This was my favourite Christmas present - a box of vintage Fuzzy Felt that my parents found at an antique store.  The bottom picture is what was already assembled inside.  Was it made by the original owner, Carol, in 1953 or by bored staff at the antique store?  Will I ever know?

sparklenight-wore:

My wardrobe is composed entirely of clothes sourced from three different places: eBay, merch tables, and charity shops.  I begrudge having to pay £5+ for new clothes when there are perfectly good unwanted clothes in existence.  The photographs above offer a sample of the clothes I’ve found, all for a few pounds each, in charity shops.

Some people maintain that charity shops are the domain of the grandmother, full of miscellanea and oddments that just aren’t relevant to the youth of today.  Others will profess that charity shops are a hipster’s goldmine, full of vintage and quirky items to ensure that you’ll always look trendy but keep your hold of that strand of individuality that you meticulously coiffure.

It seems inaccurate to describe charity shops as either of these things.  They contain, amongst other things, clothes.  Yes, you’ll find clothes preferred by older people, yes you’ll find vintage pieces.  But you’ll also find boring clothes, new clothes that couldn’t be returned, new clothes that have really obviously been shoplifted, clothes that high-street shops didn’t sell so gave to charity, hand-made clothes, any type of clothes!  Clothes donated by all sorts of people and therefore suited to all sorts of people.  You won’t know what one shop holds until you browse for yourself.

I’ve worked in two charity shops, both of which have enjoyed a varied customership.  There isn’t a ‘type’ of person who shops in charity shops and everyone’s reasons for doing so are different.  The staff don’t care why you’re there; they’re just grateful that you are, and other customers aren’t going to judge.  If you don’t find anything, that’s fine - just because you walked in the door you’re under no obligation to purchase.  There’ll be different stock next week.  Staff sort through everything so nothing with holes, stains or odours goes on sale (once an old man shuffled over to me and sheepishly handed me a donation bag full of stained underwear.  Straight to recycling.)  Everything is steamed thoroughly so you can be sure it’s clean, and if you’re squeamish about putting clothes onto your body that someone else has worn, then –congratulations! – you have an anxiety disorder. 

The point of this post, I guess, is that I don’t know why anyone who wears clothes would not shop at charity shops.

Remember my fashion blog?!