The image of the charity shop is changing, but if you pop into Selfridges in May, the face of the person that serves you may be familiar.

Annie Lennox & several other female celebrities - who work with Oxfam on a variety of projects for women - have come up with the idea of a pop-up charity shop in Selfridges’ department store. Staffed by celebrities, including Lennox & Zoë Ball ‘The Oxfam Curiosity Shop’ will run from the 14th to the 20th May on the lower ground floor of the store, & will feature donations from the stars – clothes, accessories & curios they have worn or designed – with all of the takings from sales going to Oxfam for use with the women’s projects it supports throughout the world.

The shop will be launched by Annie Lennox at a select evening event - which will include a performance - & will be attended by two hundred & fifty paying guests.

During the week shoppers can enjoy a unique shopping experience, as a variety of celebrities step in to help sell the donated items, many of which will be accompanied by a short handwritten account by the owner detailing its history. The donated items are believed to include pieces from Annie Lennox, Helen Mirren, Elle McPherson, Natalie Imbruglia, Alexa Chung & Corinne Bailey Rae, as well as one off red carpet dresses from Livia Firth. Among the designers donating items are thought to be Stella McCartney & Vivienne Westwood.

The event reflects the changing face of charity shops over recent years, including the foray of style guru Mary Portas into the charity shop arena, & the unsalaried work of influential fashion expert, Jane Shepherdson – also a key player in The Oxfam Curiosity Shop – on behalf of Oxfam. The increasing demand for sustainable & ethical fashion has been harnessed for marketing purposes, & many charity shops have benefited from being given a ‘makeover’ in order to run along more commercially viable lines.

The celebrity hands on involvement of The Oxfam Curiosity shop, is also reminiscent of Oxfam’s Bookfest of last year, which saw celebrities including Philip Pullman, Bill Nighy, Alexei Sayle, Jonathon Coe & Joanna Trollope, volunteering in their local Oxfam bookshops. The commercial success of Oxfam is evidenced by its position as Europe’s largest high street retailer of second hand books, as well as it being the third largest bookseller in the UK. While to many, donating to & buying from a charity bookshop may seem like a great initiative for raising money in the fight against poverty, not everyone sees it in quite the same light. Angry independent booksellers who felt they were being put out of business, last year dubbed it ‘The Tesco of the book industry.’ & earlier this year the author Susan Hill wrote an interesting article in The Spectator in which, concerned for other charity shops - & with reference to their bookshop specific tactics – she branded them ‘thugs & bullies’.

Come what may it looks as if the changing face of charity shops is here to stay – no bad thing if you’re a fan – for both consumer & the ultimate beneficiaries. The Oxfam Curiosity shop will provide an exceptional opportunity for the consumer, & its proceeds will provide an opportunity to change the lot of some very vulnerable women.

Posted: April 11th, 2010 under Style Tips.
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Skyscraper Heels

Gwyneth Paltrow has been hitting the headlines recently because of her various red carpet appearances wearing a short skirt and stilettos. The press coverage of this is fascinating, with journalists debating about the state of her marriage simply because she?s chosen to step out at each event in sky-high heels.

So what?s all the fuss about? I put it down to the fact that the shoes she?s been wearing are so impractical. She looks great in her poses for the photographers but I bet her feet were really killing her. Why put yourself through the agony of it all I hear you ask? Well, it?s simply because the most wonderful looking shoes are extremely uncomfortable.

The cute little ballerina pumps that everyone is wearing may feel like slippers, but unless you?ve got the legs of a racehorse, they will make you look dumpy.
There?s something about a three-inch heel that elongates the calf and adds a wiggle to your walk. It?s a simple fact of life that when you slip into a pair of elegant stilettos you become a goddess, slip on a pair of Crocs or flip flops and you become anything but.

As little girls we were always told the story of Cinderella and her beautiful glass slipper. I doubt that prince charming would have been so keen to find her had she left one of her Ugg boots behind!
There?s even more good news for those of us who love high heels. They may actually be good for your health and your sex life. Italian Eurologist, Dr Maria Cerruto, has undertaken a recent study of 66 women under 50. She found that those who held their foot at a 15 degree angle to the ground - the equivalent of a two inch heel - had as good posture as those who wore flat shoes, and crucially showed less electrical activity in their pelvic muscles.
This suggested the muscles were at an optimum position, which could well improve their strength and ability to contract.

So if high heels can indeed make us look and feel better, how on earth do you walk in them, especially if you live in an area where there are hills and uneven pavements?

Here is my essential guide to walking in high heels:

1. Image an invisible string running through your head down to the base of your spine. Envisage that someone is pulling the string upwards so that you keep your weight back, back straight and head up to stay balanced.
2. When you walk, step with your heel first then roll onto the ball of your foot.
3. Use small steps rather than striding forward.
4. Never forget how gorgeous you look and this will help you push on through the pain barrier!

Posted: May 19th, 2008 under Style Tips.
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