Yesterday, as the sun finally started to show over London, I ventured up to Primrose Hill, to stumble across Mary’s Living and Giving Shop. Mary Portas, who you probably know from ‘Mary Queen of Shops’ or ‘Mary Queen of Charity Shops’, founded this concept of ‘Living and Giving being not just a shop, but a place to inspire, share, create, meet and discover’. She has ultimately revolutionised the charity shop today, transforming it from a smelly, tatty shop where the average person is an octogenarian, to a sophisticated boutique, which can make money for worthy charities by selling on designer-wares and shabby chic homeware. You would never guess this was a ‘Save the Children’ shop from the outside or indeed the inside, matching the chic boutiques of Primrose Hill, the shop feels light, airy, and sophisticated. You WANT to be in the shop, as opposed to quickly popping in and out in the hope that no friends or neighbours see you in the local charity shop, God forbid!! Indeed I have to admit, that I didn’t even realise it was a charity shop until I looked at the price tags, which stated ‘Mary’s Living and Giving’. Then a light bulb switched on, ‘Ah the woman off the telly!’ and I proceeded to find a lovely Acne denim shirt for a mere £18.00 and some delicious Bliss body lotion for just £1.50. At a time when ‘Make do and Mend’ has become the phrase du jour, and shabby chic is the word we all use to describe our homes, Mary’s charity shop’s breathe new life and charm, as well as an irresistible designer bargain to top it all off!
