Good Morning Lifestylers,I hope wherever you are in the world that you’re waking up to a bright sunny morning.
It’s a beautiful morning in Perth with mist rising off the lake in front of me and a cloudless sky being warmed by sunshine. I’ve just attended the Colours of our Country, an Aboriginal art exhibition, showcasing work by collectible artists from Western Australia’s Pilbara region (scroll down for more information.)
There were women there wearing high fashion and high street bargains and it got me thinking …
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Designer or Thrifty?
Back in my younger days I rubbed shoulders with women who would only buy clothes from the most exclusive stores selling the most well-known designer gear.
If you’ve got lots of dosh it’s probably okay, although I have to admit I’ve always had lots of plans for any disposable income I might have so a clothes allowance has had to be balanced with things like my lust for travel. In those days we didn’t have two pennies to rub together so I was the one rummaging for bargain basement ‘rags’ at the Hong Kong markets in the central district laneways 😉
I think whatever your budget it’s still possible to find fabulous clothes these days.
If you’re like me and enjoy changing the way you dress quite often then perhaps you’re more aligned with chain stores, high street fashion and thrift shops.
I don’t know about you but there’s nothing I like better than an hour in a charity shop rifling through the rails looking for bargains, and if a sale sign goes up in the High Street well, I’m itching to be there for the Off!
However, I’m happy to try out stores I don’t know. I buy bits and pieces from very many places including thrift shops and online stores which perhaps cater for a much younger market, and yes sometimes if the price is right from designer labels too.
Tip: The trick is to get to know what suits you. Once you know that you can really shop anywhere.
Inexpensive Designer Labels
So I checked out the Leona Edmiston website.
I wasn’t, at first, surprised to see some fairly big $ numbers for the new collections. What I was equally surprised at was the sale that’s happening. I was so happy to find a whole page of lovely dresses for only $69.
You can take a look here : Leona Edmiston
Yes, you bet I snaffled one up! Designer at High Street price. I wonder if you can guess which dress I went for? You’ll have to wait until it arrives on my doorstep for a photo.
I always like to dig behind the scenes a bit and I’ve found an interesting article about Leona Edmiston in this piece by the Sydney Morning Herald. Known as the Frock Queen, Leona says: “You can only succeed if you are passionately in love with what you do.”
You might also like: What shall I wear Today?
Lifestylers, do you like to invest in beautiful garments that last and last, or do you prefer buying from chain stores or thrift shops?
Footnote: Colours of Our Country
Colours of our Country is an Aboriginal art exhibition, showcasing work by collectible artists from Western Australia’s Pilbara region. The land and its Traditional Owners hold generations of stories, ceremony and culture and since 2006, the Colours of our Country exhibition has provided people in Perth with a small snapshot of these stories and customs.
Running until 11th September 2015, more than 260 paintings and artefacts from 30 Pilbara-based Aboriginal artists will be on show. 9am to 5pm weekdays
Central Park building foyer 152 – 158 St George’s Terrace, Perth. For more details check out The ZigaZag Mag on Facebook.
“The Pilbara has a rich history and a vibrant artistic heart. Colours of our Country is more than an exhibition. It creates economic development opportunities for the featured artists, supports the ongoing sustainability of art groups and artists, providing an outlet for cultural expression. Since its launch, more than 1,900 artworks have been sold, generating almost $1.75 million for artists, their art groups and communities.” Rio Tinto
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Thanks for a great read Jo on this rainy Thursday. I always try and catch up with my Lifestyle Fifty newsletters on my days of !!!
Oh, thank you Chris! I’m so glad you’ve been reading – lucky for me it’s been raining 😉
ps – I looked at Leona Edmiston site. They have some lovely clothes but trust me to pick something over $150!
Haha Jill, not sure if that means you have good taste or expensive taste! Lol 🙂
I tend not to buy high fashion labels, going for something more affordable, but hopefully stylish….note “hopefully”…. My problem is I made my own clothes for years back in the day when we didn’t have much money, so to spend a lot of money on clothes now is difficult for me to justify. But for that really special occasion, well that is different.
I love that quote – You can only succeed if you are passionately in love with what you do
Me too. Still find it hard to buy expensive clothes but I’m getting easier on myself as the years roll by 😉 Yes, that quote resonates hey?
This is a very eye-catching dress which looks wonderful on your friend. I confess I am a bit of a ‘label shopper’, however I do wait for things to come on sale and take advantage of store offers (like get $50 off when you spend over $150). I have never had any success in thrift shops with clothing and I hate the smell of them. I have sometimes purchased items off eBay but I usually like to try before I buy. I will have to check out those $69 Leona Edmiston dresses – they sound like they are a bargain!
I like your strategies Kathy 🙂 There are a couple of dresses on the L.E. site that I thought would suit you though! I am not an affilliate! I too dislike the thrift shop smell. Everything gets a good wash if I buy 😉
I usually buy things on Sale unless it is for a special occasion. I don’t have any particular places that I buy them from. I do buy things from thrift shops but not clothes nowadays. When our kids were little and I had less disposable income I quite often did. I loved the $69 dresses but most had 3/4 sleeves which are too hot for Townsville. I liked Iggy and Dale for me and I did think Lourdes would look great on you 🙂
Hi Jan, yes I guess summer in Townsville is too sticky for 3/4 length sleeves (which I have to admit I really like wearing). I actually really liked the Lourdes, but it wasn’t the one I ordered. I would be a great summer dress in Perth though. I think your choices of Iggy and Dale are lovely too.