Aside from my experience travelling, people are most intrigued when I bring up ‘thrifting’ on this blog…. where I go, how to find places, how to know a good find and where to start. I’ve been thrifting for nearly 10 years now & have seen it go from being something many considered dirty & unpleasant to now being a hobby enjoyed by tons of fashion savvy ladies on their Saturday afternoon!
What attracts me most to charity shopping is not the price first & foremost, its the selection of clothes that is second to none. In any given charity shop you’ll find clothing from every decade & every part of the globe. They’ll evoke nostalgia (vintage pieces), wanderlust (pieces bought overseas) and a good bit of fun (any quirky piece you stumble upon that was picked up from god knows where).
While I’m utterly delighted that charity shopping is no longer seen as gross and instead, as a way to add unique touches to your wardrobe with money leftover to wear them out for cocktails, there is a downside; there’s not enough good stuff left for little ol’ me!!!
Yes, I’ve definitely noticed a decline in the amount of gems I’m smugly arriving home with after a day out storming the charity shops but I’m still glad to be sharing my charity shops with all you fine ladies…. and this post is out to solidify that sentiment.
Charity shopping in Dublin is somewhat of an anomaly, despite our little city having some absolute gems packed with wears that’d delight even the most skeptical of shoppers. I’ve been an avid charity shopper for years, often dragging friends along, regaling them with all that our little thrift stores have to offer. You can spend a day shopping for a new wardrobe, stop for lunch and still have change out of €50, now…. who can argue with that?!
I’ve included some of my current favorite charity shop finds in this post to get your imaginations ticking… quite literally ahhhhnything can be found inside those lackluster doors so, what are you waiting for? Rally the girls, grab the bags & hit the stores for a fun day of shopping with a difference. If you find yourself empty handed come the end of the day I’ll be VERY impressed (… and a tad confused!)
This shop is small enough but a gem or two can still be found. Vincent’s shops are well known for their ‘elegance’ sections where they offer designer/high-end high street pieces at a slightly higher price point; great if you’re looking for a special occasion outfit that you don’t want to see half the other guests in.
Arguably my favorite charity shop in the whole of Dublin. This gem is small inside but well organised… they get such a high footfall that the stock is constantly replenished; great if you’re a regular visitor but also induces fear in the thoughts that you may be missing phenomenal pieces if you’re not in there every day of the week!
This shop has a brilliant selection of women’s dresses & jackets. I’ve found a good few ‘knew I had to have it as soon as I laid eyes on it’ pieces in here over the years. Also, its another shop I’d recommend if you are looking to solve that special occasion outfit dilemma.
Small, yes but this shop is packing a serious punch; well organised, a great vintage selection & enough handbags to keep you stocked for a lifetime.
The clunky plastic hangers that are an unfortunate trademark of Vincent’s are so cumbersome they’ll make you want to tear your hair out… they fall off the rail every time you touch a garment. Don’t say I didnt warn you!
Aside from the that you can find pretty much anything clothing-wise in this store. They have a permanent sale rack & ‘elegance’ section so, weather you’re feeling particularly flush or, practically broke there’s something in store for you!
Larger than a lot of other charity shops with a high ceiling (faaaancy) and a second floor house menswear & a great vintage section. This shop seems to lack the clutter than can often be encountered in other charity shops so its a great spot to ease yourself into the idea of thrift rummaging if you’re so far unfamiliar.
Some beautiful stuff to be found in this Oxfam’s great vintage section, they also have a bridal section that you couldn’t possibly pass on visiting if you have your big day scheduled. The rest of the clothes they have are pretty uninspiring & there’s not a huge selection so, if you like vintage definitely check this place… if not, give it a miss.
This small store is just full of hidden treasure…. it never seems to produce the same content over & over; instead you’ll find a trusty stream of gorgeous dresses, high quality coats & a few quirky vintage pieces thrown in for good measure. A great shop to start you’re Dun Laoghire day of shopping in.
Never one to leave this shop empty handed, this particular shop up there as one of my faves. They seem particularly keen on only offer high quality items so if your image of charity shop stock is moth bitten, threadbare clothing….this is the spot that’ll squash that dated notion.
As with all ICAs, the standard of stock in this shop is constantly high. Its always packed with customers which helps keep the turnover of clothing on offer really high and, the mishmash of eras that ICA tend to offer their apparel from will leave you nostalgic & bewildered at the same time; When we’re coat tails in fashion? Would I wear them now?
Phibsborough’s charity shops offer a treasure of goodies & are more prudently priced than those of other areas. The shops are clustered around a cross roads so you can tick them all off in an hour or even less if you are impartial to the formidable charity shops musk!
Oxfam is a great place to start offering huge potential as the place to find that camel coat of your dreams… they have plenty of clothing from the older generations providing that vintage mix that our wardrobes are just crying out for.
This branch is packed with great clothing & vintage finds. I don’t think I’ve ever left this spot empty handed so it is well worth ticking off.
Last but certainly not least…this shop never fails to impress even the most serious of charity shopping skeptics. If you round your day off in this spot you’ll be ending on a high note. Great selection of clothes with a brilliant range of sizes, there’s something for everyone in here.
Each of the 3 areas I’ve focused on have a great cluster of thrift gems which will keep you browsing until the sun goes down. On top of that they have a selection of cafe that you’ll need to pop into for hydration (& caffeination) throughout the day.
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