When I was four, I wore my first-ever charity shop bargain – and hated it. 

It was a stiff blue wool coat that stopped me lifting my arms and a matching fur hat with bobbles that tied under my chin, from a shop called Good as New – which, to me, was anything but.

This was the 1970s – so, when everyone else was in cheerful synthetics, I looked like a miniature Edwardian governess. My mum thought she was being stylish, as well as saving money, by putting her child in a retro outfit unlike anyone else’s, but it made me squirm with embarrassment.  

As I grew up, and clothing became a little more affordable, these charity shop purchases, thankfully, became more sporadic. However, I have never forgotten attending my end-of-primary-school disco in a blue woolly second-hand polar neck M&S dress – while the other tweens had boob tubes and ra-ra skirts. 

Fast-forward five decades and I’m now a personal stylist and colour analyst. And, while I never would have believed it when I was four years old, charity shops are at the centre of my work; and my wardrobe.

In fact, I could not do without them. Over 50% of my wardrobe is second-hand.

I’ve turned bargain-hunting into an art form. 

Part of my love of second-hand shopping is in my DNA. I may have loathed that first coat, but I adored my second-hand Sindy doll clothes and Action Man’s horse. 

But it was when my children were young that I really fell in love with charity shops. Slowly, they opened up on UK high streets with their promise of an enticing bargain – and there was always something for all of us. A dress or bag for me; books or toys for the kids.

Then there’s the guilt-free factor. Buying from my local Saint Francis Hospice or British Heart Foundation feels infinitely better than filling a basket at Westfield. I’m not claiming sainthood, but at least my slow-fashion shopping habit helps someone. 

And most importantly, there’s the thrill of the hunt; that electric moment when you find the piece.

It’s taken years to hone my second-hand shopping skills, and a few questionable purchases along the way. Skin-tight see-through trousers, peculiar 90s slogan tees, and mumsy tea dresses with vice-like sleeves all spring to mind.

I’m not alone here. When I help my clients edit their wardrobes, there is nearly always a sad looking jumper – with an unfortunate print or nasty fabric – languishing, unworn, at the back of the cupboard. ‘It was just such a bargain!’, they’ll sigh.

These days, I shop much smarter. This means I always have a few things to consider: firstly, whether it’s right for my body shape. I have an hour-glass figure, so anything resembling a shift dress, which is basically shaped like a rectangle, won’t suit me.

Secondly, I consider whether the colour drains me. As a Colour Analyst, I now know I suit bright, clear colours, so I won’t touch anything in black, beige or khaki.

Finally, it may have a little place in my heart; but that doesn’t mean it should have a place in my wardrobe. In order to buy something, I need to be able to imagine both when I would wear it, and what I would wear it with. If I can’t think of good answers to both these questions, it stays on the rail.

With this know-how, second-hand shopping becomes a pleasure rather than a source of dubious purchases – and now I’d take a charity shop over a high street shop every time. 

My best finds include a vintage beaded bag from Loughton, brand new Zara dresses for a fiver in Devon, and a pair of heeled sandals that are so comfortable I couldn’t believe it. 

Now, I want to pass the joy of bargain shopping on to my clients; which, ironically, often involves getting rid of second-hand clothing first. 

As a stylist, people approach me because they’re feeling a bit held back – personally or professionally – by what they are wearing. They need a helping hand to find the colours and styles that make them shine; and I always start by helping them have a major clear out. 

I’ve found that most of us wear around 20% of what we actually own, endlessly rifling through the rest – whereas true happiness can be found in opening your wardrobe and loving everything in it. 

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When I help clients edit their wardrobes, I notice that charity shop and Vinted purchases are often high up on the ‘discard’ pile. This isn’t surprising, because we tend not to use the same judgement shopping second-hand as we do when investing in something new. 

Consequently, we outgrow these bargain pieces much quicker. 

I’ve lost track of the number of times I’ve heard people say things like, ‘Well, I know I have quite a few black tops already, but I couldn’t resist this one because it looked comfy and it was only £3.50’. 

‘Yes,’ I want to reply. ‘But it’s also faded and bobbling under the arms.’ If something already has loose threads, bobbles or obvious stains, trust me: it’s not going to get any better with wear.

Instead, these bargain pieces will get outgrown quickly, and will then pile up, unused, in our wardrobes. 

Once I help clients clear out what doesn’t serve them, they often ask what happens next; and, of course, it comes back to charity shops, where they will find a treasure trove of one-offs that will really help them stand out from the crowd.

Because the other great thing about charity shops is that, unlike the high street, they stock a rainbow of colours all year round.

At the moment, there’s a plethora of chocolate brown and deep burgundy on the high street.

But one of my favourite blouses is sunshine yellow, a colour that lifts both my skin tone and my spirits.

There would have been pretty much zero chance of finding something in this colour at Westfield right now, and so I’m thankful that charity shops make different colours available even in the depths of winter. 

Ultimately, I’d never advise buying something just because it’s cheap – but I do advise buying second-hand and simply applying the same rules there as you would in any other shop.

Know your colours, check the fit and don’t compromise. 

So next time you pop into your local charity shop, take your time, trust your instincts and enjoy the thrill of the find. There’s nothing like walking out with a bargain that makes you simultaneously look good, feel good, and do good.

Do you have a story you’d like to share? Get in touch by emailing jessica.aureli@metro.co.uk. 

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