Charity shopping for the reluctant shopper.

I totally lost my blogger info, and it took me until today to scour my room for the postie with it it scrawled on, I'm dead organised like that. Well, I guess I better get on to more important things. Like the fact that I have found some really good things in my local charity shops recently, and my camera has fully died on me, which is safe to say is very irritating.

So instead, I'm going to ramble on about charity shops, and young people.
Charity shops have an aweful stigma and people tend to think that the only thing you can pick up from them is a cold and a stained tye-dye tshirt from the 90's. I realise that recently they have kinda become 'cool' places to shop but there are still reams and reams of people who won't step foot in them and would rather spend their money in cheap high street shops that are fuelled by poverty stricken countries. In fact, just last week I made my friend go into one of my favourite charity shops to pick up some beautiful hair pieces with little peacocks on them and all she did was complain about the musty smell and how everything was 'worn by everyone else so its dirty'
Seriously?

I think she was being a little melodramatic, because it really didn't smell any different to any other shop we went in. And as for the 'dirty' part, I think that is also a bit extreme. yes its true, some things donated aren't suitable for the shop. I was told once that only 25% of things donated to charity shops are good enough, the rest has to be thrown away at the cost of the charity. That is a little sickening. They are as only as good as the stuff donated, so don't treat them as a rubbish heap!

Anyway, :)
I thought I would share my own tips on successful charity shopping, fashionably.
TOP TIPS☮

☮First of all, don't be scared (I know this sounds really weird but I know when I first went into them I kinda....didn't know what to do)
☮ If you are reluctant to buy clothes, start off with accessories, I used to just buy necklaces and bracelets, but after a while I seeped into Clothing.
☮Remember charity shops are a hell of a lot cheaper than vintage shops. I go to the vintage boutiques in manchester and I find that some are a little expensive.
☮Don't be scared to get stuck in! sometimes finding the gems means looking really hard. The other day I got a pair of carvella heels, never worn in the box with the labels on, for £3! And they were in with the other shoes, so its worth looking hard.
☮To an extent, ignore sizes. When I say this I mean dont cast off larger ones sometimes. The same applies to other shops too because sometimes male XL shirt+skinny waist belt= dress.
☮Talk to the volenteers. I've been in that much that they recognise me now, and they might help you find what your looking for!
☮Sometimes, you need to be there early. I went in at like half 9 and just as I got there a woman was stood with two leather satchels, identical to the kind of ones you'd pay over the odds for in somewhere like urban outfitters. She was a vintage dealer and she payed £2 for them. Gutted.
☮Don't think you will automatically find something the first time you go in. Sometimes you will find 10 things, others you will come out with nothing. The whole thing is pot luck.
☮Some charity shops are now becoming aware of the vintage lovers. There is actually a dedicated rail for 'vintage' In a couple of them in my town. Simple!
☮Realise that when you buy something, you won't be wearing something thousands of others may possibly be wearing also. Be proud of that ;)
☮And finally, a top tip for those who really don't like the idea of clothes that have already been worn..just forget it! I was the things a couple of times and to me its no different. I know that when I myself donate to them I always wash the items beforehand anyway, but obviously some people don't ;)


Woa, I rambled. If you have any questions though, feel free to ask me because I love talking about charity shops haha :)
Peace out and have fun!
☮H