Shop at CLIC Sargent’s Shop on Gloucester Road!

Hello all! I thought I'd enlighten you with what I do with my free time.

Seeing as it's the time of year for students to be packing up their things to move to new accommodation or back home, what a better time to go through their wardrobes and see what things can go to the local charity shop!

Now since moving to England, the British have most definitely opened my eyes to the wonderful world of second hand clothing. Don't get me wrong, there are most definitely charity shops in America...we just call them thrift stores. Not nearly as an attractive name, but it's what you do; You thrift! And most of them smell vile. Anyhoozle...

I totally love charity shopping now! Especially since it's all about the recycling now and I've surrounded myself with people who really believe strongly in sustainable fashion in the past 3 years so it's only natural for me to jump on the bandwagon! I love that the money made in the shops go right to charity! Just amazing.

Bristol's quite good for charity shopping, especially Gloucester Road! Man, oh man! It's just shop after shop after shop and it's BRILLIANT! I found an absolute gem of a charity shopping partner and her name is Sarah Noon. She always finds the loveliest things and goes to the greatest places and that in itself is a gift.

One afternoon whilst making our way down Gloucester Road, she pointed out this one charity shop that she said was one of her favourite. If it's on Noon's favourite list, how do you say no? That's right, you don't! ...Especially if you're shopping with Noon.

What's the shop, you ask? Why, it's called "CLIC Sargent’s Shop on Gloucester Road" - clever, huh? This particular shop is part of the CLIC Sargent charity, which helps children and young people with cancer. Check them out! There are several CLIC Sargent charity shops around Bristol but this particular one is the charity’s first specialist shop Bristol. Oh yeah. Specialist shop, baby.

THEY SELL THE MOST FABULOUS VINTAGE CLOTHES AT THE MOST FABULOUS PRICES.

Walking in that shop just makes you smile because the atmosphere is so lovely! The decor inside is made up of the items they sell including a lovely array of teacups and all sorts of china, various hats, shoes, bags, paintings, oodles and oodles of vintage dresses and oh everything a girl (or boy!) could ever dream of.

My mate Charlie, who I recently found out works there, promptly whisked me around the shop to show me all the new additions to the rails, her favourite pieces and she also proudly showed off her window displays as well as others she had done around the store. She was even amazing enough to model some outfits for me!

As Charlie went between helping customers and showing me things, she managed to tell me a bit more about what she loves about volunteering there. She explained that Shop was really creative and different to all the other charity shops on Gloucester Road. She mentioned that the BBC had come round not long ago to buy some vintage things from the show "Casualty." Crazy huh?





Mazing, aren't they?





My mate Stacey also came along to try on some things too. There's nothing quite like playing dress up!

I even tried some stuff on, but shh. I don't usually do the whole "lets model clothing thing" But I happened to like the casino inspired playsuit, I had to have it and at £15? Bargain. Oh I can hear the taunts from my mother now on how she used to have something like it and blah blah blah. But that's what vintage stuff is all about right? Riiight!

So after spending a nice time browsing and stuffing my guilty (but awesome! why do I always spend money though!?) purchase of my new playsuit into my bag, Charlie pointed out that everyone should be buying picnic hampers* at the moment. Go on picnics in cut-off dungarees* or 70's maxi dresses*, people! That's the fun thing to be doing this summer, trust me.

*all of which can be purchased at Shop! Quick, go get em before they're all gone, ya'll!

So when you do that whole thing where you make those charity shop piles, why not donate to CLIC Sargent? Every donation helps children and young people with cancer, so trust me, they and their families will thank you. Oh and all vintage-mad, charity shop people who shop at Shop will thank you too. I know I will, blates.

Peace! xx

The Secret's Out!

Ahhh...A very good morning to you all! Guess where I am? Well how would you have an inkling of a clue? I'll just stop your guessing and tell you.

ALICE'S SECRET EMPORIUM
(The website is still under construction at the moment but its up! Still have a look around!)

I was asked by my darling friend Tom, the genius mind behind this awesome little shop, to man the fort for a few hours. This totally beats packing, trust me! I am absolutely delighted to be sat behind the til eagerly awaiting customers. But seeing as it's Saturday morning...oh let's just hope not too many people are hung over! I thought I might do a little bloggity whilst it is quiet!

Alice's Secret Emporium is nestled downstairs of BS8 on Park St. (34, Park Street, Bs1 5JG Bristol, United Kingdom to be exact!) . BS8 is actually really a lovely place to shop! There's clothing, fragrances, accessories, a little stall completely dedicated to designs made from driftwood (really cool stuff, mind!) and all the vintage things your heart desires.

Now ASE's is Just. Too. Cute. It's vintage heaven! So many of the items have been sourced from all over and you've got a lovely array of chine, jewelry, ribbons, buttons, brooches, old Singer hand sewing machines!!! You don't even know! The list goes on and on, trust.



I'm a huge fan of the decor (I've been really big on decor lately, making mental notes on my own place, I suppose!) Everything is displayed in bookshelves and in vintage shelves and dressers. The till is even hella old school, but I shan't tell you more about that!





All I'm saying is that this place is awesome. The people in the other bits of BS8 are really sound as well so if you're wandering on Park St anytime soon, come on down and get your hands on some amazing vintage stuff. You'll love it. And Tom's an absolute doll, so do say hi!

Check out the facebook page too! Totally like their page too. Ooo looks like potential customers are coming over. That's my cue! Ciao ciao!

P.S. She was lovely! She's getting married and bought a glass cake stand. Adorable! I wish her all the best for her special day!