Style Fixers stars fall in love with Glasgow's charity shop scene

The city’s second-hand shops have a starring role in the new BBC Scotland series Style Fixers, hosted by Alannah Carson and Jamie Grandison.

“We were SERIOUSLY surprised by how good Glasgow’s charity shops are – they are second to none,” says Jamie, impressed. “Especially in Shawlands and the Merchant City, up in the west end, and a little further out in Bearsden. We found so many great things – Alannah had to DRAG me away from a Givenchy jumper and I also saw a pair of chequered Vans…it was amazing.”

Alannah and Jamie.

Alannah agrees: “We were like – wow. Shawlands in particular was fantastic. Glaswegians have a good eye for style and fashion, the city is all about culture and always has loads going on.”

By day, Jamie and Alanna are make-up artists and by night, they source and make costumes for drag shows where Jamie is the star act.

On Style Fixers, which starts on Monday on BBC Scotland at 11pm, they each take on someone whose look “needs a little love”, armed with a budget of £30 to spend in second-hand stores and some simple upcycling techniques.

Jamie applies his artistic skills to a piece of clothing.

Makeover shows can be brutal, but Alannah and Jamie are adamant Style Fixers is entirely different.

“Jamie and I are not fashion experts, we’re not seamstresses, we just wanted to make something that was accessible and fun to watch, that maybe made people think, well, if they can do it, so can I,” smiles Alannah.

“We are not in it to upset people, or to completely change their style, but really just to help them regain a bit of confidence in their wardrobe, or to make tiny little changes here and there that make all the difference.”

Alannah at work painting a bag.

She adds: “I think losing confidence in what you wear is something lots of people can relate to, especially after the last 12 months, when most of us have just been in jammies or comfy clothes most of the time.”

Watching Style Fixers, you’d think Alannah and Jamie had known each other their whole lives.

In fact, the duo – who are both from Edinburgh - only met four years ago.

“We were both working as make-up artists in the same salon, and that first day, our eyes locked, we got into conversation and within half an hour we were busting some Beyonce choreography…it was just meant to be,” laughs Jamie.

“Alannah helps me out with my show – she is always there, fixing my wig or zipping up my dress, and now she’s actually in it too as a backing dancer. Every single I do in my life, that girl is there.”

Alannah and Jamie preparing for a show

Jamie was “the classic in-the-closet-gay-boy-at-high-school”, he says and did not come out until he was in his late teens.

“I went to America for the summer after I left school, to work with children with special needs, met my boyfriend and that was that,” he smiles. “I didn’t just come out, I RAN out. But was I a confident person? Probably not. I did love performing, though, and I wasn’t shy.”

Alannah, who studied music, worked as a session singer before she switched to make-up artistry.

“For me, make-up and clothes are like your armour, they help you be yourself,” she says. “I know a lot of people think they’re just superficial, but I don’t agree.

“I’m quite an anxious person, I was very anxious when I was younger, and make up was how I expressed myself. Wearing something that makes you feel good can really help and that’s what we’re trying to do on the show, just help people who might have lost their way when it comes to confidence.”

For a while, says Jamie, buying ‘second hand’ came with a certain stigma attached.

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“I think things have changed – funnily enough, because of a big American influence,” he says. “Ever since that song Thrift Shop by Macklemore and Ryan Lewis really made people think about thrift, or charity, shops, and saving money, rather than just flaunting really expensive stuff, I think the stigma has gone.

“There’s also a big sustainability issue too and a rejection of fast fashion.”

He adds, quickly: “We are not judging, by the way – everyone has a piece of fast fashion in their wardrobe….”

Alannah adds: “What I love about charity shops is that they don’t force fashion rules on you.

“On the high street, it’s very much – here’s what is in fashion, now buy it. In charity shops, you can be true to yourself.

“My top tip if you’re going bargain hunting in a charity shop is – don’t see the item for what it is, see what it could be.”

The duo hope Style Fixers takes off and are keeping their fingers crossed for a second series.

“We’re actually keeping our fingers crossed for a 45th series,” laughs Jamie. “The thing is, how we are on Style Fixers is how we are in real life.

“This is just the most perfect job we could have had.”