A BEVERLEY charity shop has received an unexpected windfall after three old dresses turned out to be vintage pieces worth hundreds of pounds.
The dresses, turned up at the town’s Oxfam shop, where they were thought to be too old and damaged to be offered for sale.
But one of the charity’s volunteers sought the advice of a friend who has studied fashion and recognised them as genuine vintage garments dating back to the 1930s and 40s.
The dresses were sent to auction at Kerry Taylor Auctions in London, where instead of the estimate of £200 to £300 they sold for £550.
Now staff at the charity shop are hoping that other people who have vintage clothing that they may have considered to be in too poor a condition to give away may be encouraged to donate it to Oxfam.
Shop manager Helen Benstead said no-one at the shop in Toll Gavel is sure where the three vintage dresses came from, or even if they came in together. They were all in a damaged condition and would not have sold in the shop.
“At Oxfam we take great time and care to ensure that we get the best price possible for donations that our supporters have very kindly donated and will seek professional advice and help where needed,” she said.
“We have a very good team of experts called Valued at Oxfam who will help us to identify potentially valuable items.
“If anybody has any vintage dresses, even in a poor condition, my advice is do not throw them away - donate them to Oxfam and you may be surprised at what they can bring.”
The three vintage dresses are described in the auction catalogue as a couture silk tulle court presentation/bridal gown from the early 1930s; a green velvet evening gown from the late 1930s and a Cresta silk magenta wool crepe gown from around 1940.
Mrs Benstead said that the £550 raised from the sale is an unexpected boost. “It is absolutely brilliant,” she said.
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