Wasted Chic: London's less conventional pop-up shop is more like a party

ALLI

Alli Lorraine is a Philadelphia native, her love of style truly began at age 7 when she crafted a tank top out of a terry cloth towel, which she was not allowed to wear outside of the house. Through visits to the Met and the Museum at FIT, many hours spent researching and reading Vogue in the library, and a keen eye for street style, her fashion sense has dramatically evolved since then. Alli enjoys singing along (poorly) at concerts, sketching and drawing in Central Park, and dreaming of owning a Saint Laurent leather jacket.

STYLE / SHOP

COOL THINGS, CREATED AND SHARED

Holiday markets are everywhere in Europe. I know students that, since the beginning of November, have taken weekend trips to Brussels and Bruge in Belgium, Lille in France, and “literally everywhere in Germany,” according to my friend Ashwini, just to browse their market stalls. Rows and rows of wooden structures stand precariously, nearly toppling over from the weight of glass baubles and ceramic candy canes.

The markets are really pretty to look at and certainly embody Christmas spirit (for better or worse, depending on how you look at it). But if you’re looking for something a little less conventional–vendors that offer more than ugly sweaters and miniature Santas–It can be difficult.

Based off a recommendation from Not Another Salon‘s owner Sophia Hilton, I went to the Wasted Chic Christmas event at McQueen in Shoreditch, London. I’d pretty much follow up on anything Hilton recommended, save for jumping off a bridge, so naturally, I wasn’t disappointed.

// LOONIGANS: [Official] [Facebook] [Instagram] [Twitter] [Pinterest]

// SERA ULGER LONDON: [Official] [Facebook] [Instagram] [Twitter] [Tumblr]

// HERO&CAPE: [Official] [Facebook] [Instagram] [Twitter] [Pinterest]

I’d never been to an event like this. Small British designers offered clothing and accessories starkly different in design from anything offered in traditional retail stores. While the items weren’t necessarily holiday-themed, the environment itself certainly felt festive. Vendors interacted with customers and with each other. There was no sense of “buy this,” but “I made this cool thing, and I’m sharing it with you” instead. It was refreshing to see artists enthusiastic about creating and sharing cool things, especially when the holiday season can feel a bit commercial.

// RPN CLOTHING: [Official] [ASOS Marketplace] [Instagram]

// MAYAMIKO: [Official] [Facebook] [Instagram] [Twitter] [Pinterest]

// MAGPIE & MALONE: [Official] [Facebook] [Instagram]

// COCKHEART: [Official] [Facebook] [Instagram] [Twitter]

I had an awesome time at McQueen’s, and walked away with some sick items and, even better, connections with great people and memorable, meaningful conversations.

If you’re looking for a unique holiday gift that the recipient will truly love (and not attempt to re-gift in Secret Santa), check out these brands at Wasted Chic’s event(s).