l save you from becoming overwhelmed or distracted. For today’s charity shoppers, if you’ve got a keen eye and can stay focused there is no compromise for cheap chic.

So the next time you are out shopping, take Holly and Shirley’s Charity Shop Challenge. Can you throw together the perfect outfit including shoes and accessories for under twenty five quid? You can let us know how you get on at www.LookingForHarveyWeinstein.com

Holly and Shirley were dressing for an important meeting with the BBC. They had to look the part to impress. They want a modern, unique look. The mandate, well fitting classics with a little 1970’s thrown in to give them an up to date twist without looking too young.

Shirley’s Shopping List.

Dolce and Gabbana trousers, denim detail- ?7.00
White shirt, large cuff and collar detail- ?4.00
Peach sequin headband- ?1.00
Warehouse, green faux sheepskin coat-?6.00
Black leather ankle boot-?3.00
Large Di

Two local authors and business women faced with little cash and the task of looking a million dollars for a media promotion tour around the UK had to think on their feet. Having just returned home after spending several years in California, their wardrobes not only desperate for a boost but the clothes they chose needed to be warmer. Holly and Shirley Yanez, both in their 40’s found an unexpected friend in what they now describe as the British High Street’s best kept secret.

Of course these retail establishments have been around for decades but even today, the age old stereotype, ladies in cardigans selling musty old rags, is hard to shake. Recent news articles have declared our nations Charity Shops are turning over huge profits, so who is actually shopping there? This is a tough question as few in the past would ever admit to even setting foot in one. But is that all changing?

Putting together a celebrity look to wow a BBC TV producer with a maximum available budget of ?25.00 was the challenge. After exhausting all the usual shops in Leicester City centre, the women, lifelong best friends, concluded, in the 7 years they had worked in America, prices had shot up. They discovered they’d be lucky to find a t-shirt a piece, on the sale rack in French Connection for their twenty five quid let alone a whole outfit including shoes. Undaunted but desperate the women turned their attention to the wide selection of Charity Shops available.

There are a dozen or more in the town centre ranging in feel and quality of goods. Shelter on the High Street is young and trendy while Oxfam has an excellent bridal range but be prepared to pay a small premium for their merchandise.

With increasing media attention graciously bestowed on world poverty and humanitarian aid efforts, charities like Oxfam have invested heavily in their brand through large television advertising campaigns. Their retail chain employs professionals alongside volunteers to run the shops more profitably. Particular stores like Age Concern, Blaby are paying close attention to clever and creative window dressing to improve traffic into their shop. Long gone are the days of flogging what the poor no longer want or the dead no longer need. Those grotty, dingy places offering not much more than shelter from the cold have been replaced by bright, clean retail spaces with clear signage, spacious changing facilities and new fixtures and fittings. Admittedly some are better than others, depending on who’s running them so you need to be prepared to explore a little to find your own favourites.

If you are up for branching out a little further a field, Loros, Loughborough and Oxfam, Market Harborough are designer shoppers paradise offering a large selection of nearly new (and sometimes new) clean, pressed and colour coordinated seasonal clothes, shoes, accessories and even lingerie. Some of the larger stores also offer furniture and household goods. The Loros, Oadby is decidedly boutique like with a stylish and keen staff and if you fancy a massive spree and a real day out, for ?12.00 return on Midland mainline, London’s shopping mecca, the King’s Road, Chelsea hosts more charity shops than you’ll have time to experience in one afternoon.

The women admit it can be hit and miss and some days you just won’t find anything but these charity shop crusaders have sourced treasures that include;

Gucci satchel, ?3.50 (approx retail ?250.00)

Christian Dior jacket, ?8.00 (approx retail ?650.00)

Moschino Costume, ?5.00 (approx retail ?200.00)

Austin Reed Cashmere Coat, ?12.00 (approx retail ?450.00)

These bargains aside, style for Holly and Shirley is not only about designer labels. Cut, workmanship, fit, condition and price are all important factors when selecting those key pieces. Have an idea what you are looking for before you embark is their advice. Having a plan will save you from becoming overwhelmed or distracted. For today’s charity shoppers, if you’ve got a keen eye and can stay focused there is no compromise for cheap chic.

So the next time you are out shopping, take Holly and Shirley’s Charity Shop Challenge. Can you throw together the perfect outfit including shoes and accessories for under twenty five quid? You can let us know how you get on at www.LookingForHarveyWeinstein.com

Holly and Shirley were dressing for an important meeting with the BBC. They had to look the part to impress. They want a modern, unique look. The mandate, well fitting classics with a little 1970’s thrown in to give them an up to date twist without looking too young.

Shirley’s Shopping List.

Dolce and Gabbana trousers, denim detail- ?7.00
White shirt, large cuff and collar detail- ?4.00
Peach sequin headband- ?1.00
Warehouse, green faux sheepskin coat-?6.00
Black leather ankle boot-?3.00
Large Dia

ble budget of ?25.00 was the challenge. After exhausting all the usual shops in Leicester City centre, the women, lifelong best friends, concluded, in the 7 years they had worked in America, prices had shot up. They discovered they’d be lucky to find a t-shirt a piece, on the sale rack in French Connection for their twenty five quid let alone a whole outfit including shoes. Undaunted but desperate the women turned their attention to the wide selection of Charity Shops available.

There are a dozen or more in the town centre ranging in feel and quality of goods. Shelter on the High Street is young and trendy while Oxfam has an excellent bridal range but be prepared to pay a small premium for their merchandise.

With increasing media attention graciously bestowed on world poverty and humanitarian aid efforts, charities like Oxfam have invested heavily in their brand through large television advertising campaigns. Their retail chain employs professionals alongside volunteers to run the shops more profitably. Particular stores like Age Concern, Blaby are paying close attention to clever and creative window dressing to improve traffic into their shop. Long gone are the days of flogging what the poor no longer want or the dead no longer need. Those grotty, dingy places offering not much more than shelter from the cold have been replaced by bright, clean retail spaces with clear signage, spacious changing facilities and new fixtures and fittings. Admittedly some are better than others, depending on who’s running them so you need to be prepared to explore a little to find your own favourites.

If you are up for branching out a little further a field, Loros, Loughborough and Oxfam, Market Harborough are designer shoppers paradise offering a large selection of nearly new (and sometimes new) clean, pressed and colour coordinated seasonal clothes, shoes, accessories and even lingerie. Some of the larger stores also offer furniture and household goods. The Loros, Oadby is decidedly boutique like with a stylish and keen staff and if you fancy a massive spree and a real day out, for ?12.00 return on Midland mainline, London’s shopping mecca, the King’s Road, Chelsea hosts more charity shops than you’ll have time to experience in one afternoon.

The women admit it can be hit and miss and some days you just won’t find anything but these charity shop crusaders have sourced treasures that include;

Gucci satchel, ?3.50 (approx retail ?250.00)

Christian Dior jacket, ?8.00 (approx retail ?650.00)

Moschino Costume, ?5.00 (approx retail ?200.00)

Austin Reed Cashmere Coat, ?12.00 (approx retail ?450.00)

These bargains aside, style for Holly and Shirley is not only about designer labels. Cut, workmanship, fit, condition and price are all important factors when selecting those key pieces. Have an idea what you are looking for before you embark is their advice. Having a plan will save you from becoming overwhelmed or distracted. For today’s charity shoppers, if you’ve got a keen eye and can stay focused there is no compromise for cheap chic.

So the next time you are out shopping, take Holly and Shirley’s Charity Shop Challenge. Can you throw together the perfect outfit including shoes and accessories for under twenty five quid? You can let us know how you get on at www.LookingForHarveyWeinstein.com

Holly and Shirley were dressing for an important meeting with the BBC. They had to look the part to impress. They want a modern, unique look. The mandate, well fitting classics with a little 1970’s thrown in to give them an up to date twist without looking too young.

Shirley’s Shopping List.

Dolce and Gabbana trousers, denim detail- ?7.00
White shirt, large cuff and collar detail- ?4.00
Peach sequin headband- ?1.00
Warehouse, green faux sheepskin coat-?6.00
Black leather ankle boot-?3.00
Large Di

volunteers to run the shops more profitably. Particular stores like Age Concern, Blaby are paying close attention to clever and creative window dressing to improve traffic into their shop. Long gone are the days of flogging what the poor no longer want or the dead no longer need. Those grotty, dingy places offering not much more than shelter from the cold have been replaced by bright, clean retail spaces with clear signage, spacious changing facilities and new fixtures and fittings. Admittedly some are better than others, depending on who’s running them so you need to be prepared to explore a little to find your own favourites.

If you are up for branching out a little further a field, Loros, Loughborough and Oxfam, Market Harborough are designer shoppers paradise offering a large selection of nearly new (and sometimes new) clean, pressed and colour coordinated seasonal clothes, shoes, accessories and even lingerie. Some of the larger stores also offer furniture and household goods. The Loros, Oadby is decidedly boutique like with a stylish and keen staff and if you fancy a massive spree and a real day out, for ?12.00 return on Midland mainline, London’s shopping mecca, the King’s Road, Chelsea hosts more charity shops than you’ll have time to experience in one afternoon.

The women admit it can be hit and miss and some days you just won’t find anything but these charity shop crusaders have sourced treasures that include;

Gucci satchel, ?3.50 (approx retail ?250.00)

Christian Dior jacket, ?8.00 (approx retail ?650.00)

Moschino Costume, ?5.00 (approx retail ?200.00)

Austin Reed Cashmere Coat, ?12.00 (approx retail ?450.00)

These bargains aside, style for Holly and Shirley is not only about designer labels. Cut, workmanship, fit, condition and price are all important factors when selecting those key pieces. Have an idea what you are looking for before you embark is their advice. Having a plan will save you from becoming overwhelmed or distracted. For today’s charity shoppers, if you’ve got a keen eye and can stay focused there is no compromise for cheap chic.

So the next time you are out shopping, take Holly and Shirley’s Charity Shop Challenge. Can you throw together the perfect outfit including shoes and accessories for under twenty five quid? You can let us know how you get on at www.LookingForHarveyWeinstein.com

Holly and Shirley were dressing for an important meeting with the BBC. They had to look the part to impress. They want a modern, unique look. The mandate, well fitting classics with a little 1970’s thrown in to give them an up to date twist without looking too young.

Shirley’s Shopping List.

Dolce and Gabbana trousers, denim detail- ?7.00
White shirt, large cuff and collar detail- ?4.00
Peach sequin headband- ?1.00
Warehouse, green faux sheepskin coat-?6.00
Black leather ankle boot-?3.00
Large Di

and household goods. The Loros, Oadby is decidedly boutique like with a stylish and keen staff and if you fancy a massive spree and a real day out, for ?12.00 return on Midland mainline, London’s shopping mecca, the King’s Road, Chelsea hosts more charity shops than you’ll have time to experience in one afternoon.

The women admit it can be hit and miss and some days you just won’t find anything but these charity shop crusaders have sourced treasures that include;

Gucci satchel, ?3.50 (approx retail ?250.00)

Christian Dior jacket, ?8.00 (approx retail ?650.00)

Moschino Costume, ?5.00 (approx retail ?200.00)

Austin Reed Cashmere Coat, ?12.00 (approx retail ?450.00)

These bargains aside, style for Holly and Shirley is not only about designer labels. Cut, workmanship, fit, condition and price are all important factors when selecting those key pieces. Have an idea what you are looking for before you embark is their advice. Having a plan will save you from becoming overwhelmed or distracted. For today’s charity shoppers, if you’ve got a keen eye and can stay focused there is no compromise for cheap chic.

So the next time you are out shopping, take Holly and Shirley’s Charity Shop Challenge. Can you throw together the perfect outfit including shoes and accessories for under twenty five quid? You can let us know how you get on at www.LookingForHarveyWeinstein.com

Holly and Shirley were dressing for an important meeting with the BBC. They had to look the part to impress. They want a modern, unique look. The mandate, well fitting classics with a little 1970’s thrown in to give them an up to date twist without looking too young.

Shirley’s Shopping List.

Dolce and Gabbana trousers, denim detail- ?7.00
White shirt, large cuff and collar detail- ?4.00
Peach sequin headband- ?1.00
Warehouse, green faux sheepskin coat-?6.00
Black leather ankle boot-?3.00
Large Di

l save you from becoming overwhelmed or distracted. For today’s charity shoppers, if you’ve got a keen eye and can stay focused there is no compromise for cheap chic.

So the next time you are out shopping, take Holly and Shirley’s Charity Shop Challenge. Can you throw together the perfect outfit including shoes and accessories for under twenty five quid? You can let us know how you get on at www.LookingForHarveyWeinstein.com

Holly and Shirley were dressing for an important meeting with the BBC. They had to look the part to impress. They want a modern, unique look. The mandate, well fitting classics with a little 1970’s thrown in to give them an up to date twist without looking too young.

Shirley’s Shopping List.

Dolce and Gabbana trousers, denim detail- ?7.00
White shirt, large cuff and collar detail- ?4.00
Peach sequin headband- ?1.00
Warehouse, green faux sheepskin coat-?6.00
Black leather ankle boot-?3.00
Large Diamond cross-?2.00

Whole Look Total Cost- ?23.00

Holly’s Shopping List

Black and white pinstriped jacket-?4.00
Juicy Couture Jeans-?3.00
Onyx Cross-?3.00
Velvet 70’s cap-?2.00
Armani T-shirt-?2.00
Red tartan belt-?2.00
Dolce and Gabbana jumper, flared sleeve detail- ?4.00
Suede thigh length boot-?4.00

Whole look Total Cost- ?24.00

The women now swear by their local charity shops and wouldn’t shop anywhere else. As co authors of the style conscious, gossipy celebrity expose, they refuse to buy into trinkets unless they used to be somebody elses. For these Charity Shop Crusaders, who now receive personal service from the staff at the stores in their home town of Leicester, clothes and style are a synonymous necessity. A big part of shopping for them is now about doing something good and giving a little back. They believe, when you recycle the wealth, what you wear helps.

Take their challenge and become your own quiet charity shop crusader. Not only will you be loaded down with shoestring style but you’ll have given a little back too. Now where’s the stigma in that?