It’s party time! Treat yourself to a classy charity shop outfit that looks good and does good

10th December 2024

Pop-up partywear

“What am I going to wear?” It’s a cry that rings out across the land every year when the festive party season is on the horizon. The countdown is on to find something elegant and fashionable, that suits you and your budget.

Before you start scrolling online, did you know that a trip to your local St Luke’s charity shop could be the answer to all your ballgown and frock dilemmas, not forgetting fancy shoes, evening bags and a touch of bling to complete the look?

Partywear – along with Christmas jumpers – is a major focus for our shop managers and volunteers at this time of year. Their mission is to have you looking a million dollars for your special do, without breaking the bank.

To showcase some of the impressive choices available and the kind of amazing bargains that are waiting to be snapped up, our retail team set up a pop-up shop in the café at St Luke’s Turnchapel HQ ahead of our own Christmas party get-together. Collecting and displaying a selection of gowns, suits and accessories in all shapes and sizes, staff, volunteers and visitors were invited to have a browse.

Some of our staff have already had a lot of fun getting together to try things on and helping each other choose outfits that make them feel festive and ready to party.

As you can see from our fabulous photos, there are some absolute gems up for grabs – with dresses ranging from around £8 to £25 – and there’s plenty more waiting to be found on the rails in our shops.

The bonus of buying your party outfit from St Luke’s is that you’re not only solving your Christmas “what to wear” puzzle, you’ll be saving money, as well as actively supporting the compassionate end of life care St Luke’s delivers to the homes of patients and their families when they need us most, all through the year.

If you donate your outfit back to be recycled again after you’ve worn it, then it’s a double win for both St Luke’s work and the environment.

“It’s a win-win situation because you are benefiting the charity and recycling too.”

Kim Dover, our New Partnerships Advisor, has already worn the ballgown she spotted on the pop-up shop rail last week. In fact she ditched the dress she’d paid £70 for in favour of wearing the classy pre-loved navy number. She teamed it with a pink bag and pink shoes that she bought at a St Luke’s shop about three years ago.

Kim was specifically looking for a blue dress to fit in with the branding of local company TEC Construction at the fantastic fundraising ball the building firm hosted in aid of St Luke’s recently.

She said: “I’d already bought a dress for the occasion and then I saw this one at the pop-up shop and fell in love with it. It was £20 and brand new – it still had the tags on it.”

Charity shop buys are ideal for Kim who does a lot of networking as part of her fundraising role at St Luke’s.

“I don’t want to be wearing the same dress to events over and over again. I love the whole concept of buying from a St Luke’s charity shop and then donating the dress back when I know I’m not likely to be wearing it again.

“It’s a win-win situation because you are benefiting the charity and recycling too. I love a bargain and I love to give back to the hospice because they looked after my brother 12 years ago. It’s important to me.”

“Pre-loved dresses are great because someone else gets a chance to love them.”

Jane Lewis, St Luke’s Occupational Therapist, is a regular charity shop browser. She picked out a long navy blue dress with sparkly sequinned bodice from JS Collections priced £20 and coordinating navy high heel slingbacks.

She said: “It’s brilliant having the pop-up in the café. We’re all very busy and haven’t always got time to look around all the different shops. Pre-loved dresses are great because someone else gets a chance to love them. Then after the event you can donate them back to the charity shop to be resold. Everybody wins!”

“I’ll definitely consider a charity shop buy for more events.”

Sophie Yalden, specialist unit staff nurse, surprised herself by choosing a long pink satin off the shoulder ball gown.

She said: “I was pleasantly surprised with the selection. I wouldn’t normally choose something pink, but I tried on a few – longer, shorter, lacy and black – and this one was a bit different. I thought there would be signs of wear and tear, but I honestly couldn’t find any.  It’s in really great condition with no marks on it and it’s a bargain at £20.

“I’ll definitely consider a charity shop buy for more events. Usually I’ll buy a new dress for an occasion, wear it once and then it will sit in the wardrobe. If I donate it and someone else will get some love out of it.”

“It’s much better for the environment, as well as being economical”

Hilary Hasson, Head of Inpatient Nursing Services, tried on three or four dresses and loved them all.

She said: “You can spend so much on a dress you only wear once, so it’s good to find such good quality, and at really good prices. Some of the dresses are brand new with the tags still on them. It’s much better for the environment, as well as being economical.

“We’re so used to online shopping these days. It was great to see the whole team having a lot of fun together checking out the dress rail and helping each other pick out something.”

Wear, donate and pass on

Verity Boyd, Urgent Care health care assistant, picked a classy long black sleeveless dress plus a complementary necklace and evening bag, all for around £30.

She said: I really enjoyed browsing and there was more variety than I thought there would be, especially for someone tall like me. And there were shoes in my size too.

“A lot of us only tend to wear a dress like this once. By donating to St Luke’s charity shops someone else gets the chance to enjoy wearing it – then they can pass it on again.”

Find your nearest St Luke’s charity shop

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