SomethingToDo2

It’s easy to dismiss op shops as the preserve of sweet old ladies and impoverished students. But if you’ve got some time they can be a treasure trove of goodies. And wearing pre-loved clothes is a great way to make sure you don’t turn up at that party wearing the same dress as someone else.

But if you don’t have the time to hunt through your local Salvos or Vinnies, never fear. There are shops out there that filter the best from the rest, and although they jack up the prices accordingly you’ll still be paying much less than you would in a mass market store.

If you’re in Melbourne, head to RetroStar, Shag, Episode or Muff. In Sydney, try Grandma Takes a Trip, or in Brisbane wander around West End and check out Box Vintage.

If you prefer browsing online, look through eBay, which has a great selection of wide 1970s-style ties, leather briefcases and fedora hats. Also try Etsy, Beaut Vintage or Bowerbird Vintage, and join Facebook groups such as Hello Sailor and RetroStar to find out about sales and other events. Don’t worry so much about not being able to try things on — if you’re of somewhat average size, a lot of vintage clothes will more or less fit you, and if that great dress is a bit big try pairing it with a wide belt. If it still won’t fit, you can always resell it on eBay.

When choosing, err on the side of caution. There’s no point getting all excited about that lime green jumpsuit if it’s probably just going to languish in your wardrobe. Start with the colours you would normally wear, in shirts, trousers and dresses. Look for scarves, boots and vests to mix in with your current wardrobe. Don’t forget to shop around and compare prices, because they can vary a lot for similar items.

You never know, if you turn up to enough events decked out in vintage clothes, people might start giving their old clothes away to you. True story.