Charity shop ready for designer sale

Bargain-hunters will descend on Save the Children's Mary's Living & Giving Shop on Wednesday evening when it holds a fundraising sale of cut-price, brand new designer clothes.

With clothes and jewellery from the likes of Ralph Lauren, Stella McCartney and Vivienne Westwood, even the biggest bargains will be rather more expensive than your usual charity shop find, but it is hoped the sale will provide a big boost for the charity's coffers.

The Grazia Gold event, which marks the approach of London Fashion Week, is also intended to attract new shoppers to the Raeburn Place store, which was opened by retail guru Mary Portas in November as part of her mission to improve the standards and the fortunes of charity shops.

The items for sale have been featured in shoots in fashion magazine Grazia, and will arrive by special delivery just before the opening.

Shop manager Barbara Williams said the event had been set up with the encouragement of Ms Portas, who still advises on the running of the store.

She said: "There are pieces from Ralph Lauren's Purple collection which were 270 and are now 125, an Akong bag which is 600 new, for 450, a Mulberry dress down from 525 to 420.

"We've got a girl in doing jewellery and someone will be doing make-up and body products. We're hoping it will be a good girly night."

Ms Portas, who is organising an identical event at the same time at her other charity store in Westbourne Grove, West London, said:"It may seem crazy to sell such quality goods at reasonable prices, but the money raised will be well spent and it costs as little as 5 to save a child's life".

The event starts at 6pm, and shoppers will need to quote "Grazia Gold" to gain entry. The first 50 purchases will receive a goody bag worth more than 25 and there will be the chance to win tickets to London Fashion Weekend.