By Ruby Fox
As the year goes on, much quicker than I would like, more and more exciting events arise. Coming up soon is Halloween and the spring racing season; a perfect time to get into the op shops and buy costumes and accessories.
With Halloween especially, people buy extravagant outfits – mostly made of plastic fibres – just to throw away and never wear again. Some end up op shops so buying second hand Halloween items helps combat waste and over consumerism. Many op shops even create specific sections just for Halloween so I would definitely recommend getting in quick!
The racing season throws up a similar challenge with many people buying head wear and dresses – usually ‘fast fashion’ – just to wear once a year, if that. All this brings me to this month’s op shop. Footscray Vinnies, on Barkley street in Footscray.
This store has quite a few gorgeous fascinators on display and in great condition too, with a range of colours and styles sure to please anyone’s style.
What I love about this op shop is that it’s organised by item and colour, making it a lot easier to find something specific. I was looking for a black cardigan and it took me no time at all as I went straight to the aisle labeled ‘Knits’, found the black section, and within seconds I had many options.
The only issue that comes with colour coordinated sections is that the sizes are mixed up, meaning you have to sort through everything to check the sizes as you go. But all of the sections in the store are separated and really easy to locate without having to jump between things or accidentally skip anything.
As soon as you walk in there are clothes to your right, and household objects and niknaks to your left. Just behind the household items are all the shoes and even more clothes! And then behind all of that comes a children’s section, and in a separate room at the back, a book section.
Overall, I really enjoyed the selection at this op shop and the atmosphere within. It’s also super easy to travel to being just a 5 minute walk from Footscray station. There’s also a 3 hour car park right behind the store so driving is also super easy.
It’s so close to many other op shops I’ve written about, and in the middle of one of Melbourne’s most culturally rich suburbs. Why not make a day of it? Enjoy some food at an amazing nearby restaurant and then do some shopping. I don’t know about you but that sounds like my dream day!
