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Original poster

charity shop wardobe

45 replies

StewedFruit · 12/09/2015 20:26

It occurred to me this evening whilst doing the ironing (wild sat night and all that) that almost my entire wardrobe is from a charity shop... not a bad thing at all but am amazed at how much good stuff I've picked up. Latest haul has been a jojo maternity top £3.99 - I'm 8 months pregnant, plus a fat face blouse £1, leather saddle bag £4, grey wool Boden peacoat £10.. it's got to the stage where I really can't bring myself to pay full price for clothes anymore & balk at the prices of new clothes. Anyone else feel the same? Or have I become a bit of a scruffy cheapskate?!

OP posts:
AnyoneButAndre · 12/09/2015 23:30

I buy loads of clothes for the DC in charity shops - probably too much tbh, but it all goes back there in the end even if they've made such a mess that it needs to go in the separate carrier labelled "rag quality". DS is wearing a gorgeous Ben Sherman checked shirt ATM that was 99p from Help the Aged. It's very rare that they're both wearing new clothes. And because I'm always nipping in to check what's in for them I often notice something for me. I've recently got a lovely Reiss silk top which originally had some ludicrously fiddly ornamentation - five minutes with a stitch ripper later it's a pared down workwear classic. And I'm living in a quirky Reiss jacket at the moment which admittedly is so battered that it was arguably overpriced at 7.50 but I'm really loving it. I'd never in a million years have paid the 150-200 quid full price for it.

GinBunny · 12/09/2015 23:41

am finding less and less these these days

Me too! I used to kit out my entire work wardrobe with charity shop bargains but there really is less on the rails these days. And I never used to have a problem finding M&S short arse leg jeans in my size but haven't found any for months.

Having said that I am so delighted with the Ted Baker coat I got today for £20 - identical one on Ebay atm with a starting bid of £65 Grin Though I do sometimes feel a bit bad that they could have asked more, I would have paid twice that on Ebay and been happy.

I have dropped from a size 18 to a size 12 this year. At Christmas last year DH got me a gorgeous wool pea coat and I was really sad when I charity shopped it when it got too big - but what goes around comes around and I found same coat today on my spree (size 10 though, was mis-labelled but fits perfectly )

Iliveinalighthousewiththeghost · 13/09/2015 00:07

I think it's fantastic that your clothes are from a charity shop. I love charity shops you never know what you're going to get until you go in there.
Be very very proud that you are supporting charities. You're amazing.

Iliveinalighthousewiththeghost · 13/09/2015 00:12

I bought my DD a real old fashioned coat from the British heart foundation shop.
It was duffle coat material but not a duffle coat IFSWIM. It was navy blue and had a beret to match. OMG it was gorgeous. I was always complimented on.
It only cost me £3. And what's more DD loved it.
It lasted her a good while and when she had grown out of it. I just donated it back to the BHF.

Turquoisedance · 13/09/2015 00:15

I don't often go into charity shops or any shops tbh but some of my favourite clothes are form charity shops. I have a couple lovely boden dresses, monsoon skirt, a gorgeous blouse no idea where from, and other bits and bobs. I pretty much know what suits me so I don't mind where it's from so long as I look good in it.

mayum1 · 13/09/2015 02:45

This weekend has been an op shop (charity shop) weekend for me. Needed clothes for an interview and two pair of black pants for work.

Ended up with the ff:

2 denim skirt
1 Ernest Sewn jeans
2 black jeans for work
1 pair of Target brand jeans that fits well
1 basic white button-down
1 interview skirt

Pretty basic stuff. I'm happy.

LadyB49 · 13/09/2015 03:21

Charity shop and eBay. Got Gap jeans yesterday that are fab for £2. Only buy top quality .

Don't even look in ordinary shops.

Shonajay · 13/09/2015 04:18

Yep, I'd say a good 90% of my clothes are pre owned, eBay is my friend. The oxfam near me have just had their second shop refit in ten years, and in a lot of cases charge more for their stuff than it originally cost. I popped in to but a paperback while I was waiting for the train and they wanted £4.99- original price 6.99. Don't get me started on their wages and policies too.

Bunbaker · 13/09/2015 07:02

I don't bother because our charity shops are full of Primark, Asda or Next cast offs and hardly anything in my size.

QueenofCardigans · 13/09/2015 07:24

I'd happily shop in charity shops if I could find anything worth buying. I've pretty much stopped looking now as the ones near me are full of supermarket/primark stuff often for more than you'd pay brand new.

bigbuttons · 13/09/2015 07:28

There are no bargains to be had in my town now. Used to be loads and I've done very well. Now it's tat at hugely over inflated prices.

Original poster
StewedFruit · 13/09/2015 08:32

Oxfam is overpriced here too, £2-3 for a book and childrens clothes usually £3-4 up... whereas down the road the katherine house hospice has a £1 rail, books 49p, and childrens stuff 50p upwards. Most of my better label stuff comes from there too & the lady who volunteers treats my son like her grandchild!

OP posts:
Bunbaker · 13/09/2015 08:43

Where do people live where the charity shops are full of designer clothes or high quality clothes?

My nearest large town is in the top 10% deprived areas in England hence the charity shops being full of Primark/supermarket cast offs.

cressetmama · 13/09/2015 08:51

Charity shops used to be my starting point, especially in naice commuter towns in the USA. These days, with deteriorating eyesight, less time and a hhighly developed sense of my particular preferences, I've graduated to a market stall glorying in the name of "frockaholics" which has a selection of pre-loved and unworn garments sorted by size. It is a source of bargains: most recently a gorgeous linen pleated skirt with a gold lurex thread through it, original price £130 from Toast, for £15. But one needs to be patient and persistent, then pounce!

cressetmama · 13/09/2015 08:54

Love the Katherine House Hospice building (if it's the one in Banbury)! Have never been inside though.

ThatsNotMyHouseItIsTooClean · 13/09/2015 09:03

We now live near an affluent market town so I was looking forward to getting armfuls of Boden, White Stuff & Mint Velvet clothes for just a few pence in charity shops but they continue to be full of supermarket clothes at inflated prices. I'd love to ask yhe school mums what they do with their cast offs. Having said that, as a size 12, I'm not sure I'd fit into any cast offs as 80% or more of the mums are at least a dress size slimmer than me.

BikeRunSki · 13/09/2015 09:07

BunBaker I think you live near me, so I would recommend a wee trip over the hills to the Summer Wine town, which had several charity shops, from which I have found many lovely things. They're pretty well off over there.

bigbuttons · 13/09/2015 09:08

I think the charity shops sell their more 'valuable' clothes on eBay. There's nothing but shit in them nowadays.

PennyPants · 13/09/2015 09:14

I've done a quick recce and about a third of my clothes are from charity shops including my poshest dress.
Round here (nice market town East Midlands) you can find loads of good stuff and brands like joules, Uggs, Fatface, etc loads with tags still on, but you have to go in regularly and rummage through the Primark tat.

Bunbaker · 13/09/2015 10:10

Thank you BikeRunSki I might consider that.

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