Secrets of an Urban Sleuth, London Edition

A London design sleuth and online shopkeeper shares her sources.

I’ve known Amanda Cox for a while now, ever since we were neighbors in San Francisco, and it was evident from the start that she was a fellow sleuth (she was the mother who always managed to source chic vintage clothing for her children at the Alameda flea for next to nothing). Now that she’s moved back to London, Amanda has turned her interest in under-the-radar design finds into an online store called Nonesuchthings. She’s also part of Lovely Merchants, a quarterly pop-up shop of unique products and vintage clothing (think creative types cleaning out their wardrobes), which she founded with photographer Christina Wilson. Read on to learn of some of her finds:

Photography by Heloise Faure for Remodelista.

Above: Amanda in her tiny Primrose Hill home office.

Remodelista: Where did you find that vintage blouse?
Amanda Cox: This is an early Victorian French blouse that I found in mint condition at Katherine Pole, who sells antique textiles at the Portobello Market. It has tiny gray shell buttons and I like to wear it with an Old Town apron skirt that has lots of pockets in it, which are great when we do our Lovely Merchants pop-up.

Above: Some of Amanda’s offerings from Nonesuchthings: Greek slippers, Spanish fans, and Kaweco pens.

RM: Where do you find your products?
AC: I’ve always had an eye for things slightly against the grain, so I’m on the lookout wherever I am. That said, I do go to some of the gift shows such as Maison et Objet and the New York Gift Fair. Maison in January is my favorite. The fans were a recent find when I was on holiday in Andalusia and the Greek slippers were a gift from my husband, Patrick, who brought them back from a trip. I loved them so much I tracked down the maker and I’ll be selling them soon.

Above: Amanda’s worktable, a German beer garden table painted in Farrow & Ball’s Railings.

Above: On her office wall, invites and notes hang from Japanese Aluminum Clips from Labour & Wait.

Above: Amanda carries a Tembea Bag, a recent birthday gift.

RM: Where do you shop for clothes?
AC: I buy a lot of things on sale, mostly from Dover Street Market and Margaret Howell (she has great sample sales). And COS, of course. And I love love love old workwear, such as old factory coats, to wear over dresses. I like to mix old with new.

Above: The contents of Amanda’s bag: a red and white polka dot wallet from Comme des Garcons, sourced from Dover Street Market. Aesop’s Marrakech Perfume and Geranium Leaf Body Balm, Mineral Illuminating Powder from Laura Mercier, and Tom Ford Lipstick in Pink Adobe. The diary and notebook are from Leuchtturm1917 (she will soon be selling them on her site). The pen is from Kaweco (according to Amanda, it’s ‘like a lovely lipstick and comes with really good ink, especially the sepia”).

Above: A jacket from Japanese store 45rpm, which specializes in denim and indigo clothing.

Above: A detail of the jacket, with a necklace by Henry Beguelin.

RM: On your feet?
AC: Always, shoes from London cobbler Tracey Neuls.

Above: The brilliant shoe packaging from Tracey Neuls.

N.B.: For more insider insights, check our Style Counsel posts.