Monday 23^rd April – Month 2, day 23

Happy St George’s day

Dear Mr Weatherman, please can you make it a little warmer and a little dryer please and you’re playing havoc with my outfit planning? Many thanks Nina. x

I really do feel like writing to him directly and seeing what he can do as I was rather cold yesterday. Granted it’s not the weatherman’s fault but still in April I think cut off trousers should be acceptable.

This is what I wore today:

Black cut off trousers (charity shop) teamed with a teal chiffon blouse (Next one-day sale) cream blazer (charity shop) and a embellished hairband (yes the one I bought for my sister that I will give her this weekend when she’s home)

Friday 20^th April, month 2 day 20 

I’ve got that Friday feeling, again!

I attend a business networking group each Friday morning called BNI which is great but comes with a 6am start so an early get up. What’s worse than having to set your alarm for 5.30am? Heavy rain beating on your window and waking you up at 3am and again at 4.30am, that’s what. Just lovely.

I need to learn that the temperature it is at 5.30am is not the weather to pick my outfit too. Today I’m wearing a gorgeous black dress with frill tier at the bottom that clings and shapes in all the right places that I’ve teamed with a bright coloured scarf. I love this dress and for £9 I hope other people would and at 5.30am this morning it was the perfect choice and it’s nice and warm but now as we nearer lunch time and the sun is trying to shine (yay!) I am a little on the warm side but the compliments on my dress must admit are keeping me going.

Thursday 19^th April – month 2, day 19

Keep the compliments coming

I came across a bit of an unusual dress (for me anyway) in our shop during my first ever charity shop chic shopping trip. It is bright yellow with black lines almost forming a tree and white birds scattered across it. It really is a good job I put images on these blogs as even reading that back it does not sound appealing.

What I love about the dress is the fact that is has a waterfall hemline which I think is the correct fashion terminology but in a nutshell it falls several inches longer at the back than the front. I think it’ll look lovely in the summer with sandals and sunglasses but today I wasn’t brave enough to have bare legs so I’ve teamed it with black tights and shoe boots.

Must give a thank you to Suzanna, who I work with, who actually took the dress in for me as it was a little too big. A downside to charity shop clothing is you can never predict what will be there and its usually one of everything. To me though, so far this had added to the fun of the challenge and led to me customising clothes and trying new styles where before I wouldn’t. 

Wednesday 18^th April – Month 2, day 18

In honour of Little Red Riding Hood

It’s April, so April showers I can deal with but the cold weather this morning was not part of my pre-planned outfit. Needless to say I was not all that happy at 8am this morning when I was layering up for my walk to work.

That said, in December I bought a bright (and it really is bright) red coat from one of the Roy Castle shops for £10. See, even before this challenge I was supporting the shops and wearing some charity shop items. I do love this coat, usually worn with jeans and boots when I walk my puppy but it’s great as its only short but really warm and has a hood which did come in handy this morning. 

Tuesday 17^th April

Would you like an accessory to go with that Miss?

Women of all ages love accessories, I’ve been teaming my clothes with jewellery, shoes, glitter since I can remember and it’s ever present still today.

With summer fast approaching (although I’m not overly hopeful with the weather) my attention turns to festivals. For the second year on the run I’ll be heading to Parklife in Manchester and I can not wait. One of the most important things to take to a weekend festival is sunglasses and I have found the perfect ones for me. Check these bad boys out. Now bad for £3 hey especially when they have proper lenses in them!

My sister is a big fan of Gossip Girl’s Blair Waldorf and her hair bands and wears one most days. She was having a bit of a bad day so I thought being the good baby sister that I am (if I do say so myself) to buy her a little treat to cheer her up. This came in the form of a rather gorgeous black hair band with a diamante bow detail, its rather cute.

Sunday 15^th April – Month 2, day 15

I feel like a cheat ......

I feel like I have failed as today is the first day since I started this challenge six weeks ago that I haven’t worn any charity shop clothes. There is a good reason behind this though as I’m up early and climbing Mount Snowdon. As well as this challenge I have my physical Challenge 25 as I’ll be climbing Mount Kilimanjaro and Snowdon was part of my training.  I did say I could never say no to a challenge and this is proof of that.

The climb was amazing, the weather stayed dry and the views were just stunning ... oh and we made it to the top which is always a bonus.

When I got home, it was a quick change and I was in my charity shop classic fleece pyjama suit so guess I didn’t really break the rules did I? This pic isnt from Sunday as I was not looking camera ready after Snowdon but this is what I was wearing and they are amazing and from Roy Castle shop.

Friday 13^th April – Month 2 day 13

It’s Ladies Day!

Today is one of if not THE highlight of the Liverpool fashion calendar as its Ladies Day at Aintree.

The preparation, planning and often money that goes into each outfit is rather high. Well to buck the trend this year, I’m sporting my charity shop chic finest and a 2010 classic.

My blue and white dress is from Zara and it’s what I wore to Aintree two years ago. Then the sun was shining so I went jacketless but today I’m not feeling quite so brave so I’m wearing my ‘what-would-I-do-without-it’ beige blazer I bought for £6 from a Roy Castle charity shop.

I’ve teamed this with an oversized floppy hat that is totally acceptable for such an occasion that again I bought Roy Castle charity shop for £3. I wasn’t sure at first but now I love it and can’t wait to take it to Marbella with me in July.

I’ve tied a bright teal sash around the hat for a hint of colour and think it actually works.

Hope you all have a flutter on the fillies and maybe try something different this weekend and head to your local charity shop.

Hoping for some sunshine!

Thursday 12^th April – Month 2, day 12

Its Liverpool day!

Today is the start of Aintree races so the city is full of glamorous ladies, dapper men and more importantly amazing outfits to look at.

I, on the other hand are not at the races and instead having a bit of a ‘shabby chic’ day clothes wise. I think I’ve taken inspiration from last night’s Apprentice episode.

Today I’m wearing a dusky pink Topshop jumper that I paid £6 for in The Roy Castle Allerton Road shop, a place I would highly recommend any bargain hunters to attend. 

I’ve teamed that with my trusty Miss Selfridge skinny jeans and grey ballerina pumps I bought in a charity shop in Newcastle last year. Feel awful saying this but I don’t actually remember which shop I bought them in.

Wednesday 11^th April – Month 2, day 11

Back to blogging

Don’t know about you but the long weekend really took it out of me. I had a hen party, baked 100 cupcakes and 40 chocolate crispy cakes and had my god son’s christening. It was a jam-packed weekend but it was fabulous.

This led me to be rather naughty, both with licking the spoon and bowl after baking as well as not blogging, so sorry for that. That isn’t to say I wasn’t wearing charity clothes because I was, girl guides honour. 

Here are a few of the outfits I've worn over the weekend:

Little black dress with lace detail = £7

Lady in red = £7

Thursday 5^th April – Month 2, day 5

Topshop? Don’t mind if I do!

As I hope you all know, I work for Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation, we have 12 charity shop across the region, two of which are near to where I live and have become my new Topshop and today that’s a literal Topshop.

I like to think I’ve got a little eye for fashion, that doesn’t mean I necessarily wear the latest trends as they don’t always suit me but I will incorporate the styles in ways that will flatter my figure.

This was one of the things that worried me when I agreed to take on this challenge. Sticking purely to charity shop clothes will limit my availability to the latest trends or flattering clothing, or so I thought.  Granted, I’m spending more time and effort putting together my outfits but I’m certainly spending nowhere near the same amount of money on them.

Today I’m wearing a pair of Topshop violet skinny jeans that I’ve teamed with a long black vest and a silver and white woollen vest on top.

Hands down my favourite item I have found and bought in the past five weeks is this ridiculously gorgeous brown leather jacket again from Topshop that cost me £20. They say one man’s junk is another man’s treasure and this is most certainly the case here. Again, people donate items to charity shops for their own reasons and gems like this I’m sure I won’t come across every day but today, I’m incredibly happy with my rock chick charity chic look.

Wednesday 4^th April – Month two, day four

Oh the weather outside is frightful

What is with the weather please? I had to pull out the black tights again this morning, which after bare legs and summer dresses last week, I really wasn’t expecting.

As I mentioned yesterday, Roy Castle Lung Cancer charity shops have had their changeover and got some fabulous clothes in all of their shops across the region.

I picked up a black sheer cape last week that I thought would look fab with a vest and skinny jeans or over a black bikini when I’m in Marbella in the summer. That said, I loved it so much today I’ve worn it over a black shift dress with black tights and dolly shoes. I also have my hair in a bun so think I’m looking like I’m trying for a geisha look which wasn’t intentional but quite funny.

Over the top of my dress and cape, I wore a leopard print Mack that again I got in our charity shop. It’s from Marks and Spencer’s and only cost me £6. Cant believe the quality of items people donate to our charity shops and I’m sure across them all. Obviously I don’t know the reason as to why people donate the things they do but my opinions on quality in charity shops have changed so much. Think it might be too soon to say I’m a convert and will leave the high street for good but it’s certainly going that way.

Tuesday 3^rd April – Month 2, day 3

New season, new wardrobe

It’s getting to that time of the year when the summer clothes start filling the rails in shops and the colours from darker tones to vibrant and bright shades. Whether you love shopping or not, you cannot say that you don’t at least smile when you see all the summer clothes on display.

Well, that is exactly what is happening in our charity shops today. As they prepare for changeover I am drawn to the summer options and how I can piece outfits together.  

Today I’m wearing black trousers and mocha-coloured cardi, neither of which are summery but I was having one of ‘those’ mornings.

Here are two dresses I bought from our shop today, both of which I can’t wait to wear with a little pair of sandals and sunglasses. Not bad for £7 each are they?!

Weekend roundup

This weekend I went to London to see my sister which was fab! Not only as I got to see her but also because we went to Portobello Market and had a good rummage through the charity shops and stalls that lined the road. I tried a few dresses on but nothing was screaming ‘buy me’ so I nearly left empty handed, until I came across a stall selling scarves and pashminas. I was in love with them all. Scarves are a great way to dress up and outfit or add a splash of colour and I’m rarely seen without one.

Here are the three I bought for £1 each!! Usually I dont think '!' should be used but on this occasion they so do.

On Saturday night we headed into Clapham for some drinks and even on a night out all glammed up, I was still proudly wearing charity shop. I teamed a River Island summer dress with my trust blazer, teamed with a thin belt I picked up in one of the Roy Castle Lung Cancer charity shops and a silver clutch I bought in that there London.