Best charity shop finds

[ellequick]

Inspired by the fact that I've just snapped this up for £25, from a charity shop near my work:

www.cosstores.com/gb/Pleated_panel_dress/228955-5833677.1#c-24481

And I love it! Tell me of your most beloved finds. Not necessarily expensive things, anything that you just adore.

[squizita]

I used to blog about thrifty stuff so probably did way more charity shopping than your average person. Some notable items:
-Moschino pencil skirt £3
-70s Biba maxi (mis identified, label scrumpled- probably worth £100) £8
-Radley handbag with tags still on £5
-Dunhill gold plated lighter. They didn't know it was gold and assumed it was fake. Nope - £2, valued by Dunhill at £200+
-Original Ghostbusters Tshirt ... just love it.

There's probably loads more. Car boots too.

[ellequick]

Wow, incredible finds!

You cannot beat a properly soft, old t-shirt. I've often longed to find a way to make new shirts have that soft, old feel. Can't fake it.

[ReturnOfTheJewel]

Our local church charity shop is absolutely amazing for baby and toddler stuff. Some of my best finds are:

Quinny Zapp Xtra (the previous model with the lift-off seat) plus cosy-toes - £20. Still going strong after several months of hammer (I also purchased the car seat adapters separately off eBay for a fiver, so use it for toddler or newborn when I've only got one of them with me, or if the toddler is in the mood to walk)

Graco Stadium Duo double buggy - £35.

Mamas & Papas high chair - £4 (little split in the vinyl, was easily mended with gaffer tape).

Bumbo seat - £2.

Moses basket with all the bedding - £5.

Rocking horse - £5.

Little Tikes play cube with slide and outdoor rocking horse thrown in - £18.

Coat for DD, rainsuit for DS (both brand new) - 25p each.

[ReturnOfTheJewel]

And not me, but my DM at a different charity shop, got a Chloe handbag for £40z

[groovergirl]

Nice purchase, ellequick. And look at the original price! (gasps and faints)

About half my wardrobe has come from charity shops or school fetes. Isn't it amazing what you can find in those dishevelled racks! The one I've been wearing to death lately is my multicoloured silk Jigsaw dress, bought for $14. But my all time favourites are my 1960s style high-heeled loafers in red patent leather with old gold buckles. They're very smart, and I loved them all the more when I realised that men HATED them. My XH absolutely loathed them. He's history, but my red shoes endure. I like to stride out in them in busy places, such as airports, where I can enjoy the sight of lots of men GLARING at them in irrational hatred.

[ellequick]

groovergirl They sound amazing- would love to see a photo! I had a pair of boots years ago which I thought made me look like a brilliant pirate, but my ex hated them and complained whenever I wore them. I then saw a picture of Kerry Katona wearing them so perhaps he won that round.

[RaeSkywalker]

I got a new gro swaddle yesterday for £2, they're £12+ in the shops.

[ItGoesWithoutSaying]

Leather biker jacket, never worn, £20. Leather coat, had been worth but still presentable, £15.

Apologies if this makes me sound like I have a leather fetish !

[Norky1975]

Julian McDonald dress for £6!
Loads of Wallis maxi dresses
Xx

[midnightmoomoo]

A fully lined navy jersey Phase Eight dress for 99p!

[ItGoesWithoutSaying]

groover all men hate them? Would like to see those!

[hollieberrie]

I work iin a charity shop - have some great finds. Black converse for 5.99, Hollister boyfriend cardy for 1.99, amazing leather handbag for 5.99, and lots of lovely Zara / Mango / Gap type stuff for 1.99 or 2.99.
Charity shopping is the best 💚💙

[RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie]

I wore a charity shop skirt today to work, and got a grand total of 11 compliments! It cost £6.50 and is a brand called St Martin which I'm not sure exists anymore but used to do amazing thick cotton skirts with wacky prints. I have a couple of ones bought full price when our local House of Fraser used to sell them, so was delighted to find this.

[ellequick]

Blimey RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie, I don't think I've ever had that many compliments on anything! Hold onto that skirt FOREVER.

[RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie]

It is a FANTASTIC skirt! :)

[AdoraKiora]

Best ever finds were a Maxmara trench coat for £18 and a Balenciaga handbag for £10 - both found in Barnardos shops in decidedly untrendy areas of London.

I have less 'wow' but pretty great finds probably once a month or so, though. Over the winter, I got:
Mint Velvet sweater - lovely, soft and slouchy - £5
Boden v-neck cashmere sweater - £8
Levi curve jeans (I am an awkward size, so these were a real find!) - £7
V.flattering Mango white t-shrt (which seemed to never have been worn) for £2
Zara navy mac in mint condition for £6

The only thing I never find is good shoes . Curse being a size 8...

[EmmaWoodlouse]

Probably the best ever in terms of cost per wear was a pair of tan Mantaray boots, a bit like cowboy boots - I think I paid about £5 for them, had them re-soled because the original soles were rather slippery in wet conditions, have had them about 4 winters now and wear them all the time.

I've got a nice black M&S trench from Oxfam too - at Oxfam prices not quite such a mega bargain, but it's been incredibly useful.

[Littlelondoner]

Ellequick not sure on your size but british heart foundation regularily has all of the cos samples they donate. Perfect if you are a size 10.

[ellequick]

Wow Littlelondoner for real?! I did not know that! Any particular branches?

[Floisme]

Jeez these threads wind me up. Which I accept is totally my problem and no-one else's

I'm basically jealous as I count myself lucky if I find a bobbly top from Next in mine. That's if I'm in a swanky neighbourhood; elsewhere it's more likely to be Primark or Matalan. Yes I do go round regularly - I am a seasoned charity shopper from back in the days when they were good and I know the routine.

In fairness, I do have a very good dress agency which regularly has Whistles, Toast, Cos and designer stuff. But it's nothing like as bargainous and doesn't give me that warm, fuzzy glow.

Anyway do carry on.

[YaySirNaySir]

Loads mostly with tags on. People around here have more money than sense.
Recently: Hollister top, leather skirt that fits perfectly and am wearing tonight
Fat face top, FCUK hoody - the lot for about £20

[AmberNectarine]

Brand new Chanel shoes for £95.

[Toohardtofindaproperusername]

Yaysirnaysir- where are you? More money than sense - those are the perfect locations for good charity shopping... Where I live it ain't gonna be happening...
Do tell!

[dementedma]

Julie MacDonald wrap dress for £8
Full length black wool coat, very swirly,£9
John Rocha cross over top £5

[ellequick]

Haha Floisme that has always been my experience too- today is probably the first time I've found something I really love. Which is why I was so excited I had to run here to post it :)