Tag: fashion for less

Pop UP-Cycle Your Clothes With Colour And Cloth

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We are on the road across Northern Ireland’s Barnardos stores to show customers how to re-invent, refashion and reduce clothing waste! 

I am a charity shop addict so when Barnardos and I brainstormed these events, I thought… ‘Road trips around Ireland and charity shopping…what’s not to love?!’  I would say 75% of my wardrobe is charity shop finds and re-inventions.  It’s the thrill of the chase.

We will be taking over the window displays in Barnardos stores and setting up our ‘pop-up’ sewing surgery.  Using shop stock and transforming styles before your eyes! From five-minute fashion fixes to learning new sewing skills, there will be plenty of creative ideas to make your fashion finds one of a kind.

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Drop in and get involved!

Carrick: Friday 28th July 11 am – 3 pm

I will be re-inventing teen to adult clothing at the Carrick store, I can’t wait to go up a few days before and rummage in the store-room and on the shop floor!

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My Personalised Denim By April

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April here! I’m back with another monthly blog for The-Thrift! This time, it’s all about getting creative and personalising your pre-loved finds. So, let’s get right to it!

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Denim finds are my favourite to get creative with. It’s so easy to jazz up old denim with a quick DIY fix, and from the comfort of your own home.

I got these Mom jeans in my local Barnardo’s in Brixton a couple of months ago – a bargain at just £7.99! They fit perfectly but I wanted to make them unique. I knew they would look great distressed and decided to give it a go myself. Here’s how I did it. Read More »

My Spring/Summer Trend Picks

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Spring has finally sprung and I couldn’t be happier. As much as I adore my ever-growing collection of faux fur and teddy coats, I am also a big fan of sunshine, ice creams and mini dresses, all of which are not the most Winter- friendly! Now, I am not one to follow trends – I enjoy wearing what I want to wear and don’t want to repurchase a whole new wardrobe every season because that’s boring (and expensive!). Luckily, a lot of the key trends for Spring/Summer are purse friendly and ‘oh- so- me’, which makes being on trend more natural and fun. Without further ado, I’m going to talk you through my favourite key trends for Spring/Summer 2017!

Trend One- Gingham

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Who doesn’t love looking like a picnic blanket?! In case you’ve been living underground, you’ve no doubt seen that gingham is everywhere this season. It’s been seen on catwalk shows including Molly Goddard and Shrimps and everywhere on the high street from Primark to Topshop; it is probably the key print for Spring.Read More »

Your Wedding Day On A Budget

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Can you hear wedding bells? That’s right, wedding season is here!

With the average wedding leaving couples a whopping £27,000 out of pocket, this special day could be one of the biggest purchases you ever make; unless of course, you’re best friends with pre-loved shopping!

When my husband and I started planning our big day, I instantly knew I would be hitting my local charity shops. I used our wedding as the perfect excuse to go rummaging! I was pleasantly surprised when I realised that most of our decor and attire could be found when shopping pre-loved.

First up is my dream, retro-styled wedding dress. It was the actual one I’d spotted online a few months prior. Luck was on my side, it was my size, brand new and only £30!

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Spring Has Sprung! De-clutter Anyone?

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In the mood for a spring clean? Why not have some fun and start with your wardrobe?

Most of us are looking to switch our autumn/winter wardrobe into a spring/summer one and the opportunity for a great clear-out is definitely in the air.

loveyc_logoBut how do you know which clothes to keep and which ones to discard? Well, the definition of de-clutter in the Oxford dictionary is ‘remove unnecessary items from an untidy or overcrowded place.

De-cluttering is a great place to kick-start the spring clean and Love Your Clothes has joined forces with Barnardo’s to show you a quick and easy way to a lighter and more organised wardrobe. By all working together, we hope to reduce the 350,000 tonnes of clothes that end up in UK landfills every year.

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Holly Olivia – My Style Challenge

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When Barnardo’s set me the challenge of styling an item from one of their shops in three different ways, I was so excited. I love charity, pre-loved and vintage hunting; it is so much more rewarding than high street shopping, especially when you find an incredible piece! I headed down to my local Barnardo’s in Whitley Bay, and it wasn’t long before I found something. A white shirt, or blouse, is a basic which everyone should probably have in their wardrobe, but I didn’t actually own one since I’ve never quite found the perfect one for me within my budget. Cue this amazing Wallis number! The ruffles on the front are so on trend for S/S17 and I love the balloon sleeves. It is such a versatile piece and I actually got it in the sale for £1.55!

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Shoes – A Girls Best Friend By April

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Hi guys,

It’s April here, back with another monthly blog. In this instalment, I will be sharing my favourite shoe finds from Barnardo’s – because let’s face it – a girl can never have enough pairs!

I’m not your typical girly girl. My shoe collection is not full of sky-high heels – that’s way out of my comfort zone! I’ll let you in on a secret…. I’ve only ever worn high heels once! Heels and I are therefore a disaster waiting to happen!

Keep scrolling for a sneak peek into my growing shoe collection.

April 4

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Our Top Spring Clear Out Tips!

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Spring is finally here which means one thing – it’s time for a wardrobe overhaul. Not what you wanted to hear? Don’t worry; we are on hand to make this a fun activity, even involving some of your best girlfriends. Keep scrolling to see our top quick tips for a carefree wardrobe clear out.

Leave the guilt at the door.

Taming a wardrobe full of clutter can be an emotional task and let’s be honest, one most of us fears. First things first, leave the guilt at the door! Don’t feel bad for not wanting to keep items you haven’t worn or don’t need anymore. These pre-loved items can be donated to your local Barnardo’s and will soon be a much loved piece in somebody else’s wardrobe.

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April’s Charity Shopping Tips.

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It’ April here and I’m, back with another monthly guest blog! In this entry I’ll be sharing my ideas on how to end the stigma around charity shop shopping and sharing some more smashing Barnardo’s finds.

When you hear the words charity shop, what immediately pops into your mind? For me it’s a treasure trove of amazing fashion finds! I’ve had people compliment me on my outfits, followed by the classic question “where is that from?” – I have always proudly answered: “Barnardo’s”. Cue the shocked expression! I was once your stereotypical charity shop doubter but my first trip to Barnardo’s immediately changed my mind.

April Feb 4

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How and Why I Charity Shop!

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Hello you lovely lot!

If you know me – or even if you don’t – just by browsing through my blog you can see that in most of the outfits I’m wearing, is something from a charity shop.

Now, some of you may shy away at the thought of pre-loved clothes, BUT YOU SHOULDN’T! So bear with me because I’m going to tell you exactly why…

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