What do you look for in charity shops?

[Eatyourveg88]

I love a good charity shop rummage and mainly look for clothes from Reiss, Whistles, LK Bennett, Banana Republic, J Crew etc

But I also like the bric-a-brac and have picked up some nice pottery items.

I check out baby clothes too for DD - recently picked up some great stuff that will fit her in a couple of years - I know that might sound daft but too much of a bargain to miss

What are you on the hunt for?

[evilharpy]

Brands you mentioned above, plus the likes of Hobbs, Jigsaw etc. Also lower end stuff like Warehouse and Oasis if I like it.

Coats, not any particular brands but I'm always on the lookout for nice, good quality coats.

Shoes - loads of people donate brand new shoes. I've had some amazing bargains. Also leather bags. I've never found anything on the scale of a £10 Mulberry but I do have bags from Modalu, Mimco, Hobbs, Radley etc that I picked up for next to nothing.

Nice toys. Recently got a load of My Little Ponies for a tenner. Must have been about fifteen of them including a walking/talking one, plus hairbrushes and accessories.

I often have something in mind I want that I'll keep an eye out for. At the moment I want a really nice navy wool coat, a leather biker jacket as my beloved one is too big, and a pair of metallic leather shoes.

[Doonut84]

Yes I’ve noticed loads of brand new shoes, or ones obviously only worn the once.
Must check out coats more.

[SapphireSeptember]

Long black cotton A-line skirts. A staple in my wardrobe and hard to find new at a reasonable price. I remember when they were in fashion a while ago...
Nice velvet pieces, mainly skirts (again.) I have a gorgeous black velvet tired shirt from Laura Ashley. I'd never go in that shop, but I love that skirt!
Goth jewellery/clothes, from when people have given up on that style. I once found an Alchemy Gothic necklace for £3! And I used to have a lovely Gothy dress that was gorgeous, but I put on weight so had to give it away.

[Allthepinkunicorns]

I always go with something in mind. I'm currently on the look out for some nice warm jumpers and anything vintage. I'm not really fussed about brands but I have found a few over the years.
I always have a look in the toy section as more often than not they have something ds has asked for.
I also look out for nice home decor pieces, I got some lovely candle holders and spode spice jars which look lovely in my kitchen.
I also always get records and dvds. I will never buy those new again as you can pick them up so cheaply.

[justtakingabath]

kids clothes, cardigans and nice knitwear, boots, kids toys (at the moment loads of good xmas gifts have been donated brand new!).

[justtakingabath]

Skirts good too!

[KittiesInsane]

Costumes for school dress-up days and random drama performances -- especially those with about 2 days' notice.

Watches, silk scarves and necklaces.

[AwdBovril]

I look for clothing in good condition, preferably new, in natural fabrics. Well cut with no damage. I got a brand new mid thigh length leather coat the other day, for £20. Have picked up designer jeans, & a suit that was new with tags. Plus lots of stuff for DD.

I've also got a few candle holders, Kilner jars, lots of books, a few dvds, knitting patterns, & a rocking chair. That wasn't much fun to carry home!

[Moominfan]

If I look for something specific I'll never find it. Sod's law, I just go to browse with an open mind

[CroneAlone]

Everything - I'm second hand rose! At the moment I'm picking up lots of picture books for the grandkids.

[whiteroseredrose]

I've bought some amazing tea sets and cake stands in charity shops.

[shaggedthruahedgebackwards]

I always look for audio books for my Mum as she loves them, it's the sort of thing people listen to once and then pass on so you can pick them up for a couple of quid in pretty much new condition

[NerrSnerr]

At the moment I specifically want a boys winter coat in 18-24m or 2-3 as my son's coat is getting a bit small. For myself I look for boots and trainers and dresses usually. I also buy all my work clothes at charity shops (mainly trousers and tops) but I have a lot at the moment so don't need to be looking.

[quirkychick]

I have a vague wishlist in my head, but would check fabric composition, label, condition, quality too. Things I have bought include: silk shirts, denim skirts, wool jumpers, jackets, leather bags, sunglasses, ceramics... lots of things over the years. Today, I bought a faux fur hat that I'd tried on before, so I'm obviously drawn to it!

[Floisme]

Brands that I'd struggle to buy new - both designer and top end of the high street e.g. I've found Vivienne Westwood, Joseph, Brora and Toast in the last 6 months. Also European brands I might not have come across before.

Silk shirts, tweed coats and jackets, cashmere, old school, heavy duty linen, proper velvet (not the shiny stuff).

I try and do a circuit every week but can easily go a couple of months without finding anything.

Books and DVDs, especially box sets.

[LanaorAna2]

Charity shops = rare opportunity to indulge one's inner snob. So posh dresses and jerseys. New shoes, which abound these days.

When it comes to clothes, the high street is so cheap now there's barely a difference between London chazza prices and the sales; Primark and HM are cheaper than both.

Bags can be good. I've done Stella McCartney, Chloe and Tod's all for about a tenner. My fave bag remains a fake Mulberry for a pound.

Bought a real Bayswater - in mint nick - for a fiver then gave it away to my darling mate. She screamed.

I would never buy tees, trousers or supermarket brands.

[YouthMarket]

I'm entirely opportunistic on the whole.

[WhoKnewBeefStew]

Hats and gloves, I recently picked up a pair of brown leather gloves from Dents.

Coats I just look for what I like

My brother lives down south in a very ‘well to do’ area (think large village type) and I love charity shop shopping there

[ChishandFips33]

I keep an open mind and come out with some very random things!

[TadaTralala]

Books, clothes. I got lots of baby clothes from charity shops and toys. I just love them. I have an amazing Tommy Hilfiger jacket, Whistles, Coast, Monsoon etc etc outfits. Look up Knickers Model's Own. She wears a charity outfit daily.

[colditz]

‘Unique ‘ costume jewellery, High end branded tops, a nice coat, and fashionable hoodies for my teenagers

[Mabelface]

Dresses, skirts and shoes, particularly doc martens.

[SpiritedLondon]

Jesus where are you shopping to find some of those brands? .... I seem to come across a lot of synthetic blouses and droopy M&S knitwear. I have picked up a great velvety maxi skirt by East which I wore at Christmas and a navy classic blazer by Paul Costello “ Dressage” for work. My current favourite is a pair of leather ankle boots in Oxblood that just needed some polish. They were a Spanish brand I’d never heard of. I don’t really go into charity shops with anything in mind but look for nice weighty fabrics and fit. I see a fair amount of Jaeger, Country Casuals, and cheaper high street like New Look but nothing very exciting. Scope sell a lot of new ASOS but my god it’s at the “Twinkly” and weird end of spectrum... I love looking at it!

I wonder if more people are selling good brands on eBay now rather than donating?

[quirkychick]

SpiritedLondon you need to go to charity shops in upmarket areas. I have to say I quite often don't find anything, but over the years I have bought things by jil sander, dolce & gabbana, Paul costello, Joseph, ghost, maxmara. I wouldn't by any one those just for the label, I would be checking the quality and fit too, though. When I lived in London, the charity shops had a designer rail. Outside of London, some recognise what they have and some don't.

[Floisme]

I used to moan about my local charity shops all the time but when I upped my game, I realised I was wrong. Like I've said, I have a circuit and I try and go round once a week. More often than not, I come away empty handed.
I find it's partly about the area but also parking e.g the most affluent neighbourhood round here doesn't have good parking which, I imagine, puts off donors.
I also find there's a difference between stock in the big charity shops and in the smaller, local ones. For example, Oxfam tends to have more 'good' high street stuff but it's the local hospice shop that's more likely to have (very occasional) designer gems, even though the stock might be mediocre overall.