I thought it was time I would reply to a question most of you have been asking; unlike my reply to the standard text message where my track record is about 5 hours. 

What Have You Brought in a Charity Shop?... I never find anything.

So here you go, a simple photo diary of most of my charity shop buys. Enjoy!

To answer your question of 'not finding anything', unlucky. I am sorry for the stress caused by the smell of old (and possibly deceased) people, please scroll down for some tips that might help you.

(Not quite Charity Shop but this was a wonderful handy down; same concept just missing out the charity part) (Disclaimer, always keep the charity part. Charities are good) 

As you know I am obsessed with charity shops and I regularly go in them 2 or 3 times a week, this really is my secret to success. When 'Grandma Hoare' goes on a charity tour, it's go hard or go home. A little lesson I've learnt from having mostly guys as best friends (although sometimes this doesn't end well, but I will blog about that later).

Right so here's my advice:

1. Best Charity Shops for buys: 

British Heart Foundation

Cancer Research

1. Worst Charity Shops for buys:

Oxfam (They're a bit too picky with what they sell, and usually overpriced)

1. I usually know what I am looking for, this helps a lot.

1. When scanning rails I look for interesting patterns and fabrics, not the actual clothes.

1. Look in the opposite sex's section too.

Hope this helps!

P.S. I have also found out my Macbook apparently can't count past one, maybe I should revert back to Windows.

Problems of a Drunk Fashion Student:

The Charity Shop Crawl

The typical natural environment for a student is the traditional pub-crawl. The dark, crowded and vibrant atmosphere attracts many of us. Whilst most students are down Angel or Shoreditch going door to door spending their money, I am down Camden saving my money crawling the charity shops of North London.

It seems over the last few years there has been a trend for charity shops buys and I have to admit I’m in on this hype. Much of my wardrobe is made up of these buys gaining me the nickname ‘Grandma Hoare’.

See I live in Tufnell Park, North London; just a 15 minute walk from Camden. I usually get off at Camden Town or Mornington Crescent tube station on the way back from university so I can browse the nine charity shops I pass on my walk home. As much as I want to keep this crawl to myself, often people ask what charity shops I go in as a result I’ve made this crawl.

The Crawl (Mornington Crescent Crawl)

Here we begin:
Take a right out of Mornington Crescent Tube Station and start to walk down Camden High Street towards Camden Town Station.

Half way up the high street you will see the first five charity shops on your left.

British Heart Foundation,

Shelter,

Scope,

Cancer Research,

Oxfam.

Carry on walking until you hit the main junction where Camden Town tube station is situated. This is where the road splits into four, but head towards Kentish Town (It should be clearly sign posted). It is the middle road, situated in-between the Camden Eye and the tube station.

Keep walking on until you hit an array of shops, and this is Kentish Town. You should see another Oxfam on your left, and two other charity shops a little further on the right.

Here you will find:

Age UK,

PSDA,

The last shop is a mere 5-minute walk towards Tufnell Park. All you have to do is keep heading up the road until you reach another junction, this time the road splits into two. Take the road on the right and the charity shop, the London Centre for children with Cerebral Palsy, is on the right hand side (before Sainsbury Local).

Warning:

I would be careful this crawl is not for the weak; as I discovered this walk takes you past two Mcdonalds, two Greggs, a Nandos, a Burger King, a M&S Food, hundreds of Kebab shops and many pubs. I am not surprised Camden Weight Watchers is situated a few streets off the high street. However at the end of the crawl is the Boston Arms; an Irish pub where it is £2.20 a pint, it would be rude not to take the opportunity of a cheap drink.

Happy Crawling.