Vintage clothing and accessories

It’s time to introduce the Shock and Soul Team. To be fair, you probably won’t find a more diverse and multi talented bunch of ‘retail ’staff’,  designers and affiliates, anywhere. From giant melon stealing costume designers, to knitting/badge making, frenzied idea having stylists ‘, Fiery eyed Christmas tree wearing bassheads, and hyper mouthed O.C.D, sufferering D.J’s. We are an imbalanced, harmonious gang of social outcasts, that just somehow work as a team. We don’t ask questions, we just do.

Name:  Natalie Farouz aka Queen Quixotic aka Princess Wastegash aka Shat.

Role:    Head Honcho @ Shock&Soul & Persuader Extraordinaire.
Special Tasks: Knitting, collage, working well under pressure and anything menial i.e. undoing knots n’ such like.
Background:    Born in the midlands, for my sins, where I spent most of my youth being a gobby idiot. Done pretty much every job going, always imagined myself becoming a police officer, I changed my mind after being arrested a few times. I Started a law degree, got bored of that so ended up doing fashion in the hope that I would never have to write another essay, or read another textbook. I discovered I was actually not a bad designer, dabbled with styling and fashion photography. Left the slums of Walsall for the bright lights of London. Started with my ebay empire and a cupboard in Camden. Somehow managed to get a shop set up and the rest is yet to happen…
Favourite era:    1982 until the present day, (my life).
Soul Food:    Loving the elderly, getting excited by people, havin’ a chinwag, laughing, photographs, memories, travelling, learning, having my head in the clouds, moustaches, deep baths, havin a good ol rave, mash ups, make-up, garms, bling, trainers, my own inimitable guitar playing skills and being a hopeless romantic.
Life Mantra:    Nothing lasts forever, so enjoy it whilst you can.
Worst Habit:    Losing everything, including my mind from time to time.
Tea:    Milk 2 sugars, but if I make my own it’s more like 3.

Name: Emily Bosence – AKA – OOPS!
Role:   Fashion Designer, Seamstress and chief distracter – Check out my Shock and Soul concession rail!
Special Tasks: Bringing the noize!!

Background: Coming From – I Did my fashion degree at Chelsea graduating in 2004, then ran to the hills and set up in Brighton. I was one of the hardcore 3 at Red Mutha for 4 years, sewing, designing, running stalls, putting on events etc. before going solo in Oct 2008 and setting up my label OOPS! Which I sell in Shock and Soul.

Going To – Storming ahead with OOPS! Things are gonna get BIGGER and BETTER!

Favourite era:    1985 – 1993 HIP HOUSE INNIT!

Soul Food: Going to jumble sales, watching a weeks worth of ‘Come Dine With Me’ in one sitting, fancy dress mash ups, FESTIVALS!

Life Mantra:  erm????

Worst Habit:    Scoffing left over curry straight from the fridge for breakfast.

Name:    Bex AKA Final Bexdination AKA TBX (Petty Krooks).

Role: systems manager, tidier, the shoplifters worse nightmare

Special Tasks: Making tea and creating noise, non-stop.

Background:    I was thrown out of fashion school in the early nineties, so of course became a podium dancer at raves (world dance mainly) and then a DJ, which has taken me around the world!! (the dj’ing, not the dancing).

Going To – Continue to investigate beats and bass, poetry, people and photography. Hopefully culminating in a book and a radio show.If not I’l just be a batty old lady with a million cats to tell tall stories to.

Favourite era:    twenties and nineties.

Soul Food:    Mountains, snow, sledging, snowboarding, trees, fire, barren beaches the sound of GOOD TIMES!!.

Life Mantra:    Bippety Boppety Boh!!!

Worst Habit:    Looking for something that doesn’t exist.

I feel the need to rant about how journalists always misquote everything!!!!

I had a phonecall yesterday from a woman who was in the shop, she said she was from the evening standard and they were goin around doin a survey of local shops to see how they had been affected by the recession. I was hungover from the night before and just had a little rant about how the euro was ruining my life and how i wished people would stop shopping in Primarni and such like and embrace independent shops for their individuality…

I just found out that i am actually in tonight’s paper!

I have been quoted as saying -

“My takings are down by 25 per cent compared with last Christmas.

“It would help if they brought the rents down. If something doesn’t give then I might lose everything.”

erm i don’t think so, i was mega positive and tryin to get it accross that i thought it would get better sooner than people thought…

‘Natalie Farouz, who owns vintage shop Shock and Soul in Camden Passage, has been forced to close half her business.’

Erm why would i want to tell people half my business is closed when it actually isn’t??? Both shops are sill very much OPEN!!!!!!

I feel well mugged off!

Both shops are still very open and we have an amazing sale on, so come quickly, just don’t speak to any journalists on your way x

ebay is being a bit of a shit.  so until it lets me in, i’ve put some dresses up on myspace.  there’ll be more tomorrow and friday, then stuff will be up on ebay as soon as possible.

in the meanwhile go here www.myspace.com/shockandsoulaccessories 

also, nat and carley are in france as we speak.  so watch this space for all things fabulous.  i literally can’t wait to see what they bring back, it get’s better every time.

 saaaaaafe.

Thank you to everyone who came to the boogaloo last Sunday (15th june)We all had lots of fun!!!! Unfortunately the Pillers of the Community didn’t get to play, due to a noise limiter!!!!! But don’t worry, it’s not the last we’ve seen of em, they’ll be back to play an exclusive, guest list only gig on july 12th,

(please leave a comment below for guestlist, limited numbers)

If you’ve read this far, I’m sure you’re wondering where the results to our splendidly difficult quiz. There were a total of 200 points up for grabs…
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It’s here, it’s gone again, it will be back, so why not come and see us at the shop and grab some summer must haves, including floral dresses, swimsuits, mens shorts and short sleeved shirts…

once they’re gone they’re gone, so be quick x

So usually here at shockandsoul it’s all about French vintage, but we think it’s about time we gave our loyal customers some extra special items.

With this is mind we will be going to L.A on friday to do some buying…

We’ve got meetings set up wth some designers and vintage collectors, so expect some super exclusive goodies!!!

We’re open for requests, so if there’s anything you desperately need/want then let us know and we’ll try our best…

Keep checkin the blog for pictures.

In the April issue of i-D magazine, you will be able to see something that our friend Chu customised for a photoshoot in New York. For more information on Chu’s work, visit his website.

We will be selling more custom jackets by Chu in the coming weeks, keep em peeled.