As I was reorganising my wardrobe for the impending Melbourne summer, I internally despaired about not having anything to wear. A great chunk of my wardrobe is still from my early teen days, and there is a distinct lack of colour and excitement that I am planning to embody this summer. It comes to a point where you need a change – but an inexpensive one for a mere student like myself. Rather than immediately scoping out some online stores or setting a date for a ginormous shopping trip to Chaddy, I headed to the local op shops (otherwise known as thrift shops). I have found some of my favourite clothes from op shops, and the satisfaction I receive from finding a treasure is much greater than getting a really good deal from a normal store. Plus, it’s completely sustainable and ethical!

The other day I discovered a periwinkle blue top originally from Nicolangela, and a floral skirt originally from Topshop. I tend to shy away from these lighter colours because I don’t believe they suit my skin tone, but I actually love how much the top compliments the colours in the skirt. The transparency of the skirt gives it a slightly sexier look and the light-weight material will be perfect for the summer heat, which is often difficult to come by with maxi skirts.

This summer outfit cost me $13, which is incredibly reasonable and guilt-free. So, if you’re looking to spend less or re-energise your wardrobe, consider taking a trip to the op shop.

I always rely on these tips for a successful op shopping trip:

1. Go for quality: There is plenty of treasure amongst the trash, but there is still trash. Unless you’re willing to put some effort into it, don’t purchase anything that is already pilling, has fuzz balls or is broken because it is unlikely to last much longer. You can also often tell by the brands if the labels are still on the clothes, as I try to avoid purchasing any clothing from brands that are known for their cheaper quality.
2. Sizing doesn’t always matter: Look at the all the clothes that are your size, and then branch out. I’ve purchased some things that fit absolutely perfectly and I can’t believe they’ve existed. I’ve also purchased clothes that were beautiful but too large, but I’ve been able to make them work through wearing it in a different style from what was intended or resizing them.
3. Don’t overlook anything: Carefully comb through every item and consider how they could fit in your wardrobe. I find the best items are the ones that challenge my style and add something different to my collection.
4. Don’t stop at one op shop: Visit all your local ones, and then head out to more areas where there may be a greater variety of clothes. Also, the smaller ones often make for the best finds, so don’t skip those!

Good luck with any future op shopping endeavours, and thanks for visiting my blog! x