I LOVE TO OP SHOP – NATIONAL OP SHOP WEEK

I know there are lots of you out there who love op shopping as much as I do so I couldn’t resist mentioning that it’s National Op Shop Week. Apart from having great fun browsing through op shops it’s a fabulous idea to recycle clothing.

What is it they say – one man’s rubbish is another man’s treasure.

I was thinking about my wonderful memories of op shopping as a kid and I’ve come to the conclusion that Op Shopping is virtually a part of my DNA. Growing up in Melbourne it was routine for my mother and I, my auntie and grandmother to drive to or catch a tram on High Street to Chapel street have a coffee and do some shopping. Part of the shopping was browsing through the local second-hand shops and the Op Shops (short for Opportunity Shops) which for me were top of the list.

For those that don’t know Chapel Street it runs along a north-south alignment passing through the south east suburbs of South Yarra, Prahran, Windsor, St Kilda and St Kilda East. To the north of Dandenong Road, Chapel Street is one of Melbourne’s premier shopping and entertainment strips with over 980 shops, street cafés, restaurants, bars, pubs and nightclubs.
For me there’s a strong family connection with the area and Chapel street is often mentioned in a couple of my books. My mother’s family, my grandparents, great uncles and aunties, my great – grandmother and my parents (when they were first married) all lived in the streets behind and within easy walking distance of Chapel street.

Renovated house in Prahran, Melbourne

These houses sat close to the curb and most were not fancy but adequate. My great grandmothers house was different being double story red brick (no longer as it’s been rendered) but the three memories that give me great joy were two leaping horse statues on the mantelpiece, the beautiful polished timber staircase and the wonderful cobblestone backyard with stables.
I’ve deviated as I often do because this part of Melbourne is a big part of my childhood and family. I still remember visiting my favourite Chapel street Op show searching for the pony books I adored. To find one was equal to finding a treasure and I still have most of them!

Chapel street Prahran a little before my time!

Later as I grew older my fashion wardrobe consisted of items from the Prue Acton factory sales (Prue Acton, OBE is an Australian fashion designer, often referred to as “Australia’s golden girl of fashion” during the 1960s). The house of Merivale and Mr John was my favourite shop in the 70s in Melbourne and I mixed the clothes from these labels with the most amazing fashion items from the Chapel Street Op shop.

Melbourne Op Shop http://www.blueumbrellalane.com/blog-1/2016/3/31/where-to-thrift

Some people donated and still donate absolutely amazing items to these shops. First edition books, fine jewellery, genuine high end designer clothing, collectables and antiques all are found from time to time. For the purchaser there are bargains galore and the generous donations generate income for the wonderful work done by all these charities.
So why not make a date and get together with a friend, catch up over a lunch and then head off together to Vinnies or Lifeline if you’re in Queensland. You could be very surprised at what you’ll find. Or if you’re lucky enough to be in Melbourne plan a visit to the Chapel street op shop you can think of me and smile when you find your treasure. Oh, I nearly forgot to warn you. There is no such thing as a quick trip to an Op Shop ….

Happy Op Shop Week everyone.

In Toowoomba we have so many hard working charities you can support
Vinnies
Lifeline
Salvos
Metro Care
The Good Samaritan
Endeavour Foundation
ADRA Op Shop
Save the Children

Contact details http://opshop.org/list/QLD/TOOWOOMBA