by Sarah Newstead

Published at 09:20, Thursday, 29 September 2011

When even Victoria Beckham admits to having riffled through charity shops, you know second-hand has well and truly shrugged off the mothballs.

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No longer a dumping ground for fusty old jumpers and tatty threads long past their sell by date, charity shops are a treasure trove of chic, bargain finds.

If you're prepared to rummage for a wardrobe treat, you could well strike sartorial gold.

The A/W11 catwalks were a feast of heritage looks and 1970s styling. Charity shops provide a bountiful hunting ground for tweeds and retro shapes, which means a whole new breed of fashion conscious shopper is making the most of the looks-for-less on offer.

We challenged young Carlisle fashionista Julia Turner to put together some on-trend looks from Botchergate's Eden Valley Hospice shop for less than £20 per outfit.

Julia knows a thing or two about what's hot and what's not. And studying for a degree in fashion design, styling and promotion at Middlesex University, means her wardrobe budget is tight.

It's just as well the 20-year-old, from Stanwix, has an eagle eye for a designer bargain.

“A couple of my favourite things that I've found in charity shops are a pair of Levis shorts I got for 50p and a Jaeger jacket I got for £2,” she said.

“You need to have a good ratch really. I find shirts are always very good and you get a lot of blazers and hats. Shoes are good for me, but only because I've got tiny feet and vintage shoes tend to be small.”

Although the savvy charity shopper needs to keep an open mind to get the most out of their haul.

“I do buy things that are too big if they are worth it – if you find a designer item you can take it in yourself or get someone to do it for you. It will often still work out cheaper even if you pay for alterations.”

Plus the money you spend goes to a good cause. Perhaps none more so than at the Eden Valley Hospice. Providing care for adults and children in Cumbria and south west Scotland who have serious and life-limiting illnesses, the charity needs to find £1.95 million each year to sustain the Carlisle-based hospice.

A love of second-hand clothing is in Julia's blood.

Her mum, Margaret, is the manager of the Botchergate Eden Valley Hospice shop. A woman who "could sell snow to the Eskimos", Margaret is a savvy retailer who knows good clothes.

“To me, the appeal of a charity shop is that you are getting something exclusive at an affordable price.

“People have cottoned on to charity shops. We've had Betty Barclay, Ralph Lauren – we get every designer out there.”

Charity shops and charity shoppers, benefit from the over-indulgence of some fashion hoarders. Often clothing is donated without ever having been worn.

Plus, accessories are often among the best items on offer too. Handbags, jewellery, watches and leather gloves all find their way to the hospice shop.

“We get a lot of vintage clothing,” added Margaret. “Vintage jewellery too. Most items start at around £3.

“We sort through the donations well. If something is not good enough to be sold, we will still recycle it and get money for the rags. Nothing goes to waste.”

It's all about how you put together your charity shop finds. Although, being young and innately stylish, Julia often dresses head-to-toe in charity shop clothes. But mix and match them with designer or high street items already in your wardrobe for a fail-safe guide to style on the cheap.

On our shoot, bargain fever spread like wildfire. So enamoured were we with the goodies lined up for our shoot that we pounced, buying up some of the items for ourselves. Because often at a charity shop there's only one, and once it's gone, it's gone!

Our photographer left with a 1980s influenced red clutch bag for £6, I took a pair of leather gloves and a cashmere sweater for a total of £6. Model Natasha took home the 1970s dress she modelled in our shoot for a princely £10 and model Gemma took the checked trousers she wore, plus a 1940s influenced cream blouse for a total of £10.

So boost your wardrobe and donate to good causes by making the most of Cumbria's charity shops – it's simple chic-onomics!

• Clothing and accessories were from a selection at the Eden Valley Hospice shop, on Botchergate, Carlisle. Me model Nikki's black boots (worn with cream shorts) and Me model Gemma's heeled courts (worn with pencil skirt) were also from a selection at the Eden Valley Hospice shop. All other shoes were the stylist's own.
• Shoot stylist and makeup artist was Julia Turner.
• Hair was by Evan Shek at Toni & Guy, Carlisle.
• Shoot was on location by kind permission of the Eden Valley Hospice, Durdar Road, Carlisle. For more information visit www.evhospice.org.uk

Published by http://www.cumberlandnews.co.uk