Charity Shop Bargains 2024?

[Britpopbaby]

Whistles blouse for the princely sun of £2.00.

Masai pure wool coat for £20
Lovely brown leather satchel £20
White Stuff wool jumper dress £7
Pure cashmere intarsia jumpers X 2, for £10 each- I can't remember the brand, but the website was selling jumpers for a minimum of £450+ when I googled it 😜 They are a bit niche looking (think golf jumpers) but absolutely stunning quality and I love them.
Ralph Lauren baby blue 4 ply cashmere cable knit jumper for £10
M&s cashmere jumper £6
Pair of Next sculpting black jeggings £3, good timing because I had more expensive ones lined up online.
A lovely hand thrown ceramic teapot for my loose leaf teas, £3. Holds the perfect amount of tea.
Farah slim fit lambswool jumper for about £3, still in the website for £70 when I checked.

I never usually find any bargains but I did today. Got a new Nobody's Child dress for £4 and 5 kids books for £1 (I'm a teacher so my book corner has gained some new books).

A Ted baker handbag £20, big enough for the kitchen sink and a cashmere scarf for £1

Would love to know where these charity shops are!

So would I. The charity shops near me are trying to charge £6 for an Atmosphere (Primark) blouse!

Whistles animal Pyjama style top for £7

This is it https://www.whistles.com/product/animal-print-pyjama-shirt-28640.html

Do you all love the purchases though? Sometimes when I read these threads I think bagging a brand is the only factor that seems to matter.

Yes, I think this too.

My local shops always have lots of Aquascutum, Jaeger, always loads of cashmere and lambswool jumpers from "brands.".

They don't look good though. There's a reason they are sitting in a charity shop unsold, and haven't been snapped up or sold on eBay in the first place. Someone will eventually buy them, because "omg an Aquascutum coat for £20"

Well regardless of the brand if I don’t like it I don’t buy it and I buy to wear rather than buy to flog on eBay.

Some of my all time favourite clothes are from charity shops but I've also fallen for some shockers and yes, sometimes it's because I've been seduced by a brand name, especially when it's one I couldn't normally afford at full or even sale price.

I'm still a big fan but firstly, it's not conducive to slow, thoughtful shopping and secondly (I'm speaking for myself but I don't think I'm unusual) there's definitely a thrill to be had from bagging a bargain, and I think that thrill, if not kept in check, can become addictive.

I think it's a shame we don't talk about it more often but charity shop threads on this board only seem to go in two directions: comparing bargains or complaining about rising prices.

I'm a 'quality of old' seeker, in a charity shop, so not so much a brand (rarely seduced by a logo for the sake of it), but an item that I know will be a great addition to my wardrobe and the odd gem from a time when you had more choice or it seemed like it, so different designs and not just more of the same! I can go months where nothing appeals, then a gem might be lurking and some of my more interesting clothing items have been brands long since disappeared, but that once had a reputation of quality of construction and design. If we are talking recent purchases, I found a beaded elasticated belt, with a wooden buckle / fastening, which when added to a knitted dress I have just made the outfit more pulled together -I've been working to look a little more finished when I wear clothing, so embracing accessories with my outfits. I'd no idea where it had come from, just loved that it gave me a shape and for £2. I agree that much is poor, but then much bought new now is poor and so that's what will fill the gaps in charity shops as time moves on.

@WillYouPutYourCoatOn I have in fact done EXACTLY that last year 😅 Saw an Aquascutum pure wool long coat for £15 or £20, I forget. And I got overexcited (it is excellent quality tbf) but.... It's a men's coat, and the shoulders are comically enormous on me, and so it's gone back to another charity shop. I definitely succumb to buying stupid crap (and nice stuff which isn't quite right).

There's definitely a lot of "designer" rubbish about. Just today I saw a DKNY leopard print top, 100% polyester and felt horrible to the touch, ugh. I bought a Nicole Fahri 100% merino zip up jumper for £4 and I think it's no better than any other merino top really, despite the prices on the official website. It's black, which I needed.

I reckon a lot of stuff in charity shops is stuff that's not quite right. Almost right but not. So hard to turn your back on the dopamine of hunting though 😅

Wow these are amazing bargains, I like looking but often find things are too small or big for me

Also, re the "quality of old" - that is often offset by the fact it's been used and/or washed a lot. Quality is not just brand, fabric and finish, it's also how tired a piece is from age and use.

There is still quality in the shops at affordable prices, you just have to look. I have currently two beautiful crew neck cable knit jumpers in the sale from Superdry which are 100% cotton, they are soft and substantial and wash well. They are of equal quality (if not better) to the cable cotton jumpers I used to buy in the late 80s-early 90s from the high street.

It's possible to find items that are in good shape all the same.

I'm always amazed at what arrives in my local thrift in January. People get rid of a lot of very nice clothes and footwear at the end of the year here because you can take a deduction of estimated used value when you do your taxes (the thrift chain has an online table of brands and official value to refer to) and they also donate what I suspect is unwanted Christmas gifts, often with original tags.

I generally buy to wear, so I'm picky (though I do sell the odd thing on Poshmark), and there are fitting rooms in my local thrift so I can try things on. I go over articles I buy very carefully and never buy anything I can't repair easily. Small holes in cashmere are easy to repair. Grease stains are not always an easy fix. Ball point pen - no way. Bobbles - I have a bobble shaver.

I have had boots re-heeled and zips fixed by my local cobbler, and he has also managed to get an ink spot out of a 1970s Coach bag I didn't want to ruin by having a go myself. Some items are well worth the extra expense to restore. There are brands that are very durable, and if you buy a classic style you'll always look good. Chelsea boots, DMs, crew neck or turtleneck cashmere or fine merino sweaters, well made trousers, bags with a classic look, are all worth buying. There are brands that specialise in a 'classic' look, with clothing, accessories, or footwear that will last well because it's very well made.

My recent finds are a pair of satin trousers to wear to a wedding, a down-filled winter coat, with detachable hood and interior pockets, an embroidered black velvet jacket (Laura Ashley), and a pair of silver Ecco loafers.

Brand new pair of Timberland boots, £15 (retail for £135)

White Company jumper £2.50. Reiss leather jacket £8. COS jeans £2.

Mint Velvet blouse, today, £7 in local small charity shop.

All Saints cotton jumper £7

Yesterday got DD a lovely Marks and Sparks sweater for £1, new. Got some salmon coloured Tommy Hilfiger shorts for DH for the summer, also new £5. Brand new wicker lined laundry bin for £4. Shouldn't have bought that. Will be going on FB for sale.

House of Bruar aubergine cords, BNWT £9 (originally £80!).

I'm obviously looking in the wrong charity shops.There are at least 3 charity shops within walking distance from me and I've never been lucky enough to grab a bargain like some posters on here.
I'll need to starting looking in the charity shops in the "posh" end of the city haha.

I hit the jackpot last week, all lovely colours and natural fibre as well
John Smedley merino jumper £2.75
2 Alice Temperley shirts 1 silk one cotton/viscose £2.50 each
Pair unworn Timberland leather chukka boots £15
2 Jaegar tops 50p each
Charles Tyrwhitt merino long sleeved polo shirt £3
2 brand new Fantasie bras in my size!!! £5
2 mens chunky cotton cardigans £4 each
House of Bruar fair isle cardigan £4
Hobbs viscose shirt £3.75
Boden shirt £3.75
Boden wool lace knit cardigan £3
Merino tunic jumper, no tags but lovely style ans quality £4
White stuff. 2 summer tops in knitted linen £3

Everything looks great on..am chuffed to bits

Where on earth was this charity shop?