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Original poster

Would you buy work clothes in a charity shop?

90 replies

hpickup · 06/12/2013 13:29

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

OP posts:

perplexedpirate · 06/12/2013 23:24

Of course!
Whenever there's a thread like this I live it cos I get to mention my £10 Prada slingbacks again.

Chocolateteabag · 07/12/2013 01:12

Another vote for yes here. I buy practically all my clothes on eBay or in charity shops. And not averse to eBay shoes either (where I can see they haven't been worn much).
This is because I am a massive tight arse bargain hunter, i can afford to buy at full new price - but makes me feel slightly queasy at the thought.

On eBay - try on clothes in RL in the shops first to get an idea of your sizing (vs the shop "size").

Lavenderhoney · 07/12/2013 02:17

Excellent, another chance to mention my beautiful practically new Chanel suit found in a charity shop 20 years ago and still going strong:)

Posh towns are good, but I have to say prices have gone up in a lot of charity shops, and ebay, tkmaxx online or in shop might be cheaper for the same quality.

bishboschone · 07/12/2013 07:33

Primark have some great work wear in their bigger shops..

curlew · 07/12/2013 07:57

But why would you buy dubiously ethical cheap clothes from Primark and swell their coffers when you can buy fantastic clothes from charity shops and give money to charity at the same time?

Oldandcobwebby · 07/12/2013 08:01

Oh yes!

EustaciaVye · 07/12/2013 08:02

yes. why wouldnt you?

Deathwatchbeetle · 07/12/2013 08:45

Oh yes, certainly. I have done. I also managed to get a copy of a Dorothy Perkins pinstripe jacket that I ruined in the washer/dryer. My local charity shops (well, where I am temporarily staying at the mo') has loads of jackets. Sadly most are too small for me. Unemployed at the mo so looking for good stuff!

LucyLasticKnickers · 07/12/2013 08:59

british heart are good. as i am sure others are. but they chuck out the primark clothes, donate to africa or for rags. and only have the good quality and some charity shops look so impressive. british heart being one, it had a make over.
i dont necessairly agree with the poshest town, i went to a very posh town recently on the hunt and their stuff was dire. perhaps i was unlucky though.

mrsblakey · 07/12/2013 10:00

Absolutely some real bargains to be had!

Jinglebellsforthebetter · 07/12/2013 10:38

Yes, of course. Got my last job wearing a charity shop suit

NigellasLeftNostril · 07/12/2013 11:12

yes. why wouldnt you
there are plenty of people who wouldnt go near a charity shop, certain members of my 'family' actually thought that me buying childrens clothes there was tantamount to abuse.
weird i know.

bishboschone · 07/12/2013 11:14

Oh I agree with the ethical point of view , I was just trying to help op .

AnUnearthlyChild · 07/12/2013 11:20

It's fine.

I went to a dead important steering group meeting in London a couple of days ago ( I'm from the Country) in my £3 Next bargain charity shop jacket and a £1.50 m&s jumper.

HR didn't call me in for a bollocking! :)

I work in a posh little county town. The charity shops are bloody amazing here. Some stuff still has tags in.

LucyLasticKnickers · 07/12/2013 11:21

my teens are converts. even. and i bought dh his christmas jumper from a charity shop.
it is aka vintage

BIWI · 07/12/2013 11:23

What an odd question to ask.

Of course you can. Why wouldn't you think you could?

senua · 07/12/2013 11:28

I agree with the general consensus - charity shop stuff is fine. No-one will know if you bought that M&S/Next/DP outfit from charity or directly from M&S/Next/DP.

However, it can take a while to seek out the amazing 'finds'. If you are currently sporting only one suit then you will wear it out in double quick time. In the meantime can you try out the supermarkets?

Lizzabadger · 07/12/2013 11:36

Of course. I do. How would anyone know?

lookatmybutt · 07/12/2013 11:47

Yes, it's fine! Why, hellooo MaxMara suit for £30.

The only problem is Oxfam tends to move all its posher donations to the shops in posher areas to prevent poor people from buying them.

Ebay is also good. I got some handmade leather Italian ankle boots for £20.00. You need a lot of patience to wade through the shite at times though.

EustaciaVye · 07/12/2013 11:55

But no one would know unless you told them.

LucyLasticKnickers · 07/12/2013 12:09

i now buy ds work shirts and dh t shirts. and have bought for my teen girls in the past, did buy for myself but felt slightly embarrassed that the peopel at work noticed I had new stuff and went silent. and i felt that there were going to ask me but didnt

LucyLasticKnickers · 07/12/2013 12:09

but it could have been my paranoia

senua · 07/12/2013 12:22

felt slightly embarrassed that the people at work noticed I had new stuff and went silent.

The standard responses are:
a depreciating 'what? this old thing. had it for years'
or 'it was a gift'

LucyLasticKnickers · 07/12/2013 12:31

answer senua

curlew · 07/12/2013 15:02

Why would you not say "This? Yes it is new- I got it from the Oxfam shop- isn't it great?"

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