Snap up some vintage couture and make hospice some cash

Since Christmas, the East Oxford children and young adults’ charity has been stockpiling vintage donations made to its charity shops.

Now, it is hoping that the generosity of fashion lovers will bring in thousands of pounds for the cause.

The hospice has teamed up with Oxford auction house Mallams for today’s 11am auction at its St Michael’s Street base.

Hospice e-commerce and merchandising manager Sarah Offill said: “We’ve got some lovely pieces, ranging from a Christian Dior gown, to Gucci handbags, to Vivienne Westwood ‘pirate’ boots.”

There are 43 items up for grabs, along with a number of silver and jewellery items.

If everything sells for its guide price, the auction could bring in nearly £5,000.

Mrs Offill said: “Quite often people who pop into the vintage shop in Summertown see things they recognise as being something similar to what they have in the cupboard at home.

“One lady brought us a Christian Dior gown and asked if we would like it because she was going to throw it away.”

She said supporters continued to be generous with donations rather than selling on the items themselves.

Not all the pieces up for auction have a high price tag – with £30 bidders could walk home with any of a range of vintage designer scarves and accessories.

Mrs Offill said: “Some of the scarves are absolutely gorgeous and very wearable.”

The sale is due to start at 11am.

Harriet Fisher, from Mallams, said: “There are some lovely pieces, they are big names that people have donated.

“We obviously want all our lots to go well but there is that extra hope with anything from Helen & Douglas House that they do extra well.”

A Cartier clutchbag sold in aid of the hospice by Mallams in December was expected to raise a few hundred pounds for the charity but ended up going for £2,600.

To view the lots, visit mallams.co.uk or visit the auction house. Bids can be made in person, online or over the phone.