If you’re anything like me, thrifting clothes is your go-to way of adding to your wardrobe. Personally, I’m getting tired of everything in the commercial stores all looking exactly the same, so this is how I prefer to shop now to keep my wardrobe fresh and unique.

One of my goals during my most recent visit to Melbourne was to explore a number of second-hand and vintage shops to do just that. As much as I love Brisbane, I’ve been to nearly every op-shop here twice! I needed to shake it up for something new, and what better place to do that than the melting pot of Melbourne?

Here I’ll give you a list of the places I checked out, my reviews, and the pieces I bought in the end!

Why Thrifting?

There is an art to thrifting, and it takes practise and more than a little luck to get it right. However, my most complimented pieces and favourite outfits are pretty much all thrifted at this point. Most people are surprised when I say this, but its the truth. The same goes for my Mum, brother, and sister, whom I’ve often picked out pieces for. They don’t always trust me the first time they see the clothes, but then they wear them to death, so I know I’ve done well!

Now, I know my tall-thin body type has plenty to do with my ability to always find something that fits, as my mother likes to remind me. Still, people always turn their noses up at the pieces I pick out until I style them and wear them out—suddenly everyone becomes a fan! You have to stick with it, and ride out the failed attempts with the successes.

Anyway, our personal style is dynamic and ever-evolving, so it can also be tricky to pinpoint how we want to dress. Thrifiting clothes gives you more freedom to experiment, because its easier to try something new if its less than $10. Don’t like it? Donate it and try again! This process allows you to commit to a piece for less, and removes the guilt or frustration if it doesn’t work out. That’s not even mentioning how much better it is for the environment, as you reuse clothes instead of buying new ones all the time.

Thrift Stores in Melbourne

Now there was no way I was getting to all the stores in Melbourne in one day, so we narrowed our focus to the stores around Flinders Street, near where we were staying. We also spent a lot of time in the Arcades, especially in Love It Jewellery and The French Jewel Box, where we tried on pretty much everything.

I’d love to go back anytime, and continue the good work, but my wallet and brain space was running out around 2pm on this day, so I had to head home. Not to mention how tired everyone else was getting!

Vintage Sole – Melbourne CBD

Vintage Sole was our first stop after the Arcades, and it was where I bought most of my finds.

Apparently the owner heads over to the United States a lot to pick up pieces, meaning there is a different variety to what you might usually expect.

I loved the styling of double-storey shop, with moody lighting and a relaxed vibe. The clothes were fantastic, and I could spend way more time here than we did, trying on just about everything. The bags were especially stunning, though I just couldn’t bring myself to get one this time—I will one day!

There was a huge rack of jeans, with every wash available and plenty of unique additions to make sure you stood out. I picked up this pair with sparkly appliqués on the back and stitching on the front. These points of difference add a little bit of flavour to any look, and makes it easier to style because there is more going on. You can match the sparkles or the cream colour to go big, or wear something plainer so they can pop on their own.

Then there was this cream halter-neck top that I just loved. The colour is a little off for my season (being a soft-summer has really messed up my vibe), but I feel I could dye it pretty easily… Still, this is one of those ‘challenge’ pieces that is going to stretch me, as it is not normally something I would gravitate towards.

Then, the star of the show has to be this stunning leather jacket! Now, this would be the third leather jacket I have in my collection, but the only neutral-ish one! It is a soft silvery-green-grey colour that I absolutely adore, and it will go with absolutely everything I own. I’ve had some serious luck while op-shopping before, as I’ve also picked up gorgeous red and pink jackets too! This was by far the most expensive at $175 (the other two were $65 and $15 respectively!), but I knew I would regret it forever if I gave this one up. I wear them all the time, and it fit perfectly. How could I not?

The final piece I picked up here was this gorgeous purple beaded dress. I mean, do I really need to explain this one? Now I just need heaps of places to wear it!

RetroStar Vintage Clothing

Onto the next! RetroStar Vintage wasn’t far away, so we headed upstairs to test this one out. It’s a huge store, and there were lots of unique pieces I liked but didn’t love enough to say yes to just yet.

Part of the challenge in thrifting is knowing when to say no too. I knew my wardrobe didn’t need any more plain tee’s, even though they had some great designs. I also don’t wear many loud patterns, so as cute as the fabrics were, they wouldn’t fit in my life that easily.

That said, the dress I picked out was a simple navy shift in a paisley style. Summer is almost here already in Brisbane, and light dresses are always a go-to for keeping cool and casual in the sub-tropical heat and humidity. If I don’t wear it as much, it’s no great loss, as I’ll donate it for the next owner.

That’s the other important lesson I’ve taken from thrifting, is to let things flow. If a piece doesn’t work out for me, there’s no point getting upset about it. Instead, just move it on for the next person to try. I’ve received clothes second-hand over the years that others no longer needed, but which I gave a whole second life. Likewise, I’ve given away clothes I didn’t like, especially to my sister, who wears them to death. One person’s trash is another’s treasure, as the saying goes. Let go of what doesn’t work to make way for what does!

OTC Vintage

OTC Vintage was our last stop before heading home for the afternoon. The walk downstairs sets the tone for the store, and the loud oldies music was great. It’s a little punk, and the store is full of leather jackets, 80s wind-breakers, dresses from all decades, cowboy boots, and all sorts of accessories.

We had a great time checking things out, although we were getting tired and hungry. I’d love to head back and try on some more clothes, especially because the style was a little out of my comfort zone. It’s definitely on my list for when I return, but I know I’ll be able to snap up some great pieces here too—unless you do it first!

Summary

I’ve barely scratched the surface of thrifting in Melbourne, and I’ll definitely be back at some point to keep up the good work. If you’re heading there, or if you live there yourself, I’d love to hear about your own experiences. Where are your favourite stops? What’s your best thrifting hack? What pieces do you always seek out?

Until next time! x