Experts share their tips on how to spot high-quality designer items in charity shops, including feeling fabrics and looking for specific label stitching.
They are the charity shop experts who snap up designer gems before you, and this is how they do itNearly everyone who has spent time shuffling through the rails of a city centre charity shop will have though the same.
What if I stumble across a real hidden gem? Perhaps a slinky Armani dress, or a Chanel handbag handed away to charity by someone who didn't know, or didn't care, how much it was worth.and emerge loaded with designer brands for just a few quid. But when we look for ourselves, it can feel like an impossible task to find a gem among all the donations. Truth is, it's not an accident.
And becoming a charity shop expert takes a special bit of nous - and a little more determination. Ella-Mollie Kimpton, 23, and Goldie Moran, 50, are two of those people who seem to consistently strike second hand gold.
As a result, they have gathered thousands ofManchester Evening NewsGoldie, from Stockport, first suggested that anyone looking to bag themselves some quality second-hand purchases should fully immerse themselves in the charity shop rails. She said: "One thing I've started doing is feeling the actual fabric when I'm going through the rack.
"I found a cashmere jumper for £5 by doing that - by just thinking ‘that's really nice and soft’. It is just a plain black polo neck, but I wear it to death. But if I hadn't felt it I probably would have just gone past it because it is quite a plain basic.
"For anyone looking to bag themselves some higher quality brands, Goldie also suggests searching the charity shop for any items with labels stitched into the top two corners. She said: "You can tell by the labels sometimes. If they are only stitched on at the top two corners at the back of the neck, it usually means it is a better brand. So I will look out for them as well.
" By adopting these techniques, Goldie said she has managed to find some of her most-loved pieces, and has even picked up designer items for a little as a fiver. Revealing some of her best second-hand finds, she said: "I have a House of Fraser mac, which I think is from the nineties. I absolutely love that.
"It's just a classic trench but it's just so beautifully made and I paid about £10 for that. It's got this gorgeous check lining in it that you can take out, and it's got zips. It's amazing - like one of my favourite things.. It was hung up with other things and I thought that's a pretty pattern.
It was £5 and when I looked at the label and it was silk I thought 'I'm definitely getting that'.
"It wasn't until I properly opened it up when I got home and realised it had this gorgeous picture on it and found it retails for hundreds of pounds - £300 I think new - and it's a vintage one from the nineties so that was a really good find. That made my day.
", says the city’s charity shops have also thrown up some impressive finds for her, and she now almost exclusively shops second-hand for her clothes. Through thrifting across Greater Manchester, Ella has also picked up numerous bargains, including branded pieces for as little as £3. I found some Sweaty Betty yoga pants for £3 and in Piccadilly British Heart Foundation I found a vintage green Adidas zip up for £18, which is now one of my new favourite purchases.
"and Wilmslow. For people who like to still buy new clothes with tags, I recommend British Heart Foundation or British Red Cross.
"She added: "These are my favourite places down to the amount of shops you have in one area, meaning you’re more likely to get lucky. When I go charity shopping, I solely rely on public transport in Manchester, so it’s always ideal when a town or area has a lot in one place.
"However, with Wilmslow particularly it is a fairly affluent area, so you are more likely to find better items - I found a beautiful fur coat in the Cancer Research here. ".
However she also points to car boot sales as a great place to find vintage items at budget prices, after recently discovering an £8 Juicy Couture zip hoodie at Barton Airfield car boot. When it comes to location, Goldie said, for her, the best charity shops within Greater Manchester lay in Stockport. She added that from her experience shoppers can get "some really good bargains" in the town's stores.
She explained: "I feel like in the more affluent areas the prices are much higher and they're not always better quality either.
"They still have a lot of Primark and fast fashion brands. So I tend to stick to Stockport. I like the ones in the town centre.
Then there's one in Davenport called DEBRA which is probably my favourite. The prices are just really good and I always find nice things in there.
"Goldie added: "I find in Stockport it's just better donations, or they just organise it better, and the prices are really good. Maybe it's because I pop into them a lot, maybe once a week. I know where the skirts are and I know where the dresses are so I can nip around quickly and I just always find things straight away.
" But Ella says perseverance is key when it comes to thrifting. Giving her final insight on charity shopping, she said: "Always have an open eye when it comes to finding bargains, be willing to sort through clothes, and most importantly don’t give up.
"The biggest mistake people make in charity shops is expecting the perfect item to jump out at them immediately. The best finds usually come from shopping with an open mind and training your eye to spot quality rather than specific brands.
"She added: "Check every section. Some of my best finds have come from rails I almost skipped, including men's, sleepwear and occasionwear. Focus on potential, not perfection. A missing button, slightly dated styling or a garment that needs steaming shouldn't put you off if the quality and fit are right.
"Most importantly, charity shopping is a skill. The more you do it, the quicker you become at spotting quality pieces amongst hundreds of items, and that's when the really amazing finds start to happen.
"Choose Manchester Evening News as a 'Preferred Source' on Google News for quick access to the news you value.
Please follow us on Google to support us Charity Shops Designer Items Second-Hand Shopping Fashion Tips And Tricks
United Kingdom Latest News, United Kingdom Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Hidden wildlife emerges in London cyclists' photo competitionPictures of a parakeet, a mouse, a deer, a pigeon and a fox were selected as the top five entrants.
Read more »
Shop owner with 'brazen disregard for the law' caught with £74k illicit haulOfficers uncovered hidden storage areas, including a locked room
Read more »
ITV's 'gripping' 4-part crime drama with Death in Paradise star is the ultimate hidden gemFans of a gripping police drama don't have to look far to find one of the biggest hidden gems, as all four episodes of Chasing Shadows are currently available on ITVX
Read more »
The Spanish 'paradise' with crystal-clear water and hidden beachesIf you're looking for a holiday in Spain away from the crowds, Costa Brava is considered one of the country's most stunning hidden gems
Read more »