Not everyone gets the same rush as they step into a charity shop, though. Once the haunt of grans looking for knitting patterns, now every fashion blogger knows their worth. You can find some real gems hidden in the shelves if you’re prepared to shake off a little bit of dust and run it through the wash before you wear it. In fact, I actually prefer browsing through the charity shops now. It's much more peaceful, it doesn’t cost me even nearly as much to find a brilliant outfit and the staff are always more than willing to help you out and point you in the right direction for the best items.
A few years ago I wouldn't have thought about being this thrifty. And since I've delved into charity shops, you do have to accept these shops will always have a dusty, old, moth eaten smell about them but once you get past that it’s a brilliant experience. It can be a little bit off-putting when you first start; I used to dash in before anyone could see me and then I would try not to be in there too long. I used to feel uneasy rifling through the rails while trying to hold my breath. That was until I started finding some real bargains. Now I try to make a regular trip to my local high street (which is absolutely full of charity shops). I mean come on, Hollister skirts for £5, River Island jumpers for even less than that, and don’t even get me started on the vintage items that you can come across.
Once you know what you’re doing, charity shopping is so much fun and you nearly always come away feeling brilliant with a whole array of different and unique items to add to your clothing collection.
Obviously you do have to be a little bit imaginative because there won’t be any mannequins displaying the perfect outfit for you. So when you do find something that catches your eye, try to picture it outside of the shop and teamed with an item that is already hanging up in your wardrobe at home. It is also always useful to take a good look at the shop windows before you dash in; they quite often have some lovely items in there but people always forget to check them out!
Remember, this kind of shopping can be unpredictable, but so can shopping the high street retailers. One day you could find yourself leaving with an entire outfit, just one top the next, and nothing the day after. But that is the beauty of them, the stock turnover is so fast that you could pop in again in a few days, sometimes even a few hours later and find something that is exactly what you have been looking for; even if you weren’t aware of it before you stepped into the shop.
The last time I went on a charity shopping spree I managed to come away with two jumpers, a pair of jeans, some shorts and a skirt for less than £15. But the time before that all I came away with was a plain white t-shirt that I then personalised and tie-dyed. It really is a gamble, but more often than not it is worth it!
Don’t be afraid to take risks. If something has caught your eye but you’re not sure if you should actually buy it; just go for it! It will probably only cost you a couple of pounds so even if it doesn’t work out you won’t spend too long fretting about the purchase. Chances are you’ll end up loving it once you’ve tried it on at home. Always go with your gut instinct; it’s much more fun that way!
And don’t forget that the best part about charity shopping is that all of the money that you spend is going to a good cause. So unlike when you buy from high street shops, you don’t need to feel guilty about coming home with your arms loaded up with bags.
You might be shopping in a different environment, but you’re still shopping (and most likely spending a lot less) so enjoy it! Chat away, smile, and riffle through the shelves just as you would in a sale. Except it's in a much more relaxed environment, and you may come away with some great finds.
Where are your favourite charity shops? Let us know your bargain hauls below!
By Shannon.
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