Labels of love
Saturday 15th November 2008, 9:29AM GMT.
SHOES from Prada, Chanel trousers and a skirt by Mark Jacobs.
Sound out of your price range? Well, it’s not.
Nestled in between a flurry of antique shops at the top of Mill Street, something exciting has sprung up – a designer boutique. Not a charity shop and not a high-end boutique full of fancy-pants expensive gear, it sits comfortably somewhere in the middle.
Dolce and Gabbana, Hermes, Ralph Lauren, Yves St Laurent, Diane von Furstenberg and Valentino – all there on the rails… but guess what? Nothing is over £50.
Yes, that’s right, prices are from £5 to £50 and there is even a £1 bargain bin for the serious bargain hunter.
You can accessorise, too – diamante vintage (and I’m talking proper vintage, not high street vintage) brooches, suede dancing shoes, handbags and jewels for your ears and neck.
The best bit is, all money raised from sales goes to Survive Cancer, a charity aiming to fund a first series of clinical trials into groundbreaking new treatments for the disease.
Now that’s what I call guilt-free designer shopping.
Doors will open this Thursday between 5pm and 8pm and every Thursday evening thereafter.
If you would like to volunteer in the shop or have designer items you have fallen out of love with that you would like to go to a new home, your time or donations would be gratefully received – contact Dr Carmen Wheatley at wheatley.carmen@googlemail.com.
Clothes can be brought along on Thursday evenings or left, labelled for Survive Cancer’s shop, from Monday to Friday between 9am and 3pm at Merchant House, Back Street, around the corner from the shop.
All photos in this gallery were taken by Zoe Ash.
- With thanks to models Anne Drury and Naomi Harding

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