What's your best ever charity shop clothing buy?

[Bluesheep8]

I noticed on my "What are you wearing etc?" thread that quite a few people were wearing things from charity shops (as do I). Someone mentioned that they never find anything in charity shops and I know a few people who say this. Me, I can't walk past a charity shop without popping in "to check"...so I just wondered, what's your best ever charity shop buy?

I did very well today actually. I bought 2 really beautiful jackets, one from Reiss, the other Hobbs, immaculate condition, £7.00 each. I'm well chuffed.

I also got a Fossil cross body bag for a fiver and a pair of beautiful cream ballet leather boots for £4.00. I do find that bargains are harder to get though.

Worn a couple of times Christian Louboutons for £10. I wore them to death and sold them on eBay when I got pregnant and couldn't fit my gigantic feet in them anymore 😢 They sold for £120, I bought some baby clothes and donated £60 to the charity shop.

My latest is these www.drmartens.com/uk/p/originals-boots-virginia-1b99. Brand new and unworn £40.

Anyone who of any good ones in the North East??

Whereabouts in the NE Food? The Oxfam on Acorn Rd in West Jesmond kept me well clothed for several years FoodGloriousFood. Alnwick is meant to be pretty good too.

Recently got an All Saints black cotton jacket, immaculate for only £14.99.

Also a very flattering Laura Ashley black/grey shift dress for only £7.99

I've never bought clothes from charity shops. Despite there being about 5 near my work.

I regularly drop things off there though. Maybe I should have a rummage.

So many... helps that I'm a volunteer in one and get first dibbs (although I do pay full price for everything)

Pair of brand new Dr Marten chelsea style boots for a tenner, a gorgeous Hobbs pure wool coat (also still with tags on) for £15, numerous tops/dresses/tunics from brands like Toast and Cos.

Too many to mention apart from my Ikea Poang chair that cost a tenner, and I made my husband carry home on his head :-)

Love this thread, although gnashing my teeth in envy at some of the finds

Mine would be a Max Mara pencil skirt in utterly perfect condition at £2.50, a gigantic silk shirt which makes the perfect beach cover up and sample boden cropped kick jeans with the tags still on that I wear on a weekly basis.

Oh, and I got a uniqlo cashmere jumper yesterday for £3.99, pretty pleased with that!

We have very generous donors at our shop and we regularly get lovely things donated. Not always my size, but the rails are filled with good high street like Zara, TopShop, M&S, Debenhams, Fat Face with a smattering of higher end brands like Coast, Phase Eight, Toast, Boden. We get SO many donations that we can afford to be super picky - H&M, supermarket and Primark goes straight in the rag bag unless it's still got the tags on or you can't notice it's been worn.

Would also recommend you make friends with the people in your favourite charity shop and ask if there's something particular that you're looking for. For example - at the moment we're storing all sparkly "party wear" and dresses in the back shop to be brought out in November when people are thinking about CHristmas and New Year parties. Posh wedding hats are brought out around May.

A Karen Millen boned corset dress, a Diane Von firstenberg green wrap dress, Marc Jacobs silk blouse and a Toast tweed coat. Also a brand new ergo just after I had my baby.

I follow a vintage dealer's blog who wears some of her finds.

She has made friends with charity shop volunteers across the West Midlands and it's paid dividends.

Still on the porky side, I do like vintage and buy it when it fits but this woman wears outrageous clothes and looks fabulous.

Loads
I wear a lot of stuff from charity shops and car boot sales , mixed and matched with new items

Recent purchases :

Navy Brave Soul mac £2 ( very similar to joules with stripy cuff etc )

H & M mama black biker maternity jeans 25p

Various converse and Vans for the kids £1 a pair at car boot

100% Leather river island boots label still on sole £69.99 for £3

Plus Ioadsvof kids clothing for my DC, river island t shirts etc 50p
M & S knitted baby jackets from current range still in store 50p

I love love love shopping this way

gingernaut do you have a link!? I'd love to see it 🙂

Vintage Vixen

There you go, ProperLavs.

Thank you. I'm starting to get that middle aged invisible feeling so hopefully she can inspire me!

Can't remember the prices of everything but

BNWT warehouse beaded silk dress
Karen Millen wool trench coat
Alexander McQueen ltd edn silk skull scarf
Vintage topshop leather miniskirt
Lk Bennett ivory silk top

My god I miss living in Clapham!

Thought of some more!

Pringle cashmere cardigan
Amanda wakeley oversize cashmere jumper
Hobbs leather belt
Bertie shoes
Hobbs silk skirt
Sass & Bide jeans

When I lived in Wandsworth I used to make the rounds of the northcote road/battersea/Putney/Fulham charity shops all the time- my wardrobe had never been so posh!

Not a charity shop, but I once got a hand stitched cape jacket from the V and A website. £450 reduced to £35. Whenever I wear it I get compliments. If you're willing to check regularly the V and A have fantastic sales.

A lovely long black wool coat from Harrods. £4.50.

My best find was a brand new £1500 sheep skin jacket. It was a buyers gold seal sample. But somehow had gotten pen up the arm. So it had been reduced to £10 in local charity shop. Took it my amaizing drycleaner and repair guy who got it out for £35

Lots of buyers gold seals go to charity shops now. Red cross and banardos espesially.