Free Press reporter Alex Vessey discovered stylish looks on a shoestring and a way to serve the community when she visited a smart new second-hand dress agency.

Wondering at what to slash first was no easy task. My budget spreadsheet had flashed up red and this meant thrifty cut-backs to how I splashed my cash.

Some tough choices had to be made: fashion or food? Glamour or grub? Make-up or meals? Hmmmm.

I began pondering the misery of a life without cake and the nutritional merits of an bread and water diet.

Yet thinking hard about my spending, trimming the pampering excesses as well as my waistline would not do me any harm either.

But where to trim from? Make-up? Maybe. Jewellery? Begrudgingly. Clothes? No, not them. I need clothes; more clothes, different clothes, clothes for every day of the week, 52 weeks a year. And shoes.

So, when I learned about a new high-class dress exchange packed with posh-frocks at purse-pleasing prices, I hot-footed it to Sprotbrough for a sneaky snoop among the rails.

Business at Vintage Beauty Salon on Main Street is brisk.

Asking for good quality, clean and pressed clothes, the shop now has an impressive collection of nearly new prom dresses, ball gowns, race outfits, smart suits, twin sets and even wedding dresses, all brought in by customers turned hopeful sellers.

The salon agrees a pricetag with the item's owner and it is tagged up and displayed. If an item sells, the vendor receives 50 per cent of the money, the shop nets 40 per cent and the remaining 10 per cent goes to charity.

Bright-spark co-owner Diane Powell had the clever idea of launching the dress agency when pondering what could fill the empty space at her substantial premises after a coffee shop franchise moved out.

What began as one rail with six items at the beauty salon two months ago has now taken over the whole of the downstairs floor.

And the room is packed with good-as-new party shoes, hats and classy accessories too.

"The idea came about when we needed something to fill the space and this seemed to fit the current climate perfectly," said Diane.

"And the key is to keep the price reasonable," she added.

Of course, one of the best things about the agency is the price.

With glamorous dresses to be found at just £10 and a brand new wedding
dress on sale for £200, the agency is fast becoming a must-explore store for seasoned bargain-hunters who have no qualms about wearing second-hand goods.

But while the shop is attracting an ever-growing following, Diane and co-owner Danielle Cannon are anxious not to take money away from charity shops.

"We don't want to take money which would otherwise have gone to those in need, which is why we are giving ten per cent of every sale to local groups on a monthly rota," Diane said.

This month its the turn of the Sprotbrough church roof fund to benefit but the proceeds have previously been given to the Mayflower Animal Sanctuary and local cancer charities Aurora and Firefly.

"Everyone benefits from this scheme," said Diane.

"A lot of people cannot be bothered with the hassle of selling via online auctions but they can make themselves some easy money simply by rooting through their wardrobes.

"And often, when they collect their cash, many women decide to head upstairs and spend the money on a beauty treatment," Diane added.

But, as with most shops, not everything sells.

If items remain unsold after a few weeks, vendors are asked if they want to drop the price or collect their goods. This, Diane feels, is essential to keep the in-store stock permanently fresh.

But she need not worry about stale rails. Dresses are flying out the shop and onto the backs of prom queens, brides and even the odd thrifty fashion reporter.

Yes, for the bargain price of £30 I became the proud owner of a pair of pretty party frocks.

Fetching, foxy and fitting like a glove, I could not have done better had I blown my budget on the High Street.

But best of all, my frock hunger justified and satisfied meant plenty of cash left over for cake.