British Grand Prix

You can visit us 7 days a week. Even on a Sunday we are open from 11am till 4pm.

However this Sunday as well as Glastonbury happening, I shall be glued to the tellybox watching super fast and sexy F1 cars doing laps of Silverstone. Vroooooooooom!!!
(But the ever so lovely Andrew the relief manager, will be in ready to take your money.)

Good 'ol Wikipedia says "Formula One, also known as Formula 1 or F1 and referred to officially as the FIA Formula One World Championship, is the highest class of single-seater auto racing sanctioned by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA)."

It is the only sport that I get super excited about and I MUST watch. Formula 1 is just a feast for the senses. Plus the BBC has Fleetwood Mac's, The Chain as the intro music and it is just the most perfect music choice.

Love a bit of wheel to wheel racing, and with such characters as Kimi Raikkonen (my favourite) and Jenson Button and 'baddies' like Fernando Alonso to cheer when they crash put - mwahahahaha! - the 2013 season is heating up nicely.

Kimi's awesome radio chatter at Abu Dhabi 2012

Brook Green wants to get in on the action so here we have some Formula 1 caps. Oh yes.
Some old Jordan racing caps, signed, but we can't make out the signature - possibly Giancarlo Fisichella - and an old Caterham/Lotus team cap.

Selling at £4 and £28 for the signed caps, you can pretend you in the DRS zone and overtaking for the lead....
"....And look at that overtake! Inches apart, will she make it stick?....YES SHE DOES. Great move...."
No? Just me then. ho hum. Anyway where was I? oh yes.
BUY our hats.

oh and we also have Senna on DVD (£2) for those who have yet to see the documentary movie.
I give it 5 stars. Brilliant. 10 out of 10.

Yes, I do love F1

Bye for now
BG

Rose Gold Earrings

Check ma bling!

These lovely rose gold earrings are clip on.
No markings regarding date, but they look rather 1940s.

No one is entirely sure what the green stone is - even the jeweller who checked them for us! - but we (and the jeweller man) guessed at jade. But as we don't know it is just a green stone as we can't say things are something if they are not! Maybe if you know you can comment and let us know!  

£45
Lovely and rather simple.

Bye for now
BG

BB of DD - Yves Saint Laurent Suit

This is my favourite out of the whole bag of treats.

Yves Saint Laurent (although the label is now just Saint Laurent) is famed for bringing the tuxedo suit for woman to the forefront of fashion. Now this isn't a tuxedo suit, but it is just as lush!

Polka dotted navy 2 piece skirt suit is very 60's (but we think it is actually early 90's)
From the YSL diffusion line Variation, we can imagine Audrey Hepburn cavorting about in Roman Holiday in this....

Ok, so this is Givenchy and not YSL but you get my drift....

Jacket and skirt are in great condition.
The jacket is front fastening. The skirt has a zip up the back and both are fully lined in navy acetate.
Size 10 (eur 38)
This can be dressed up with heels for a polished look or add some flats for a smart casual outfit.

Own this piece of classic YSL clothing for £200

Words cannot express how much I love this outfit. And so did the friends in the know when they were checking it to value it. We all LOVE IT!

Bye for now
BG

BB of DD - Marianne Fassler Jacket and Skirt

Another set of garments from the Bumper Bag of Designer Donations to show to you now.

(This designer we had to Google, but now we are experts in her designs.)

Marianne Fassler is from South Africa and her designs are influenced by her surroundings and has spent 2 decades in the fashion business.

Taken from here - "Marianne Fassler is arguably South Africa’s most original and enduring designer. What sets Fassler apart from her peers is that she always kept her eyes wide open to the vibrant, cross-cultural images one sees on the streets of an African city and has the sass and confidence to weave them into couture collections." Very well put.

We have for you buying pleasure a beautiful skirt with flower beading embellishments and a jacket with pretty pearl buttons (I do love buttons....Good buttons)

Skirt is cotton, and a size 14 (eur 42) and £20

Jacket is lined (with a small rip on the side, but it can't be seen when jacket is worn) with silk
Double breasted with oversized collar.
Size 14 (eur 42)
Priced at £45

From Johannesburg to Brook Green!


Bye for now
BG

BB of DD - Kenzo Jacket

More Kenzo! Possibly a bit too autumnal, but the way our British summer is going, get prepared!

"Kenzo Takada is a Japanese fashion designer. He is also the founder of Kenzo Paris, a worldwide brand of perfumes, skincare products and clothes" Thanks Wikipedia.

Our friends in the know say the jacket late 80s early 90s.
Size 14 (eur 42)
100% Wool (lining 100% Acetate)
£50

Bye for now
BG

BB of DD - Harrods Dress

BB of DD = Bumper Bag of Designer Donations by the way. But you guessed that as you are clever.

This Harrods own brand dress was produced C1970 (according to our friends in the know)
It is a soft jersey fabric with a lovely scalloped neck line, with beading detail.
However some of the beading has come loose over time.
The sleeves are half length.
Zip down the side.
Size 10 (Eur 38). A rather fitted size 10.

This is a statement floor length gown. "Look at me. I'm classy yet sexy" The dress really said that....Well if it could talk it would.
Perfect for a glitzy occasion
£68

Bye for now
BG

Bumper Bag of Designer Donations

You know how I love a good bag of donations, (and some awesome amazing alliteration in the title!), well today we got one and the lovely donor lady signed up to Gift aid so she gets extra good bonus points! HURRAH!

Not only were the garments vintage/retro they are also designer, which helps us raise money for Trinity Hospice.

We do get people in buying for TV (BBC television centre is only up the road. Well, was. I mean it is. It is still there but the people are not. Oh you know what I mean....) and so the very stylised stuff went first. Instant 70's outfit done.
Brook Green also gets a few students about who love to play with mixing high street with funky retro items.
Finally we get the fashionistas who know to invest in certain items. (Not bragging, but we do get fab pieces in....OK yes yes we are bragging, just a little bit.)

When we get in items which are collectible or we are unsure on how to price, we have some friends in the know, who help us out so we can get the best price for Trinity Hospice.

This bag today was full of interesting pieces. Hurrah! (again)
Harrods own brand evening dress (C1970s), Kenzo jacket (C1980s), Yves Saint Laurent (now just Saint Laurent) polka dot suit, Gianni Versace shirt and Marianne Fassler bits.
I would snap up the YSL suit if it wasn't a size 10!

Going to focus on each piece later once I can get some photos and some pricing details.

Of course I can't leave you without something for your eyes, so it's video time....
Fashion. Hmmmm I know you think I'm going to post some more Bowie (I was so very tempted, but it is middle of the week and everyone needs a perk up) so gone for some Flight of the Conchords.

Although our fashion is not dangerous. Just FABULOUS!


 
Bye for now
BG

Karl Lagerfeld Shoes

New donation of a pair of Karl Lagerfeld Shoes

Who? Karl Lagerfeld is known for forever wearing sunglasses - even indoors. He designs for Chanel and Fendi as well as his own label. Busy man.

This have a bit of the Bowie about them. Starman style anyone?
(of course I want these, and of course they are not my size. WHY?! Why?! Never my size!)

Size 38 1/2 (UK 5 1/2)
Boxed
Disco up your feet for £40

 

Bye for now
BG

Ozwald Boateng Shirts

Savile row items have been donated today by one lovely donor (and he signed up to gift aid so he gets bonus points!)

Ozwald Boateng is known for his twist on the classic British tailoring, producing beautifully cut suits and shirts bespoke, but also with some ready to wear items.

Just lush lovely pieces . See Just look at those beautiful suits!

We have for sale 3 men's shirts *edit* 2 now. Sold one as I was typing this.... *edit* for £45 each
Size 15 inch collar, one in white and one in a subtle brown print.
Long sleeved with branded buttons

Treat yourself
(Don't forget we have some Kenzo shirts in stock as well)

Bye for now
BG

Kenzo

Everybody wants the Kenzo Tiger print sweatshirt at the moment.

Now, I'm not going to say we have one, as we don't, but we have had a donation of some Kenzo items!

Why won't this picture rotate?! Pah! Still. It's a label. On a shirt. Saying Kenzo.

Ladies - We have a simple grey Kenzo Skirt which could be yours for £9.

Men - You get more choice with a selection of Kenzo Homme (that means Man in French dontcha know) Shirts. Sizes 15 1/2 and 16  collar sizes. Priced at £20 each. All long sleeved.

Bye for now
BG

Meet the Volunteers - Yolaine

End of the week and the final volunteer to introduce you all to. (Well until we get some new ones in)

The shop as been going since Jan 2011 and Yolaine was there from the start.
Every Saturday afternoon, you can find her serving customers and putting stuff out, tidying and tagging. As long as I keep her full of peppermint tea, all is well.

Born in France, Yolaine is great at spotting all the french labels which comes in (which is quite a lot as Brook Green is a rather French area in London) and when a french customer comes in I can pretend I am in Provence while their conversation flows....

Bonjour Yolaine!

Yolaine is also the inventor of 'Photo of the Week'. Basically it allows her to try on oversized dresses and onesies and silly hats and shoes. Might even share some of those photos with you in this blog at some point, if you ask nicely....

Yolaine says "I look forward to my Saturday afternoon in the shop to, jouer á la marchande. I enjoy learning new skills which is totally different to my line of work (HR Management), and meeting new people every week. Plus after 18 years in the UK I can still learn new things!"

***

If you wish to volunteer at Brook Green or any of Trinity Hospice shops (Locations here) get in touch by emailing Anna Alcock retailvolunteers@trinityhospice.org.uk or phoning her on 020 7787 1000

Bye for now
BG

Meet the Volunteers - Andreea

Our newest volunteer is Andreea, who has been here for 3 months or so, and yet it seems as she has always been here.

Another Continental volunteer to join ranks with France and Peru, Andreea is from Romania and like Kat started volunteering to develop her retail skills. Not like she needed much help. Any job given she picks up instantly and completes it to a high standard.

Wednesday, she takes up the till after Lisa finishes and Friday is Andreea day, all day.

(Actually while doing these meet the volunteer blog posts, I realise more what an AWESOME set of volunteers we have at Brook Green. Yes. We win the volunteers. Anyway....)

Andreea is a tea drinker with display skills. The over rail displays in the shop are now being done by Andreea, who again has an eye for colour and fashion. Plus she isn't afraid to try things a bit different and it normally works. (I am jealous)
With a masters and lots of ideas Andreea is making her mark in the shop and putting lots of money in the till which is the entire plan! Very well trained....

Her weakness is nail polish and everytime she is in has fantastic nail art adorning her hands. My favourite one was when they looked like fox faces. So cute.

This week it is monsters. Smooshy monsters.

 

***

If you wish to volunteer at Brook Green or any of Trinity Hospice shops (Locations here) get in touch by emailing Anna Alcock retailvolunteers@trinityhospice.org.uk or phoning her on 020 7787 1000

Bye for now

BG

Meet the Volunteers - Pat

If you love golf, pop in the talk shop with Pat. (Please do.... I can't understand golf. Not my thing)

Our 2nd male volunteer is one of the newest, but Pat's easy going attitude and his 'lets get money in the till' oomph has certainly endeared him to everyone here.
5 months volunteering and already trying to sell everything, including my changing room curtains!

Tuesdays and Thursdays Pat will be putting things out and taking your money! Pat works with Joshua Tuesday afternoons and the manly men get there female admirers in ;) as well as pretty much all day Thursday. Busy busy.

He loves golf and rugby and in his spare time still plays when he can. He loves to get his legs out with a snazzy pair of golfing shorts but he always matches the colours with his shoes. Brilliant.
Poison of choice - Coffee, with 2 sugars (maybe it's a man thing?) and Pat is the naughty volunteer and normally brings in a cake or few for the volunteer team....

Oh and he has the dirtiest sounding laugh of the whole team at Brook Green. Sid James eat your heart out haha!

"Everyone is so friendly and it means I get out of the house and the housework jobs by being here. It is such a great cause and I can keep my brain working doing the till and such. Customers are lovely, even the ones who ask for a discount! tsk tsk. Naughty. I recommend volunteering to anyone." Thanks Pat! Now go take lots of money....

Check out his MANLY apron.

***

If you wish to volunteer at Brook Green or any of Trinity Hospice shops (Locations here) get in touch by emailing Anna Alcock retailvolunteers@trinityhospice.org.uk or phoning her on 020 7787 1000

Bye for now
BG

Meet the Volunteers - Lisa

It's Wednesday so that means Lisa is in to swish up and replenish the bric-a-brac.

Along with being super and opening up when I have morning meetings etc, Lisa is our bric-a-brac display woman who makes sure the old stuff sells and the new stuff looks amazing.

The lovely Lisa and her bargain bric-a-brac

Lisa has been at Brook Green pretty much since we opened in 2011 and knows everything there is to know about stuff in the shop. Find her rearranging things or on the till Wednesday morning and she will help you find what you are after.

Mother to 2 lovely boys, Lisa works around school times to have some time for herself....and to find the best bargains as she does love to shop.

Supplied with coffee and given many jobs to do I can concentrate on clearing space and sorting stock and I know the shop will be perfect in Lisa's capable hands.

All the volunteers are great at signing up Gift Aid donors, but Lisa gives herself the challenge to grab more then most - and I can happily say I don't bribe her to do it...unless the extra coffee counts!

When Lisa leaves Wednesday afternoon her shift is taken over by Andreea

Lisa in her own words "When I first started I had not worked for a long time. Since volunteering at Brook Green, I have learnt loads (ie: How to work a till) and I have become more confident. I enjoy working at the shop because the other staff are lovely and I get on with everyone. I also like to have a few hours just getting away from home and being in a different environment. I cannot see myself ever leaving because of how fun it is to work at Brook Green."
(And I definitely didn't bribe her to say that! Honest!)

***

If you wish to volunteer at Brook Green or any of Trinity Hospice shops (Locations here) get in touch by emailing Anna Alcock retailvolunteers@trinityhospice.org.uk or phoning her on 020 7787 1000

Bye for now
BG

Meet the Volunteers - Joshua

Another day, another blog, and another lovely Brook Green volunteer to tell about.

Joshua was the first male volunteer in Brook Green and so in his interview we made him assemble things and reach stuff.... I do jest, but in fairness, Joshua can reach things I can't!

Joshua came to us to fill his time for half a day, and a year and a bit later we now have him here 2 days a week. Monday afternoons and Tuesday afternoons.
His drink of choice is a strong coffee, 2 sugars, which he will drink while boiling! Still can't get over that. Iron gullet!

His favourite job is sweeping the floor. Oh how he hates me when I hand him the broom, but to his credit he does it and then demands a coffee. Deal done.

He is very camera shy, so you will just have to pop in to see what he looks like. You will find him at the till, taking all the money as he is one of my top sellers. But he also does sorting and tagging, and any job which I send his way. Plus he loves a bit of rock music so I know when Joshua is in charge of the CD player as this is waffting out of it....

(plus Queen are my favourite band, so bonus points all round!)

***

If you wish to volunteer at Brook Green or any of Trinity Hospice shops (Locations here) get in touch by emailing Anna Alcock retailvolunteers@trinityhospice.org.uk or phoning her on 020 7787 1000

Bye for now

BG

Meet the Volunteers - Kat

I said I would introduce you to our lovely team of volunteers and so here we are on this lovely Monday morning, blogging, while the volunteer in question is serving customers! (It's all about delegation!)

Trinity Hospice shops all have a manager, some have an assistant manager, but we wouldn't be able to run without the kind help and support from people donating their time during the week to work in the shops.

If you wondered who dresses our windows along with the manager, it is this talented volunteer.
From Peru, Kat started volunteering to help improve her English and learn some retail skills. She did so well and we spotted her eye for making outfits 'pop' so we let her loose on our dummies and our window dresser was born.

Monday, 11.30ish, naked windows. Hour later and voilà - beautiful outfits and shoes ready for selling! Sometimes she does so well the garments don't even make the dummy before someone wants to buy them.

Clashing colours, same colour different textures, prints etc, all used to full advantage by Kat and our customers love it. We even have one lady who makes a point of going for her run at 1pm every Monday so she can run past and see Kat's new creation.

Kat say, "I have such fun trying out styling the windows, and it has really helped my English skills being here and dealing with customers."

This week Kat has gone for the Green with a dash of Red/Pink

 Burberry top for £45

I say its another winning window. Hurrah!

***

If you wish to volunteer at Brook Green or any of Trinity Hospice shops (Locations here) get in touch by emailing Anna Alcock retailvolunteers@trinityhospice.org.uk or phoning her on 020 7787 1000

Bye for now
BG

Next week treats....

We have decided it is high time you 'meet' the volunteers.

Without these lovely people giving up their time during the week and weekends, Brook Green would not be as tidy or as busy or as fun a place to be.
They are the key players in running the shop and each of them have skills to bring to make Brook Green a better place. Awww.

Starting on Monday, they will be posted up on the day they work.

Now play nicely, and I'll see you all bright and early Monday.

Bye for now
BG

Tour De Force Headwear

More Quirky items have been donated. Woohoo!

These 3 lovely head dresses are by Tour De Force.

My favourite one is this one below

Stand out for £40

And here it is in an editorial (but in blue) from a picture I borrowed from the Tour de Force website

So very high Fashion. Editorial Daaaarlings.

Priced £27 - £40

In the words of our Saturday volunteer Yolaine, "Faaaaaaaaaaabulous"

Bye for now
BG

The Wonderful World of Prince Charles....

....or The Vatican Sex Manual (Or The Rutland Dirty Weekend Book) has been donated and oh it gave us all a laugh.

Eric Idle, best known from Monty Python, produced this book in 1976 and it is very funny.
(Plus it has picture on Eric NAKED(!!) in it. But it is not graphic and no, you don't get the see the pictures. I took photos of other pages....We are not a sex shop you know! haha)

Parodies a plenty and lots of funny pictures and cartoons, it was a spin off of the Rutland Weekend Television series. There are screen grabs and jokes as well as tv listings, which I would guess are not entirely factual!

No pages missing or torn and it is in rather good condition, but the spine is not perfect.
This funny, interesting book could be yours for £12.

Bye for now
BG

Wedding to go to? Who needs Westfield....

....when you can come to Brook Green for an outfit?!
Saving money and knowing your spend will go to help a good cause.

(sorry for lack of posts. Have been in Granada, Spain, for a family wedding....inspiration!)

A lot of our donations are new items with tags still on. I say a lot. I would guess at 11% which I made up in my head to sound like I know what I am going on about!
So not that much, but when it comes in, it goes pretty much that same day (week at the latest....)

We have all done it. Bought something and lost the receipt so couldn't return it.
Or bought something that a 'friend' said looked awesome, when it looked very un-awesome indeed.
Or got carried away at a sale and bought a lovely pink and yellow boxy jacket with blue buttons. It was only £33, reduced from £200....hmmm. You now know it should have stayed on the rail and not been introduced to your wardrobe. (yes I did do this. NEVER again!)

At the moment we have these two lovely dresses which would be excellent for a wedding this summer.

Exhibit A



This lovely purple dress is by Swedish designer Valerie Aflalo is a size 10 (euro 38) 
rrp is SEK 1999 - about £196 and it could be yours for 3 twenty pound notes. Or a fifty and a ten. Or six tens. Or... Card it. £60
Glass beaded necklace £10

Exhibit B

Now this is by Coast.



Size 14 (euro 42) (although personally, I'd say a 12 (euro 40)) with a beautiful floral print.
And we all know how florals are the 'in' thing. Of course they are. It is summer.
rrp £175. Brook Green price £60
The pink wooden beads are £4


Both of these dresses have many shoe and bag options and combinations, but if you are unsure when you pop in, ask our volunteers as they know how to make an outfit work. Talented lil lot.

Bye for now
BG