Ever had this encounter?...

Ok, so picture this: you're wearing a new outfit. You feel amazing. You look amazing. You're strutting your stuff, and a random stranger comes up to you and says:

"Oh my god I love your top, where did you get from?"

And you get to respond:

"Omg thanks - I got it in a charity shop!".

Moral superiority? Check. Superior fashion taste? Check. Feeling incredible about yourself? Check!

The question is, how do you actually cop the jealousy-inducing one-of-a-kind vintage finds in your local Oxfam? Especially when most of the junk in there is 15 year old Boden and Fat Face hand-me-downs. No shade to Fat Face, but we're out here hunting for 90s Miss Sixty and designer labels (for a fraction of the price).

Don't fret, after years of charity shop trawling I've managed to curate the best list of tips and tricks to turn your charity shop experience from a dud to a delight. Buckle in, because it's about to get seriously fashionable. Let's get into it!

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1. Location. Location. Location. 

It’s often the case that the best charity shops are found in the wealthiest areas of town, but this isn’t a hard and fast rule. Check out all the charity shops around you until you find your fave. ‍

2. Once you find a good charity shop, go as much as you can

Consistency is key. Make nipping into the charity shop part of your usual routine. This way, you’ll be the first to find the hidden gems, and won’t have to spend hours trawling through every rack to find them.

3. Weekdays!

Charity shops are depleted on the weekends, but have less footfall on the weekdays.Stock is renewed on a rolling basis, so if you go on the weekend you’re more likely to find better quality items. Plus, going when it’s less busy means that you won’t have to compete with other savvy shoppers, or heaven forbid have to awkwardly linger behind the shopper in front of you while you wait for them to move on #ick.

‍4. Know your style

Fast fashion websites make it so easy for you to lose touch with your personal style. Shopping second hand removes the shiny ads and gorgeous models and helps you discover what clothes you really want. Once you have a stronger sense of your personal style, charity shopping will be easier as you can find things that really work for you, rather than mindlessly picking what big brands and micro trends influence you to buy. 

5. Be patient 

Take your time. Check every item on the rack. Pull interesting items off the rack so that you can really consider them; not everything looks incredible on a hanger, you have to look further. It’s frustrating, but when you take the time to really have a nosey round, you’ll find the best pieces.

‍6. Check the brand/ quality immediately 

Always check the brand so that you can ascertain whether or not the piece is of a high quality. There’s nothing wrong with buying lower quality items (second hand is more sustainable after all!) - but if you want long lasting pieces that will help you break out of the over consumption cycle, you need to grab something that has been adequately made out of high quality materials. 

If you don’t recognise the brand, look it up! Lots of really high quality vintage brands don’t exist anymore, so you might not have heard of them - don’t let that hold you back! 

Plus, if there isn’t any label, check the ‘care tab’ to see what the fabric is. Items made from 100% linen, silk or cotton are usually higher quality and long lasting, whilst polyester or other blends usually signal towards a fast fashion origin. 

‍7. Ignore the measurements 

Measurements can vary vastly, particularly with vintage items. What a size 10 meant in the 70s is completely different to what it means now. Remember, there’s no standardisation authority for clothing sizes. So, try before you buy. And keep an open mind. Plus, if it doesn’t fit perfectly, remember that you can always alter it. The golden rule here is: clothes can always be made smaller; they can’t always be made bigger.

8. Find a good dry cleaner 

Giving an old coat or dress a good dry clean can give them a new lease of life. You shouldn’t let stains or poor cleanliness hold you back from finding the fashion piece of your dreams. Give those pre-owned items a bit of love, and they’ll love you back (promise). 

‍9. Learn the basics of alteration

Make your clothes work for you. Don’t want shoulder pads? Cut them out. Trousers too long? Watch a “how to hem” video on youtube. Basic sewing supplies are super affordable. And who knows, you might fall in love with alterations and end up investing in a sewing machine down the line. I can guarantee that the money and time you invest in a good sewing kit will pay you back down the line when you break free from the endless cycle of fast fashion consumerism. 

‍10. Donate your own clothes 

What goes around comes around. Charity shops rely on a constant stream of donations, so if you expect to find your fave clothes at one, you have to feed the beast! I totally believe in charity shop karma, and you should too! 

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