A Scouse mum turned her hobby into a job after finding herself unemployed.
Jennifer Graham, from Anfield, was made redundant from Jaguar Land Rover during the Covid-19 pandemic. With no employment, it was a suggestion from her 13-year-old daughter, Stella, that sparked her new career.
The 37-year-old, who now lives in Cheshire, is a second-hand fashion inspirer with over 21,000 followers on Instagram - @charityshopgirlcsg. There, Jennifer shares reels of her rummaging around charity shops as well as showing her followers how she would style the latest collection to her wardrobe.
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She told the ECHO: “I’ve always loved fashion, I’ve always liked to dress a little differently which is why I was drawn to pre-loved clothing when I was 17. It was the fact that items I found were unique and different and very rarely did I go anywhere and see myself in the same outfit as someone else. Charity shops are where I created my own unique style.”
Although Jennifer never studied fashion, thanks to the knowledge she picked up from reading the likes of Vogue and Elle, she has become a dab hand at finding gems in charity shops. Some of Jennifer’s favourite finds include an Escada pink leather jacket from the 90s for £8 and her selection of baskets. The Liverpudlian is now “on a mission to buy second-hand” and take her ever-growing community with her.
She added: “I lost my identity a little when I had my younger daughter but after a few trips to the charity shops I found it again. I wouldn’t say my style has changed at all since becoming a mum other than I don’t wear heels that often anymore. I still will wear a blazer with huge shoulder pads on the school run.”
The mum-of-three’s social media presence was recently celebrated at the GLOMAMA Awards where she scooped up the award for ‘most fashionable mama’. The awards are nominated and voted for by the public - this year saw a record-breaking 25,000 votes across the UK. Jennifer won alongside the likes of TV personality Charlotte Crosby and Stacey Solomon who picked up the award for the ‘UK’s most ethical and sustainable mama’.
Jennifer shared some of her top tips for second-hand shopping with the ECHO.
She said: “You have to always be prepared to rummage high and low, in baskets and boxes and always check out the bric-a-brac. Always check the men’s section for blazers and shirts for layering. Visit small towns too they always have incredible items.
“Don’t focus on sizing too much as lots of vintage clothing may seem different to high street shop sizes. Always look for potential in an item like how you can wear it in more ways than one. Have regular sort-outs in your wardrobe and work out what you have less of so when you go into a charity shop you know what you need.
“Create mood boards and cutouts of magazines of styles you like so you can source them when out rummaging.”
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