Chazzing

You wouldn’t believe me if I told you ten years ago from now but there has never been a more hip and cool place to buy your vintage and retro goodies from the charity shops themselves. 

Formally known as a dumping ground for all your old and unwanted crap, but nowadays the only places you can buy those one off pieces for what they're really worth. From limited edition tee’s to classic LP’s, hand-stitched tapestry bags and of course, those one off granny knit jumpers. No matter the sentimental value, all can be purchased with those pennies rolling round at the bottom of your purse or just under a tenner.

The hobbie which I call ‘Chazzing’ is something that I indulge in on a weekly, sometimes even daily, basis.

The best charity shop of them all is St Peters Hospice, followed by The Samaritans, Barnardos, and the rest of them. Oxfam I would recommend for books, but I’ve never been entirely pleased with it for clothes myself. 

When it comes to location this is where people often make mistakes. You’d think that the best places to go would be in the wealthier parts of the city; this may be the case in London but not in Bristol. The St Peters Hospice on the Gloucester Road is just the same as the one in Clifton, if anything the charity shops on the Gloucester Road are actually better, as there's more variety to suit different people's styles. Obviously stock varies from day to day, so pop in regularly to make sure you're not missing out.

Be lenient when browsing, don’t just rule something out because of its length, or cut, remember things can always be altered. Also be prepared to rummage, if you don’t try to look for anything you will have no success at all. Yes, there will be things on rails which you wouldn’t have even worn as a child, mixed with an odd bit of school uniform and various fancy dress costumes, but if you have the patience to trawl through the shop, rail at a time, you will find things. It's like going Christmas sale shopping, but without the chaos!

Something which I’m still getting used to myself is buying second hand shoes. The idea of having some random person’s smelly, sweaty and blistered feet in my shoes isn’t the best of thoughts. I always think that if you want to achieve a warn out look to a pair of shoes, you can do it yourself! But the sad thing is that it’s just not the same. What’s better? Wearing a pair of boots from Topshop, which every other person you know has, or wearing a pair a little old lady owned back in the 80’s, which you can guarantee you won’t see anyone else wearing? You can decide. Again, they can be resoled, re-laced and foot spray can be brought from most shoe shops, if you think it’s necessary!

When it comes to bling, charity shops have great stuff. From vintage rings, necklaces, bracelets and earrings. You can find real gold and silver items at prices not over a tenner. I brought some pearl earrings from a charity shop. At first I felt a bit uncertain as to what I was actually doing with regards hygiene, but the shop assistant reassured me I should sterilize them in salt water for at least two hours before I wore them to prevent any risk of infection. I wear them nearly everyday, am infection free, and I often receive regular compliments.

A common conspiracy is that things only end up in charity shops after people have died, but really what a load of total rubbish. All items are checked and cleaned before they are priced and put onto the shop floor. If you genuinely are a charity shop virgin you may be surprised at how many people donate things they have never worn, even better still with the tags on – that’s when you realise the real bargain you're getting as well as donating money to charity.

If yet again, you’ve left your Christmas shopping till last minute pop on down to your local chazza and start looking.

By Emma, Year 13