Hannah Johnson dresses exclusively in vintage clothes and refuses to set foot in high street shops - and now she's shared her ten top tips for finding fashion bargains.
The 30-year-old became obsessed with fashion after developing an obsession with Sex and the City, but after becoming a mum at 19 she ditched wearing clothes from high street stores. Instead she prefers to wear garments from the 1990s and earlier.
Glamorous Hannah, from Darlington, reckons she's saved thousands over the years because she only buys second hand - and after 11 years of spotting vintage steals, she's sharing her best tips and trips for finding retro gold from the 1950s to the 1990s.
Read more: Kate Winslet 'absolutely destroyed' by £17,000 energy bill to keep disabled girl alive
Her secrets include buying things that look "hideous" at first and looking in shops in the north of England. The vintage enthusiast's biggest bargains have been a Frank Usher sequin jacket for £4.99 which is worth £80-£200 and a Laura Ashley gown worth over £200 she got for £14.99.
Hannah, also volunteers once a week in her local Oxfam shop as a vintage specialist, and added: "I am absolutely obsessed with charity shops, I started my clothes obsession after becoming a mum, it was a bit of an escape. I like to think anything vintage is from the 1990s or before with a lovely label."
"It's not what name is on the label, rather the quality of it. A good way to spot a steal is if there is just one label rather than many, it's a sign the garment is probably older."
The full-time carer added that having an open-mind when entering a charity ship was essential, and that you must never skip an item, even if they are "hideous".
She added: "You shouldn't know what you're looking for before you go in but you can get inspired on Pinterest. You need to go through every single item. If you think oh my god that's hideous, look at the label - it's probably something great and you can style it in your own way."
The mum-of-three works admitted that working in Oxfam once a week had its benefits - meaning she can get first dibs on clothing coming through the door - but she also said she loves to offer her advice to others.
She added: "I've done all the famous charity shops in London on Portobello road but in the north you can get things so much cheaper. It sounds bad, but you can get cheaper items in areas such as Stockton-on-Tees.
"I don't have a budget for buying clothes but I have a wardrobe, two industrial drawers and two boxes under the bed filled to the brim. I try to donate and resell things I don't wear anymore."
Now after years of honing her trade, she's eager to share her top tips for browsing the racks. She insists on being open-minded, looking at labels, ignoring sizes and going up North for cheaper charity shops and browses every day.
Hannah revealed: "You can start small by just buying one item such as a belt or bag from a charity shop and mixing it up with high street clothing."
Her favourite shops include Oxfam, Age UK and Cancer Research and her favourite era is the 1980s.
"I have so many style icons, but I love Boy George and Bon Jovi. It's my passion and it doesn't cost an arm and a leg. It's escapism and I get a bit of a high when I find an amazing item. Confidence shines through me when I feel good."
Hannah's top tips for charity shopping:
1. Go for it and have fun
2. Go to the charity shop as often as possible
3. Ignore sizes
4. Buy things you love
5. Start off small by buying one thing and pairing it with a high street item and you can build it up
6. Browse Vinted if you don't have lots of time on your hands
7. Get inspired on Pinterest
8. Look at labels- the less the better
9. Look up North or in cheaper areas
10. Go through every single item
READ NEXT:
Albino wallaby kicked out of mum's pouch being hand-reared on goats' milk
Universal Credit payment changes with new rates and deductions next year
- Sunderland hospital worker struck off after stealing drugs from NHS stocks and taking them in the toilets while at work
- North East cancer nursing 'crisis' with huge shortage of staff as vacancies difficult to fill
