All dressed up with plenty of places to go

Yes, party season is almost upon us - and what better time to start thinking about a new outfit?

LEFT: Black beaded cocktail dress, Oxfam: £7.99; Feathered gloves, Oxfam: £2.50; RIGHT: Purple sequinned top, Oxfam: £5.99; Black puffy skirt (Pilot label), Oxfam: £4.99
LEFT: Black beaded cocktail dress, Oxfam: £7.99; Feathered gloves, Oxfam: £2.50;
RIGHT: Purple sequinned top, Oxfam: £5.99; Black puffy skirt (Pilot label), Oxfam: £4.99

But whether your tastes are fun and funky, glitzy and glamorous or smart and sophisticated, you don't have to spend a fortune and you can help the environment.

Buying second-hand charity clothing is one of the best ways of saving unwanted items from going into the bin and of contributing to a good cause.

And at the same time, you can find yourself wearing something that looks as good as new - but at a fraction of the cost.

YRYC browsed through the hangers of some of Norfolk's fine selection of charity shops to see what was available this year - and from cool cocktail dresses to crazy clubbing numbers, we found there was plenty out there to choose from.

Ros Myhill, manager of Oxfam, on Magdalen Street, in Norwich, said the store always had a fine array of party clothes.

"We have party outfits in all styles and in a variety of sizes," she said.

"Many of these clothes have hardly been worn and look as good as new."

Some of the secondhand clothes out there in Norfolk's charity shops feature labels from well known designers or from high street stores.

Some can be teamed up with items already in your wardrobe or can perhaps be adapted to give you just the right look.

Accessories such as bags, gloves and scarves are all also available - it's simply a question of rummaging through the shelves to find just the right piece to complement your style.

We picked out a number of outfits for model Christina White, 19, to try on - and she was very impressed.

"Many of these are clothes I would happily go out in," she admitted.

"In fact my favourite party dress is one I bought from a charity shop myself."

YRYC would like to thank the following charity shops for helping us out with this feature:

  • Oxfam Charity Shop
    Magdalen Street, Norwich
    01603 665508
  • The Sue Ryder Shop
    Earlham House, Norwich
    01603 503111
  • The Norfolk & Norwich Association for the Blind Charity Shop
    Magdalen Street, Norwich
    01603 767571
  • Save the Children
    Charity Shop
    Magdalen Street, Norwich
    01603 667860
  • Norfolk & Norwich Scope Association
    Earlham House, Norwich
    01603 456905

YRYC would like to thank its friends at Erpingham House in Norwich for allowing us to conduct our shoot in the restaurant.

Owner Laura Knight said: "We were happy to help out with the feature. Our restaurant provides the perfect backdrop for party events."

The Tombland restaurant and bar will be serving its Christmas menu from December 1 (£15.95 for two courses, £25 for three courses). For more information call 01603 308050 or visit www.kitchenandbar.co.uk.

We would also like to thank Christina White and Power Model Management. For more information on the agency call 01603 621100 or visit www.powermodel.co.uk.