Last week I had another very successful op-shop trip.  It seems to be a happy coincidence that my day off seems to be the same day that all the thrift stores in town put out their new stock.  I’m starting to make a habit of going to the second hand stores first thing on my day off so that I get the pick of the litter.

This week I got some wonderful treasures during my travels:

First of all a couple of books.  I got a battered copy of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, which I’ve been meaning to read for ages.  I also picked up a gorgeous hard-cover edition of Good Wives, which is one of the sequels to my favourite book, Little Women by Louisa May Alcott.

When I saw the print on this beautiful vintage dressing gown, I knew that I was in trouble.  I’ve got a bit of a fascination with vintage nightwear, and I’ve currently got at least three dressing gowns.  I really don’t need another, but I couldn’t go past these amazingly vibrant blooms and the light cotton fabric.  Plus it was only $2.50, so I couldn’t say no.

I also caved and got this awesome vintage nightgown.  Most of the nightgowns I find in second-hand stores are in pastel shades. While I like a good sorbet-shade, I’m much more suited to vibrant tones.  I fell in love with this gorgeous blue immediately.

I also got a couple of items that were not vintage. Like this striped maxi-skirt.  It’s one of those mullet-hem skirts that I have a bit of a love-hate relationship with, but I adored the pirate-y stripes so I decided to give it a go.  This skirt is a perfect example of why you should never trust the size tags on clothing.  This skirt is a Medium, and it only barely fits my tiny waist.  The lesson: ALWAYS try before you buy.  Don’t rely on the size tags to decide if something will fit you.

I got this cute cropped jumper for a couple of dollars.  It’s really light-weight, which makes it perfect for this time of year.   It’s not cold, but the evenings are getting a little chilly and I like to have something to throw on over my comfy clothes.  After I tried this on, I was cuddling Ringo and I realised that we matched!  I hope that it’s cute (and not creepy) that I bought something that makes me look like my cat.

I was so excited when I saw the glint of sequins on the skirt rack.  I love a good embellished skirt, particularly when they’re full and flowing.  This gypsy skirt still has it’s original tags on it.  It’s from Ishka, one of my favourite shops.  It was originally priced at $60.  I paid $4.

My final purchase was this white gypsy skirt, also with its original tags still attached.  I used to own a white lace peasant skirt that I wore until it literally fell to pieces.  I’ve been on the lookout for something to replace it for years, and this will do the job nicely.

I just love the colourful detail around the hem.  It’s a bit more festive than my original skirt, but I think it reflects my current style a little better.

Have you had any awesome op-shop finds lately?  Care to share?

P.S: if you’re interested in brushing up on your thrift-shopping skills, I’ve got an e-book that can help you out.  Nessbow’s Guide to Second Hand Shopping is just $5 and available for instant download through my etsy store.