Autumn / Winter 2010-11: Camel Coat

For years and years my Grandmother has been wearing camel coats; little did I know what a trendsetter the 91yr old would turn out to be! Another staple of the season, the camel coat is an absolute classic. The Autumn / Winter shows displayed the 'wear with anything' coloured coats cut in many different styles, from oversized double breasted to ladylike cuts cinched in at the waist.
Here are a few of my faves...

Hussein Chalayan

Carolina Herrera (LOVE the fur collar)

Chloe

...And here is my charity shop chic version...

Coat: Charity shop
Belt: Off an old suitcase
Wet look leggings: Primark
Heels: New Look

I am in love with this coat and nearly cried with excitement when I found it. It is a very rare occasion when one goes into a charity shop with a specific item in mind and actually finds it, particularly in the correct size. This little beauty was a mere £6.55, it is warm, stylish and timeless. What more could one want?!

Autumn / Winter 2010-11: Let's Fly Away

I remember back in July opening up Vogue, seeing this stunning Burberry advert and immediately thinking 'I NEED AN AVIATOR JACKET IN MY LIFE!' Unfortunatly, I could not afford the £2,195 Burberry Prorsum beauty, and the high street hadn't started selling any decent reproductions yet. So I scoured the charity shops with high hopes of stumbling across a fabulous leather aviator discarded perhaps by a retired pilot (who preferably was my size), but alas, those hopes were as high as the plane they probably never flew in. I had seen a lot of long length shearling jackets in the charity shops over the years; but they were channeling more of a 75yr old market trader vibe than the Rosie Huntington-Whitely one I aspired after. So it looked like I would have to wait, like the other fashion followers who didn't have a spare two grand knocking about, for the high street copies to come flooding in...Or would I...?!

Technically this post is not about charity shop chic, but it is representing second hand clothing in a way; my own clothing, reborn like a phoenix from the ashes. Yes, I made my own Burberry inspired aviator jacket. I knew I had been keeping that horrible old 90's throwback corduroy jacket with faux shearling lining for some reason; it fit like a glove into one of my trusty faux leather jackets. So I tacked them together and here is what they bred...

I am pretty pleased with my little 'make do and mend' product, it may not be an exact replica of the beautiful Burberry piece, but it cost me exactly £0 and I think it can pass itself off as valid aviator jacket...sort of.

Here are Burberry Prorsum and Julien Macdonald's takes on the aviator jacket in comparison...

Autumn / Winter 2010-11: Grunge Glamour

The chunky knit, whether it be cardigan or jumper is a staple in my wardrobe every Autumn/Winter. It is practical and stylish and can be thrown over almost anything, as proven in this seasons Grunge Glamour trend...

Michael Kors' mash-up of the slouchy knit with an elegant maxi skirt.

If you don't want to go for such a big contrast in size and textures, try a more toned down look with a smaller knit and a belt to cinch in at the waist as at D&G...


...And here are my charity shop chic versions...

Cardigan: Charity Shop
Skirt: Republic
(Not one of my favourite looks, but shows how similar the knits can be from charity shops. I would personally throw it on with some skinny fit leather trousers, jeans or leggings and killer heels or studded black boots for all out rock chic glamour.)

Skirt: Republic
Jumper: Topshop
Belt: Charity Shop

Throw on a leather jacket for extra grunge glam.
Skirt: Republic
Jumper: Topshop
Belt: Charity Shop
Jacket: eBay

A good chunky knit is very easy to find in the charity shops. Top tip - check out the men's section for oversized knitted fabulousness.

Top picks

Over the years I have collected an enormous amount of second hand pieces, from clothes and accessories to books and even furniture. I have to admit there have been a few fashion faux pas and bad impulse buys along the way, but here are some of my faves...


A beautiful gilded mirror i found for a mere £5 whilst up at University. I had to cycle home with it in my basket...not easy, but totally worth it. "Mirror mirror on the wall who is the fairest of them all...?!""


Another fabulous piece of furniture purchased whilst up at University, I am still yet to work out what animal hide it is, possibly goat.


This belt has got to be my most loved charity shop purchase of all time. A vintage 'St. Michael' black belt with gild lion detailing. It manages to rev up any outfit. If I lost it i would cry. A lot.


A girl can never have too many faux furs. This vintage faux medium length jacket was approx £15 (absolute bargain!) and with most Autumn/Winter collections displaying some sort of fur garment in their shows demand is high and bargain furs are proving tricky to snap up!


A pair of high waisted stonewashed jeans that I cut to make into shorts. Made by 'St. Michael' at Marks & Spencers; a vintage brand I have found pops up a lot in the better of some of my charity shop finds. Wear these shorts with any top for a vintage cool look. Warning - may induce camel toe.


This luscious deep chocolate brown faux fur scarf was purchased whilst I was visiting Canterbury to primarily look at the Cathedral for one of my University modules; one always has time for a little shopping! A perfect piece for snuggling in to now the nights are drawing in.



What's that I hear you cry? Versace?! Yes indeed, Versace Jeans for £2.99. Truly a fraction of the fraction of the original price. These vintage, high waisted, skinny fit jeans could well have been bespoke for me. Unbelieveable fit, unbelieveable price, unbelievably cool worn with any top.

The Challenge

For as long as I can remember, charity shops have been a part, if not always a positive one, of my life. When I was young I believed they were shops one should not be seen dead in. Now, however, that stigma has been dropped and I consider them as one of the most exciting places to shop in. The charity shop was my main gateway into the world of fashion; it was so easy to find one off pieces for mere pounds, even pennies. I found myself looking forward to rummaging through the rails, shelves and accessories boxes, sorting the wheat from the chaff. And it seems I am now not the only one…
With the increase in the love of vintage fashion, and perhaps the current economic climate, nowadays charity shops are becoming a favourable place to spend those pennies for a lot of the fashion forward pack wanting to find a second hand style bargain…
There is huge satisfaction of wearing something which has been lost in time, and given another life. A piece of clothing with a history; from an amazing vintage find, to a modern piece someone simply didn’t want…
My own personal style consists of a mixture of high street and second hand, with the occasional designer piece thrown in. I am influenced by each seasons catwalk shows and believe the high fashion looks can be channelled with the use of second hand clothing…sound like a challenge? Let’s see how it goes…