Fast Fashion & Charity Shopping

I am back with another post about fast fashion. A little while ago, I wrote a post called 'A Note On...Fast Fashion' (it's linked), where I discussed the repercussions of people buying clothes from chain stores or big brands. However, in that post, I didn't go into my own shopping habits.  I would say, most of my clothes do come from charity shops. Although I do sometimes shop at chains like H&M and New Look, I am trying to cut down on this massively. I live in a wealthy area of England but I am a student and my income is limited, so charity or second-hand shops have become my best friend.

It's cheaper, just as good quality and above this, it's better for the environment. Recently, I have found some real gems from my local charity shops and I thought that it would make an interesting post to list these items.

I love Harem pants and I actually have quite a few pairs so you can imagine my excitement when I saw some for mere £2 at my local charity shop. That's right, £2! Normally, when I buy Harem trousers, they are about £10 on eBay or maybe even a little more on sites like Depop. Personally, I don't think £10 is too much to spend on this item because I do wear them CONSTANTLY, but when I saw this bright, rainbow pair in Sue Ryder, I had to snatch them up. There is no label in the back so I couldn't check how much they would have cost originally but they are really nice quality. 

 

Okay, so my boyfriend brought me this for Christmas. This was from the British Heart Foundation and it is a Men's medium, hence the word 'Oversized' in the title. Big, baggy jumpers are always in style and definitely one of the cosiest items I own. When you go charity shopping, don't forget to always check the men's section. The label of this jumper reads 'DG Orignal' and on reading into this brand, I cannot find anything about it. However, it is super soft and warm. 

Okay, so my winter coat is the item I have got the most wear out of. I live in England it wasn't until this year, when I spotted this coat in Cancer Research, that I owned a coat with a hood. Yes, you read that right. I have never owned a coat with an actual hood and I live in England, one of the most rainiest places ever, with an extremely unpredictable weather pattern. So anyway, this coat is originally from Pull & Bear, which just so happens to be one of my favourite shops. This item is one from their older stocked clothing, however, I was able to find the original price for it which was £24.99. I got this coat for £8, second-hand and I wear it pretty much every day. 

When it comes to shopping, always think of second-hand first. I know it's easier to go into shops like Urban Outfitters, TopShop and New Look and just pick up something out of convenience. But think about the repercussions of buying something brand new. It' going to be less expensive, feel better on your conscience and make your carbon footprint a little light if you just visit your local charity shops first. I always say to my best friend (hi, Shalieka), that I never think twice about spending money at a second-hand store. You are literally giving money to charity whilst doing your bit towards the planet. 

Yes, you still need things new like underwear or socks and yes, it will be hard to change something you have been doing for years. But trust me it's worth it. Also, you get the most unique finds at charity stores. The picture below is Shalieka (the same one as previously mentioned) rocking a coat she found at The British Heart Foundation. Have you ever seen anybody else in this coat? Probably not. 

So, that's pretty much the end of my rant now. I hope you find the time to go charity shopping this week and I hope you find some really fun and quirky pieces. 

Until next week!