Second-hand Style

The Salvation Army (Salvo’s), St Vincent de Paul’s (Vinnies), Savers, thrift shops or second-hand stores. They have a lot of names but the one that you would recognise to cover them all is the op-shop or the opportunity shop and boy can they present a whole world of opportunity.

Most importantly they provide clothes and household items for those who are less fortunate than most and much needed money for those that have the kindness to look after them. They are also a great place to take all those unwanted clothes you finally took out of your wardrobe after new years having spent the past three years saying that you’ll wear them eventually.

The op-shop and the door it opens into the world of op-shopping and up-cylcing has never been explained quite so well as this…

A store with a peculiar odour created by the used clothing and household items within. Fabulous for unique fashion finds, or curiosities for the kitchen that are not to be found in your general retail outlet.

Unfortunately, these treasures are few and far between, and can only be found by rummaging. Once a treasure is discovered, it boost’s one’s endorphins levels, thus creating euphoria which can last for hours or days, depending on the perceived value of the find (and relative purchase price). Repeat discoveries of this nature will lead to the addiction of op-shopping.

– Urban Dictionary

What is becoming more obvious, as this definition points out, is that these stores are can be treasure troves of style! Most of the time you can sift through racks and racks of clothing and find nothing, but sometimes there will be a diamond in the rough!

And what do you do when you find said diamond in the rough, well for one you can just wear it, if condition and size permits. Or you can up-cycle!

Urban Dictionary’s definition of up-cyling is not quite as perfect…

Making crap out of garbage just like Martha Stewart used to, but “original” and more pretentious.

– Urban Dictionary

There were others, but that was probably the most hilarious of the lot. So thanks Urban Dictionary, I may be somewhat of a modern day Martha Stewart (without the fraud) but I don’t make crap out of anything! I prefer to see up-cycling as giving something old and used (but still useable) a new and greater value by adding to it or changing it in some way.

It’s not everyone’s cup of tea, I do still love brand new clothes, but there is so much more to op-shopping and up-cycling than looking like a “hipster” who just rolled out of a wardrobe full of clothes from the past century!

Most clothes these days (mainly the less expensive) aren’t made to last and maybe that’s why op-shopping is such an interesting thing. It’s not just for the needy or the hipsters but for people who see clothing as more than just fabric you use to cover up your body (in most cases). When you find one of these unique pieces in an op-shop you know it has a story and there is something about that story that makes it worth the effort.

One gem that I have uncovered is this backless black gown. It originally had chains but they just didn’t look right anymore so I replaced them with black elastic across the back of the neck and the waist and added some little buttons at their ends. And apparently I don’t take many photos of the gems I find. But they will be added in the future so that you don’t miss out on the beauty of the op-shop treasures!