charity case

Phew sorry for the random absence! I'm home, yay! Walking through Birmingham is like a breath of fresh air, I can't wait to get back to my old haunts (and to share it all with you of course!). I've been itching to do all the things I've missed, the highest on the list being to charity shop.

I'm lucky enough to live just off quite a trampy high street which is jam packed with charity shops! Not to mention super chavs, prams and crazy people. When everyone has their own prerogative and style, it's so much easier to be yourself! In college I used to visit at least three high streets every week and I tried to find a few in Manchester but with no avail (can anyone help?). I plan on visiting every single good high street in Brum this Easter but after only two today I was so loaded with shopping bags I took up two seats on the bus! So not a good look when it's packed full of school kids. I was mainly shopping for eBay as you may or may not know that I had a little shop for a few years and sold a heap of things. But now vintage stores have reached such high quality (and bidding) that it's even harder to compete! It's a little different on UK eBay though and if any of you would be interested I could give a few tips that I've learned?

For myself I found some booties that in no way satisfy my skater fantasy though they do have cute turnovers and were £4. Also I picked up a little minty night jacket that I want to use when playing around with pastels. It was £1.

The rest of the stuff I found is going straight to eBay. My sister always oohs and aahs over the stuff and begs to keep it but I try to separate my thoughts and imagine all the stuff I could buy with the money I could make rather than keeping the items. It's hard though! Here's a little peek, tomorrow I will list the auctions. My favourite is the minty floor length dress that I originally thought had weird loops of fabric at the hips, then when my sister put it on we realised you pulled them up and secured them at the back to create angel sleeves.

p.s. what do you search for when you want vintage dresses... prom, party, sequin, 50's, 80's, hippy, floral, lily allen? I never know what to put in the search title.

Comments

[Laura]

You may know them already but you could try Chorlton High Street or Didsbury? I'm not sure if they'd have the sorts of things you're looking for but they're both pretty easy to get to by bus if you want to investigate. Or you might want to have a look at this http://www.northernqtr.co.uk/pp004.shtml?
Just found your blog - love it!

[Jolyn]

I really like the dress in picture 2 and 6! Where do i get them? Do you ship to Singapore? Thank you!

[alicepleasance]

I simply search for "vintage dress" or "vtg dress" + the size on Ebay. I noticed some sellers don't provide the size on the title and I think it's a big mistake.
Btw the dresses in picture 2 and 5 are my favorites
:-)

[susie_bubble]

I search for quite specific things.... as I usually have something specific in mind... love that minty one!

[Stephie]

Those booties would've make it to my lust-have list, except there's no space in my shoe cabinet..

that mint dress is amazing, so is the whole outfit with the star necklace... and that dress in the last row on the left, with the colorful sequins is just amazing.

Now I can't wait to visit UK - I'm coming in May!

[WendyB]

Cute stuff.

[N]

Gorgeous clothes, is the model your sister?

[Leah]

Haha, I think you have the same plan as I do - to haunt all the charity shops in Birmingham over the holiday. I wish you the best of luck!

P.S. Tips are always good, I would love to hear some. Also, was that the furry coat in the settlement shop for a tenner?

[Penny]

I'm a bit of a browser so I type "dress", go straight to the vintage section and browse through the 80 or so pages... masochistic?... maybe...
A good clear picture that shows the colours always gets my attention from the other dresses though, but I think you've got that covered :) oh! and the materials, that always grabs my attention too... specially chiffon/silk/leather/fur... etc...

[S]

"Super chavs." Heh! I wish that you'd do an expose on this subculture, but that would take up perfectly good blog space.

I only look at designer vintage on eBay, not to buy but to learn. However, I have a friend who both buys and sells, and she primarily goes by tag and description (as a seller) and by individual store as a buyer.

Perhaps you should use completed items to see what has sold and how it has been categorized. That way, you can make some rough assessment about the success of various descriptors.

[Lady Julianne le Fay]

Bloody 'ell, that's a good haul! I especially love the minty dress. I never find such great clothes in my local street of charity shops, but I suppose I do get great book bargains so it's okay.

[Emily]

I love the 2nd patterned dress, it's gorgeous. I usually search for vintage floral dress into eBay. Great finds though.

[Gem Fatale]

Oh my god, that was one good charity-spree!! You got some great stuff!

I usually search party dress, 80's, cocktail dress, strapless dress etc all in the 'vintage' section.

xo

Ps - I am now a second rate Selina with my red hair :)

[The Clothes Horse]

Your little booties and mint cropped jacket rock!

[miau a]

i look for vtg prom dress or vintage prom dress... vintage party dress or ruffle, tiered dress.. stuff like that.
i would never actually get the idea of typing in lily allen :D

[Susan]

Oh god how do you give these things away? I thought about doing this but it I could never part with the beautiful things.Glad you're keeping the boots and cape though.

[Rae]

Oo I wouldn't mind tips as well!

I aim to start selling on eBay after my exams, but I need to venture further than Harborne/Bearwood high streets really - I didn't realise the charity shops of Birmingham had such nice stuff inside!
x

[Camilla]

What a gorgeous sequined dress! :D

[Sarah]

those are gorgeous dresses! Lately I've been doing a lot of vintage dress searching on ebay because my prom and graduation are coming up, and I search "vintage evening dress" "vintage floral dress" "Vintage sundress" or something of the sort

[Sherry]

You know, my friend just dyed her hair red yesterday. It's around the same shade as yours and she's thrilled with it, and already getting compliments. Be proud of your natural hair!

[ambika]

That bedcoat is too cute! Love the color and it's perfect for spring.

[Luxx]

Hiiiiii!
I live in Birmingham toooo, but i never find much in charity shops!! Any places apart from Harborne and Sutton you might suggest??

=]
x

[selina]

luxx- erdington and wylde green are my favs!