A shopper has shared the secret behind finding high-end fashion bargains in the least suspected places.
Robyn Elphick, 27, from Skelmersdale, says as a teenager she was "obsessed" with the "quirky style" of TV presenter and fashion designer Alexa Chung and loved seeing what she was wearing. In one article, which showed one of her outfits from head to toe, Robyn noticed one piece of clothing was picked up from a charity shop.
Since then she hasn't looked back and now heads to charity shops all over the north west most days. She has also managed to build up a large following on social media for her fashion-conscious updates and clothing hauls.
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Speaking to The ECHO, Robyn said: "I started going to charity shops in Ormskirk with my friends and we would look to see what we could find. It was there and places like Pop Boutique where we used to go, we didn't have much money because we were only teenagers, but we would find some good stuff.
"When I was younger I used to go shopping with my mum in TKMaxx and I remember being a bit bored as she went through every rail. I think I get my patience from her."
Over the years, Robyn has learned a number of tips and tricks to find the best bargains, including designer brands. For her mum's surprise 50th birthday party, she wore a stunning £2 dress from Roy Castle in Liverpool and YSL shoes which she found in Mind's Liverpool City Centre charity shop for £45.
Other outfits she has worn cost as little as £10 for a jumpsuit and shoes and £40 for a top, skirt, coat and shoes from brands such as Topshop, ASOS and Zara.
Robyn said: "In Ormskirk it's a really great mix of older people donating some really good quality items and students donating high-street brands with tags. My favourite charity shop is the YMCA, it's really reasonably priced and the lifeboat rescue shop has brand new with tags directly from Zara, Pretty Little Thing and Nasty Gal.
"In Southport you tend to get more designer items, my favourite places are Queens Court and the lifeboat rescue charity shops. In Liverpool City Centre there's a few places, MIND is amazing and has a vintage section and Barnardo's Take 2 on Bold Street is amazing for anybody who is new to charity shopping and it's laid out very clearly."
Charity shopping is something people can look down on, but Robyn hope's Love Island and Tasha Ghouri help to change public opinion towards buying things second hand.
She said: "I think it's really important to know exactly what fast fashion brands are doing and how much damage they cause. I think we need to be a little bit kinder to the planet when we can, and this is one thing we can do.
"I hope Tasha's deal with eBay pre-loved will change people's minds. People think selling on Vinted is okay, but then don't think buying from charity shops is the same thing.
"I think people see it as buying a granny's cardigan, my social media and channels are about showing it isn't like that at all."
After years of examining rails in charity shops, Robyn has three key tips for people looking to get into charity shopping and finding the best deals.
She said: "Be open minded and don't assume you won't find anything. The worst case is that you don't end up liking something and you have donated £7 to charity. Make sure you check every section, as things always get put back in the wrong places.
"Sizing in vintage items can also be a little off, so just look everywhere, even the men's section. The last thing is to shop out of season, people are always throwing out their coats in summer when they aren't using them, and the same the other way around"
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