What do you look for in charity shops?

[Eatyourveg88]

I love a good charity shop rummage and mainly look for clothes from Reiss, Whistles, LK Bennett, Banana Republic, J Crew etc

But I also like the bric-a-brac and have picked up some nice pottery items.

I check out baby clothes too for DD - recently picked up some great stuff that will fit her in a couple of years - I know that might sound daft but too much of a bargain to miss

What are you on the hunt for?

I look at everything in my size, and sometimes the size above and below as well, since sizings vary so much. I probably find usable shoes or boots about twice a year on average and some item of clothing about once a month - it can be anything - obviously the more unaffordable it would be in a normal shop the better, like coats or cashmere-mix jumpers, but I've bought t-shirts too, if I like them enough.

Jigsaws of ye olde village scenes.

DVDs that the whole family can watch.

I always look at the books. Beano/Dandy albums for ds.

I rarely buy clothes but have found some real gems - Hobbs top, Fatface dress, nice cardigans.

Man, I love charity shop afternoons.

I'm rarely looking for something specific so tend to just browse the clothing in my size and see if there's anything that grabs my fancy. I also quickly look to see if there's anything for DS but that's less likely these days now he's a teen. I've still managed occasionally to find branded baselayers and T-shirts

I also tend to look at the random bric-a-brac and have picked up a few lovely unique, but not valuable, bits over the years.

Our local hospice shop is great too, flo. It's done up like a boutique and has things like a Harrods rocking horse (I kid you not), antique typewriters and is on three storeys. Another good one is in a rougher area but has parking, as you say, and is near to a posher area.

The area makes a huge difference to what you can find. The ones in my slightly down-at-heel market town have an awful lot of polyester M&S blouses and Primark t-shirts, but in the slightly posher next town along, I've found designer stuff like MaxMara and Mulberry.

I hardly ever find what I'm looking for if I go with a specific thing in mind, so I'm very much an opportunistic charity shopper. I look for good quality items in natural fabrics and neutral colours. They don't have to be designer to fulfil the criteria, but it's always very gratifying if they are! I wouldn't shop at Primark for new clothes so I am very unlikely to want any of their stuff second hand.

It's probably just me, but I wouldn't buy things like shoes and hats second hand. I'm a bit funny about hygiene and other people's feet!

Love

China, jewellery and books.

Mainly books and things like pottery/general decorative accessories. Both significantly cheaper than buying new, and a book doesn't have to be new or newly released to be great.

It's not that I woudn't buy clothes but I never seem to find much (even though i live adjacent to an affluent area) and wouldn't be leaned towards buying just because it were designer and cheap, i've just never found anything that really excited me that i'd still want or have particularly noticed if it were non-branded.

Love seeing other people's finds though!

I don't do much charity shop shopping these days.

I look for vinyl, some shops have cottoned onto the fact that vinyl can be pricey and overprice but still a couple where they sell them for a pound. I've had some great finds, picked up stuff I want to listen to plus loads of others with a selling price of £20+ that I never get round to selling!

I got a pair of new cherry red Doc Martens recently for £25, bargain of the century.

The area I live in isn't particularly wealthy so almost no high end stuff. I've found most of the big chains (Cancer, red cross) have high prices so have found a couple of smaller charities I like to shop at.

I had generally stopped buying at books since I use Kindle but recently got a cookbook I had on my Amazon wishlist for 50p instead of £15 and an academic book for my counselling studies for 50p at the same time.

SpiritedLondon you need to go to charity shops in upmarket areas

Had a little laugh at this as I’m London/ Surrey borders so not exactly a rough part of the world. Part of my problem is that I’m a size 16 so their tends to be fewer options in my size. Somewhere like Wimbledon village has great options like the Red Cross shop but clearly the wealthy women of the area are keeping themselves slimmer than me. ( plus I don’t do “ yummy mummy”). My friend volunteered in Oxfam for a while and found that a lot of the prime labels are farmed off and sent to central city trendy locations rather than kept locally. For that reason I like smaller or independent shops ( eg hospice) again which are generally poor overall but throw up a amazing find every now and again.

I'm in London and a lot of charity shops are getting wise, there is now a charity "boutique" on Northcote Road, Clapham and they are selling high end stuff for quite high prices ( if you were on a low income you couldn't afford it for sure which for me makes me wonder if they've decided to target a higher market with this new expansion).

I have had some great bargains, Tods for £20 in new condition, designer ski jacket for £20 , a jaeger jacket for £15, lots of vintage furs, lots of great black tie dresses.

My fave purchase was actually a £4 black lambs leather skirt which I saw retailing at £150!

Personally I look for;

• linen shirts / shirts in natural fabrics as I've tried to clear my wardrobe of cheapy polyester tops as I get too sweaty travelling around.
• good quality skirts.

I'd really like a leather biker jacket!

I also buy heaps of books *

I find them too expensive these day.

I used to love buying baby toddler clothes for £1 but most don’t stocks kids clothes anymore!

I’ll still pick up the odd book or toy but I do t think they provide the service to lower income families they used to.

Jeans, getting anything non skinny and low waisted seems impossible on the high street. I've recently bought diesel and french connection jeans that looked brand new but prob dated from early noughties.

I look at the books but don't like to pay more than £1. Sometimes there's some good ones.

I have a look at the bric a brac but never really find anything nice.

And always have a quick flick through the clothes but round where I live, I never seem to find anything. It all just seems to be tops from ten years ago and no brands. I would really love to buy more clothes from charity shops.

I’ll still pick up the odd book or toy but I do t think they provide the service to lower income families they used to.

I agree. Charity shop prices are increasing all the time.

I love charity shops!

There are 2 near me (with free parking!) that sell childrens clothes for 20p each. There's a lot of supermarket brands but also lots of M&S, Next etc. A few weeks ago I managed to get 4 pairs of next jeans in the next size my ds will need. All slim fitting & in excellent condition so that's all the jeans he'll need in that size for 80p!

I also got a pair of football boots for £2.50 from a different charity in the next size up so have put them away as well.

I might make it my mission to check some out in different locations just to compare with my local branches. I know the couple I visited in Kingston upon Thames were massively disappointing for an affluent area but maybe i’ll give it another go.

Clothes wise I just look for things that catch my eye rather than labels. Then I look at the condition, the make and the price. I don’t mind buying supermarket or even Primark if the price is low and it’s in very good condition. I also look for clothes for DD, which is getting harder as she’s getting older but I still find the odd bargain. I got her a gorgeous, warm Fatface hoodie recently which she’s been living in.

I also look for books for DD, she’s a huge bookworm and goes through two or three books a week. Sometimes I’ve managed to pick up entire series of books, there was one notable occasion I dragged home around fourteen Percy Jackson novels, which was totally worth the arm ache as they’ve gone on to be some of her favourite books.

My ultimate treasure to find though is midwinter pottery. I collect it and although I rarely find pieces i love the thrill of the chase.

You definitely need to check out several locations and from time to time. We have a couple of good ones near our local shops (local charities), some in a rougher area, but with parking, some near dc's school and some in the city centre. I often don't find anything, so it's often a case of keep looking.

All Saints (BNWT) at silly prices.
A Herve Leger dress (genuine) -£19.
Various Alexander McQueen/ Marc Jacobs bargains.
I only buy things that I can identify as genuine. I see a lot of fake Vuitton.

I‘ve never found anything higher-end for me round here but last year got DD a Joules dress in mint condition for £4, age 11 so I imagine would‘ve been in the £20+ zone.

Usually it’s toy bargains, eg I got one of those Leapfrog interactive book thingies, bags of loom bands when they were en vogue, occasionally books if vgc.

Women’s clothes, nope, it’s not attractive, never see an amazing find.

Agree prices can be silly - I saw a F&F at Tesco shirt /tunic type thing for £8.50 today!

OH is a vicar, there is someone in St Albans who clearly also had holy orders, we own all their old books. Oxfam St Albans I thank you.

Most of my wardrobe is from charity shops. Recently got a pair of almost brand new white converse pumps for £4. And a pair of fur lined clarks brown biker boots for £6.