TRY THIS - Ladies, You've Been Framed

I often find the graphic designs of album covers sing with style, and none more so than these. Bought several years ago at Ealing charity shops - La Traviata from Oxfam and Madame Butterfly (below) from Fara (both less than a fiver) - they were framed only last week at the Accession Community Shop & Picture Framing Studio in West Ealing CLICK HERE. Accession is an interesting local enterprise, a partnership between Ealing Council and West London Mental Health Trust. It seeks to support over 80 individuals with mental health and learning disabilities through opportunities to work. The West Ealing Accession shop, nicely laid out and filled with quality secondhand chic, also features an open plan framing workshop. There, people are learning this useful craft. Thrilled with the result, I'll hang these pleasing portraits in my dressing room. The framing cost was a rather reasonable £28 per album cover. Thanks Accession! 

FOUND - Jacket that Drives Me Wild

I found this silk jacket at the new Fara shop in Islington near Angel tube station. It's a product of Shanghai Tang, purveyors of Chinese-inspired fashions for men and women, as well as homeware. Save small light red stains under the arms, this overcoat is perfect and when I wear it the minor flaws are nearly unnoticeable. But it's the defects that fill me with a feeling of freedom to style this topper with abandon, rather than wearing it carefully, with conservative concern. Once or twice I've bought, owned and drove a new car, and each time I've breathed a sigh of relief when my sparkling auto suffered a knock or ding, usually in a shop parking lot. Rather than despair, I found myself feeling like my motor was becoming a useful set of wheels rather than a model kit car that needed protecting at all costs. With high-end clothes my feelings are remarkably similar. Now that it's got a dent, I won't have to save my silk Shanghai Tang for best. Instead I'll wear it over a black bathing suit on holiday, pair it with casual denim and drape it over a summer shift. This luxury fashion becomes all the more luxurious when I've license to wear it recklessly. It was a just £10.     

FOUND - A Tale of Two Knit-ies

I found this cashmere cardie at the Fara shop near Angel tube station. Bright, warm and versatile, this button-up jumper is perfect for Spring in London. I'll pair it with tonally matched accessories, including an armload of my trademark bangles. This colourful classic isn't perfect, there's hole in the sleeve - but I'll customize it, sewing a silk patch over the offending imperfection. This fashion project was only £6.80. 

I found this neutral cardigan at Fara Ealing on Bond Street. Double-breasted with a semi-shawl collar, it's got a great vintage feel. A cashmere and wool blend make it a stylish Spring separate too. I'm constantly surprised by the quality knitwear available in charity shops. Cashmere is the latest staple I've added to my list of never-buy-new fashion faves. This beige beauty set me back just £6.80.

FOUND - Nights Turn to Days With PJs

I found this silky pajama top at Fara in Ealing on Bond Street. I'll wear it with jeans and my Stubbs & Wootten embroidered slipper shoes (an Ebay find, maybe my best ever). Night time fashions became a daylight style statement a few seasons back with everyone from Louis Vuitton to Whistles showing jim jams out of bed and on the street. Smoking jackets, beach cover-ups and Oriental-style loungewear are the sign posts along the road to the latest revival of night clothes in broad daylight. It's a return that I welcome. The writer in me appreciates a tailored but slightly louche look - it's not who I am but maybe who I want to be. In 2015 pajama chic is a trend that's waning but its descent actually enables me to welcome it into my wardrobe with added enthusiasm. I'm most comfortable when I'm a little out of step with the latest craze. Behind the times, the bed times in this case. The top, and its rather small bottoms that will be passed on to my sister, were just £3.80.  

                  

TRY THIS - #ThriftyShifting in Islington

I found Fara's newly opened shop in Islington, near Angel Tube station, nothing short of 2nd-hand heaven. Light, bright and well-organized, the space is the former home of Fara Workshop. The Workshop closed last month - while a clever concept that saw donated clothing re-worked, re-made and resold, the idea had run its course.

Among other things, Fara Islington features a special section of retro clothing - although most of the charity's vintage donations go to the superb Retromania near Victoria Station. This is one of London's hot spots for true vintage - filled with both men's and women's clothing, Retromaina is unlike any other charity shop in London, catering to those of us who long for quality brands and designs from the past. 

The new Islington shop has a relaxed urban vibe all its own, in part due to fashion-conscious shop manager Zane. On the day I popped in, she was looking terribly chic in a full skirt - black with huge white spots - and flat black boots. I get a little thrill when shop staff are super stylish. They provide unique value-added inspiration.

Everything from the cool lighting to the hip music - played not too loud, thank you - is spot on at this, the latest of Fara's 50 shops. If it weren't for the one-off nature of the stock, you'd be excused for thinking the Islington branch was a commercial high street establishment and not a charity venture. 

Did I find some pre-owned pleasure? Of course, and in the coming week I'll reveal my best buys. If you pop into Fara Islington, and you should, treat yourself to a cuppa' at the excellent cafe, Saint Espresso next door. First rate coffee and 2nd-hand style - indeed my heaven on earth.   

Tweet your fab Fara fashion finds to 

 @FARAcharityshop #thriftyshifting   

FOUND - Red Rises from The Ashes

I found this wool, fully-lined dress at the Fara charity shop in Chiswick, near the Turnham Green tube station. It's from Boden, a UK clothier that launched in 1991 with 8 menswear products. A year later they began offering women's wear, now the more substantial of the two ranges CLICK HERE. I have a love/hate relationship with Boden - can't live with it, can't live without it. Clothes on offer are well-made but about half Boden's styles miss the mark in terms of cut and colour. Even this gorgeous red dress will need a bit of tweaking. The odd sleeve length - just above the elbow - is wonky (technical term). In fact, I suspect it's why this frock was donated to Fara - it's hardly been worn. Time and time again, I think the previous owner popped it on only to find it wasn't quite right. The red sleeves align with the bust creating a wadge of uninterrupted colour from shoulder to elbow. Shorter sleeves will transform the dress. Don't dismiss quality clothing with defects - use your sewing skills or a tailor to stitch a winner. My problematic but promising frock was £12. 

TRY THIS - Don't Be Silly, Buy Willy Nilly

I found this silk chiffon scarf at the Fara Charity shop near Turnham Green station in Chiswick. Silk + 2nd-hand + Stylish = Buy! It's a soft colour that flatters the skin, mine and many others, so while I wasn't sure if it would be added to my personal scarf collection or gifted to a lucky friend, I knew it was coming home with me. I don't advocate buying for buying's sake, but being a confident shopper is key. Ask yourself, can I imagine at least two ways to wear this quality piece of clothing? Excellent, next question. Would it make a gift I'd be proud to give? Yes, then move toward the till. Finally, is it priced up at less than a cup of coffee? Indeed, this silk stunner was £1.80. Wear your buying decisions as confidently as you wear your favourite accessory. Be bold, be stylish. 

See Huntress London's latest Oxfam Fashion Post CLICK HERE

FOUND - A Skirt With Muscle and Bustle

I found this 'selvege' skirt by Lulu & Red at Fara on Bond Street in Ealing. Founded in 2003, the brand quickly set up a concession in Topshop and was a popular seller online. Interestingly Lulu & Red cut size 12 prototypes that were then sized up and down, rather than a tiny initial sample size that had to be sized up. And up. It's a shape-changing starting point that other designers might consider employing. This clever skirt looks as if the wearer has pulled suiting fabric off the shelf and expertly wrapped it round herself. From the hand printed pink front to its bustle-effect back, it feels at once haberdashingly masculine and whimsically feminine. A bit of research seems to indicate the brand is no more, so you'll only find it 2nd-hand, all the better in fact. This was once a pricey piece of kit, but I got it for a snip at just £20. 

FOUND - A Tale of 2 Driving Gloves

Both pairs of these leather driving gloves are from Italy. The left hand pair were purchased (full price, 49 euros) at the Sermoneta shop in Rome CLICK HERE. The right hand pair, also from Sermoneta, were found at the Fara charity shop on Bond Street in Ealing. Last year a group of my mates met in Rome to celebrate our friend Kelly's 50th birthday. Well-traveled Kelly introduced us to 'her' Rome. She speaks Italian rather wonderfully, knew the city like the back of her hand and insisted (quite rightly) that we pop into the Sermoneta shop in the shadow of the Spanish Steps. There, we were all 'fitted' for leather gloves. The selection and service in the tiny but charming shop was second-to-none. Thanks to Kelly the brand Sermoneta is now synonymous with glove excellence, so I was thrilled when last week at Fara I happened upon the leather & crocheted gloves with a little Sermoneta tag on the inside. Let friends serve as a primary style resource; pick their brains, find out their faves, especially smaller more obscure but nonetheless quality brands. Thanks Kelly for steering me right! The like-new but 2nd-hand driving gloves were just £4.   

Clarence and Alabama Pop-Up in Hanwell closes 8 Nov. 

Striking 'vintage style' dresses! CLICK HERE   

FOUND - Stretch-The-Seasons Skirt

I found this skirt at the Fara charity shop in Ealing. It's a French Connection creation but for me, its voluminous folds swirl it back to something from the 1950s. This generously cut circle skirt has weight, making it feel substantial and frankly, expensive. I'll pair it with a short black military-style jacket found in a second-hand stall behind Truman Brewery. Shoes? Well, I'm toying with black peep-toes and flashy tights or brown suede ankle boots. I know, it would be better if the boots were black, but would it? Is black possibly too heavy? The truth is I don't have black ankle boots so I'm going to play around with the skirt using what I've got in my closet to create Style. With a capital S. Call it a Sunday afternoon fashion project - everybody needs a hobby, right? I want to find a way to make this seemingly summer skirt transcend itself and blossom as a piece workable in early Autumn. Can I do it? I hope so as I love this skirt - and at just £7, what's not to love?

Tweet your latest charity shop finds to 

@annielistening, #best2ndever

FOUND - Red Letter Day by the River

I found this Marimekko shirt at the Fara charity shop on the south west side of Richmond Bridge, TW1 2EB, a large, bright shop with a great mix of clothing and housewares. Featuring silver metal buttons this fashion find is akin to a denim shirt, but with stripes. Any number of designers have lead the Marimekko team over the years, but this is Finnish designer Vuokko Eskolin-Nurmesnieni signature print. Dubbed Jokapoika, it's a simple pattern that helped ensure Marimekko's global reputation. Vuokko joined Marimekko in 1953 and along with Maija Isola, was responsible for many of the company's most iconic patterns. This really is a piece fit for a design or fashion museum and to that end Vuokko's work is indeed part of the permanent collection at The Metropolitan Museum of Art. I paid just £8.50 for this piece of fashion history.      

Tweet your best 2nd-hand style finds to 

@annielistening, #best2ndever

FOUND - Cashmere Cover Uncovered

I found this cashmere jumper at the Fara Charity shop in Chiswick near Turnham Green Station. It's the most beautiful shade of butter yellow, in good nick, with no moth holes. The only label in the garment is in the side and indicates the jumper was made in Scotland. Success! You can count on the Scots for quality cashmere. I found it in the men's section of the shop. TOP TIP: Always pick through men's 2nd-hand, always. This softie is marked XL but if this is a MAN's extra large, I'm a pot plant. I suspect it's a woman's extra large, and while not actually overly big, it's spot-on for me. A sumptuous basic, perfect for travel and layering. It was £12.

FOUND - Nice Pair, Old Fruit

I found these Jigsaw brand shoes at the Fara charity shop on Bond Street in Ealing. I can remember seeing them some years ago, new, in a Jigsaw shop. I really wanted them then but just couldn't justify buying a pair of 'silk slippers,' upwards of £100, that I could only imagine wearing to 'the ball.' Truth is, I don't mix in Cinderella circles. As is the way, styles move on and hi-low mixing is now essential to a modern, fashionable look. Today I can easily imagine wearing these shoes with rolled-up Levis (my default style piece) and cashmere pear jumper (gift from my mom). This rather nice pair of shoes, destined to be mine eventually, was £15. 

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TRY THIS - £5 Charity Shop Walk

I found this leather, yes leather, bangle at the Fara charity shop in Ealing. Several times a week rather than make my way to work via Ealing Broadway tube station, I walk to Chiswick Station and take the train to Waterloo. A long, lovely walk, part of it along the river, that begins with a swing past several local charity shops. Easily enticed and under time pressure, I could make a purchase that I later regret; grab and go, overspend and under-think. In an effort to self-regulate when walking to Chiswick, I put only a fiver in my purse. It's a challenge; can I snag a small bargain and still have enough leftover for refreshments along the 5+ mile journey. Last week I not only bought this bracelet, a unique addition to my vast collection, but had enough for a cool, fruit smoothie too. The bracelet was just a pound. No regrets. 

Check out Huntress London in Around Ealing, 

the Council Magazine (bottom right corner)   

FOUND - White Walks the Walk

I found these vintage heels at the Fara charity shop on Bond Street in Ealing. The brand, AM Ashmore, is elusive - research has uncovered nothing about it but they are marked 'Made in Italy' and boast leather soles. Quality, full stop. When I was young, growing up in small town America, the fashion rulebook said one should not wear white dress shoes before Memorial Day (late May) or after Labor Day (early September). The fictional fashionista Carrie Bradshaw in the TV series Sex in the City  - an avid wearer of white heals any time of year - helped to loosen up the tight white restriction. Today, shoes of any hue 'Made in Italy' have extra cachet and we've Salvatore Ferragamo to thank for it. He landed in Hollywood at just age 16, setting up a shoe shop that stars the likes of Greta Garbo flocked to in droves. Later he returned to his native Italy and built a shoe dynasty. While these are not Ferragamos, they are bellissima! I wear them with rolled-up Levis. They were just £7.    

FOUND - Round Peg for Square Hole

I found this large straw bag at the Fara charity shop just up the road from the Turnham Green tube station. I've half a dozen straw bags so did I really need to clutter my collection with yet another? It's unbranded, probably not very old, in reasonably good nick so I hear you ask, "But Huntress, what's so special about this one?" I'll tell you what - packability. This summer staple and carrier classic lays perfectly flat and will slip seamlessly into my suitcase. It's a multi-tasker too; a beach bag, shopping tote, and even a fetching summer evening-out bag. It checks all the box, or, well, fills in all the circles. Straw bags have reached iconic style status; they add texture, design history and a timeless air to any outfit. When you see 'em cheap, unique and well-made, I suggest you grab 'em. Or I will. This red rounder was just £6.  

Thanks to Ealing Today, local on-line newspaper, 

for featuring Huntress London in My Ealing        

FOUND - Shiny Swiss Shoes or Not?

I found these shoes at the Fara Charity Shop on Bond Street, Ealing. The boffins claim a woman who collects shoes is a frustrated traveler. And they may be on to something, because these patent pretties have left this traveler wildly frustrated. They're glorious; leather soles, sturdy construction, elegant shape. Even the laces are lovely and once re-heeled they were good to go. The label reads 'Bally Avant Garde' but all the research in the world hasn't uncovered a connection to Bally, the famed Swiss shoe company. The Bally label is traditionally block lettered not script (see inside shoe) and I can't yet find a past Bally line called Avant Garde. I'll joyfully wear these and appreciate their high style and superior quality but I still feel slightly cheated. The shoes haven't told me their story! Do you know anything about Bally Avant Garde? Either way, their price was no mystery - just £15. 

FOUND - Bags of Fab Fin Design

I found this messenger bag at the Fara Charity Shop, just up the road from Turnham Green Tube Station in Chiswick. It's from Marimekko, the iconic Finnish design house. In 1951 the company staged its first fashion show in a Helsinki hotel; the bold print dresses on show were so popular that they sold straight off the models' backs. The company opened its first shop a year later. In '58 founders introduced Marimekko at the Brussels World's Fair, paving the way for the brand to skip over the Atlantic and make a splash in NYC. Americans go gaga for the happy graphic designs and by 1960 Jacqueline Kennedy buys 7 Marimekko shift dresses, appearing on the cover of Sports Illustrated in one of them. The fashion glossies go mad for the brand. In 1971 the founder's son cuts up canvas to create the company's first classic bag design. This Marimekko bag, probably just 5 years old, has had some use but it's still sturdy, stylish and carries with it a rich design history. While a little worn, it carried a price tag of only £5.

TRY THIS - Let Compliments Fly

Yesterday, on a walk through Walpole Park in Ealing, a young woman - a stranger - said to me 'really nice glasses.' She was sitting with a friend on a park bench eating her lunch. She wore a bowler hat that suited her down to the ground. I'd almost walked past her when she began nodding her head and then verbalized the compliment. I looked back over my shoulder, thanked her and carried on. I found the glasses - Ray Bans, £20 with case - at the Fara Charity Shop on Bond Street not far from the park. Alas, I've loved and lost 5 pairs of Ray Bans in my life; some new, some used, all gone. Thankfully cool, quality specs are regularly available at charity shops and 2nd-hand haunts. The young woman in the bowler hat sent me off with a smile. A spontaneous thumbs-up from a stranger is like a butterfly landing on your shoulder - a bright, light surprise.

FOUND - When Hunting is Child's Play

I found this little bag at the Fara Childrens Charity shop in Ealing, west London. It's a Le Sport Sac made of a nylon canvas with 3 zippered compartments. There was a marble in one of the pockets, but otherwise this wee girl's accessory has hardly been used. Guess little girls don't abuse their handbags the way big girls do. I love its kooky pirate print and because it wipes clean, it's the perfect makeup bag. Children's 2nd-hand is always worth a quick look, even if you don't have kiddies of your own. Little bags like this, scarfs and if you're small yourself, tiny tops are on offer. I also occasionally find vintage toys that make sweet, unusual gifts. This bag was £1. If you pop round to the Fara Childrens Charity Shop, you'll find Angela Malik's Deli just a few doors down. Stop in for a Wake Up Lassi and a smile. The food and service at Angela's is superb.