The clothes are from Chapel Street. The price tags, though, are far from the mega dollars that usually go hand in hand with designer labels. When these models strut their stylish stuff next Friday night at the Style Mission 4 fashion parade, it will be for budget- conscious observers — their complete outfits will be sourced at op-shops and cost less than $200.
That is the limit set by the organisers of Style Mission 4 — the Sacred Heart Mission's annual fund-raising fashion event, to be held at the Amello Restaurant and Bar at the St Kilda Sea Baths. They'll be wearing outfits created by a who's who of Melbourne labels, including Scanlan & Theodore, Jenny Bannister, Bettina Liano, Roy and Vicious Threads.
The idea? To show people not usually open to the thrift shop experience that looking good does not have to mean spending big — it's all about how you put it together.
Vicious Threads designer Ivan Gomez, 33, is an old hand at hunting out op-shop bargains.
"I started op-shopping in the 1980s," Gomez says. "A lot of fashion- minded people have been doing it for years." The trick to such sartorial success?
"It does take confidence," he admits. "It's for people who wear things with a bit of pride — people who are individual. You can find a lot of great outfits if you know what you're looking for and how to put things together. What one person sees as a gem, another person might not even notice." Gomez' best buy for this year's Style Mission, he says, is a Paul Smith jacket valued at about $800.
The Sacred Heart Mission Price was $12. Another $8 bought him a lemon-yellow men's shirt and there was also a white singlet, a pair of green rubber thongs and an old pair of Levis.
"That cost $60 from head to toe," he laughs. "I got it all from one Sacred Heart Mission store in under an hour."
Flamingo Sands' designers Jane Hayes, 31, and Nicky Rowsell, 35, agree. For this year's parade — aimed at generating more than $30,000 to help finance Sacred Heart Mission programs to assist people who are homeless, marginalised or living in poverty — the swimwear designers have created a unique summer look for a bargain basement price.
"You can find things from op-shops that are ready to wear and look great, but if you can sometimes change things — cut a little bit off this and add a little bit to that — you really make it special," Hayes says.
"The Mission has to raise more than $2 million a year to keep its doors open," says Sacred Heart Mission's chief executive officer, Michael Perusco. "This is a fun event that draws in some great designers.
Our op-shops are critical to raising the funds we need, so anything we can do to promote people coming to these stores is fantastic."
Style Mission 4 — from 8pm, Friday, February 9, at Amello, St Kilda Sea Baths. Tickets $65. Phone: 1800 443 278.
Source: TheAge.com
