Charity stores' bargains are a jewel in crown

There it was in all its deep-purple splendour, carefully arranged on a mannequin at the far end of the building, its plunging neckline and stunning lace detail in immaculate condition. A fine dress - and a bargain at a mere 55.99.

On official business in Edinburgh, the Duchess of Rothesay wasted no time snapping up the charity shop outfit in the Grassmarket's Barnardo's Vintage store on Wednesday afternoon, having gasped with wonder when she first laid eyes on it. Smiling from ear to ear as staff bagged it up for her to take back to her Gloucestershire home, Camilla told them her daughter, Laura, would love the bargain she would present to her as a gift.

If charity shop finds are good enough for royalty, then the residents of Edinburgh are surely laughing. For if you are prepared to stray away from the regularity of the high street and hunt out the best the city's numerous charity shops have to offer, there is plenty more where that now-famous purple ball gown came from waiting for your arrival. And you can rest assured - your bargain find will have the royal seal of approval.

The day after Camilla's visit, staff in Barnardo's Vintage are still buzzing from the excitement.

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"The gown was just a donation, handed in to the shop and discovered in a bag of clothes," smiles shop assistant Lynsey Scott, who served the duchess, the president of Barnardo's, during her visit to the shop. "I'd actually been saving it for a couple of weeks to put on display when Camilla visited and she absolutely loved it.

"I was trying to show her other items, but she was really taken with the gown. She kept going on about it."

Packed to the rafters with vintage pieces, the shop is something of an Aladdin's Cave with laden rails of elaborate evening gowns, bridal dresses and gents' suits, not to mention the display of striking hats, ties and shoes, and a glass cabinet adorned with earrings, hat pins, mirrors and brooches from yesteryear.

Among the treats is a heavy woollen war-time bomber jacket, thought to date back to the Korean War, in perfect condition for just 41.99.Alongside it hangs an Edwardian professor's gown, a little battered, yet only 29.99, brought in to the shop recently by an "eccentric" Edinburgh gentleman, along with a bag of plus fours.

In the far corner, near to where Camilla's eyes were drawn to the purple debutante gown, hangs the shop's most expensive item - a stunning cream, 1950s, high-necked, long-sleeved, silk wedding dress for just 69.99.

"If we were to sell this on eBay, I am confident we'd get well over 100 for it," says Lynsey.

"The prices here are fantastic. We always have to keep in mind that we are a charity shop and price things accordingly."

The list of bargains seems endless, from the 7.99 bright red polyester 1970s jumper to the 1960s wool and velvet black and green checked dress and jacket set for a mere 25.99.

Each item has a history, some of them known by staff, yet others remain a mystery. But they all have a future from the moment they are bought.

On the back wall, hung neatly on a backdrop of pink floral wallpaper, a once-worn mother-of-the-bride outfit waits for its new owner. A toffee colour, it comprises an A-line shift dress and a long matching coat, made by Petite Francais and worn by a proud mum who watched her daughter tie the knot in 1972. All of this will set you back just 59.99.

Pictures of mum and daughter at the wedding are pinned to the wall, next to the brown leather bag, shoes and floral hat the now deceased woman also wore on the big day.

"The daughter lives in Edinburgh and came in about a month ago with the outfit, and the photograph, and said she had thought about selling the outfit but really wanted to give it to charity," says Lynsey.

"There are often emotional tales behind some of the garments we get and it means a lot to us that people donate so generously.

"I think a lot of people aren't sure about second-hand items, though, especially because of the sizes. The thing to remember is they can be altered if necessary, often to give the piece a really contemporary twist."

Down the road in Morningside, the Bethany Christian Trust charity shop is heaving. A lady is wrestling a large camera tripod into a bin bag at the counter, while another waits patiently in the queue with a 2.50 mustard- coloured glass vase in her hand, laughing that her husband will tell her off for buying "more junk".

"But I love this type of stuff," she smiles, shrugging her shoulders.

The shop is well known in the neighbourhood for its impressive selection of furniture, none of which spends much time on display before a reserved sticker is slapped on its side and a new owner arrives with a van to take it home. Much of the stock comes from house clearances in the Morningside area and there is every chance the Duchess of Rothesay would find something here to suit her tastes.

"We've got some brand new Canadian furniture in at the moment," explains shop manager Helen Dickie. "The person who donated it had it shipped over but, when it arrived, it was too big for her home. It's immaculate, never been used."

There in the window is the furniture in question - a large baker's rack made of iron and cherry wood for just 160. Alongside it is a 1930s desk for 150 and a green nine-piece Govancroft tea set for just 50.

Among the bric-a-brac hides a 1 Jimmy Shand LP, released in 1983 to celebrate his 50th recording year, as well as a 10 boxed mug to commemorate the wedding of Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer on July 29, 1981 and a decorative bell to mark the arrival of Prince William to the world on June 21, 1982.

"We once sold a diamond engagement ring for 700 and a Rolex watch, which was hidden in a chest of drawers, for 500," smiles Helen. "Whoever donated can't have realised it was there."

Across the city, most charity shops are busy with bargain hunters, including Shelter in Stockbridge where manager Peter Jew is sorting through donations in the back room of his store on Raeburn Place.

The shop is known for its high-end products, as well as its popular January sale, which this year raised 14,000 in one week for the charity which helps the homeless.

Among the items on display today is a vintage 1970s Claudie Amos dress, an eye-catching red and white polka-dot number for just 25, as well as pinstripe Armani trousers for 20 and a Hermes silk square for only 30.

"We have a high benchmark for quality," says Peter. "Camilla would most certainly have found something she liked in here."

But just as she snapped up the full-length ball grown just minutes after it had been put on display, shoppers have to be quick. The best stuff goes fast.

GOING CHEAP

Barnardo's Vintage, 116 West Bow, 0131-225 4751

Barnardo's also has stores at 18 Gorgie Road (including its only Scottish Brides By Appointment shop), 29 Deanhaugh Street, Unit 14b Westside Plaza, 106 Nicolson Street, 45 Clerk Street, 26 Crighton Place, 144 Leith Walk and 196 Portobello High Street.

Shelter, 104 Raeburn Place, 0131-343 2963

There are also Shelter stores at 39 Forrest Road, 134 Nicolson Street, 27 Dalry Road, 161 St John's Road and 104 Morningside Road.

Bethany Christian Trust, 93 Morningside Road, 0131-561 8997

It also has stores at 17 Duke Street, 32b Haddington Place, 46 Hamilton Place, 1/3 Summerhall Place, 110b Dalry Road and 88 St John's Road.

Other notable charity shops include the Edinburgh Methodist Mission Shop, situated in Tollcross; the many Cancer Research and Marie Curie shops across the city; the PDSA store on the High Street; and the British Heart Foundation and Salvation Army shops, both on Dalry Road.