I give expert fashion advice – but my wardrobe is mostly charity shop finds

I’m a personal stylist and colour analyst (Picture: Nicky Bamber Photography)

When I was four, I wore my first-ever charity shop bargain – and hated it. 

It was a stiff blue wool coat that stopped me lifting my arms and a matching fur hat with bobbles that tied under my chin, from a shop called Good as New – which, to me, was anything but.

This was the 1970s – so, when everyone else was in cheerful synthetics, I looked like a miniature Edwardian governess. My mum thought she was being stylish, as well as saving money, by putting her child in a retro outfit unlike anyone else’s, but it made me squirm with embarrassment.  

As I grew up, and clothing became a little more affordable, these charity shop purchases...