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Australians spend an average of $1 500 per year on fast fashion; clothes that are out of style after just a few wears. Cheaper fashion giants like Forever 21 and H&M have begun opening stores in Australia over the past few years, only fuelling our habit of buying cheaper clothing pieces that don't last. If you have the time, patience, and know how, you can get your hands of products that are twice as good quality for only a fraction of the price. That's right, we're talking second hand shopping!
Second hand shopping, op shopping, or vintage shopping is an unknown world for some. A lot of people may be resigned to the fact that it's fruitless or not worth the bother. Here are seven tips you can implement to tackle the op shop rush and hopefully come out with a bargain.
Second hand shopping is time consuming. You will need to set aside a full day to spend looking around for that perfect piece. You don't want to feel rushed when browsing through the endless racks of clothing. In a regular fashion store, you have the luxury of simply picking up your size off the rack, op shopping requires time to flick through many pieces until you find something that's right for you.
It's easy to get caught up in the moment of a great deal, but don't get caught up buying something just because it's cheap. Avoid buying items that don't fit you, or that you know you won't have a use for. Leave them for someone else to enjoy, and save your hard earned cash for another item!
Keep a list in your phone of pieces you are interested in acquiring. It's best to stay ahead of the seasons, for example, keep a lookout in Summer for the perfect winter jacket. This gives you plenty of time to find something you love, and will keep you on track when shopping.
Second hand stores will often stock lots of high end and designer products, but don't buy things just for the label. Have a look at the quality of the piece, because price tag is not always an indicator of quality. You might find something branded that you love, but don't purchase just for the logo. This will often result in you having a stack of designer items in your closet that you will never wear, and clothes are meant to be worn!
Damaged items are can be one of two things: an absolute bargain, or a big mistake. Often items with stains, rips, or undone hems will be massively discounted, but be selective with these pieces. Clothing with missing buttons, or seams that have become unstitched are relatively easy to fix, even with basic sewing skills. However, items with stains and large rips usually will not be worth your while. An item with a mysterious stain will almost definitely never come clean, and pieces with tears or large holes most likely are not worth the effort or price required to fix them.
One of the many benefits of second hand shopping is that you can pick up good quality items for the price of cheaper new pieces, so you may want to consider items that will outlast fashion trends. Sticking to basic cuts and colours will ensure you get longevity out of your purchases.
Check, double check, and triple check your items before purchasing for holes, stains, and rips. If you do find a minor flaw in the item, as discussed above, it is worth asking for a discount. You might walk away with an even better bargain that you thought! It is very important to check the clothing thoroughly before purchasing, as more op shops and vintage stores will not accept returns.
Happy shopping!
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