FASHION AND JEWELLERY
FASHION ZEN STYLE
Story by: Elizabeth Simonsen
THE JOY OF RECYCLING CLOTHES Clothes tell a journey of empowerment for women from the restrictive corsets of the 50’s to the bra-burning and sexual freedom of the 70’s.
A
s an addict of fashion and clothes, I am not snobbish when it comes to finding my next clothing piece. I like to dress originally and try not to follow trends slavishly. I get bored easily, so I am always on the lookout for pieces that excite me. Over the years I have found the best places to unearth hidden treasures are the recyclable/ second-hand shops. Once upon a time, there used to be a stigma attached to shopping at these places. They were there for those who couldn’t afford new clothes and were financially strapped, but now they have become the hunting ground for the fashion savvy. It’s not uncommon to hear stories of people finding high fashion labels such as Chanel or Dior, hidden amongst the racks waiting for that lucky person to find them and bring them back to life. Nowadays a lot of second-hand stores such as Vinnies and Lifeline have cottoned on to this lucrative market and have scouts looking out for high-end labels to marked them up accordingly, so to find something unmarked and undiscovered has become harder, but it’s still possible. Of course, just because a piece of clothing is not a highclass label doesn’t mean it’s not worthy as a treasure. If the fit, cut and fabric are perfect for you then it doesn’t matter what the label say’s, as long as you love it then you have struck gold.
40
eYs Magazine
For me it’s not so much the high-end labels but the vintage labels that I lust after. The designs of the 50’s, 60’s and 70’s that I hunger after. Today a lot of recycled stores will have a dedicated section to vintage or retro. I always love to daydream when I am in these sections. As my fingers touch the fabric and my eyes take in the designs I dream of who may have worn these dresses and what might their lives have been like. My mind imagines the perfect housewife dressed to impress in ladylike restraint in the 50’s, the sexy young woman starting out in life in the G0- Go era of the 60’s or the freedom loving, university educated woman fighting for human rights in the
