Take Our Charity Shop Challenge and decide for yourself.
With living costs in the UK on the up and up and pressure in the celebrity driven media to sport the latest designer labels it is becoming increasingly difficult for style conscious Brits to maintain fashionista status while balancing ever tightening household budgets.
Two local authors and business women, just returned home from California faced with the task of looking a million dollars for a media and promotion tour on very little cash, found an unexpected friend in what might be described as the British High Street’s best kept secret. Of course these retail establishments have been around for decades but even today the age old stereotype of ladies in cardigans selling musty old clothes is hard to shake. Recent news articles have declared charity shops are turning over huge profits, so who is actually shopping there? This is a tough question as few admit to ever setting foot in one.
Holly and Shirley Yanez, Countesthorpe, had to buy a whole new, much warmer wardrobe, starting from scratch. Putting together a celebrity look to wow a BBC TV producer was their challenge. The maximum budget available per outfit was twenty five pounds.
After exhausting all the usual shops, they discovered in the seven years they’d worked in Hollywood, prices had shot up significantly. They’d be lucky to pick up a t-shirt each on the sale rack in French Connection for their twenty five quid let alone a whole outfit including shoes. So they turned their attention to; the charity shops.
They were surprised by how many there seemed to be and how particular stores like Age Concern, Blaby were paying attention to clever and creative window dressing. With increasing media attention on World Poverty and humanitarian aid organizations, charities like Oxfam have invested heavily in the profile of their brand with a large TV advertising campaign and their retail chain employs professionals along side volunteers to run the shops more cost effectively. Long gone are the days of flogging what the poor no longer want or the dead no longer need. Those grotty, dingy shops offering not much more than shelter from the cold have been replaced by bright, clean retail spaces with clear signage, spacious changing facilities and new fixtures and fittings. Admittedly some are better than others, depending on who’s running them so you need to be prepared to explore a little to find your own favorites.
There are 12 or more charity shops in Leicester City Centre ranging in feel and quality, Scope, High Street is young, trendy and slightly higher priced and Oxfam has an excellent bridal range. If you are prepared to go a little further a field Loros, Loughborough and Oxfam, Market Harborough are designer shoppers paradise, offering a large selection of nearly new (and sometimes new) clean, pressed and colour coordinated seasonal clothes, lingerie, shoes and accessories. Some of the larger stores also offer furniture and household goods. The Loros, Oadby is decidedly boutique like with a stylish and keen staff and if you fancy a massive spree and a real day out for 12.00 pounds return on Midland Mainline, London’s shopping mecca, The Kings Road, Chelsea hosts more charity shops than you’ll have time to experience in one afternoon.
The women admit it can be hit and miss and some days you just won’t find anything but these charity shop crusaders have sourced treasures that include a Gucci satchel, 3.50 (approx retail 250), a Christian Dior jacket, 8.00 (approx retail 650), a moschino swimming costume, 5.00 (approx retail 200) and a Austin Reed, cashmere overcoat, 12.00 (approx retail 450). These bargains were great but style is definitely not just about designer labels according to the women. Cut, workmanship, fit and condition are the all important factors when selecting those key pieces. The clear message for today’s charity shoppers if you’ve got a keen eye and love a bargain you don’t have to compromise on chic.
The next time you are out take the Holly and Shirley Charity Shop Challenge and let us know how you get on. Can you throw together the perfect outfit for a woman, a man or the kids including shoes and accessories for under 25.00 quid?
The Event.
A meeting/screen test with the BBC. Holly and Shirley, both in their 40’s wanted a modern unique look, roughly translated as well cut, well fitting clothes with a bit of the 1970’s thrown in to give them an up to date twist
Shirley bought black Dolce and Gabbana trousers with denim detail, 7.00 pounds, white cotton shirt with wide cuff and collar 4.00 pounds, peach sequin belt/headband, 1.00 pound, Warehouse green faux sheepskin, 6.00 pounds, black leather ankle boot, 3.00 pounds, large diamond cross, 2.00 pounds.
Whole Look Total Cost: 23.00 pounds.
Holly bought black and white pinstriped jacket 4.00. Juicy couture jeans 3.00. Black Onyx cross, 3.00 pounds. Black velvet 70’s cap, 2.00 pounds. Black Armani T-shirt, 2.00 pounds. Red and black tartan belt, 2.00. Black Dolce and Gabbana jumper with flared 70’s sleeve. 4.00 pounds. Black suede thigh length boots. 4.00 pounds.
Whole Look Total Cost: 24.00 pounds.
The woman now swear by their local favorites and wouldn’t shop anywhere else, Ok well maybe Primark but only if absolutely necessary. As authors of Looking For Harvey Weinstein, a style conscious, gossipy expose of celebrity and Hollywood itself, they won’t buy into trinkets for trinkets sake, or trinkets at all unless they used to be somebody elses. For the charity shop crusaders, clothes and style are a synonymous necessity but a big part of shopping for them is about doing something good and giving a little back. After experiencing and overcoming some significant personal setbacks themselves, they believe when what you wear can help, why not recycle the wealth.
Take the challenge and become your own quiet charity shop crusader. Not only will you be loaded with shoe string style but you’ll have given a little back too. Now where’s the stigma in that?
