I love Op Shops;
You kind reader not from Australia know them better as second-hand, thrift stores, flea markets etc. but here in the Merry old land of OZ we call them Opportunity Shops. Because they offer the Opportunity of bags full of stained, moth ball smelling clothes for mere dollars... Or something charity related (yeah I totes like helping and shit); They offer the Opportunity for us to say smugly to someone when they comment on my sequinned blouse "it's amaazing Kiki where on earth did you get it?" and I'll laugh and go "this old rag?"it's vintage daahling" and go back to my Martini and moustachioed and tuxedo wearing escort for the evening.
Anyways I love Op Shopping and buying fat chick plus-sized vintage so I thought I should share some of my favourite Sydney Haunts and might even run upstairs and take a few photos of some of my hauls, I'll start with my most favourite place to Op Shop in Sydney my home town of Marrickville.
Actually overall Marrickville is a really good place to hit if you are looking for a good mix of second-hand pieces, vintage and retro clothing from 60's, 70's and 80's and home-wares and linens, I have furnished my whole place with Op Shop and market finds from Marrickville and probably continue to do so. And if you are visiting it's either a ten minute train or twenty minute bus from the city to Marrickville and every store I mention is within walking distance of each other.
This place is a fairly new shop on the strip and probably is my favourite for value but it can be a shambles sometimes; often running 3 items for $10 promotions (fornightly) this place alone can have heaving under kilos of clothes for less than $20, The plus size selection is poor there is a sign indicating a 16+ rack but this place is packed so full with other stock it's hard to locate plus sized items easily. The reason I come to this place is for the accessories and the mens clothing with the $3 for 10 promotion almost a fixture at this place I can usually buy 3 pairs of jeans for The Boy and 3 leather handbags in great condition for $20 AUD, also the owner has amassed an amazing scarf collection and only sells them for $2 a pop.
My most Recent Haul included a Ben Sherman pair of Jeans, and Lee Denim Shirt brand new with tags, and a pair of Black Armani Exchange jeans for $10. Also this place is great for stuff with tags still on it, of all the plus sized stuff I have found here more than half of it had tags and, if you are straight sized the jeans selection is amazing (the store doesn't separate mens from ladies denim very well you will find the odd plus size ladies pair of jeans in the mens section )
My most recent U-turn Haul, rainbow cotton throw rug, Scarf with Waltzing Matilda in drawings on it and Leather handbags.
The Salvos (Salvation Army Op Shop)
I'm politically a bit against the Salvation Army, so when given the choice I do shop elsewhere, but it's worth a look for some hidden gems, best for Kitchen Ware and crockery there is no defined plus sized Section so you do have to trawl, but I have found the Odd amazing thing here like a fab pair of 80's Acid Wash skinny jeans by Farah's plus size range Egli, and a Beth Ditto for Evans Top still with tags on. Also alot of companies seem to send The Salvos unsold sock so there is a fair bit of brand new with tags SUPRE, Condura, Best and Less items here.
The Smith Family
This is probably my little favourite it has an excellent Plus Size rack in the Store and the stock is updated weekly, there's is a bunch of new stuff sent here with tags (Plus size Labels such as BeMe and Millers Fashion Club) and the store is clean, and divided into proper sections, you will also find an amazing Selection of Retro 60s, 70's stuff here, and there is a whole shelf filled with unopened vintage hosiery (which is surprisingly stretchy) . On the Downside the store seems to be cashing in of Marrickville's popularity as a new Hipster Hub, and the increase of bored cashed up housewives creep in with their double wide prams and the prices for the second hand items has raised quite a bit, the retro/ vintage section has remained pretty constant at between $5 - $15 for a vintage dress over a size 14. and there is a Good range of retro larger size dresses here most of the time.
Cafe New Deli
Oh and after all of that thrifting you should kick your feet up here at Cafe New Deli and chillax, it's one of the billion great cafes in Marrickville nowadays (we are afterall the new Paddington) and has a great variety of stuff for Gluten Free, Sugar Free hippies like myself and will cater for any dietary need you have.
That's it for part 1 I'm sick of bloody writing but there's going to be probably two more sections on Marrickville and all the Other Sydney places I like to Scavenge. Enmore, Newtown, Rozelle, Ashfield, The Central Coast, Newcastle.
P.S. if you are Australian size 22-30 or size 11- 13 on your feet and want something cute and random and want to make me slightly less poor go check out
my eBay auctions I will refund postage for anyone who mentions whykikiwhy at the checkout... because I can
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