Winter Warehouse wonderland

Two weeks ago I hit a mini shopping milestone – I bought my first piece of clothing online. Aside from groceries, I don’t really shop online. As far as clothes, shoes and accessories go, I prefer to see them, try them on, prance around the changing room in them and feel them against my skin before parting with my cash.

However, after seeing Amy’s take on this Warehouse skirt, and finding out it was in the sale after spotting it in her original post, I knew I had to bite the bullet and buy it. I’ve been looking for a leather skirt for ages and while this one is a little more plastic, than leather, it’s proved a satisfying way to dip in to the trend and shop online, too.

I wore it yesterday when Mr Ship-Shape and I ventured out of the house to go for a roast dinner at The White Bear on St Michael’s Hill (yum!), despite the snow. Yes, the snow – there, I mentioned it.

I’m fully aware there are probably a million posts of bloggers looking cute as a button frolicking with their friends/dogs/babies in the snow floating around on the web right now, but this weather is my nemesis.  I have the balance and coordination of a newborn deer on a good day, which means snow, ice and I are not good friends. At least Bambi makes skidding around all day look cute…

I paired the skirt with a jumper I found at Kendal Calling festival this summer, some chunky pearls I found at Amy’s clothes swap and some earmuffs that my sister-in-law bought for me this Christmas – perfect for keeping off the chill without ruining my fringe!

Jumper – festival charity shop / Skirt – Warehouse / Leggings – Sweaty Betty / / Leg warmers – H&M / Egale boots – The Boot Room / Pearls – clothes swap / Earmuffs – Christmas present

Oxfam Fashion: Boutique Bristol

One of the best bits about writing for Oxfam is meeting new people, from the other bloggers that share their thoughts on ethical fashion to the likes of Sarah Marshall, who runs Bristol’s very own Oxfam Boutique.

When the shop first landed on Park Street, which has been home to some of Bristol’s best independent shops over the years, I was excited that little old Bristol finally had it’s own charity-shop-with-a-twist. The boutiques are more select than Oxfam’s usual charity shops, and Bristol is no different, with Chloe bags and YSL shoes making an (occasional) appearance alongside vintage label staples.

This month I interviewed Bristol’s Oxfam Boutique Manager, Sarah Marshall, and I loved how honest and frank she was. Locals familiar with Park Street can’t have failed to notice that the recession and resulting nationwide shop closures have made a serious dent in one of Bristol’s most prolific shopping destinations, and charity shops have been affected too.

If you want to read about how the boutique has been affected, the shop’s top sellers and what Sarah thinks of Bristol’s best dressed, then click here.

To visit the shop, make a donation or bag yourself a vintage or designer bargain, visit the boutique at 77 Park Street, Bristol, BS1 5PF.

Clothes Swap: Topshop, florals & denim delights

I mentioned on a recent RTW post that my friend, S, hosted a clothes swap last month. I’m a big fan of clothes swapping for several reasons; aside from giving once-loved clothes a new home, doing your bit for the environment, and usually consuming a few glasses of wine and half a bag of kettle chips into the bargain, there is the complete randomness of it.

Attend a clothes swap at a friends house, the local church hall or at an established boutique and you will be confronted with a wealth of clothes and accessories you wouldn’t normally look for on the high street. You can delve into the personal taste of others and (hopefully) find some fab new clothes to add to your wardrobe.

At S’s event there were beaded peter pan collar blouses, floral print dresses and everything in between. Anything that didn’t come home with us was taken to a local charity shop so we weren’t the only ones to benefit, plus I think we all felt a lot better for clearing out our overloaded wardrobes.

So, what did I take home? Take a look…

Denim smock dress, no label, perfect for summer

Feather-effect layered skirt, Topshop

Floral harem pants, Next. Granted, these don't look much on the hanger, but they'll look great with my white Converse and a plain tee

As well as this I also came away with a tan coloured waist-cinching belt (you can never have too many) and a pair of grey cable knit leggings, which I wore on my recent jolly to Manchester.

What’s been your best clothes swap find? Let me know by commenting below…

Charity Treasures on Stokes Croft

Treasure, Stokes Croft

One man’s junk is another man’s treasure – an excellent way to sum up charity shops, flea markets, and vintage boutiques – and those unwanted gems can now be found on Stokes Croft.  Treasure  has replaced Jacksons Autos (a shop that always baffled me a bit, as there were actual full size vans parked inside it’s tiny shop windows) on Stokes Croft. A charity shop set up by LoveBristol, Treasure actually opened last year, a stones throw away on Cheltenham Road.

Since mid-December the community charity shop has been calling this bigger, more prominent retail space home. I’ve been to both locations and while I loved the small, even pokey, feel of their last shop, I’m in no doubt that Jackson’s Autos is a great place for Treasure to grow within the community. As with any charity shop there are some great finds to be had, and this is set to increase as more and more locals donate their unwanted clothes, jewellery and accessories to the shop. Unfortunately I had to fall in love with a gilt mirror - part of the shop’s furnishings and therefore not for sale!

Money raised will be put into local community projects, so if you are a fan of the hidden gems charity shops have to offer, or have a load of clothes you need to get rid of, pay Treasure a visit and help give back to Stokes Croft.

Treasure, 100 Stokes Croft, Bristol. Visit their Facebook page here.