Savers in Brunswick is a bustling barn of a place . Popular with young and old there are bargains sometimes if you closely scour the bulging racks of clothes.

The BSL ( Brotherhood of  St Laurence ) Warehouse in Barkly st , Brunswick , had new Jeans by Lee and  Wrangler in ‘ super skinny’ , flare or  ‘ twiggy ‘ styles for a bargain price of $7.50. All sizes , shades of denim , and variety of style were represented . It also had racks of new Bonds and Rio singlets , briefs etc.

This grunge HQ for fossickers is obviously a dumping ground for corporates with an oversupply of stock . It may be worth a look occasionally, to snap up a bargain basement priced new item. I bought a pair of  new, perfect condition , black denim , size 8 , low rise, super skinny, Lee Riders, r.r.p. $109 , for the bargain price of $7.50. They may be last seasons style but what the heck at this price I’ll just call them retro !

A quick trip to the Clear It Warehouse in Brunswick st, Fitzroy down the unfashionable Housing Commission flats end of the street is worth the effort.

It stockpiles past season or slightly damaged Alannah Hill items at rock bottom prices . Also seen were black velvet Pacific  Highway trousers for $1 that are easily fixed with a small amount of sewing machine attention. Cheap ,quirky items are found upstairs like checked belts , bandanna’s and lacy stockings .

To shop inner city just be prepared to spend  all day , take a small car , walk or avoid old trams dinging their bells at you !

Enjoy the thrill of the chase  , have fun and be mightily pleased with that amazing bargain

beaut skirt

you finally found when you were least expecting it .

Sources of supply can include  opportunity shops , on line seller sites such as ebay and recycled goods markets.

Importers such as Australian Vintage are often a good source of items but  also attract high prices.

In the current climate of sustainability , recycling and re-using is becoming a popular lifestyle choice.

Fashion conscious young people everywhere rever books like  ” The Sartorialist ” by Scott Schuman . It feature photos of people dressed with individuality and  creativity in a highly  personal style .

Where to shop vintage ?

Raid grandma’s closet.

Sew your own items using old paper patterns and fabrics from the 50’s and 60’s  .

Scour op shops and flea markets.

Shop at  recycle barns such as Savers.

Doris Day cocktail dress

Quick trip to NYC where many vintage , retro and opportunity shops offer a large range of quality items

Look for it on Ebay

All can help you achieve your own ” Sartorial ” style .

black velvet gown

red party shoes

Sarah Jessica Parker cocktail Frock

Its finally here . Christmas , that time of year when we can release all our shopping demons and literally ” shop til we drop”. Purchases fly through our fingers with great ease oiled by credit card , eftpos and hard cash .Groaning shopping trolleys , tired Bing Crosby White Christmas lullabies and gaudy decorations all feature at most retail outlets. Even a quick trip to the barn like hardware warehouse elicits a consumers   paradise / nightmare with trolleys laden with chook poo fertiliser , tinkling  wind chimes , marble pavers and all manner of garden torture instruments (torture for those feckless enough to receive them as a well intentioned gift ). Great Christmas BBQ plans with         pungent poo fumes , exploding new BBQ , gleaming new outdoor settings all reduced to a blazing heat too hot to sit outside or a  soggy mass in Melbourne’s unpredictable weather .

Matters really come to a head as all the retail catalogues , merchandising and frantic advertising   exhorts us to spend spend spend because  shock horror only 4 days left and you haven’t finished your shopping ! Oh horror well dive into this cornucopia of heavenly delights sneakily disguised as Christmas presents.

If you survive the fight for the last car spot at XX shopping centre , Aunty Beryls lipstick marks on your cheeks , Uncle Barry’s drunken rendition of Rudolf the Red Nosed Reindeer , maxed out credit cards, lashings of unhealthy and largely unpalatable food , too much booze and unwanted gifts get ready to shop til you drop in the Boxing Day Sales .

The dawning realization that you paid too much   , too often and were ripped off completely may cloud the day.Whoever said ” consumerism is an anaesthetic for the brain ” was right on the money . Bah humbug .Cheers