I have always been a big fan of charity shops, flea markets and vintage clothing stores. It’s in my blood. Passed down by my mother Joy, who loves nothing more than a mooch around local charity shops when she comes back to the UK to visit. At 74 years of age she manages a charity shop, for the love of it ! she flatly refuses to be paid a wage, rather wanting the money to help the kids in the charity. This is in Puerto Pollenca in Majorca where she has lived for the last 25 years. She is a bit of an inspiration to me with her wonderful positive nature, her enthusiasm for helping the needy. She has a very bohemian style and continues to paint each toenail in a different colour polish every time!

There is something very satisfying to me when I find a bargain in a charity shop. Only last week I spotted this amazing top for £6 that I later found out was worth over £150 ! this and the fact that you never know what you will find , it’s the surprise that I like. I get very bored shopping these days and the intrigue of a thrift shop still pulls me in never knowing what will turn up.

It goes a little deeper than the bargains and intrigue for me. The throw away fashion that the likes of Primark , Top shop and all the Philip Green chain of stores produces no longer fits with my values. We are already killing our wonderful planet with our food choices and plastic ( don’t get me started on the plastic , I may never stop !) but now our clothing choices for the sake of fashion is having a huge impact on the planet too. Making one pair of jeans produces as much greenhouse gasses as driving a car more that 80 miles. Every year half a million tonnes of micro-fibres released by washed garments contribute to ocean pollution, that’s 16 times more than plastic micro beads from cosmetics. Its scary stuff!

Every woman I know has enough clothing to go without buying anything for at least a year including me.

I have decided to support @xr.boycottfasion and @franklinonfasion and pledge to not buy any new clothing or textiles unless they are from charity shops or ethical brands for 52 weeks. We must change our relationship with clothing and fashion and take stock of what we are doing when continually buying and wanting new ‘stuff’.

The fashion industry along with all the advertising agencies are making us think we need all the latest looks, a different style, another pair of shoes etc etc. Lets not be brainwashed ; I know that I really don’t actually need anything else to put in my wardrobe. It will be challenging for sure . I live in a town and walk past shops almost daily. The pull of the window display and the changing seasons are constantly calling for me to go in and spend money. I love clothes like most women and looking good is important to me .

I love a challenge and actually putting together a new look from the clothes I own will be fun and inspiring #shopyourownwardrobe #OOOTD are a couple of inspiring Instagram hashtags I follow.

What about if I really ‘need ‘ something ? or my son or husband need something ? I will buy either in charity shops, or as ethically as I possibly can . We can all do our bit. Will you be joining me? Has this blog inspired you to make any changes? I would love to know.

““ If not me then who ?””

— Malcolm X