Latest news with #thriftstore
The Sun
22-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
I'm a savvy bride and transformed £25 charity shop find into my dream wedding dress, it saved me £775
FINDING some decent bargains in your local charity shop is about luck as much as it is about having a good eye. But one savvy bride has shown how she hit the jackpot when she stumbled across a classic vintage gown - and turned it into her dream wedding dress. 4 Hannah Penberthy, 23, regularly snaps up incredible bargains from charity shops and thrift stores. Once she brings them home, she often turns them into upcycle projects and makes some alterations to make them good as new. But this time, when creative Hannah spotted a traditional, vintage wedding dress for just £25, she knew it was going to be more than just a project. The moment she saw the gown, she knew it was coming home with her and saw the potential it had to become something chic and preppy. After making some adjustments, the end result was so incredible that Hannah now plans to wear it at her own wedding reception - saving her a massive £775 on a new dress. Speaking to Hannah said her plan quickly came together after she brought the dress home. The bodice had the most beautiful detailing... I plan to wear it as my 'goodbye' dress while I leave my wedding reception venue in a vintage car Hannah Penberthy She said: "I found this traditional wedding dress at a charity store, and what drew me to it was its vintage style. "The bodice had the most beautiful detailing, and, having recently gotten engaged, I plan to wear it as my 'goodbye' dress while I leave my wedding reception venue in a vintage car. 'My idea was to cut off the sleeves and half of the skirt to turn it into a shorter cocktail dress, with puffy sleeves. "After creating a bubble skirt, I used the excess fabric from the skirt to sew together the sleeves and attach them to the shoulder part of the bodice. "I cut out the excess mesh and changed the neckline into more of a sweetheart neckline. This consisted of cutting and sewing a hem. "I tried to keep the identity of this dress and conserve its natural beauty, while updating it to be more my style.' The creative bride-to-be revealed that she saved an incredible £775 in the process of upcycling the dress. Hannah added: 'I had been looking at dresses similar to the one I made, and most were priced between £400 and £800, to buy brand new. "By creating my own dress, I saved a substantial amount, spending only around £25 at a charity shop for the original piece.' And she said that this huge saving, mixed with being able to show off her creativity, is what inspired her to repurpose the dress. Hannah said: 'I decided to repurpose this dress for many reasons: to save money, to be eco-conscious, and to explore my creative side. "Shopping from a charity shop saves money and lends itself to finding such unique pieces. "But it also is a way of supporting more sustainable fashion practices and reducing textile waste. "Thrift flipping gives new life to clothing that might otherwise end up in a landfill, and it promotes a more thoughtful, community-oriented approach to style. TOP ADVICE HANNAH has shared her top piece of advice for anyone planning to repurpose their wedding dress - or other clothes in general! She said: "My biggest piece of advice is: just go for it! "We often spend too much time overthinking, but taking that first step is the hardest part — and it's so worth it. "Sewing might seem intimidating at first, but it's incredibly rewarding and more approachable than it seems. "Once you get the hang of it, it opens up a world of creative possibilities. "Repurposing a dress, especially for something as meaningful as your wedding, adds so much personal value. "There's something really special about wearing something you poured your heart into, knowing it's one-of-a-kind and full of love. "And who knows, maybe one day you'll pass it down and make it part of someone else's story too.' "I also love that it allows me to be creative and work on my sewing skills. I can create anything I can imagine. How freeing is that?!' This project only fuelled Hannah's passion to take on upcycling projects more regularly, which she has loved doing over the past year. She said: 'Over the past year, I've gotten into the habit of regularly buying and flipping second-hand clothing. "It's become a true passion of mine. "I love fashion, working with my hands, and bringing creative ideas to life. "There's something incredibly rewarding about the entire process, especially when I wear a piece out and someone asks, 'Where did you get that?' and I get to say, 'I actually made it!' "I definitely plan to keep doing this and would love to one day turn it into something more than just a hobby.'
Yahoo
05-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Customer calls out local Goodwill after spotting baffling items for sale: 'Let me make sure I'm understanding this correctly'
Thrift shopping is a fantastic way to find high-quality items while saving money, but like everything, it can come with its ups and downs. Take, for instance, a recent post on Reddit that highlighted a thrift store selling Amazon mystery boxes for what appears to be a considerable sum. Posting on the subreddit r/ThriftGrift, a thrifter shared images of the Amazon mystery boxes found at their local Goodwill priced at $59.99. The post received over 100 comments from people who were mostly confused as to why these might sell. "Let me make sure I'm understanding this correctly. I could give Amazon $60.00 for something that I absolutely 100% know for sure that I definitely need OR: I could buy this," one commenter wrote. Another added, "I'd be so [skeptical]!" While it's not clear what is in these particular boxes, people are right to be skeptical following reports of thrift stores selling low-quality or overpriced items, or even putting half-empty consumables on their shelves, resulting in a negative experience for the shopper. These instances are clear examples of corporate greed bleeding into the thrifting industry, but fortunately, these cases are not very common. Shopping at thrift stores can be a great experience, enabling people to search out high-quality items for a fraction of their original cost while also being treasure troves of unique and rare items. Thrifting often leads to significant savings on a range of items from home furniture and decor to clothes, shoes, and other apparel. Some thrifters have even reported purchasing mystery bags at their local thrift store and being overjoyed by what they found inside. In addition to being budget-friendly, thrifting is also a fantastic way to extend the life of items that other people would have ordinarily thrown out. This helps keep items in circulation, reducing the amount of waste filling up landfills. Buying secondhand also reduces the need for new products to be made, conserving valuable resources and saving energy, which together help protect our planet. What's your primary motivation in shopping at thrift stores? Cheaper clothes Trendier items Reduced environmental impact I don't thrift Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
Yahoo
26-06-2025
- Lifestyle
- Yahoo
Celebrate Canada Day by going plastic free
According to Environment and Climate Change Canada, less than 10 per cent of the plastic used in Canada actually gets recycled. Plastic Free July is a global movement that encourages the public to refuse single-use plastics for the entire month in the hopes that the small, yet significant lifestyle adaptation will continue. Since this yearly challenge happens to fall within the heart of summer, what better way to take part in the incentive than by throwing a picnic? Sans plastic, of course. Canada Day is the perfect time to jump start a plastic-free commitment. Here are some tips. Re-use old food jars to store food. Heading out to a picnic? Pickle and jam jars make for great alternatives to plastic bags when packing up food. Simply give them a good wash and they suddenly become a reusable item in your picnic basket. Ditch plastic cups. Staying hydrated doesn't have to include plastic cups. Keep the whimsy by serving drinks in mason jars. Add sliced citrus and mint for a refreshing beverage. Serving fruit? Avoid plastic-wrapped products. A no-cut fruit salad makes for the perfect guilt-free sweet treat. Picking up fruit from a local farm or farmer's market eliminates the use of plastic wrap and bags. Buy Canada Day snacks in bulk. Buy your nuts (or snack of choice) in bulk! Most bulk food stores allow you to bring reusable produce bags and storing jars. When decorating, consider buying decorations that can be used year after year. Or, better yet: Thrift them! Borrow or rent items you don't own. Opt for paper decor over single-use plastics. We challenge you to be part of the Plastic Free July movement. Choosing to refuse single-use plastics could be as easy as throwing your own plastic free picnic. For more information, visit: Plastic Free July Click here to view the video With files from Lia Nardone and Cheryl Santa Maria. Header image: File photo via Canva Pro.
CBC
17-06-2025
- Entertainment
- CBC
Nova Scotian lighthouse lamp found in B.C. thrift store ignites cross-country friendship
Julia Ghersini found a lighthouse lamp in a Maple Ridge, B.C., thrift store and realized it was a unique, hand-painted item by Nova Scotia's John and Sheila Jordan. When she posted about it on Facebook, her post went viral, and she ended up meeting Amanda Farnsworth-Thibodeau, a great-niece of the Jordans, who has her own version of the lighthouse.
Yahoo
14-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Community steps up after fire destroys thousands of pounds of donations at Pittsburgh Salvation Army
Two months ago, a devastating fire tore through the Salvation Army's Adult Rehabilitation Center on the South Side, destroying nearly 65,000 pounds of donated clothing. The organization put out a call for help — and the people of Pittsburgh delivered. PREVIOUS COVERAGE >>> Fire, smoke destroy Salvation Army donations in South Side Since the fire in late April, the Salvation Army has received more than 100,000 pounds of donations, far surpassing what was lost. So many items poured in that staff ran out of their usual blue collection bins and had to begin storing donations in cardboard boxes. Now, donations fill all three floors of their facility. 'It's beyond what I expected,' said Major Mark Unruh, the center's administrator. 'Of course, it's what I hoped and prayed for.' Channel 11 was there when the fire broke out, damaging the contents of the warehouse with flames, smoke and water. The loss was massive — but it sparked a massive community response. Several local recovery organizations showed up with U-Hauls full of clothing and household items. All donated goods are resold at Salvation Army thrift stores, and the proceeds directly fund the organization's Adult Rehabilitation Program. The program offers a six-month, completely free recovery process for men struggling with addiction. It provides food, housing, clothing, counseling, job placement and access to education. 'What I really want people to know is why we do this, why we collect clothing and household items and why the thrift stores matter,' said Unruh. 'It's all to support this program.' Thanks to the outpouring of support, the program won't experience any setbacks. 'It's the best problem to have,' Unruh added. 'Where do you put all this stuff?' At this time, the Salvation Army says it no longer needs additional donations. Instead, they're encouraging the public to help spread the word about their Adult Rehabilitation Program, which still has open beds available. Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW
