Spring / Summer 2011: Perfect Pleats

Pleated skirts used to make me think of school, netball and old ladies. Now however I have a new love for them as the Spring/Summer collections have reinvented them proving them now to be a chic, ladylike and very flattering addition to the wardrobe.

For a romantic feel go for the midi length or full length as at Chloe and Tommy Hilfiger...

Chloe


Tommy Hilfiger

Or for a more flirty approach take the hem higher as at Derek Lam; but not too high or you will be verging on netball/tennis skirt territory, and frankly that is only acceptable on athletes and school girls.


Derek Lam

Be sure to keep the top half young, not too fussy, and preferably slim fitting in order to avoid grandma chic.

...And here are some Charity Shop Chic beauties I picked up and reinvented in my own way...


Leotard: Primark
Skirt (altered): Charity Shop
Belt: Charity Shop
Heels: Primark
Lipstick: Collection 2000 Mudslide

Leotard: Primark
Skirt (altered): Charity Shop
Belt: Charity Shop
Clutch: Primark
Lipstick: Collection 2000 Mudslide

Charity Shop Styling

I know for a fact, that for some people shopping in Charity Shops is an almost impossible task. One can get overcome by the amount of styles, sizes, and colours all mashed together on one rail. Intense. And yes, I must admit that some days even I cannot be bothered to sift through the rails; it does take more time and patience (and a rather speedy "hand on hanger flick through" motion which I have managed to refine over the years) to find something in a charity shop than in the perfectly categorised High Street shops, but the rewards prove to be much greater when you find that hidden bargain gem.

There is help however, for those who cannot master the art of Charity Shop shopping or just simply want to relax and let someone else do the finding and styling for them, and this comes in the form of the British Heart Foundation Style Labs.

BHF held their first Style Lab event in Leeds on the 12th of February with Style and Beauty expert Bethanie Lunn offering Fashion advice and tips on buying clothes from charity shops to suit their bodyshape and style.

This first event was very successful and the BHF are hoping to bring the Style Lab to more and more BHF stores over the UK. Fab news!

Click here to read more about this style event.

Recent Charity Shop Chic purchases...

Today my Charity Shop jolly found me empty handed in the clothes department. This is quite unusual for me as I usually buy something every time I go Charity Shop shopping; great for the wardrobe, not so much for the bank account, but hey, at least it's for charity and the prices aren't exactly going to break the bank. I did however find a few little bric a brac gems...


A 1977 Kodak Instamatic 25 which simply looks cool, but also takes beautiful retro photos (well it would if I could find anywhere where I can buy the film for it...). This was just £1 and came with the original Kodak leather case and strap. I always seem to be drawn to old cameras; anything up to the 1980's before they started to get more technical and plain to look at. There is something about an old camera; its history and what it might have captured through its lens. Magical.

I also got a couple of kitsch little photo frames, one with a rather cute little monochrome picture inside and another with a lovely white and gold edge which I will be sure to fill with something artistic or just a photo memory.

Spring / Summer 2011: Denim re-styled

Ever since Levi Strauss invented the American Blue Jean for work wear in 1873 and they began to take off in fashion among the 1950's cool kids, Denim jeans have been a staple in pretty much everyone's wardrobe. Styles, colours and new technologies have changed throughout the years so everyone can now have their perfect fitting pair of jeans which geniusly go with anything worn with them.
The 'noughties' has definitely been the decade of skinny fit jeans, the tighter the better (not so much for boys, leave something to the imagination please). I remember trading my trustworthy baggy skater jeans (teenage phase, seemed right at the time) for a skinny pair of black jeans from New Look, reluctant in the shop to buy them as I'd been so used to my legs having at least a a good 2 inch gap from any trouser material, I gave in to Fashion.
Now I can't live without my skinny jeans, they are a great, simple style, which leave plenty of imagination to be used on the top half of the outfit. I don't see them disappearing out of fashion for a good while even with the new denim trends which come round each season...talking of which...
The Spring/Summer 2011 catwalks were a wash of denim. 70's style; flares and high-waists (a personal love of mine), denim for all occasions; suits, coats, dresses, pinafores, play-suits, and even denim accessories; clutch bags, shoppers, purses. The styles were predominantly loose fitting, belted at the waist.
Here are some designer examples...

Moschino does lose fitting jeans, rolled up and cinched in at the waist

Elie Tahari shows 70's style double denim

An array of denim on the Derek Lam models (I have a major girl crush on Freha Beha Erichson, amazing model!)

Cute hillbilly dungaree dress at D&G

And here are some of my Charity Shop Chic denim finds...

Wrangler Jeans: Charity Shop
Top: Topshop
Heels: Primark


Dungarees: Charity Shop
Top: Hong Kong Market
Lipstick: Boyes

...And a few extra Charity Shop Chic Denim finds...

Denim jacket age 10yrs - perfect as a cropped jacket!
High waisted denim skirt.
Three pairs of high waisted hotpant jeans shorts (a personal fave of mine, I'm always looking for high waisted jeans in Charity Shops to put the scissors to).
Two pairs of Versace(!) high waisted skinny jeans (one of which are the most perfect fitting jeans for my body shape, I was obviously born to wear Versace...)

Give a little, get a Radley...

So January is nearly over (where did that go?!) which means next month up is February, and what a great month it could be for Charity Shop donaters. The British Heart Foundation are holding their 'National Heart Month' and are joining up with the fabulous Radley so you can 'Give and be Given'. Simply donate any unwanted handbag to your nearest British Heart Foundation store or Radley store and you will receive £30 off a brand spanking new Radley handbag of your choice! How can you not donate?! This is an amazing campaign running throughout February so make sure you 'Give and be Given' and while you are in the shop perhaps you will find some of your own Charity Shop Chic style bargains!
For more information and your nearest stores...
BHF
Radley

Ahead of the Times

Today whilst reading the Sunday Times Style magazine I came across their article on this season's trends. And placed on the glossy page was a bright and beautiful, simply cut, red top just like my recent Charity Shop Chic purchase! Oh how I do love to be ahead of the game for a tenth of the price!

Recent Charity Shop Chic purchases...

As written in my previous posts about the Spring/Summer collections; brights and nature are going to be huge. So in my Charity Shop shopping spree today I kept an eye out for all things bright and beautiful, all creatures great and small, la la la!
I had to do a bit of altering to the pieces I found, but that is all part of the fun.
So here's some of the produce I hunted and gathered...
Brights...

Crop top (altered): Charity Shop
Skirt: Republic
Watch: Casio
Lipstick: Boyes

Crop top (altered): Charity Shop
Shorts: Charity Shop
Heels: Matalan
Watch: Casio
Lipstick: Boyes

Floral...

Shirt (sleeves altered): Charity Shop
Shorts: Charity Shop
Heels: Primark
Watch: Casio
Lipstick: Boyes