Would you buy work clothes in a charity shop?

[hpickup]

I am desperate for some new clothes for the office, but being on a low salary and with Christmas can't afford new. Is it ok to buy from a charity shop or e-bay?

I am desperate - I am still in a cheap summer jacket as I don't have a winter coat. I have one business suit which I wear to work all the time as I have no other office clothes, and onlr one pair of work shoes which have ceral packets in them as there are holes in the soles!! Whenever it's wet i arrive in work with soaking feet

[FelineExtraStrongMincePie]

Yes!

[hpickup]

Tried Lidl but they did'nt have any a my local store.

Once the schools break up i can wear my daughter's school shoes which will help a bit.

[dyslexicdespot]

What size are you?

[LadyFlumpalot]

Shoezone? I bought some flat boots last year that are still going strong. Ok, not the most stylish but warm and dry.

[hpickup]

Thanks for all the help.

Went ot a couple of charity shops yesterday and got a new coat and several blouses for £25.

I don't really fancy the idea of buying shoes from a charity shop though so just hoping the dry wearther continues. (luckily in the office i can "get away" with padding around in my stockinged feet!!),

[LadyFlumpalot]

Oh yes! I have a lovely Next dress, brand new for £6. A lovely cashmere jumper for £4.99 and loads of gorgeous shoes.

[hellokittymania]

Do any brand shops sell really small work clothes? I am a girls age 12. I found some nice things in Hong Kong and can get things made in Vietnam.....

But what can I find in the UK?

[OneLittleLady]

My current winter coat is from a charity shop. I'm losing weight at the minute and just didn't see the point in buying something brand new that might not fit properly in a months time. The one I've got was new with tags and cost me £7.99. It's already getting too big!

[WowOoo]

I recently bought a fantastic work woollen coat from a charity shop.
I always have a look when I'm in the posh part of town, where the nicer stuff is. Only £5 and is in perfect condition.

Dh was not happy as I had taken 4 bin bags and 5 small boxes of books to donate.
I'd promised to come back empty handed. Came back with a ceramic bowl, plant pot, two novels, some jeans and a sweatshirt for the kids and a new coat. I can't help myself in a charity shop.

[CointreauVersial]

WillPenn - I also have a charity shop Gerard Darel silk shirt. I love it all the more having seen the prices of GD when new.

[WillPenn]

Today wearing my Gerard Darel 100% silk shirt that I picked up from Cancer Research for £6.50 the other day - I am proud of my charity shop bargains and would never miss an opportunity to boast of my finds!

In our (posh) area the best shop is Cancer Research, with Shelter a close second. There is also a DEBRA shop with some really great stuff near by.

My girls also get quite a few of their clothes and toys from charity shops. Apart from anything else it is good to recycle stuff and not always be buying new. to get a new toy from the charity shop they have to donate one.

[alemci]

yes have a look in the charity shops and ebay is very good. Boden things sell on there.

Could you mix and match rather than wearing a suit.

I would buy some good quality shoes if you can afford it in the sales as I think good shoes are important and as long as they look good the rest doesn't matter as much.

[Curioustiger]

Ejayne... Bit harsh! OP I used to manage a team of 40+ people and still wore my charity shop clothes to work.

[CerealMom]

What size are you? I've got a couple of suits I don't wear anymore.

You can (carefully) wash most 'dry clean only' clothes - I do!

Cold machine wash. Put woollies into a net laundry bag (to stop stretching). Use a wool detergent. Dry flat. If hand washing, be gentle when squeezing out water, no rubbing. Use net bag and spin in washing machine. Only problems sometimes when clothes have a lining. This can shrink.

[Ememem84]

If I'd seen this last week I'd have said no. Don't do it. However. I ventured into local hospice shop on Monday to drop off some things and found a really nice pencil skirt and a pair of wool trousers. £7 for the both. They would have set me back easily close to £100 new. Bargain. I will definetly be going back.

[GoodnessKnows]

Yes, yes, yes. I wouldn't feel comfortable but if be over the moon with the treasures / bargains! Recently bought a second hand dress on ebay and am over the moon. Fits like a glove. Thing is, with clothes, those cast off to charity shops and ebay are usually just the wrong size (people gain and lose weight). The clothes will be perfect!

[foofooyeah]

I buy a lot off eBay. Can't afford not to. Boden dresses for £10 (like new)
I ave bought Duo boots too that were fine

Also got my son 4 work shirts recently for £4.20!

[hpickup]

I don't lack self respect and hate the situation I'm in, but lost everything when I left my ex.

I don't have a winter coat, but try to wear different jumpers to make my clothes look different, but still feel like a tramp.

Also, I usually just go shoeless in the office.

[ejayne]

I don't mean to be un-sympathetic but it's Dec and you're wearing a summer jacket!!

Plus your colleagues must think it's odd if you wear the same suit and holed shoes all the time. TBH you need some self respect.

[KatieScarlett2833]

Hell yes.
I buy my finds at lunchtime and gather the girls round to admire. I've converted them all
I can afford naice new stuff and I do buy expensive items, but nothing beats a well tailored bargain from the charity shop.

[Floisme]

I think it depends where you live. I used to be an avid charity shopper but it's years since I found anything good within 20 miles of our house. However I recently came home from London (posher parts) with a bagful of bargains.

[Iris445]

Today I'm wearing
Hobbs skirt £3
Oasis cardigan £3.
Reiss top £3.

You have to trawl them though.

British heart and oxfam are a rip off.

[TondelayoSchwarzkopf]

I have worn an £8 dress from Shelter to a film premiere - it look great and it wasn't even a posh label (Warehouse).

I love getting complimented on charity shop / EBay / car boot clothes at work and always say where they are from. I work in a reasonably fashion conscious industry.

I would love to shop more in charity shops but you do have to dedicate time to it - can't wait for Maternity Leave!