Danni and I are two big lovers of op shopping. Recently, the two of us had a chat about all the great things about it. In previous journal entry's we've written about the benefits of shopping. For this month’s post, we thought we’d bring you our tips.
There isn’t actually a secret to op shopping and how to find good clothing, it’s an inclusive activity. But we’ve got some tips to set you up for success…
Firstly, it's important to go in knowing you might not find anything. The items in the shop are entirely dependent on what’s been dropped off recently, so you won’t find something every time.
To illustrate: I’ve caught the bus from the same stop for the past three years. Across from my bus stop is a tiny, little op shop. Every once and while, when I’m early for the bus – or I've just missed it – I pop in and check it out. In this time, I’ve only found 5 things, but they are absolute GEMS! On the other hand, Danni has also visited this same shop once. She got a pair of shoes, a belt and a few tops in one visit! It really is the luck of the draw.
Some practical tips:
Bring a tote bag. None of that holding your wallet and phone business! It’s hard to get into the zone and browse through the racks, when you’ve got your phone in your hand and wallet tucked under your armpit. No, tote bag is the way. Sling it over your shoulder, hands free.
Assess the store layout. If you go in there and just go to the first rack, you might not be looking in the right place! Take a moment and see where everything is. Is it ordered by colour, by size? Articles of clothing? Then go from there.
Wear something comfortable. It’ll be so much easier to shop if you’re wearing cosy clothing. Think about what clothes will be most supportive for what you're doing. The fitting rooms will be such a hassle if you’re wearing pants with a million buttons. Lace up your supportive shoes, so your feet don’t get sore!
Know what you want. Have a clear idea in your head about what you’re looking for and what you need. That way you won’t get overwhelmed with all the items you could possibly buy. Otherwise, you might walk out with a bunch of cheap clothes that you’ve already got. Danni mentioned this process can helped by knowing your colours and what actually suits you.
Try it on. You honestly never know how something is going to look, unless you take the time to put it on. Take the extra time to try it on, it’ll save you $$ from buying things that don’t fit or suit you.
Check out the suburbs. For Wellingtonians, that means places like Miramar and Newtown… It gets expensive in the city.
Instagram and Depop. If you don't want to go into a physical store there's heaps of NZ clothing pages on Instagram and cool accounts on Depop. Often items on these pages will come at a higher price because someone has already done the shopping and sifting for you. But they’re still worth checking out.
Ask yourself what could this be? For those who are creative and own a sewing machine – like Danni – you really have the freedom to transform pieces. You have the power to change that neckline, that hem, add something extra. I don’t own a sewing machine, but I have scissors and a love for raw hems. There’s been a few times I’ve cut a few jeans, a dress or tee. It’s fun to recreate.
Thanks for reading this months blog post. We hope you find these tips useful and they help you feel a little more confident to get out there and browse.