They just keep on coming........

Being the virgin blogger that I am, I haven't quite figured out how to better display all these pics so apologies for the schoolgirl posts one by one! I'll get there eventually!

This gun metal grey velvet waterfall jacket was on a mannequin in the window of the St Peters hospice  by St James Barton roundabout in the centre of Bristol. Only £6.50 and originally from New Look. It's quite short  but looks great with slim jeans and my over the knee grey leather boots and a silver scarf.

This little beauty is a recent one from a lovely shop in town called Rag Trade. I'm hoping to do an interview with her soon about her shop where you can buy, sell and trade your designer clothes at a fraction of the original cost. It's from LK Bennett and is such lovely quality, it hangs beautifully.  Still not quite sure what to wear it with but that has never stopped me before!!!!!

Another one from Rag Trade from her amazing £5 to £10 rail hidden at the back of the store. LK Bennett again with gorgeous satin appliqué flowers stitched diagonally on one side. It's so feminine! I have some maroon Victoriana lace up ankle boots that I wear with it and my denim jacket when I want to dress it down.

SORT IT!!!!!

My friend Gill gave me an interesting article that she found in a local magazine about recycling (the whole ethos behind this blog).

The South Gloucestershire council organised a Sort IT! fashion fair in Thornbury this September to show residents just how easy and affordable fashion can be. Oxfam and the British Heart Foundation showcased great quality clothing and accessories at affordable prices. Visitors also had the chance to take part in different workshops on how to update/embellish/decorate your old clothes. There were fashion shows and an introduction to "swishing"........(not what you think!). Apparently it's all about swapping clothes and restyling your wardrobe at a fraction of the cost! So you can swap clothes that you don't want for items that you do without having to hit the High Street!

You can request your own pack to get you and your friends started from the Sort It! Team by emailing sortitteam@sita.co.uk or calling 01454 868000

What a great idea!

More favourites.....

A Kenneth Cole New York mac, new with tags -$200, I paid £19.99 in a charity shop on Henleaze road, Bristol!

 Now, I think this is real and the person that gave it away must have been blind. It was hiding in a small glass case at the back of the St Peters hospice shop on Gloucester Road last November. John bought it for my Christmas present -£20!

My favourite scarf - £5 from a charity shop in the Cotswolds last year.

BeauFashion blog

Hi all,

My friend Gemma has published an interview on her blog that  did with me on my charity shop antics.....so check it out if you are interested!

http://facebook.com/beaufashionbygemma

I'm not sure I should have admitted everything I did but hey....too late now! She's also got interested recently in second hand and vintage and went to the same fair as me at Temple Meads and had an amazing 1950's hairdo done....so have a look at her other posts too.

Charity shop Christmas event!

Evening fashionista's!

It's been a busy and strange week for me but my friend Kerry has cheered me up today by telling me that her St Peter's hospice in Winterbourne are having a Christmas event this Thursday evening.

St Peters Hospice shop Winterbourne

The shop would normally close around 5pm but they are going to stay open until 7.30pm for a Christmas event where they are going to promote their best party season dresses just in time for all our Christmas do's!  There will be mince pies and mulled wine to get us into the spirit and no doubt the lovely team there will be on hand to give you a warm Winterbourne welcome. Thankfully I am not working a late shift so I will go along after work! (Much to John's annoyance). So stay tuned ladies.....pics of my truffle hunting will no doubt be displayed soon. Have a great evening. X

Flapper Envy......

How gorgeous is this dress???????? The price however is not gorgeous sitting at £329!  You can buy it at http://www.jigsaw-online.com/flapper-dress//jigsaw-clothing/fcp-product/5289.   I have just posted it as it would be perfect for our 1920's themed Christmas party at work but who can afford that kind of money for a dress?  Prices like that just make me realise that my way of shopping is much better.  There are plenty of beautiful second-hand dresses that just need good homes!!! (I make it sound like an adoption agency).

I shall therefore be truffle-hunting for a similar design for the party (despite the fact I have many many outfits that will "do"). But if a new (or old) little number happens to grace my path, then who am I to turn it down?

If you go down to the woods........

Morning Charity Shop Chics!

Hope you have all had a good week. I have been playing host to a horrible cold all week but I have not let it dampen my spirits.  With that in mind, I was determined to make the most of the fact that I finished work at 3pm yesterday and decided to cheer myself up by visiting the St Peters Hospice in Bradley Stoke (Baileys Court). I came across it by accident, giving a lift home to a friend the other night.

Now, I know that not everyone is into second-hand shoes and there are some seriously dodgy ones out there that you wouldn't even touch with gloves on BUT - there are some great ones to be found if you are prepared to put in the effort.  I always put innersoles in them anyway and use a deoderising spray anyway.  Having said that, most that are on display in the charity shops now are in really good condition. 

Its in an odd location really. Behind a pub and the only other shop I think is a hairdressers.  That said, it was a little jewel.  Its quite small but there were some big treasures to be found!!

 

I know, I know......animal rights will not be happy but I couldn't resist it

 

These little babies came with their own fancy Topshop shoe box - brand new.  They are baby pink which isn't normally my colour but I have a dress the same colour from M&S so I will probably where them together and accessorise with black.

 

I couldn't believe I found these.  Roland Cartier pumps with cut out detail - £4.50!  They are new-ish but defintely have that vintage feel to them.  They look very 1950's and make me think of 1950's American housewives, baking pies in their lovely prom dresses !

 

I think these are from New Look and have that brogue look about them - £4.

 

I feel very happy with the fact that I (for once) came clean and told John about my purchases (well most).  He only knows about 2 pairs not 3 and I forgot to mention the old vintage black velvet dress that I may have also bought - pics to follow!