Comments on: Making Second Hand Clothing “Trendy”

By: Maria @ Financial-Tip

Maria @ Financial-Tip — Tue, 06 May 2008 21:43:02 +0000

I get 99% of my children’s clothes second hand. About half is given to us as hand me downs, and the other half I buy from thrift stores and seasonal consignment sales.

I pay about 50 cents to $2 for kids shirts and $1-$4 for bottoms. This included dressy clothes and jeans, which are generally more expensive in stores.

We live outside a large metropolitan area and our thrift stores are very good, maybe slightly pricey sometimes. I wait for the half-price and bag sale days.

By: Frugal For Life » Blog Archive » Festival of Frugality 124

Frugal For Life » Blog Archive » Festival of Frugality 124 — Tue, 06 May 2008 16:32:16 +0000

[...] L Lightening Online - Making Second Hand Clothing “Trendy” [...]

By: Gnometree

Gnometree — Thu, 01 May 2008 02:08:08 +0000

My kids are the best at losing school jumpers. My DD once lost 3 jumpers in 3 weeks. The “official” jumpers are aobut $50, but I went to the op-shop and bought 3 for $5. Until she learns to PUT THEM IN YOUR BAG she gets second-hand ones.
DS is also very hard on clothes, so I usually get a bag of old clothes when our op-shop has “$5 a bag” sales to wear on the farm. That way it doesn’t matter if he tears them etc.

By: PlanningQueen

PlanningQueen — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 15:47:25 +0000

In Melbourne they have Take Two Markets which have what they describe as high end preloved clothing. I have been their twice and found great fashionable stuff for under $10. There is also this great blog, I op therefore I am, which is a collaborative blog about op shopping in Melbourne and a great reference for where to go in Melbourne for some quality op shop finds.

By: Journeyer

Journeyer — Sun, 27 Apr 2008 05:51:33 +0000

I’m hopeless at finding good stuff at op shops. I have a friend who can pick out the brand labels at 10 paces. I on the other hand, usually leave empty handed. A couple of weeks ago my son had a day at school where they dressed up on old fashioned clothes. After scouring the local op shop for something for him to wear and picking up an outfit for $6 (something he could probably wear again for knock around clothes) I decided to give them another go for the kids at least. We’ll see how I go.

By: Jayne

Jayne — Sun, 27 Apr 2008 03:34:06 +0000

I’m always getting bargain clothing at op shops, have been for decades now lol.
I was an op shop junkie when I was still in primary school!
Now a little known fact about clothing prices in op shops of late - in Victoria at least -
The Salvo’s bought an old woollen knitting mills in Sunbury and turned it into a commercial laundry to wash all donated goods.
Then they petitioned,successfully, for a bill to be passed in Parliament that states that every op shop must launder/dry clean every single item of clothing they sell, which has added onto the cost of the clothing.
Considering almost everyone I know always immediately washes their second hand bargains anyway, this is seen, by many, as a waste of water but also an unnecessary added expense for many charities.
As for finding those golden nuggets - the best we’ve found in our areas are St Vinnie’s, The Smith Family (although a lot of them were closed down and became Red Cross shops), all the small charity shops - they often have hidden goodies under other dregs, it’s just a matter of looking.
The country town op shops are definitely the best, the prices are lower and they haven’t been raided by dealers intent on eBaying or selling in their own “retro” store.

By: Sharon

Sharon — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 13:22:38 +0000

I’m assuming you are referring to the shirt you were wearing at netball training? The only reason I remember is because you were telling me about the fabric. I don’t remember it being a “label” shirt, but I do remember it being pink and looking really nice on you. So, the moral of this little ramble is that no one thought you were a “wannabee”!

By: Kin

Kin — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 03:18:49 +0000

oops, sorry for the essay

By: Kin

Kin — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 03:18:32 +0000

Hmm, how to answer this one?

I too grew up wearing second hand clothes (my parents were older so all their friends kids were older - including 3 female cousins), and clothes my Mum had made for me. It never bothered me (still doesn’t) but I don’t buy second hand clothes for myself anymore.

Mostly because every time I go to an op shop here all I see is my old clothes! And I’ve never seen anything in good condition at all. Which is funny considering the amount of times I’ve donated things still with tags on.

I cleaned out my wardrobe post baby #3, and was amazed at the clothes I had that were 8-10 years old that were still going strong. Since then I have spent about $1000 on clothes for myself, and until I need new bra’s post breastfeeding, I don’t need anything and have no desire to buy anything. I bought good quality clothes that will again last 8-10 years. Not trendy or fashionable, but classic clothing that won’t date. For that $1000 I got a complete wardrobe of quality brands. Sports wear, pyjamas, work wear, casual wear, party wear. Everything mixes and matches.

As for kids stuff, I have no problem with it, but with 3 girls I buy brand names in sales and it happily does 3 kids. As an example I was in Myer in March, and spent $100 in brand name clothes for the kids. That included: 2 dresses, 5 pants/skirts and about 14 shirts. They will easily do three girls, and with our one season (plus 2 weeks of cold weather) they wear them all year round as well.

Or go to the Big W clearance which last week had everything $2. That’s what I’d pay for stuff in a second hand shop here.

By: lightening

lightening — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 02:07:19 +0000

River - interestingly enough, I grew up wearing second hand which is what put me off. Problem is my cousin was into trendy in a “out there” kind of way so a few years later it was definitely OUT of fashion in an obvious way. When I did get new stuff it was either Kmart clearance of market stuff so again, very OUT of fashion. It wasn’t an easy way to grow up.

Funnily enough, the other day I wanted a certain type of fabric in a shirt and ended up buying a label brand name shirt (because that’s who seemed to make shirts in this fabric) and I felt REALLY self conscious wearing it. I’m generally not a “label brand” person and figured I’d look like a wannabee from 50 paces. I nearly didn’t wear it I was that self conscious. Farmboy thought it was hilarious as most people would be the opposite - feel more confident wearing a brand name.

Sharon - you and Mel are my inspiration. Mel was the one who actually got me even contemplating going to op shops!!!! I didn’t find anything at Vinnie’s the other day though.