Sign of the Times is a treasure trove for preloved luxury fashion.

It almost pains me to write this post, as this is a store I’d quite happily keep as my little secret!  Sign of the Times is a treasure trove for preloved luxury fashion.  As you all know I like to shop savvy, so I do tend to try and find designer items either on sale or preloved (catch my previous post on how I buy preloved HERE).  Sign of the Times has become my go-to place for when I’m feeling spendy!

Nestled in a quiet street in South Kensington, this isn’t your usual “second hand” store.  Instead, it feels like a high-end boutique where everything is displayed beautifully.  You can spend hours rifling through the colour coordinated rails and quite often I do!

The calibre of brands is honestly astonishing.  I think being equidistant from Knightsbridge and Chelsea definitely has its advantage, as there seem to be plenty of glamorous and well-heeled ladies who drop their last season’s wardrobes to Sign of the Times.  You can expect all the big brands here, including Chanel, Saint Laurent, Dolce & Gabbana, Balmain and Prada to name but a few.  Also, a lot of their pieces are still brand new with the tags.

I tend to stop by quite often as their stock continually changes.  They will often get new pieces dropped in every day, so there is always something new to see.

The other lovely thing is, as I’m a regular, I’ve got to know some of the ladies that work there and they’re always so helpful.  I highly recommend Emily and Claudine who, without fail, give such helpful and honest advice.  They really get to know their customers and they’ll happily tell you if something doesn’t suit you.  It is not by accident they have such a loyal client base.

I have been lusting after this Balmain Double Breasted Blazer in Grey for a while now.  You can tell I’m head over heels in love with it, just look at that grin!  As a lot of you will know already I’m a huge Balmain fan (just check out this recent post about my Balmain love affair HERE).

The only thing that is stopping me is I worry it’s slightly too big.  I always think jackets look best when they’re more on the tailored/fitted side but I would love to know what you guys think and whether you think should go for it or not!

I also umm’d and errr’d about treating myself to this divine Saint Laurent Backpack for ages.  I think I spent a solid 20 minutes just staring at it!  It was in immaculate condition and I knew it’d be perfect for travelling.  In the end, I decided against it, as I didn’t want to buy it on impulse.

However, I saw it in-store on Tuesday by the time I popped back on Friday afternoon, it had sold to someone else.  Let that be a lesson to you.  If you do see something you love, I highly advise nabbing it when you can.  While I really don’t want to advocate impulse spending, more often than not the best pieces will fly out the door very, very quickly, which is something to keep in mind.

A lot of the pieces are still on the pricey side which is to be expected when you’re talking about the likes of Chanel, Balmain and Saint Laurent.  However, if you’re looking for a mega bargain then you need to hold out for one of their legendary clearance sales.  They don’t happen very often but when they do, they’re worth making the effort to visit.  Queues outside the door first thing in the morning are not unheard of but there’s always plenty to choose from even if you can’t make it till later in the afternoon.

Sign of the Times can be found on 5 Elystan Street in South Kensington.  I highly recommend following them on Instagram (@signofthetimes) to see a small sprinkling of their stock, plus it’s a good way to stay up to date with their sales.  Also, if you’re interested in selling with them it’s worth giving them a call on 020 7589 7447 first to see what they’re currently accepting, as they take stock depending on the season, current trends and their client base.

Don’t forget you can also keep up with me on Instagram @thatnewdress, Twitter @thatnewdress, Bloglovin That New Dress, Snapchat thatnewdress and Depop @dominiquew.

More you'll enjoy

Share this post

Don’t forget you can also keep up with me on Instagram @thatnewdress, Twitter @thatnewdress, Bloglovin That New Dress and Snapchat thatnewdress.

Previous post Next post

66 Responses to “A Hidden Gem in London: Sign of the Times”

  1. Aw thanks for sharing your favorite store with us! You look soo happy in your pictures. I think it’s cool that you know the store associates by name (Emily and Claudine). Definitely go for that gray blazer, especially if you could get it tailored!

    Kim
    Simply Lovebirds

  2. Gabrielle

    At first (and second!) glance, you absolutely wouldn’t know this wasn’t a high-end boutique; everything is so beautifully displayed! I’m dying over that Balmain blazer; it really suits you, but I can understand why you’re hesitant due to the size. Beautiful post!

    aglassofice.com
    x

  3. I love this shop too but the only problem I have is that some of the staff are super unfriendly and that makes the whole experience less fun actually. It would be good for them
    To change their attitude a bit and warm up to their customers

  4. thatnewd

    I’m sorry to hear you found the staff unfriendly. I definitely recommend Emily or Caudine who have always been really helpful whenever I’m in store xx

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Close