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

[specialsubject]

of course its ok!

BTW get some outdoor shoes to wear to work and change when you get there.

[ArtemisatBrauron]

I have loads of work wear from charity shops - e.g. a jigsaw pure wool blazer that I wore to my job interview for the job (in posh boarding school) that I have now! it is awesome, cheap and no-one will know.

Def set aside a few £ to dry clean it if necessary though.

[hpickup]

Soi

[hpickup]

Thanks - am going to nearby towm next weekend to look around charity shops.

Is it best not to buy shoes in charity shops - can probably manage with existing pair till payday but they do hurt and rub.

Thanks again

[hoboken]

Definitely! (looks at wool/cashmere coat £7, velvet trousers picked out for Christmas day £5, Kookai summer jacket £4). Lots of dross but also some real finds. Beware of choosing dry clean only clothes if you are broke. (Live in large city with some vair naice areas where there are some fantastic charity shops)

[Eastpoint]

I've given some really good shoes to charity shops, sometimes they just aren't comfortable for me so I don't wear them & I always think they must be better off worn by someone else.

There is a fancy Oxfam shop where we live & two Cancer a Research shops, one specialises in 'good' clothes. Red Cross also seem to have good stock, as does FARA. Sue Ryder & Barnardo's aren't as good. I've just thought of another tip, is there a fancy gym/private club near you? Ask where they send the lost property they find. They only keep stuff for 10 days or so as otherwise there is too much & then take it to charity shops.

[2sugarsandadog]

God, yes! But although our local Oxfam has some lovely stuff it's a little out of my price range these days.

[CointreauVersial]

I've never bought shoes from a charity shop, but that's mainly because I have awkwardly wide feet, and I've never seen anything that would fit me. But I would if I could.

I love it when people comment on my new purchases and I can tell them it's from a charity shop; I'm quite boring on the subject, in fact. They are always when I say what I paid, and say they never find anything that nice. Not looking hard enough, I say!

[LucyLasticKnickers]

following on from this i went charity shopping yesterday, purchased a new unworn jumper
but inthe same shop there was a new unworn, still with labels on, from George, originally 2.50, but now in british heart, 2.99!
what a let down

[Skinheadmermaid]

I've never had a lot of money; almost all my clothes are from charity shops, Ebay, TK maxx, supermarkets and primark.
I've only ever had compliments on the way i've been dresses and people have been approving that my dress was £2.50 in the sale or whatever. Shopping cheaply is a necessity not a choice for me unfortunately.
OP, do you have to wear a suit for work? Can you not mix it up a little with black jeans/trousers and a blouse, all of these can be obtained much cheaper then a suit. These items are easier to find also.

[Catypillar]

A lot of my work clothes are second hand- some from eBay and some from charity shops. I often get nice comments about what I'm wearing and am very happy to tell people where I got my stuff. I got three lovely 70s velvet jackets from eBay the other week at about £10 each including postage. There's nothing embarrassing or shameful about buying second hand clothes.

[mercibucket]

I try to only buy work clothes in charity shops. otherwise my wage goes on work which is pointless

[AnUnearthlyChild]

Good point merci

[Varya]

Yes certainly buy from Charity shops, and they have some lovely things. Even car boot sales have lower priced clothes and some really good items from time to time. I seldom buy new clothes.

[LEMisafucker]

I get ALL of my clothes from charity shops - i love them!

I would not however buy shoes from charity shops - have done this before but ended up twisting my ankle as people wear their shoes differently and it put me off balance (AND the shoes were flat ), also you don't know if the previous owners had any nasty things on their feet - clothes can be washed :)

[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!

[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.

[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.

[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.

[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.

[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.

[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!

[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!

[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.

[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.