Regular readers (and anyone who knows me at all) will know that I have a strong relationship with charity shopping. Somehow, I always manage to find something I can work with. Today I'm sharing my ten favourite charity shop buys. It was hard to pick just ten, and my thrifted collection is always growing, so expect part 2 before long. Click through to see the original posts.
Brand: Principles Petite
Location: Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent
Price: £3
I fell in love with the colour palette of this skirt. I wear a lot of grey and neutral shades as a base colour, so I knew this would go with lots of pieces in my wardrobe. It's so easy to wear and works for both day and night.
I fell in love with the colour palette of this skirt. I wear a lot of grey and neutral shades as a base colour, so I knew this would go with lots of pieces in my wardrobe. It's so easy to wear and works for both day and night.
The Printed Pleated Midi Skirt
Brand: St Michael
Location: Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent
Price: £5
I'm kind of a sucker for a good vintage midi skirt, so this one caught my eye straight away. The heirloom style print comes back into fashion every now and then, but I won't let a little thing like being off-trend stop me from wearing this pleated perfection.
I'm kind of a sucker for a good vintage midi skirt, so this one caught my eye straight away. The heirloom style print comes back into fashion every now and then, but I won't let a little thing like being off-trend stop me from wearing this pleated perfection.
Brand: Precis Petite
Location: Sutton Coldfield (Oxfam)
Price: £7.99
Imagine my excitement when I found this amazing suit in Oxfam. The colour drew me in immediately and the fit is perfect. I've worn it for several job interviews and a couple of nights out, including St Patrick's day, of course. I always get compliments on this outfit, even from interviewers!
Imagine my excitement when I found this amazing suit in Oxfam. The colour drew me in immediately and the fit is perfect. I've worn it for several job interviews and a couple of nights out, including St Patrick's day, of course. I always get compliments on this outfit, even from interviewers!
Brand: Directions
Location: Birmingham City Centre (British Heart Foundation)
Price: £4
I bought this skirt about six years ago and it's still with me. My best memory in this skirt is when we visited Paris with uni. We were standing right next to the Eiffel Tower when they turned on the lights and so I crouched down to take a photo, lost my balance and ended up ripping the slit even higher. I had to walk back to the hotel in a sorry state, with my jacket pulled around to cover my thigh. Luckily, Mama Rose put a few stitches in it and it's as good as new (or second hand, as the case may be).
I bought this skirt about six years ago and it's still with me. My best memory in this skirt is when we visited Paris with uni. We were standing right next to the Eiffel Tower when they turned on the lights and so I crouched down to take a photo, lost my balance and ended up ripping the slit even higher. I had to walk back to the hotel in a sorry state, with my jacket pulled around to cover my thigh. Luckily, Mama Rose put a few stitches in it and it's as good as new (or second hand, as the case may be).
Brand: ASOS
Location: Birmingham City Centre (Cancer Research)
Price: £8
This is the perfect dress for looking put together on a night out without putting in too much effort. I knew it'd be good quality as it's ASOS, and for a stretch jersey dress it's really flattering. The gold beading on the chest means I don't need to add any jewellery, and even without a bra (it's also backless) I feel safe and secure. The choker effect is very big right now too.
This is the perfect dress for looking put together on a night out without putting in too much effort. I knew it'd be good quality as it's ASOS, and for a stretch jersey dress it's really flattering. The gold beading on the chest means I don't need to add any jewellery, and even without a bra (it's also backless) I feel safe and secure. The choker effect is very big right now too.
Brand: Pomodoro
Location: Sutton Coldfield (Cancer Research)
Price: £4
When I first saw this skirt, the first thing I loved was the length. How often do you find a mid-calf length pencil skirt? It was so unique and I had to have it. The texture of the fabric is gorgeous; it almost looks like wool. This skirt is so flattering and I never would have found anything like it on the high street.
When I first saw this skirt, the first thing I loved was the length. How often do you find a mid-calf length pencil skirt? It was so unique and I had to have it. The texture of the fabric is gorgeous; it almost looks like wool. This skirt is so flattering and I never would have found anything like it on the high street.
Brand: The Other Side
Location: Wylde Green, Birmingham
Price: £5.99
This dress never fails to make me feel amazing. It has this gorgeous subtle sweetheart neckline, loose cap sleeves and pulls in at the waist. Then the skirt just cascades and makes me feel like a film star! The soft blue colour is gorgeous and the fabric is of such high quality. I wore this the first time I met my course-mates at uni because I knew it would make me stand out and give me the confidence to come out of my shell.
This dress never fails to make me feel amazing. It has this gorgeous subtle sweetheart neckline, loose cap sleeves and pulls in at the waist. Then the skirt just cascades and makes me feel like a film star! The soft blue colour is gorgeous and the fabric is of such high quality. I wore this the first time I met my course-mates at uni because I knew it would make me stand out and give me the confidence to come out of my shell.
Brand: Unknown
Location: Erdington, Birmingham
Price: £4.95
AKA: the usual, because I use it for pretty much every night out. The dark red colour is gorgeous and goes with most of my wardrobe. It fits my make-up bag and everything else I need to look perfect until 3am. With the strap tucked in it's a fancy clutch bag, and when I get lazy and tired the strap comes out and it becomes a shoulder bag.
AKA: the usual, because I use it for pretty much every night out. The dark red colour is gorgeous and goes with most of my wardrobe. It fits my make-up bag and everything else I need to look perfect until 3am. With the strap tucked in it's a fancy clutch bag, and when I get lazy and tired the strap comes out and it becomes a shoulder bag.
Brand: Unknown
Location: Sutton Coldfield (The Settlement Shop)
Price: £8
(There's that skirt again) Just to clarify, I paid EIGHT POUNDS for this almost floor length coat. And this was just a few weeks before maxi coats became an actual high street trend. So I was pretty chuffed with myself. Before this, I didn't actually own a black coat, mostly because I consider black boring, but this beauty brought the drama. Obviously, it goes with everything, and it keeps me toasty and warm all winter.
(There's that skirt again) Just to clarify, I paid EIGHT POUNDS for this almost floor length coat. And this was just a few weeks before maxi coats became an actual high street trend. So I was pretty chuffed with myself. Before this, I didn't actually own a black coat, mostly because I consider black boring, but this beauty brought the drama. Obviously, it goes with everything, and it keeps me toasty and warm all winter.
Brand: Versace Jeans Couture
Location: Droitwich Spa
Price: £8.99
Yeah, you read that right. £9 for a real Versace Dress. It has the Versace Jeans Couture label and the Medusa gold buttons. At first glance I thought I would never be able to get into it, but I threw caution to the wind and headed to the fitting room. And it fit like a freaking glove. I mean, look at it! I don't wear it very often, as it's dry clean only, but whenever I do I always feel like a million dollars!
What's the best thing you've ever found in a charity shop? Let me know in the comments.
Yeah, you read that right. £9 for a real Versace Dress. It has the Versace Jeans Couture label and the Medusa gold buttons. At first glance I thought I would never be able to get into it, but I threw caution to the wind and headed to the fitting room. And it fit like a freaking glove. I mean, look at it! I don't wear it very often, as it's dry clean only, but whenever I do I always feel like a million dollars!
What's the best thing you've ever found in a charity shop? Let me know in the comments.
