Happy New Year!

The festivities are nearly over for another year and as 2013 disappears over the cloudy horizon, in rolls 2014 with new exciting things for Brook Green (We hope!)

We would like to thank every customer, every donor, every gift aid sign up, and everyone reading this blog for their support and patronage this year, in keeping us full of goodies and raising money for Trinity Hospice.

We have improved sales on last year and intend to keep the upward trend, but we couldn't do it without you all, 

so we sincerely thank you.

And as a little treat (and to copy all the big shops) we have our January sale on.
Up to 75% off!!
So with tops from as little as 50p, dresses from £2, and coats from £5, treat yourself to a new wardrobe at Trinity Hospice Brook Green.

But then of course you realise your wardrobe is too full/full of things you now hate/things that don't fit and you need to have a clear out.
Well please bring them to us, during opening hours, and we can make very good use of them.
Without your awesome donations our shop would be empty and we would be sad and that would never do :(
Also as I mention pretty much every post (Sorry...I'm not sorry!! Gift Aid is worth mentioning every time as it all adds up!) if you are a UK taxpayer we can claim Gift Aid on any time as we sell it and this helps more money go to Trinity Hospice, which is why we are here in the first place!

Enough shop talk now...

We hope you have a lovely New Year and look forward to whatever the future will bring.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

(Picked this one as 1) They haven't got to that part yet here in London 2013, 2) Big Ben explodes! and 3) It was the first one I found on YouTube...)

Bye for now
BG

Christmas and New Year Opening

It's been a while, I know, but we have been so busy with all the brilliant pre-christmas clear out donations and making sure all our party frocks are looking great and ready to sell, and making the shop super festive.

We have changed the windows with more fab gowns and the like, and have a mini sale happening, so it has been super hectic. But we haven't forgotten you. More goodies on their way to be blogged to tempt you in in the new year.

Plus we will do a proper sale (up to 75% off! Can't go wrong with that! Fact.) in January.

BUSY BUSY!

Finally our opening times over this festive period -

Tuesday 24th Christmas Eve : 10am - 3pm
Wed 25th IT'S CHRISTMAS! : CLOSED
Thurs 26th Boxing Day : CLOSED
Fri 27th December : CLOSED
Sat 28th December : Normal times
Sun 29th December : Normal times
Mon 30th December : Normal times
Tues 31st December : 10am - 3pm
Wed 1st January : CLOSED
Thurs 2nd January : Normal times

After all the excitement of Christmas and the New Year starts, if you have a clear out or just want to get rid of some of those "What were they thinking" presents, bring them along to us while we are open and we will gladly take them. Don't forget to sign up to Gift Aid if you can!


We hope you all have a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year

Bye for now
BG

Christmas Gown Windows

Still 8 days till Christmas and so time for more party wear and ballgowns in our festive window. Although not sure how many people go to balls now? But then I would love to wear one fo these down to the shops. Just pottering about Sainburys in something totally sparkling and poofy!

Now these are a bit more special, sumptuous silks, and hand beaded couture, hence we are showing them off to you, but as I said before, we have many many more in stock at the moment, although they are selling fast, so please do pop in to see our full selection of party/cocktail dresses and gowns.

BCBG and Gai Mattiolo outfits

Temperley and Joseph dresses

Joseph red silk wrap dress £36
Temperley White cocktail dress £80
Red Amanda Wakeley scarf/wrap £25
Gai Mattiolo Couture blush silk and beaded gown £200
BCBG MaxAzria red silk dress £40

I think the Gai Mattiolo has something of a 'Marilyn Monroe' look about it and think it is fab! You will definately turn a fair few heads wearing it!

Also in the window are Trinity Hospice Christmas cards, which we are getting down to our last few packs! These charity cards for Trinity are priced from £1.99 a pack of 15.

Bye for now
BG

Handbag Timewarp

A bunch of vintage and retro handbags for you today.
A brace of bags? Bundle of bags? Ballows of bags? We need a name for this. Answers on a postcard...

Anyway, where were we? Ahh yes.
This handbags are a mix of retro and vintage, from 1950's up till now.

Some are leather, some are faux leather and some are plastic, but we love them all equally. Here are a small selection, so if you want to see the rest, pop in and say hello!

Gold and white striped - £18

Pink - £12

Leather embossed bag - £18

Bye for now
BG

Butterfly Bling

We do love a bit of funky jewellery and this piece will certainly get noticed when worn.

This gold metal butterfly is about 3 inches across and is covered in these lovely bold glass jewels.

Wear on a coat, or how about using it as a belt 'buckle' on a simple black dress.
It can be worn with a funky tartan print for a bit of a clash (which we love here), or even a bold floral scarf perhaps?
There are also some hooks which would take a chain or piece of ribbon, so could easily be converted into a necklace or even a hanging decoration.
The possibilities are endless!
£18

Hopefully this will just fly away...

Bye for now
BG 

Party Dresses (with added glitter)

So this is Christmas, as the song goes, and what have you done? Although I think John Lennon was going for something a little deeper than making sure you have some decorations up, we have Xmas'd the shop ready for the coming weeks to put customers in a festive mood.

We have dug out all our party wear and ballgowns from the treasure trove in our back room, primped and pressed them and with some added feathers/sequins are trying to glam up the window.

Showing you the night view...

 From left to right - 
(Plunging dark green cocktail dress, just seen behind window dummy, £16)
Green ombre sequin dress £40 
Gold glitter Zara shoes £12 
Black Jaeger dress with neck detailing £40
Black ASOS heels £10  
Sequin bolero £4 
White vintage Harrods dress £45 
Black Zara shoes £10 
Black and White sequined French Connection dress £18 
Grey buckled Zara heels £12 

The beautiful detailing on the 'mermaid' dress

The Christmas tree in the window isn't for sale, but we have many others in store for sale from £3. (Sadly no real ones, but we do have some Pine forest air spritz...)

We shall be updating the window as often as possible, and of course when things get sold, so the ballgowns, cocktail dresses and party wear will keep being refreshed until Jan and all those Christmas/New Year parties are over!
So please pop in and ask if you don't see anything you like on the shop floor as we may have something in the back and we want to make our customers happy, and glam.

Men's suits and shoes are also available, so men you have no excuse to wear jeans and trainers this year!

Bye for now
BG 

Christmas Wreaths

Why not hang one of these wreaths on your door this Christmas?

Wreaths have much history and symbolism associated with them. They are usually made from evergreens and symbolize strength, as evergreens last even though cold winter.
The Advent wreath is associated with Christianity and the coming of Christ, but has been known to be used in Medieval times, with candles, as a sign of life in winter and the hope of a warm srping.

Now they have evolved into a more decorative item and made from anything from bells to wood and even tiny soft toys (although it did look rather kitsch I wanted one!)

We have 4 of these for sale.

Ours are slightly more 'natural', and priced from £2

We also have a handful of red wire heart shaped wreaths, but I forgot to photograph them. Sorry. You will just HAVE to visit if you wish to see them!

Bye for now
BG 

Bill Gibb Vintage Dress

Another brilliant donation from the bag of awesomeness full of the YSL suits etc. We decided to save this one for nearer Christmas as it is so glittery, so here it is in all SPARKLING glory.
(I am running out of superlatives for our donations recently!)

This is a 1970's original dress, with original buttons and belt.
Bill Gibb was a Scottish fashion designer who became renowned in the 1960s and 70s for his unusual and flattering designs. "Gibb's design was described as the epitome of the new emerging trend for romantic eclecticism in British fashion design....His fantastical creations were based on nature, with unexpected combinations of fur, feathers, printed leather, and brightly coloured clinging fabrics" (Wikipedia)

Our dress is a glitter fabric, grey base with shades of yellow and orange and blues.
The buttons are glass and none are missing.
The belt is embellished with diamante to add ever more sparkle to the ensemble.

 There is a rip in the lining but it can't be seen when on, and in the right hands would be easily repaired. This garment is therefore sold as seen.

Our friends in the know love it and have not seen a Bill Gibb dress quite like this one!
£320

Why not own a piece of fashion history?!

Bye for now
BG

Who wants NEW Miu Miu Shoes?

WE DO!
A miracle has happened today. The once in a lifetime, rarest of the rare, magical moments has happened. A pair of designer shoes has been donated IN MY SIZE!!!! REJOICE REJOICE! Praise be, hurrah and hallelujah!

You might be thinking, well why are you telling us as you are surely going to buy them....Well no. Sadly they might fit ON my feet, but I cannot walk in them. Barely stand.
So my rejoicing might be a bit eager, but I just couldn't help myself. Especially as they are Miu Miu which is one of my (and ours at BGreen) favourite labels.

The young and more fun than Prada, offshoot seems to produce lush shoes every season.
These are not current season, but we think they will never go out of fashion. Too pretty to be dated!

It was like unwrapping a present when these came in. (And they are gift aided which, I fear I am beginning to repeat myself on but I really must, adds 25% of the selling price as extra money to Trinity Hospice!)

Time to unwrap the shoes....
Even the box is nice

TA DA! Just look at those beauties!

These Fluro pink "Calzature Donna" sandals could be yours for £300
Size 7 1/2 (eur 40 1/2)
The heel is 4 inches high with a platform at the front.
BRAND NEW
Still in the shoe bags in the box.

Please come and buy them so I don't keep trying them on and sighing that I can't walk in them!

Bye for now
BG

It was acceptable in the 80's....

...and it is also acceptable now! 
I give you Bangles -

Wrong Bangles...

These funky bright bits of plastic and glass are original 1980's pieces, and will certainly make people take notice of your wrists when wearing these!

Priced from 50p up to £3 for the super thick ones, you can't really go wrong with these on your arm.
And here we have Yolaine modeling so colourways for you

Red and White - So very Santa

Green with an accent of pink - Tropical!

and finally ALL THE COLOURS!!

The earrings are all clip on, and our faves are these yellow ones.
All the earrings are £1 a pair.

Plastic fantastic

Bye for now
BG

Meet the Volunteers - Jane

Well hello again. Yet another new volunteer to show to world today.
Getting rather full to the brim of volunteers, which is great at all the jobs get done in double time. I have to keep finding new jobs for them to do to keep them busy!

Jane has been with us for about the same time as Allen, and has helped beautify the shop.

"I retired in September from my jobs as a PA to a high profile city lawyer, having worked for him for 45 years. He gave me a wonderful send off party and I now help him out on personal work for half a day a week.

I come from a very close family. My mother and brother live near Whinchester and I spend every weekend with them.

I have lived in Shepherds Bush for 30 years and love the area, so I was delighed when Trinity Hospice Shops accepted me as a volunteer.

I love going to the cinema and theatre but am a bit particular about what I see.
Finally, although i don't play any sport, I really enjoy watching it on television - especially cricket and equestian sports(not racing)."

A fan of Eastenders and Elton John, Jame will be here Thursday mornings to fill up and sell lots!

All together now...
"This boys too young to be singing the bluuuuuuuuuuuuuueeeessss..........
ahhhhahhhhhahhhhahhhahh...."

(of course I had to pick the version with the Muppets... )

***

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