I love it when people come up to me and say: “That looks great on you”; inevitably it’s followed by: “Where did you get it?” and I am always proud to say: “At the op shop“.

Everyone knows I am an incurable op shop whore. I will invade any second hand shop with a vengance! On a good (or P will say BAD) day, I can stay in one shop for up to 2 hours and exit $60 poorer, with an armful of clothing, shoes, housewares, what have you. I love it for 2 reasons: I’m a tight arse and I’m a greenie. Recycled is better than new – even if they came from the same sweat shop.

Some of my favourite booty – Seven jeans: $6.50 (retailing at DJ’s for about AU$299) from the Slavos Salvos in St Kilda; wonderful silk tops from the Vinnies in Port Melbourne; Cole Haan kitten heels (with Nike air technology): about US$25 from Crossroads in San Francisco. There are some great op vintage stores in SF and the last time we visited I planned everything around food and shopping (poor P).

Actually, I buy loads of other stuff at the op shop. If you don’t mind mismatched plates, wineglasses and pre-loved garden and homewares, you’ll find treasure too. Just remember these tips:

  • Go when it’s quiet, preferably when everyone else is working so that you have time to dig around.
  • Find a store in a posh area. Goods are usually donated locally, so the smarter the neighbourhood, the smarter the stuff.
  • Dress smart. Wear stuff that is easy on, easy off. Be prepared to get dirty.
  • Sizing. Most of the clothes are either tiny or large. Therefore, it’s best to be an ideal op shop size of women’s 8 or 10 Australian. However, I have stuff from a US 2 to an Australian 14, so if you think it might fit, try it on. If you think it’s too small or large, try it on anyway. You never know!
  • Take your time. If you’re the kind of shopper that loves to get in and out in 5mins with what you want, forget it. Be prepared to weed through a big bunch of duds, and try everything on.
  • Quality Control. I look for any holes, tears or fraying seams. Think about where clothes tend wear out. When buying shirts, check cuffs and collars. Open and close all bags and check handles, zips and bottoms. Look at the hems of skirts, pants and jeans. Also ask yourself if it will cost you more to dry clean, fix or alter than the price of the item.
  • Keep an open mind. You can try on that pink furry jacket and have a laugh. You can even buy it. The op shop is a great place to make affordable mistakes. If you don’t like it, just give it back.
  • Visit often, because you never know what you might come across!

Some links:

Good luck, and have fun treasure hunting. If you have a favourite op shop, let me know!