I want to introduce a new term to your lexicon of expressions. CFS –Clothing Fatigue Syndrome. My friend Liss coined this term 6 months into her overseas travel after disparagingly opening her backpack each day to find the same dirty worn out clothes. The treatment of this ailment is a quick fix and involves breaking the budget and splurging on a new outfit.
CSF is a common phenomenon when traveling overseas, but not exclusively. Uni students are also at a higher risk of developing CSF due to the whole student budget thing plus the lack of uniform. I always struggled deciding what to wear in the morning before uni. I am hardly a victim of Sydney’s fashion frenzy but practical issues are of a great source of consternation for me. Firstly, at 6:30am I never knew what the weather would be like when the sun actually beamed. Secondly, I always had to take a jacket of some descript as the air conditioning was always too high in summer. Thirdly, I had to decide how much walking I would do that day and therefore wear appropriate footwear. It was tough ;)
I would claim that I had a dose of CSF until this morning. My last bout of shopping was at least 4 months ago and all the clothes in my wardrobe seemed inadequate. I do recognise how incredibly selfish and materialistic this last sentence sounds, but remember I am a product of Generation Y!
And I am going to propose an environmentally friendly solution: OP shops all the way!!
I was walking past an OP shop this afternoon and picked up a pair of jeans, 2 tops and 2 singlets for $11. Less than the cost of my travel 10 that I concurrently bought. The price of 3.5 coffees. Admittedly, the OP shop was having a 50% sale and my clothes probably have hidden stains which are only revealed upon donning the garments. Nonetheless, I am still allowed to gloat at my victory over the materialistic world. Not only have I been a participant in the recycling process, but I have also donated money to the salvos.
There are a couple of OP shops across the road from Sydney University on Broadway and plenty more in surrounding suburbs of Newtown and Surry Hills. So whenever retail therapy calls, it is mighty easy to get a cheap quick fix!!
Comments
CFS or CSF? either way, i think just about everyone's been there. Op shops have long since been a bounty for people looking for the genuine vintage look, or even just a new uniform for your sporting team (its gold!). Make sure you get there pre-noon though, the last christmas party my team had was themed "dress your mate", and there was unnecessary competition for certain articles of clothing (which honestly you would never imagine people would want unless it was for an event), this led to swearing and terribly red faces on the lovely volunteers that day.
Bottom line: get in early, and let go of the pink boardshorts if you're in too late.
Posted by: ra | December 4, 2006 11:20 AM
Oh Keren - what a great post! I love a girl with style, and more than that, I love a girl who can bargain her way to style! I am currently wearing my sass and bide jeans (retail value $180; op shop price $15), my kitson tee (retail value $60; op shop price $3.50) and my awesome rip-off chloe boots (no idea of the real value, but op shop price was $9). I am totally with you on this one, Miss K!
Posted by: Lauren | December 6, 2006 01:07 PM
There is a bunch of op shops all snuggled up together on Enmore Rd. Cat Protection, Green Elephant (a buddhist one) and St Lukes are all on Enmore Rd!
Posted by: Beth | September 23, 2008 04:20 PM