How to Beat the Christmas Chaos!

We all love preloved fashion shopping. Preloved just isn’t saved for fashion though as it can cross over to all areas of your life including Christmas and today we’d love to share with you how.

St Vinnes Hamilton Christmas Display

Last week armed with my Christmas to buy list – gift tags, wrapping paper, cards, decorations – I headed to my local Vinnes op shop at Hamilton and was surprised at what I discovered. I found a park right out front and shopped in peace and quiet. While my daughter played in the kids area – I bought brand new gift tags, unopened Christmas card packs, in great condition gift bags, gorgeous Christmas tees for the kids and reindeer antlers just for fun. I spent a grand total of $13 a huge saving of $50.

All year the op shops collect and accept donations of all sorts of Christmas themed items. They store them away until such time in November they set-up a ‘Christmas Display’ in each store. You’ll discover things like:

• Christmas Trees
• Christmas Decorations
• Wreaths
• Candles
• Christmas Clothing/Costumes
• Santa Hats/Reindeer Antlers
• Mugs/Crockery
• Disposable Cups/Plates/Serviettes
• Crackers
• Gift Boxes/Gift Bags/Gift Wrap
• Children’s Books
• Ornaments
• Nativity Sets
• Gifts
• And more….

My Christmas op shopping

Imagine driving around for an hour trying to find a park, the kids starting to whinge and you’ve only just arrived at the first shop. The Christmas carol music in the store is just too loud and then you have to deal with cranky customers. Make your first point of call for Christmas shopping your local op shop. The experience will be more calm and peaceful, the customers friendly and the merchandise unique. Not only are you shopping local – you are supporting services for those in need and you’re helping the environment.

So, if you are still yet to finish your Christmas shopping head to your local op shop look here to find the closest store near you. Let us know what you discover snap a pic and share it on our Facebook page we’d all love to see what you find.

Yours in all things preloved,

Rachel

Prest

Rachel Prest

Director & Founder at Raid My Wardrobe

Rachel Prest is founder of Raid My Wardrobe. In 2010, she founded a preloved fashion event for women to refresh, recycle and reinvent their wardrobes. She began this blog in 2016 as a way to inspire, educate and encourage her community with more sustainable ways of fashion shopping, styling and creating. When she's not doing a wardrobe makeover or planning the next event you'll find her down at the beach, hiking or mountain biking in the bush or hanging out with her friends and her kids. Rachel is based in Newcastle, Australia.