Or is that wine just too young to take from the barrel?  Would our Eat My Shorts T-shirts not benefit from a few more years in the closet, taking up the subtle aromatic nuances of the moth ball.

The British department store Selfridges is boldly leading the charge to say, “Damn Skippy, the 90s are Vintage!”

The concept store, The 90s Are Vintage, (running Jan. 11th – 29th only) will commemorate that fly decade in Selfridge’s history with some in-store highlights that are downright dope:

• Rellik presents essential designerwear and accessories, including Jean Paul Gaultier, Azzedine Alaia, Vivienne
Westwood and Comme Des Garcons
• Beyond Retro present the authentic 90s uniform
• IDEA present their edit of the 90s most seminal style publications
• Francois Nars exclusively presents his book, 15×15
• M.A.C presents key 90s looks, including the iconic Spice lipliner and Twig lipstick
• H.M.V presents the top 50 films of the 90s
• Other Criteria present an exclusive YBA collection, including Damian Hirst’s iconic spots
• Dalston’s original 90s night “Work It” present their soundtrack to the era with DJs in store

 What do you think? Are we ready for this comeback? Are these looks dank or what?

This ain’t Reno.  It’s Wiltshire, England.  There’s a groovy retro photography exhibit called “Icons of the Highway” at the Fox Talbot Museum at Lacock Abbey in Wiltshire.  Think motels touting electric neon signs for weary travelers, flamboyant over-sized automobiles, aluminum Air-Stream caravans, colorful burger shacks, bustling 24-hour diners, and rich red brocaded cinemas of old Hollywood glamour.  Just good ole’ Americana in England.  Who knew?

The  images on display are the works of Dorset-based photographers Tony and Eva Worobiec.  Not to sound too romantic here, but Tony and Eva’s photos really do take visitors back in time on a classic 1960s American road trip.  The exhibtion opens on January 9, 2010 and runs until June 27, 2010.

And here’s a tip if you’re planning to go.  Members of The Royal Oak Foundation get into the museum and all other National Trust properties for free.

Considering I probably have the worst sense of direction, it took me forever to find Camden Passage in Islington – a London neighborhood that’s steadily growing in popularity.  But it was well worth it.  Camden Passage is a narrow alley chock full of vintage goodies.  Antique watches.  Score.  Old copies of James Bond novels.  Double score.  There were shops like Annie’s Vintage clothing (clothing and textiles), Vincent Freeman (music boxes to furniture) and The African Waistcoat Company (vests with an African twist).  ”Waistcoat”  is the British word for vest.  Wednesdays and Saturdays are the busy days.  I went on a Thursday and it was like I had the place all to myself.  Here are a few pics I took.  Enjoy!