Charity Shop Finds

Since I've been paid (with added commission! Woohooo!) I decided that today I would ravage Oxford's charity shops. I was actually sort of on the hunt for a new skirt and possibly a blazer to customise the hell out of, but I ended up finding neither.

I did however end up with a cute oversized jacket...

I say "oversized" because it's a size 20 and it's waaay too big for me, but it's velvet with satin and lace trim with little ruffles down the front so I absolutely had to have it. I might add some corseting or at least a tie or a buckle at the back just to make it fit a little better.

Detachable lace collar! I'm already fighting the temptation to tie this round my wrist.

I also managed to find a blouse that actually does fit me...

It's a light cotton ruffly thing (by Red Herring, of all people) with lace and ribbon accents. Very New Romantic, but slightly less gaudy than some of the other ruffled shirts I have. It's certainly less garish than the bright green one I've got.

Lastly, I finally got my grubby little mitts on one of those chain bellydance belts I've been eyeing for years, but for only a couple of quid.

Oooh shiny! Also, jingly bells!

All in all, not an unsuccessful trip. In semi-related musings, I've noticed a lot of charity shops have started stocking their own brand-new stuff, and not just cards and things. The British Heart Foundation have a nice line in semi-precious stone jewelry, elegant scarves with pendants on (I bought one a few weeks ago and it's gorgeous), gaudy accessories and even hair extensions (they have those stripy raccoon streaks that scene kids are so enamored with and some of those chain-and-feather clips too) and Oxfam have a pretty extensive range of fair-trade chocolates, seasonal decorations and wooden printing blocks with styles modelled on textiles from India. I don't know whether this is really a good thing or not, I mean, part of the joy of thrifting is knowing you're recyling all these lovely vintage goodies, and surely charities are having to buy these things which is lessening their profits. That said some of their stuff is lovely and if a charity establishes a popular range it's likely to do better.

Hmm... ponderous pixie is pondering... See you soon!