1.Pick a favourite op shop and check in regularly. New stock arrives all the time.
2.Charity shops in well-heeled areas have a higher ratio of quality stuff, but the catch is that you can also pay more for it.
3.Get out of the big smoke. If you like vintage pieces, the op shop capitals of New Zealand are Palmerston North, Wanganui and the entire South Island.
4.Be patient. Sometimes the good stuff leaps out at you; sometimes it’s hiding behind a Warehouse polar fleece.
5.If the shoes fit, wear them! Even if they’re not labelled as your size. Shoe sizes mean nothing. The same goes for clothing. You won’t get anywhere if you only try clothes in ‘your’ size.
Pitfalls to avoid
1.Give everything the sniff test. I can live with a musty museum smell, but not ancient BO.
2.Check for stains, tears, holes and fading. You might miss these in the excitement of a great score.
3.If you think an item is overpriced, don’t buy it. It’s easy to get seduced by a designer label, only to discover you’ve bought a white elephant. Op shops don’t do returns.
4.Be discerning. Keep your wits about you or you’ll end up with an excess of old, scruffy clothes. Don’t buy something just because it’s cheap. Love it, or leave it.
For more on second hand clothes shopping, see the September issue of NEXT magazine
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