I love charity shops!

[TisapityshesaGeordie]

I hadn't really shopped in them since my student days, but I recently made a new friend who always looks incredibly stylish, in that sort of cool, laid-back, not-really-trying mode I would love to achieve (instead I have two modes - over-dressed, and scruffy, with no middle ground), who claims she gets most of her clothes from them, so I thought I'd give it a try.

It's been a revelation! I don't always find stuff, but when I do they tend to be gems. In the past couple of months, I've found a wonderfully soft, thick and warm Uniqlo cashmere jumper; a Boden cashmere dress with the tags still on it, and today a gorgeous real leather jacket which will be perfect for Spring for the bargain price of £17.50!

And I get the feel-good factor of helping a charity and not contributing to landfill/worker exploitation with more cheap, throwaway fashion. Win!

My local charity shops are ok, nothing special. But travel 15 minutes to an affluent little market town and the charity shops are amazing. Yes they know their stuff, but they still price reasonably. I got a Rag and Bone blazer last week for £15, it retails new for around $395. I also got a BNWT black Reiss shirt with a ruffle front for £1! There was also a black leather All Saints jacket for £30 that I passed as I have similar already and a Fossil handbag for £28.

I just looked at weigh and pay, Dancing Bristol would be the closest... maybe as a day out! Maybe

Oh I love a charity shop! We've got loads near us, including one in our village. Recent finds are a lovely black silk Monsoon evening dress with tags for £8, a beige Autograph leather jacket (for a tenner!!!) and a Jasper Conran for Debenhams canvas jacket for £5. I agree about going to ones in the "nice" areas as well as you can get some real finds.

And I always pick up books when I'm in there for my commute and hols.

The only thing I am a bit wary about buying from a charity shop is shoes. I don't know why - does anyone else feel like this?

I go quite often today I'm in a NoaNoa wool skirt from Oxfam, but my best haul was some Miu Miu shoes and a Kenzo skirt from Notting Hill Housing trust, and some Hobbs loafers that were new. I love it because you never know what you'll find.

DD got a gorgeous Jacadi dress in one and some of her favourite toys. Also the local one does kids goody bags for a pound, they are amazing and have things like marbles, trolls, Schleich animals, little dolls etc, I thought about getting them as party bags for DD's party but didn't in the end.

I'm a huge fan of charity shops, started shopping in them out of necessity a few years ago and was so impressed with what we found that we now buy nearly all our clothes for us and our (constantly growing) boys from them.
The only exception is shoes, but eBay is normally helpful there, and underwear!

Where I am (north Glos) there are loads of good charity shops but I've also found Marlborough to be a prime area - lots of top brands and barely worn designer stuff!