22-07-2025
I'm a savvy bride and transformed £25 charity shop find into my dream wedding dress, it saved me £775
FINDING some decent bargains in your local charity shop is about luck as much as it is about having a good eye.
But one savvy bride has shown how she hit the jackpot when she stumbled across a classic vintage gown - and turned it into her dream wedding dress.
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Hannah Penberthy, 23, regularly snaps up incredible bargains from charity shops and thrift stores.
Once she brings them home, she often turns them into upcycle projects and makes some alterations to make them good as new.
But this time, when creative Hannah spotted a traditional, vintage wedding dress for just £25, she knew it was going to be more than just a project.
The moment she saw the gown, she knew it was coming home with her and saw the potential it had to become something chic and preppy.
After making some adjustments, the end result was so incredible that Hannah now plans to wear it at her own wedding reception - saving her a massive £775 on a new dress.
Speaking to Hannah said her plan quickly came together after she brought the dress home.
The bodice had the most beautiful detailing... I plan to wear it as my 'goodbye' dress while I leave my wedding reception venue in a vintage car
Hannah Penberthy
She said: "I found this traditional wedding dress at a charity store, and what drew me to it was its vintage style.
"The bodice had the most beautiful detailing, and, having recently gotten engaged, I plan to wear it as my 'goodbye' dress while I leave my wedding reception venue in a vintage car.
'My idea was to cut off the sleeves and half of the skirt to turn it into a shorter cocktail dress, with puffy sleeves.
"After creating a bubble skirt, I used the excess fabric from the skirt to sew together the sleeves and attach them to the shoulder part of the bodice.
"I cut out the excess mesh and changed the neckline into more of a sweetheart neckline. This consisted of cutting and sewing a hem.
"I tried to keep the identity of this dress and conserve its natural beauty, while updating it to be more my style.'
The creative bride-to-be revealed that she saved an incredible £775 in the process of upcycling the dress.
Hannah added: 'I had been looking at dresses similar to the one I made, and most were priced between £400 and £800, to buy brand new.
"By creating my own dress, I saved a substantial amount, spending only around £25 at a charity shop for the original piece.'
And she said that this huge saving, mixed with being able to show off her creativity, is what inspired her to repurpose the dress.
Hannah said: 'I decided to repurpose this dress for many reasons: to save money, to be eco-conscious, and to explore my creative side.
"Shopping from a charity shop saves money and lends itself to finding such unique pieces.
"But it also is a way of supporting more sustainable fashion practices and reducing textile waste.
"Thrift flipping gives new life to clothing that might otherwise end up in a landfill, and it promotes a more thoughtful, community-oriented approach to style.
TOP ADVICE
HANNAH has shared her top piece of advice for anyone planning to repurpose their wedding dress - or other clothes in general!
She said: "My biggest piece of advice is: just go for it!
"We often spend too much time overthinking, but taking that first step is the hardest part — and it's so worth it.
"Sewing might seem intimidating at first, but it's incredibly rewarding and more approachable than it seems.
"Once you get the hang of it, it opens up a world of creative possibilities.
"Repurposing a dress, especially for something as meaningful as your wedding, adds so much personal value.
"There's something really special about wearing something you poured your heart into, knowing it's one-of-a-kind and full of love.
"And who knows, maybe one day you'll pass it down and make it part of someone else's story too.'
"I also love that it allows me to be creative and work on my sewing skills. I can create anything I can imagine. How freeing is that?!'
This project only fuelled Hannah's passion to take on upcycling projects more regularly, which she has loved doing over the past year.
She said: 'Over the past year, I've gotten into the habit of regularly buying and flipping second-hand clothing.
"It's become a true passion of mine.
"I love fashion, working with my hands, and bringing creative ideas to life.
"There's something incredibly rewarding about the entire process, especially when I wear a piece out and someone asks, 'Where did you get that?' and I get to say, 'I actually made it!'
"I definitely plan to keep doing this and would love to one day turn it into something more than just a hobby.'
