Confessions of a charity shop love
May 25 2009 By Anuji Varma
PR GIRL Roz Golds has a confession to make – she’s a charity shopaholic.
The 25-year-old, from Droitwich Spa in Worcestershire, has perfected the art of rummaging through someone else’s cast-offs to find dazzling outfits.
And she has saved hundreds of pounds in doing so.
“Charity shopping is great during the credit crunch,” she says. “It saves those much needed pounds and you can still update your wardrobe.
“I’ve picked up some fantastic dresses, tops, shoes and bags by going around these shops in my local area.
“I have probably spent about £65 on clothing worth more than £500 in the past six months alone.”
Roz, who works for Worcestershire-based public relations consultancy betterpr, loves nothing better to wander a few yards from her town centre flat to her local charity shops on a Saturday morning.
And her charity shopping fetish all began when she was a teenager.
“Ever since I was about 15, and passed the stage of being embarrassed at my mother popping in, I have been charity shopping in earnest.
“Shoes, bags, records, pictures – you name it, I’ve picked it up from a charity shop.
“I just cannot go past one without going in. It’s brilliant rifling through clothes and trinkets – never knowing what sorts of bargains you’ll find.
“Nothing beats the rush of picking up some fabulous piece or other for a fraction of the price you would have paid new.
“Best of all, you know what you are getting is one-of-a-kind and it’s unlikely you’ll see someone else wearing the same thing.”
It’s not just everyday wear that Roz picks up from her local shops as she has also found posh frocks for more formal events.
She added: “I even got my graduation dress and shoes from a charity shop.
“The dress was a vintage navy-blue strapless cocktail number I picked up for £6.
“The shoes were also vintage, gold stilettos from John Lewis dated around 1970 I think, I could tell by the style of the lettering inside.
“They had the most beautiful diamanté buckle and I wore them to death until they literally broke on my feet one night – these cost me £2.50.
“My bag was an old favourite – a leather Bally clutch bag with a fabulous bow – I think this was about £3. It was all very Hollywood and it was funny thinking whilst some of my mates had literally spent hundreds on an outfit mine came in at less than 15 quid!
“What’s great is that you can find great brand names when you charity shop – and often they are new or nearly new – I wouldn’t dream of wearing anything shabby.
“I’ve got countless great pieces in the past from names such as Jones, Lipsy, Autograph, Mulberry, Dune, Bally, Gap, French Connection and many more. And it doesn’t just stop at clothes. Roz recently moved into a new flat with her boyfriend and she’s keen on kitting it out in vintage accessories. “This can be more tricky than getting clothes but I have managed to find some very pretty Cath Kitson-esque rose pattern plates and a brilliant retro Hornsea mug,” she said.
“I have to laugh when I see how ridiculously over-priced this sort of stuff can be in antique shops – all you need is a bit of perseverance. In my experience, the trick to charity shopping is just to stick at it – nine times out of ten you’ll find nothing.
“You also have to be the sort of person who doesn’t mind having a good rummage through stuff because although some shops like Cancer Research are very organised and colour co-ordinate items, many are a bit of a jumble – but that’s part of the fun. Break it down by gravitating to the sort of prints and colours you like and you’ll get into the swing in no time.
“I’d say I spend about £10 a week charity shopping and it’s good to know that this money is going to a good cause.
“I’ll have “donated” thousands in the past ten years. But I’d be lying if I said it was the altruistic side of me that enjoyed charity shopping best – it’s just a great outlet to have a brilliant shopping spree without the hefty price tag!”
