jumble sales

As you know recently, I have been going to quite a few a lot of jumble sales recently. It’s not because my family are hoarders, it’s because you can really find some gems in the mix of things! The ‘high street’ shops where I live, really are not to my taste, so I find going to a few ‘Vide Greniers’ is worth it. 55I thought I would teach you how to shop at them! This isn’t for just French ones, it can be useful tips for the classic Car Boot in the UK, or a Garage Sale in the US. Take them and see if they work for you! (Also I would just like to say a BIG thank you to everyone who voted for me in the Style Blogger Awards, lets just hope we get a good outcome! *Fingers Crossed*)

A Vide Grenier in the Midi Pyrenees!

Ignore Sizes & Genders: Yes, you read it right! At Jumble Sales most things will be old sizes, perhaps sizes from the 60s, 70s, etc which are different to sizes now! If you’re a size 8, don’t just look for a size 8! Something a bit bigger might look good baggy, and something a bit shorter might look cropped! Ignoring genders is also key! If you pick something up which is mens (or womens) and you like the look of it, buy it if it’s cheap!

Ask the prices: If you see something you like the look of, ask for the price! Even if it is way out your budget, or you may not ever wear or use, just ask! You never know, those old pair of vintage brogues might only be £2!

Make Do & Mend: I’m not saying do what they did in the war, but if you see something which perhaps is a bit tatty, or has a few holes, or is a bit too long, take it for a cheap price and change it up! If a skirt has a weird hem, add some lace to it! You would prefer that top with a peter pan collar? Add one! It’s cheaper than buying it new!

Haggle: If something is £7, ask for it for £5! £2, ask for it for £1! £15, ask for it for £10 or somewhere in between. Don’t worry! The worst thing that will happen is that you will get it for full price!

Take a chance: Getting back to ignoring sizes, if you don’t try something on, don’t worry! If it’s 50p and doesn’t fit, that really isn’t going to break the bank is it?!

Look out for DIY items: What I mean by this is, if there is an old box of necklaces, ask how much they would take for the whole lot. That box would be great for DIYs, as you can break of the beads and sew them onto things, or even make bracelets and other bits and bobs out of them! They’ll probably only take a fiver, so grab the chance!

Look up local Jumble Sales: Whenever we want to go out we always make sure we check out if there are any on. Even if you get there and they are packing up, or it’s the smallest ever, it might just be worth it. We sometimes get to ones, and they are all through the village!

I hope these tips were helpful! Even if you think you know how to ‘shop’, I think it’s good to know a little bit more from other people. Jumble Sales are great places for fashionista’s and, people wanting to re-vamp their style for less! (I sound like Gok Wan!) If you follow me on Instagram (TDPosh), you will be able to see what bargains I find! 🙂

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Compose yourself Tolly, it’s just a pair of shoes…A pair of the most amazing shoes which I have been waiting soooo long for! Yes, TDP officially owns a pair of Dr Martens! The classic pair of 1460s of course. They maybe 2nd hand, but I simply do not care. I can now say the phrase, ‘I own a pair of Dr Martens’.
The pair of Size 5 (38) costing €30 (£25.40) slipped into my hands around about half past five today, in a small town near Castres in France. We went to a few jumble sales and Vide Greniers (french word for jumble sale kind of thing) today, to try them out, and the last one was certainly the best. We drove into the town and saw loads of cars parked everywhere, and walked up a hill where we found loads of stalls through the streets where people were living. I was hoping perhaps I may have come across a pair of these beauties, but I really wasn’t expecting it. We stopped to have ‘un barquette de frites’ (chips) for a snack, and my mum said ‘We will find you a pair‘ (Randomly). We walked on, and as I turned my head. I stopped, and ran. The pair above were sat on a table waiting to be taken away to a new home. 2 french girls were running the stall, and thought I was absolutely bonkers when I went ‘AAAAAH. DR MARTENS!! OMG!!‘ and then almost fainted (No joke, I really did). My dad then asked what size they were, I heard the number ’38’, then literally chucked them on the floor and tried them on. I slipped them on, and they fitted nicely, perhaps a little big for now, but I can only grow! They are in the best of conditions, almost like new, and nowhere near worn and stretched like you see on eBay (Where I’ve been looking for the past 7 years…). The icing on the cake was the price. €30?! Original 1460s cost about £100 RRP, so I had an amazing bargain! I swapped my boots over, and got to keep the original box too! The fact that they are pretty much identical to the ones in my DM poster, is amazing. Expect to see these babies in lots of OOTDs! I don’t think I will ever forget Sunday 7th April 2013. My first pair of Dr Martens were put on my feet. #firstandforever

Have you got Dr Martens? When and how did you get your first pair? How many pairs do you own? Make sure to tell me in the comments below!

If you’re feeling kind, please nominate my blog as Best Teen Blog in the Company Magazine Style Blogger Awards, as nominations close on April 10th, every nomination counts! Use the url: http://www.tollydollyposhfashion.com