Ahoy there!

Some nautical themed items that have caught my eye this week in Alfies.

1920s blue and white blouse from Tin Tin Collectables

1950s boat called 'Lady Luck' from Hayling Island Fairground from Anouska Hunter Antiques

Vintage Ladybird book from East West Books and Antiques

1950s/60s mirrored back bar shelves from W & L Antiques

For your travels these fantastic vintage suitcases from Tin Tin Collectables

Beautiful illuminated globe from Thirteen Interiors

Dandy Dolls on ASOS!

Dandy Dolls' beautiful vintage clothing is now available to buy online at ASOS marketplace. Click here to shop their collection now!

We are dreaming of warmer weather with this 1950s sundress and loving the black Victorian wool cape below!


Dandy Dolls shop is on the second floor of Alfies, make sure to drop by and see their latest stock.

A truly amazing find...

If you, like us, are fascinated by beautiful stories, lucky finds, amazing talent and a bit of mystery then the following will no doubt capture you as much as us.

Over the past weeks we have come across a certain lady more than once - newspapers mentioned her, TV programmes did brief features about her, blogs have picked up this fantastic story, and friends circulated her name - Vivian Maier.



If you were to google this name now, you would find an array of links about this talented woman who sadly passed away in 2009 before she could witness her popularity in the art world. Then again, she might have never been interested in acquiring fame, countless of her negatives were still undeveloped in rolls when John Maloof bought thousands of them at an auction in Chicago. Little did he guess what he had come across - some of the best street photography.




Vivian Maier lived in a suburb of Chicago working as a nanny, she must have traveled quite a bit as many of her photographs captured moments witnessed in foreign countries. She had an incredible eye for photography, all her images seem to speak volumes about the moment they were taken. Many of her belongings were in storage and had to be auctioned off as she was ill; she sadly passed away a day before John Maloof decided to try and contact her, unfortunately he only found her obituary and so many questions were left unanswered.

Her boxes also contained several tape recordings; on one of them she said the following about leaving this life :

''Well I suppose nothing lasts forever. We have to make room for other people. It's a wheel. You get on, you have to go to the end. And then somebody has the same opportunity to go to the end and so on. And somebody else takes their place.''

We feel that she has given us a beautiful, lasting gift and that she has achieved so much while it was her 'turn'. What a shame she didn't live to realise just how happy her photography made others.

For more information on Vivian Maier and her photography see here, here, here and here

Today also sees the opening of an exhibition of London street photography at the Museum of London which we cannot wait to see.



Inspired by Vivian Maier and her stunning testaments of the past we have had a look around Alfies and found some lovely items.

Great images of times gone by can be found at Daumieres on the Second Floor

French marble Art Deco frame, English bakelite Art Deco frame & English WW2 Halifax aeroplane with ashtray from Robinson Antiques on the Ground Floor

A selection of vintage luggage and clothing from Tin Tin Collectibles on the Ground and First Floor

Our take on architecture photography.
An architectural model of an unrealised project by Sir Basil Spence from the 1970s
available from Anouska Hunter Antiques on the Second Floor

Personal Shopping for Valentine's Day

If you are one of those people who struggle to find the perfect gift for your nearest and dearest on Valentine's day then we might have the answer. Alfies is offering a complimentary personal shopping service to help you navigate the many wonderful shops and find a very thoughtful and one of a kind gift.

Garnet Heart Necklace. From Naneen Brooks.

Horseshoe Diamond Ring. From Gareth Brooks.

1970s Gold Bark Effect Ring. From Naneen Brooks.