Last Thursday, I hopped on a train from Marylebone to Oxfordshire for the launch of The Village Attic, Bicester Village’s newest pop-up and perhaps its most meaningful one yet. I’ll admit, it was my first time visiting Bicester Village (hard to believe, I know), and it turned out to be a solid introduction.
Curated by thrift chic pioneer Bay Garnett, The Village Attic brings together an edit of vintage treasures and brand new donations from labels including Hayley Menzies, Anna Sui, Alaïa, and Saint Laurent, all in support of Smart Works, the UK charity that helps women back into employment by providing them with clothes, coaching, and confidence. Every single penny from sales goes directly to the charity, making it a rare case where shopping truly feels guilt-free.
The pop-up runs until 20 November and marks both Bicester Village’s 30th anniversary and five years of its partnership with Smart Works through the DO GOOD programme. So far, they’ve raised over £480,000 and helped 11,800 women in London — 63% of whom secured jobs after working with the charity. Those aren’t just vanity metrics, either. Smart Works operates across 12 UK centres, supporting over 10,000 women last year alone. The model is simple: give women professional clothing and interview coaching, and watch them transform their prospect.
Inside The Village Attic, it’s all mid century nostalgia meets vintage chaos. Eclectic rails, curated corners, the kind of atmosphere where you actually want to browse properly. Bay’s sourced over 200 pieces from across the UK, including archive Smart Works donations, so there’s genuinely plenty to dig through. It’s not just vintage, either – there are contemporary donated pieces mixed in donated by brands or celebrities, which makes for an interesting edit. You’re as likely to find a sleek designer shirt as you are a perfectly worn in blazer.
I walked out with finds from WNU (shirts for 40 quid, can you believe it!) and Albaray, which felt like a win. But beyond the personal haul, what makes the space work is that it doesn’t feel like charity shopping in the traditional sense. There’s no martyrdom required. The pieces are good, the curation is strong, and the fact that it’s raising funds for Smart Works is the bonus, not the selling point.
Post-shopping, there was brunch at Cecconi’s with Anna Hemmings, CEO of Smart Works, and Bay, who both spoke about how clothes can genuinely change someone’s job prospects. It’s not an abstract concept — when you’re trying to get back into work, having the right outfit for an interview can be the difference between confidence and self-doubt.
“What we wear means so much more than just fabric on our bodies,” Bay said. “It’s about storytelling, empowerment and confidence.” It’s the kind of statement that could sound trite, but when you’re standing in a room full of clothes that will directly fund interview outfits for women who need them, it lands differently.
Chantal Khoueiry, Chief Culture Officer at Bicester Village, emphasised the same point: “When fashion meets purpose, lives are transformed.” And while that could easily veer into corporate speak, the numbers back it up. The DO GOOD programme has been running for five years now, and the consistency matters. This isn’t a one-off stunt, it’s an ongoing commitment.
It’s easy to be cynical about fashion-for-good initiatives, especially when they’re tied to major retail destinations. But this one actually delivers. The clothes are good, the cause is tangible, and the impact is measurable. If you’re heading to Bicester Village between now and 20 November, The Village Attic is worth the detour and your money will go further than it would almost anywhere else.
The Village Attic is open at Bicester Village until 20 November 2025. To learn more about Smart Works and their mission, visit smartworks.org.uk
