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2011 REVIEWS:
I used to just browse in Crazy Clothes Connection on Lancaster Road, off Ladbroke Grove, 10 years ago when I worked in the area. Today I was shocked to find it was still there and still with its collection of crazy clothes spilling out onto the street.
I couldn't resist having a browse through the sixties style dresses, fifties-style suits and jackets and all manor of flamboyant catsuits with superb prints. I was immediately greeted by Esther who was not only charming but so delightful that I didn't want to leave without making a purchase.
As I made my way to the dressing room with a handful of clothes Esther threw a dress at me that I thought would never suit me. "This is perfect for you", she said, with her wonderful smile. And.....it was the only garment I tried on that was..indeed.. perfect; a vintage dark green silk and cotton number that hugged my curves where no other dresses could.
Milly Grange
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Ten years ago I could not afford the stuff in this shop, but I dreamed about them often. Today I was able to make a purchase. The clothes are definitely not cheap, but they are so unique and most are beautifully crafted designer stuff, that it is well worth a visit.
Get yourself down there. Esther will manage, just with her charm and her delightful (never annoying) chat to turn your browsing into buying.
Trust me , it's a real treat. 've been walking past this shop for the last 15 years and it cheers me up every day. Crazy Clothes Connection is one of the few remnants of the "Old Notting Hill" which hasn't been pushed out by the ever-increasing rents.
So, what's the secret?
Even just walking past the shop and looking in the window on my way to work in the morning is fun - this must be the largest collection of utterly unwearable shoes in London.
It gets even more fun when the awnings are down and the space below filled with rows and rows of weird and wonderful stuff.
At long last, I had a reason to enter the secret den. I was in no doubt that this is where we would find our outfits for a fancy dress party. And so we did.
But we also found a lot more. It is a real experience to meet Dereck who generously shares his view of the world and his experiences - at 82 he has quite a few stories to tell. It is he who is responsible for the old time jazz filling the street on a sunny afternoon, his record player positioned between the clothes rails on the pavement.
His daughter Esther knows her stuff and soon found us just what we needed.
Crazy Clothes aren't cheap-cheap, but all their stuff is of great quality and doesn't have the musty smell you encounter in many second hand stores.
But it's the people who make this a real experience - don't go if you're in a hurry as you'll be missing out.
Flora Eqhuart
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