Undercover Una investigates charity shops

Beat the Recession's ace reporter Undercover Una visited four charity shops to see what she could get for €50. None of the charity shops were forewarned in case they would put out their best stock for her visit. The shops were all in Phibsboro on Dublin 's northside, Enable Ireland, Oxfam, Irish Cancer Society and Vincent's. So who fared best? And which shop scored the highest on our findometer?

1. Enable Ireland: This was the most inviting of all the charity shops I visited in Phibsboro. The decor was young and bright and there were clothes for all age groups. The shop was heaving with customers and had lots of interesting little items which were mostly in very good condition.  The clothes are mostly high street names and I spotted some nice Monsoon and Oasis pieces. My best find was a Karen Millen black knitted scoop neck jumper which was good as new except for that unmistakeable charity shop pong and cost €9.90.  An A-wear floral shirt dress cost €4.90 and a Monsoon navy wrap dress was also €4.90. The place was full of natty little T-shirts and cardigans for under €4. I nearly bought an Oasis print dress for an amazing €4.90 but the empire line made me look like I was four months gone. I tried on a glittery River Island green grandfather style shirt, also €4.90 but decided not to buy it. A Diesel Chinese style top with the tag still attached was under €5. In the duvet section I saw a remnant of material perfect for a child's bedroom for €1.90, a real bargain - Kirstie Allsopp (she of Channel 4's Kirstie's Homemade Home ) would have been beside herself at this discovery. The men's section was limited but I spotted a leather jacket for €14. So in the end I bought three very wearable items for under €20. The contents of the intriguing window display go on sale on February 13th. I have my eye on a lovely pair of kitten heel Chinese-print shoes. Findometer rating: 4.5/5

 Monsoon wrap dress bought at Enable Ireland for €4.90.

2. Oxfam Ireland. Despite it's high profile, the Oxfam Ireland shop was a big disappointment. Whoever hung the clothes made it look like a sea of drabness with blacks, greys and browns all lumped together. Also the prices were higher than Enable Ireland with second hand Dunnes Stores and Penneys cardies selling for €5 and €6. I spotted a Butler and Wilson man's shirt for €6.50. My dad bought a similar one recently in Penneys in a sale for €4. The trinkets section - in my opinion a real draw for charity shop enthusiasts - was uninspiring. However  the kid's section had some natty little clothes. Handknitted cardigans that looked almost new were €2 to €4 and I bought very cute baby girl's top for €2.50.  The window display was like the inside of the shop - unimaginative. Findometer:1/5

3. Irish Cancer Society. Another one of those curio shops that captures the imagination and was very busy. A 1960s-style wedding dress with a slightly yellowing veil for €25  was on the same rail as some Penneys jumpers. This shop is a little higgledy piggledy compared to some of the others but is all the more interesting for it. It gives the impression that you never know what you could find. And lo and behold I made an amazing discovery. A pair of brown knee length boots identical to ones I bought about eight years ago and wore into the ground. They looked great with a skirt, and made my Gazza (as in the footballer)calves look thinner. I trawled the internet to find a similar pair but to no avail.These ones are in mint condition and cost €3.50. The Irish Cancer Society shop is also selling contents of  its window display on February  13th, so I might try and get my hands on the baby girl's dress and cardigan. Findometer:3/5

4. Vincent's. While this one was the most disappointing on entrance and has a lacklustre window display, it unearthed the best finds. This shop has a great mix of stock. The men's section was also much bigger than the other shops I visited and it was there I found the most fantastic bargain of the day. A fabulous Ralph Lauren man's coat in great condition with the most luxurious removable fleece lining priced at €35.  I checked online and to buy it new would cost around €320. My husband loves it and says when we dry clean away the charity shop smell he'll be very happy to wear it and leave it draped over the back of his chair when he's out so people can see the label - a move that could backfire in these straitened times. I was worried it wouldn't fit him because the shop has a no returns policy but luckily it did and it's probably the best coat he's ever had. The ladies in the shop had a great line in banter and asked me to lure him into shop for a fitting, but I knew that was never going to happen. I also bought a cool pair of tan leather boots with buckles for €10. One boot had a scuff mark at the toe but it all adds to the character and I am wearing them as I write. The shop has a varied mix of items - I saw a Graco buggy travel system, a cot, furniture, books and jewellery. Findometer:5/5

Boots bought at Irish Cancer Society for €3.50

                                                       Ralph Lauren Coat bought at Vincent's for €35

Undercover Una's verdict: I was amazed by some of my buys and can't get over finding the Ralph Lauren man's coat. I love my Karen Millen jumper and both pairs of boots and the Monsoon wrap dress which I will probably wear over jeans.  I thought I would have trouble spending €50 but instead I exceeded the budget by spending €60 for which I got a designer man's coat, two pairs of boots, a designer jumper, a wrap dress, a baby's top and a print dress. Had I bought these all brand new it would have cost me upwards of €500. I'm still not sure about the A-wear floral print dress, it's probably a bit young and studenty for me but for less than €5 it's not the end of the world if I end up giving it back to charity. This is the start of a new addiction and I can't wait for my next charity shop expedition for more amazing finds. If I were to give charity shops any advice I would say keep the shop busy and interesting with lots of colour and intrigue and pay attention to the window display. Pulling second hand clothes out of battered old paper bag is not the not same as unfurling new items out of tissue paper but hey I can sacrifice that thrill if I'm literally saving hundreds of euro.

Boots bought at Vincent's for €10Karen Millen jumper for €9.90 from Enable Ireland