on 02-11-2013 08:28 AM
‘Op’ shops are wonderful places! They help to keep the wife happy, they cheer and occupy her, they provide a challenge for her ability to win a bargain and all at no great expense to me! Something we blokes should encourage at all times.
Not only that, but she’s brilliant at picking items! In fact, she has been so successful, most of her friends now indulge in the sport as well. All looking for designer labels at ridiculous prices. Most only worn once by someone who daren’t be seen in it again, for fear of ridicule among her friends.
It’s a game played with vigor and very occasionally even rancor, in specialised shops in just about every town in Australia and much of the rest of the world. I admit I’ve never seen any actual fights break out in one of them, but I have seen some very heated arguments over the proposed ownership of some desired piece of silk or tweed!
These shops are usually run, on one side by the dedicated volunteers of charities and churches, and on the other side by the many thousands of people doing spring cleaning at home who provide the free stock the op shops sell.
Clothing does take up a good eighty percent of the space in most op shops and ninety percent of that will usually be ladies wear. This may at first sight seem a little unfair on the male members of the community, but of course there are a couple of simple explanations for this.
The first is that the “op shop ethic” seems to appeal more to ladies than to men. They feel more comfortable there than men do. The second reason is as hinted above. A woman will only wear a garment a few times at most and then wants to change it for something different, so she passes on her “worn” stuff to an op shop while it is usually still in very good condition, and looks elsewhere for something else to suit her.
A man however, without such fashion delusions, won’t throw out a suit or shirt until there is very little wear left in it. He’ll buy a suit to get married in. He will then wear it for many years to any major social event until it gets so far out of fashion, (or fit!), that he can only wear it for gardening. After a year or two of this, no self respecting op shop would want to use it for anything but rags. About the only time you’ll find an influx of male clothing, is when some poor bloke dies and his wife gets rid of all his suits as quickly as she can, to provide useful extra wardrobe space for her!
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I'm off to Wollongong with OH today to have lunch with his parents. But first a bit of op-shopping. I love the oppies at Wollongong!
Be back later
on 02-11-2013 01:08 PM
Have always shopped at Op Shops (since the sixties) and will keep on doing so.
Get lots of clothes, complete with swing tags, dirt cheap. Mind you, my daughter
has a hatred of them since I always dragged her inside. She says the smell of old
musty shoes will stay with her forever. I never bought any shoes, I couldn't wear
someone else's footwear. At least you can wash the clothes
on 02-11-2013 01:20 PM
Nup I don't OP shop but I do supply them my 2 sister in laws always OP shop and I have to say they always look good and you'd never know. Hubby wouldn't know what clothing shopping is full stop, like Richo he is supplied with clothes. lol.
on 02-11-2013 02:30 PM
i absolutely love op shop. i bought a lovely white peasant skirt at one just yesterday for $5 and a lovely fringed clutch bag for $3. the only part of the article i don't follow myself is wearing my clothes a few times and then getting more. i am still wearing some clothes i have had for years. i am going to be hitting the op and recycle shops over the next few months to find old furniture to up cycle.
on 02-11-2013 02:39 PM
@spotweldersfriend wrote:
How's the new shopping centre in Wollongong coming along icy? I have spies everywhere 🙂
I live near there, haven't been to the city for awhile though. Probably coming along S L O W L Y.
As for the Crown St Mall renovations, there have been construction works down there taking out that bird cage thing. This week they are taking down the barriers and planting GUM trees along there (spotted gums). They are going to cease construction/renovations for the next 3 months, till the busy retail period is over.
If you have any fave op shops in the Gong icy, would you care to share?
I have been to the Lifeline one in Auburn St, the big Salvo's and the Smith family ones. Also a Mission Australia one near the movie theatre.
on 02-11-2013 02:53 PM
op shops are great, I remember my mum once turned up to the Bay (batemans) when I was pro fishing in the early nineties with two pairs of stretched out longjohns, saying,"look what I got for you for winter- for a dollar!" I said thanks very much mum, perfect.
I put them in the drawer until she left for home.. got rid of 'em real quick once she left.. the thought of wearing someones elses discarded undies didn't do much for me at the time..bahahaha
well it was the thought that counts, right
yeah right!
on 02-11-2013 08:23 PM
Still a huge construction site, Spot. Lots of construction going on in the 'gong looks like some big investors moved in there.
I think it'll look good.
I'd love to go for a drink in the Hotel Illawarra next time we go. I already told OH. It looks like the kind of historic old pub I like. Currently under renovation I believe.
Found nothing much at the oppies, very disappointing
on 02-11-2013 08:37 PM
@am*3 wrote:
@spotweldersfriend wrote:
How's the new shopping centre in Wollongong coming along icy? I have spies everywhere 🙂I live near there, haven't been to the city for awhile though. Probably coming along S L O W L Y.
As for the Crown St Mall renovations, there have been construction works down there taking out that bird cage thing. This week they are taking down the barriers and planting GUM trees along there (spotted gums). They are going to cease construction/renovations for the next 3 months, till the busy retail period is over.
If you have any fave op shops in the Gong icy, would you care to share?
I have been to the Lifeline one in Auburn St, the big Salvo's and the Smith family ones. Also a Mission Australia one near the movie theatre.
I usually hit the North Wollongong Vinnies first they have some good bric -a - brac but best of all they have the best book section it's all sorted by category and in alphabetical order.
My favourite really is the big Salvos they have lots of everything. I've picked up some excellent stuff for resale there.
I usually only have time for three stops before we go to lunch at the Master Builder's club.
on 02-11-2013 08:40 PM
Thanks, icy. The big Salvo's is pretty good, lots of stuff there.
on 02-11-2013 10:55 PM
on 02-11-2013 10:58 PM