If you hadn’t already noticed, I’m a bit of a lazy girl. I choose reclining over exercising, travel on four wheels rather than two feet and never make my own Yorkshire Puddings (thanks, Aunt Bessie!). So my new blog feature shouldn’t come as much of a surprise…

I want to make The Lazy Girl’s Guide To… a regular feature of A Little Bird. Every month, I’ll share my lazy girl secrets to a whole host of seemingly complex and time consuming projects. If you’re currently thinking ‘maaaan, I don’t know if I can be bothered to read this EVERY MONTH!!’, you’re a lazy girl. Welcome along, put your feet up and perserve.

No longer the pastime of the elderly and those with a basic monetary need, ‘thrifting’ (or second hand shopping) has become a popular pursuit amongst the flash, the famous and the fashionable. Sometimes cleverly designed as ‘vintage’ (Yes, that Sweater Shop jumper technically IS vintage now), other times toted as a chic way to help the community and the wider world, thrifting has cemented itself in our fashion conscious and our wardrobes, and no amount of Febreeze will get rid of its musty odour.

Now, fellow lazy girls, I know what you’re thinking. All that rummaging, rifling and rooting sounds like hard work. But worry not! The Lazy Girl’s Guide To Thrifting shows you how to get your thrift on without breaking a sweat or a perfectly painted nail.

It’s no good admiring vintage style from afar – you’ve gotta get out there and get your share. But how do you find that oh-so special faux fur coat, the 60s dress that fits like a glove or the kitsch kitchenware that makes you smile every time you look at it? Admittedly, finding thrifted treasure requires a little bit of work. You may have to lift a finger or two. But I promise, when you’re flaunting your vintage wares about town, you’ll thank me for this.

Pretty obvious, right? Well… no, actually. It may sound simple, but if you’ve ever tried to find something special while rifling through rails of old tat and your grandmother’s blouses, you’ll know it’s not as easy as it sounds. So many charity shops are jam packed full of old Primark cast-offs, you need sharp eyes and even sharper elbows to source second hand gems.

• Find the perfect place. When you come across a charity shop that’s really something special, visit it often. Get to know the volunteers, the layout of the shop, what kind of things they stock. When you’ve built up a relationship, you can bat your eyelids, flash your sweetest smile and ask if they’d mind keeping an eye out for those illusive leather brogues you’ve been searching for. The staff in my local charity shop call me Retro Girl because I love 50s silhouettes! Check out The Association of Charity Shops and use their handy locator to find your nearest potential gold mine.
  

Vintage fairs can be very hit and miss (do I really want to spend a Sunday morning in a draughty church hall looking at Lycra cycling shorts?), but if you find a good one, they’re an amazing source of vintage fashion – both on and off the stalls.

• The Affordable Vintage Fashion Fair travels up and down the UK and has vintage bags, bangles and bargains galore. Find one near you and put the dates in your Little Black Book.

If you can bear to dirty up your Monolo wellies and brave the mud, you might just discover a secret style stash. Great for homewares, branded clothing, makeup and a tasty bacon sandwich when you’re done.

• Don’t like the sound of a 6am wake up call? Look for afternoon boot sales. Use Car Boot Junction to find one near you and you’ll have time to straighten your hair first.

The ultimate in Lazy Girl Thrifting, eBay is a sofa surfing style dream. Before you hit the high street, check eBay first. A quick tap of the keys and a whole world of second hand shopping will materialise before your very eyes. Suddenly, America’s Next Top Model isn’t so interesting.

• What are you searching for? A maxi dress, some Topshop shoes or a leather bag that slouches just right? Have you looked in an odd category or tried misspelling your search? Goofbay is the ultimate eBay tool for hunting down hidden haute couture. And if you’re too busy sipping Cosmos to keep an eye on your listings, their sniper tool is really rather useful.

Where better to find fashionable favourites than on beautiful blogs? Lots of lovely ladies are clearing out their wardrobes and giving fortunate followers the chance to restock theirs by holding blog sales.

• Fancy some free fashion? Why not ask for a swap instead of a sale? If you’ve got clothes needing a new home, suggest a blogger style swap and rock a whole new look without emptying your purse.

So, lazy girls. Finding thrifty fashion doesn’t have to take all your time and effort. You’ll need that for gossiping, painting your nails and flipping through InStyle. Take a look at some of the second hand style lurking around my home… all found at a leisurely pace, I promise.