Seconds in seconds

Oops I did it again ...

... I went op-shopping. Argh. I am so weird, I swear. My friend asked me to check out this Sunday market somewhere, where people sell their stuff i.e.: clothes/shoes/bags/rugs/cutlery/tvs/ etc. they no longer want. If you are lucky, you can get branded stuff that would cost you $200 plus in great condition for only $10. BUT obviously, it has been worn. Hence the "op" in front of "shopping". 

I ended up buying 4 tops for $18. They are nice tops, I really like them. One of them is from Topshop (Singapore), which she apparently bought online, but she didn't like it/ it didn't fit her? Something like that. I can't remember. But it looks barely worn and it was $2.50 (!!!) and Topshop can be quite pricey. So anyhow. I am glad I bought the stuff, but then I feel funny. Because it's clothes that are second hand. I was talking to my friend (the one I went with) and she said she feels funny too, because in Germany and Malaysia second hand shops don't exist and when they do, they are rarely open to the general public and only open to the needy with a special permit. Things are cheap, if you have some sort of money somewhere you will not buy second hand. In Australia, it seems all different. We unanimously agreed. The 101 on how to be cool in Australia these days = op-shopping. I have no idea why, but that seems to be the case. Remember I talked about dressing like a hippie a couple of posts ago? Yup, all about being great at op-shopping.

I guess it makes me feel so funny, because it's like people's sweat and dirt and bacteria and what not are in these clothes. Some of the stuff you see at the markets, ... sweat stains and make-up stains everywhere. Not sure if I'm keen on wearing that. 

Anyhow, since my friend feels funny too, she told me that she usually washes her newly bought second hand stuff with a dettol antibacterial inwash. [Hahaha, you know me...] after our long shopping spree I went straight to the supermarket and got myself a bottle of that stuff. The problem is, is that I don't have a washing machine that washes hot ... Hmm maybe I need to put it in a bucket and chuck in hot water and let it soak? I don't know. For now I have washed some of them in the washing machine in cold water.

Funnily enough, they don't feel like my own yet. It feels like I have done someone elses laundry, but then again I got a 100% silk top (made in India ... it's super cute) so I handwashed that one. It's hanging up to dry right now and it's definitely growing on me. So I don't know. I am definitely torn on whether to believe in op-shopping or not. I think it's a good experience, but for now it's not one that I need to repeat anytime soon. It makes me feel poor (in the homeless sense). 

Oh YUCK! I have just had a look on what to look out for with second hand clothes ... PUBIC LICE ??? *Sigh* what have I gotten myself into. Apparently putting the items in a plastic bag of 5 days helps ... *sigh* ... now I need to put my stuff into plastic bags and wait for 5 DAYS??? No way!

Edit: Apparently, freezing your clothes for a week gets rid of insects too *sigh*.