Tuesday 26th June

I've been on an unofficial blog-holiday

WOW cant believe its nearly been three weeks since my last blog, I feel awful. The funny thing is that missing one day just seemed to roll into a week and without realising or meaning to, its been this long. I myst say, and this is the truth, I haven't strayed from the challenge and despite not writing every day, I have still been wearing and only shopping in charity shops. Quite simply, I'm a charity shop convert.

I've got a back log of photos from my three-week blog holiday so will do my best to get upto date and get back to my daily blog. I've missed this.

Nina x

Sunday 3^rd June

Let’s keep this party going

Bank holiday Sundays are made for going out for. I think it’s mainly because it’s the few times a year when Sunday isn’t a school night and it feels a little naughty to go out. I swear usually I don’t go out this much but as with the majority of people in the country, it was the jubilee weekend, it would have been rude not to.

I wore a gorgeous (well I think it is anyway) black tailored playsuit. That you can see in the photo but is backless, which I love about it.  I teamed it with a chunky black and gold belt I also picked up from a charity shop and black heels.

One thing I’ve found since starting this is that belts are a good find in charity shops, vintage fairs and fetes. I’ve picked up half a dozen all for £1 each and they are perfect to have to accessorize an outfit.

Saturday 2^nd June

Drinking summer in a glass

Carrying out the partying throughout the Jubilee weekend, I went out for dinner and drinks with some friends. I wore a maroon red oversized top that has long red tassels on the bottom. Perfect for a festival and a little different. I teamed it with black shorts and chunky black heels. My take on boho chic for a night out.  Not bad for £4 (that doesnt include the cocktail though)

Friday 1^st June

You can’t dampen our spirits

We had a week of blazing sunshine and heat and now we’ve returned to grey skies and wind but people are refusing to put away their summer clothes, and I’m proud to say I am one of those fools, as is my boss.

When you have beautiful summer clothes that deserve to be worn, it would simply be rude not to. My boss looked gorgeous in her black silk shift dress with bright flowers teamed with the shoes we all wanted. Brown platform wedges with ankle detailing. The perfect summer wardrobe shoe that will go with dresses, trousers, shorts and skirts. ..... Basically everything! I’m not remotely jealous that she got these in her local charity shop whatsoever, honestly.

Thursday 31^st May

Let the stars shine.

Last night I attended the first ever Stars of the Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation awards. A ceremony to award individuals, groups and companies who support the charity and help to raise awareness and funds for it.

It was an emotional evening with everyone in the room deserving of an award.

Although my dress for the evening wasn’t charity shop it was a bargain and received lots of compliments. I don’t know if it’s just me but whenever I receive a compliment for my outfit, I can’t help myself but tell the person where it’s from and I seem to get the most pleasure when they admire a piece of charity shop clothes.

My dress I wore cost me £8 last May from Primark. It was a dusky pink lampshade dress that fell longer at the back than the front. I teamed this with a brown suede blet I bought for £1 in a charity shop and a beautiful bring pink glower in my hair that the lovely Fishlocks Florists brought for me. 

Month 3 – day 29

Drawing the short straw

The sun is still shinning and skies are bright blue so I am making the most of it as not sure how long it will last. Today I’m wearing blue spotty culottes that remind me of my Brownie uniform but I love them. I’ve teamed them with gladiator sandals, a must have summer shoe, cream blouse and gold necklace. The shorts and necklace are both charity shop items, costing me £4 and £1 respectively.  

Walking my new route to work this morning I spied with my big blue eyes a few new charity shops I hadn’t seen before. It would seem impolite not to check them out, they are my new neighbours after all.

Month 3 - Day 25

The sun is shining and the carnival has come to town

I hope wherever you are reading this, the weather is as gorgeous as it is where I am. Its so true what people say, the weather has an affect on how you feel. There are lots of happy smiling people in my work today and thats not just because its Friday.

Even better than the smiles are the clothes. Out are the darker and arguably dull colours and in are the vibrant tones and shades and daring patterns. Including this carnival inpsired kaftan my boss is wearing.
Summer called and she defintiely answered, teaming the top with white linen trousers and block coloured bangles ... all from her local Roy Castle charity shop.

Month 3 - day 24

Three times a lady

I know that I'm being a little naughty and uploading three entries in one go but its been a mad busy week in work so this is the first chance I've had. I've said this before and I swear its the truth, even when I havent blogged or taken a picture of my outfit, I have been wearing charity clothes or have at least one item from a charity shop on. Nearly 4 months now, time is flying by.

Although this isnt strictly charity shop chic, this is what I was wearing on Sunday and I was very proud to be part of the 60 strong 'Roy's Runner' team.

Month 3 - day 24

Like mother, like daughter

I'm really happy with this blog entry. Despite my mum being camera shy so looking headless in the photo below, I'm so happy she is on board with my charity challenge. Her, like most people I talk to, know all about my challenge and why I'm doing it and are supporting not only me but also the cause.

I think she looks pretty fabulous in this dress and teamed with a gorgeous silver long waistcoat, very hippy chic and summer trend.

Month 3 Day 24

Give as gain

I've been taught recently that a good way to think in business is 'give as gain' which is basically what I'd been taught in school ... some years ago. Basically, if someone helps you, you do what you can to help them in return or vice versa with gifts. I know we should never give to receive but its nice to pay back, which I'm trying to do.

By this I mean, I am promoting wearing charity clothes and buying from charity shops so seems only right I myself should give to charity shops, which is exactly what I've been doing.

Since March I have given several bin bags full of clothes and shoes to the Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation and Age UK. This included clothes that were too big for me and sellable and those fit only for rags, but both help the charity.

What are you waiting for? Those jeans you've had for years or the dress you swear you will wear again .... you know you never will so why not donate them to your local charity shop. Even better, buy a new item whilst you're there.

Wednesday 16^th May – Month 3 day 16

United colours of charity shop  

Yesterday without planning for it, I wore a pair of bright pink jeans and I loved them. Colour blocking is really on trend at the moment and although when flicking through magazines such as Look, I’d be a little afraid to try such bright jeans, I’m really happy I did now. Teamed with a simple and plain top I think they look fab which is why I’m sticking with colours today.

Pastel colours no less. Today I’m wearing a pair of skinny pastel purple / lilac jeans from Topshop that I bought in the Roy Castle LungCancer Shop for £4. Not bad seems in the shop they come with a £38 price tag. I’ve teamed my coloured jeans with a plain black t-shirt and black cape / jacket from Next I bought in the Christmas sale for £20. I’ve closed it with a baby pink belt I bought for £1 again from Roy Castle.

Not sure everyone is loving the two pastel colours but thought I’d give it a go, after all this challenge is all about trying new things and putting them together.

Month 2 - day 15

The joys of pink jeans

April showers I can just about deal with but hail stones in May I think is taking it a little too far. Come on people! This morning wasn't a good morning to be anyway, I couldnt decide what to wear and the old faithful looking out the window trick didnt help me either.

I settled on black cut off, silvery grey jumper, black blazer and pumps. In my head, I was going for Spring office chic .... that lasted about ten minutes. Walking to work the heavens opened and not only did it rain, it hailstoned, just lovely. I ran (marathon legs came in handy) and took shelter under a tree, all this before 8.30am, who ever said marketing wasnt glamorous.

The point of this story is  I arrived in work, pumps flooded and trousers stuck to my legs. Its days like this, I'm so happy to be on board with charity shop chic challenge as I simply looked through my runner rail of clothes and came across a gorgeous and bright pair of ankle skimming skinny pink jeans. Maybe a little on the bright side for 9am and not really matching with my blue ribbon hairband but I love them all the same. They cost me £5 and although they werent what I was wearing this morning, I'm a happy customer to be wearing them now.

Month 3 – day 9

Still sticking by the rules

I’m going to be truthful; I am starting to struggle with my challenge. Not that I am not still enjoying it because I really am and I’m still surprised by the clothes I’ve purchased from charity shops but because putting together outfits is taking longer than expected and choices are limited.

That said, I am not a girl to give in to a challenge so I am still going each and every day in my charity shop clothes that I am teaming with clothes I already own. This is becoming quite interesting too because (and I like to think a lot of women are like me) I have a tendency to keep clothes even if I’m not convinced I’ll wear them again. WELL, now I am. I am pulling out gems from every part of my wardrobe to team with my charity clothes and keep my outfits fresh, attractive and hopefully on trend too.

It’s not just me though; several of my colleagues are getting into the challenge too and often wear their own charity shop clothes to work.

Here are our latest outfits:

Wednesday 2nd May

A picture tells a thousand words

Here is a selection of the outfits I've been wearing since last week.  Still cant believe I managed to get going out dresses from a charity shop, especially ones as gorgeous as I did.

Working the red look in work = £7

Wearing purple chiffon to Juice FM Inspiration Awards

Every girl needs a LBD especially when it only cost £7.

Wednesday 2nd May - Month THREE, day 2

It’s been too long!!


I feel terrible when I came on before to post a new blog to realise it’s been a week since my last post. Apologies all round. The thing is, I have just been so busy in work and not feeling too camera ready that I haven’t been wanting to show people what I'm wearing. That said, I have not strayed for the challenge and have been mixing and matching my charity shop items every day.

I'll post the pictures from what I've been wearing to show you all. These have included two of my FAVOURITE items I bought in the Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation shop. One being a sheer purple dress with black detailing that I wore to an event last week and the other being a beaded jumpsuit I wore to my fundraising event on Saturday.


Both outfits received lots of compliments and like a proud parent; I happily and loudly proclaimed where I got them from and just how much.... or rather how little I paid for them both.

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.