Formby shop manager creates a charitable way to look like a soap star

Liz Wood, manager of Stick 'n' Step charity shop in Formby

Dawn Collinson talks to the shop manager who is selling Hollyoaks’ outfits.

Dressing like a celebrity is something most women would love the chance to do, but with A-lister stylists and pricetags to match, it’s way out of their budget.

So how about the chance to share the style of a Hollyoaks actress and look like a soap star for a fiver?

That’s the offer to customers at Stick ‘n’ Step in Formby, which is taking a new approach to charity shopping thanks to manager Liz Wood.

Liz, a former set dresser at Mersey TV (now Lime Pictures), has got her hands on 60 binbags full of clothes and accessories from the C4 series.

And that has helped her create a fresh feel to the store, moving it away from the traditional jumble of cast-offs and more towards vintage and high street fashion.

“They have a clear-out every now and then at Hollyoaks and it was so exciting to get all that stock in because it’s something different and not many places can say they’ve got a TV show’s wardrobe,” she says.

“A lot of what we got was new because they buy in bulk, a few of each item for continuity, so some of the clothes never end up being worn. Others have names on the labels, which is great because I think people love to know who’s worn what.

“When the item doesn’t say then I’ll do some research myself on the internet to try and match the clothes with the characters – although I’ve got to admit I am a bit sad, and I do watch Hollyoaks, so I recognise some of the things even before I’ve seen the label!”

For 35-year-old Liz, creating looks for TV is nothing new. After graduating from Liverpool Community College in visual arts, she landed her first job with Granada TV’s shopping channel, based at the Albert Dock.

She stayed there until the channel ended, then moved to Brookside and Hollyoaks in 2000/2001, working alongside buyers in set dressing and props.

It was there, she says, that she first developed a keen eye for a bargain buy which introduced her to charity shops.

One of the dresses in Stick 'n' Step charity shop, Formby, donated by Hollyoaks - this is a top and skirt, as worn by Mercedes McQueen (actress Jennifer Metcalfe)

Hollyoaks actress Jennifer Metcalfe who plays Mercedes McQueen

“We never had thousands of pounds to spend, despite what people may think TV doesn’t have huge budgets, so we had to get the best we could for as little as we could,” she laughs.

“I liked that, though, because I was always brought up to love getting a bargain. I’d far sooner shop around and get a good buy than go out and buy a fancy outfit straight from the window display.”

It’s that personal approach which Liz, from West Derby, has put into action since she started with Stick ‘n’ Step last September. The store in Brows Lane, Formby, and its sister branch in New Ferry, supports more than 70 children with cerebral palsy and their families, many of whom live in and around Merseyside, with particular focus on a centre based in Wallasey.

“I loved the idea of working for a charity because it was a good cause and it also allowed me to be more creative than working for a large retailer which I’d done before. Stick ‘n’ Step gave me a free rein really, it was like having a blank canvas, so then I had the fun part of trying to get everything how I wanted and as cheaply as I could.”

Liz is a fan of vintage, and enjoys being able to mix and match her finds from different decades.

“I love the 60s more than anything,” she says. “If I was going out, that’s the style I’d choose, but day to day I’ll probably wear the odd thing rather than be head-to-toe vintage. That’s what I’ve tried to bring to the shop, that putting together of certain pieces which customers wouldn’t have considered otherwise. For instance I’ll take a vintage handbag, which maybe they thought was a bit of a granny bag, and put it with something new and that makes it much more interesting and appealing.”

While Liz has used her expertise to style selected outfits in the store, especially the Hollyoaks pieces, she’s keen to stress not everything is too obvious.

“I still want people to be curious and come in,” she says. “That’s a big part of the enjoyment of shopping in a charity or vintage shop ... discovering the little gems for yourself.

“What I love is that people can get clothes that are great quality for less money. I want them to get a bargain and feel special and tell their friends ‘I’m wearing Mercedes McQueen’s top’!”

Story Source: Liverpool Echo

Photo Source: Liverpool Echo