Please excuse me for this gratuitous showing off. I had a wonderfully successful time visiting a few different thrift stores (op shops as we used to call them before copying our American friends) and I simply must gloat for a little bit.

First off, I haven’t been into a thrift store for ages - mostly because I was suffering from the “but it’s cheap (and gorgeous, though not necessarily useful or needed) so I must have it” syndrome and my husband was becoming less and less amused. I realised I did need to take a break, as I was becoming a little crazy, mostly for old sheets to use as fabric.

I was happy to realise that as well as learning from my induced thrift-stop, I also actually had something that I really needed to buy. I have a cousin’s wedding (in Sydney) to go to on the weekend and of course, being a stay/work-at-home mum who lives in jeans and tees most of the time, I didn’t know what the hell I was going to wear.

What exactly does “Dress: Lounge Suit” mean anyway? I figured it meant I had to dress up a little, and to be honest I am looking forward to having an occasion to wear something a little special. So I was on the lookout for just a nice shirt or top of some description, figuring that I could find some black or brown pants in my cupboard that would do.

Then I saw these shoes:

Now I don’t wear shoes like this ever these days but I really loved them. And remember I have the wedding excuse. Then I saw these:

Brown or black? Brown is the new black. Which to choose? Oops! I bought them both.

You have to admit, they are lovely. Modern, with cute little straps, and in good condition - for just $9 a pair, much cheaper than new. Especially as I will wear them once a year, if I’m lucky.

I couldn’t find any decent tops in this shop but I did find some great skirts. Not for the wedding most likely, but good for those days when I want to wear something just a little dressier than jeans. So these came home with me too.

A pleated brown woolly skirt and a chocolate cord long skirt, that was hard to photograph.

Oh, and then I found this great black skirt too. All three skirts were $8 each.

I grabbed this print one at the last minute too. It doesn’t fit me but I plan to remake it into a skirt that does. I am practicing for pledging over at Wardrobe Refashion you see. Hey, it’s a great print. $6. What can I say?

So I was very pleased with all that lot and thought that was it for the day. As chance would have it, I happened upon a new (to me) store that I hadn’t visited before and found some more great things.

First up, this wonderful fabric. Well, it is a set of curtains but I just knew it was destined to be make into handbags when I saw this retro lovely - $10 for 2 curtains:

It has been getting steadily cooler here in Canberra, and I know it will be freezing soon enough so I started looking at the coats. More success! First this one, which is quite casual and will go well with the aforementioned jeans. It was $9. Well cut, love the collar and pockets.

Then, oh my! Have a look at this next one. I nearly died when I saw it. It is just beautiful. $12 and the label is keen to point out that this coat is made from real camel hair. Very soft and beautifully made. Love it.

Oh and this very nice dress with a green and black print. I wasn’t sure about the sleeve flouncy things when it was on the rack (and in this photo) but when it is on, they just fall really nicely and look great. $10.

So, back on track… I think I will be wearing this thrifted ensemble to the wedding and looking rather nice if I do say so myself. Green print dress, worn over black skirt above (or perhaps some pants I already have) with the stylin’ black heels. Excellent. Now I have my outfit planned I am looking forward to the wedding much more than I was.

Oh, and just one more thing to gloat about. In case there wasn’t enough to make you jealous already. I was given this yesterday by someone who knew I would like it.

Yep - a free B6 gocco. And 20 bulbs and a whole stack of ink tubes. Wow! How happy am I? I hope your day is/was as happy.

Related Posts

• Tuesday, October 16, 2007 -- go green (2)
• Saturday, October 13, 2007 -- collected in Melbourne (0)
• Saturday, September 22, 2007 -- Blogger’s Guilt (11)
• Sunday, July 22, 2007 -- cough, cough (6)
• Tuesday, July 10, 2007 -- shoes in order (4)

tags: coat, dress, fabric, gocco, op shops, shoes, skirt, thrifting