NEVER EVER PAY RETAIL’S OP SHOP WISHLIST
- Words by Peppermint
Hannah Klose is pretty much the closest thing Australia’s got to a professional op shopper. The brains behind thrifty blog Never Ever Pay Retail, Hannah’s been providing a behind-the-fitting-room-curtain guide to the nation’s op shops since 2014. Now well and truly Instafamous, her outfit posts are the thing of legend – with entire ensembles often costing less than the price of a brand-new pair of socks.
Many, many years of mining for treasure at the coalface of thrift has left Hannah with an uncanny knack for secondhand success. Right at the top of her tips is to draw inspo from high fashion looks you love and then make a hit list of the items you need to make it happen – meaning you avoid rummage overwhelm and keep an eagle-eye out for the things you’re after. As bargain-hunters countrywide gear up for the launch of National Op Shop Week on Sunday, we convinced Hannah to spill the beans on the must-haves currently burning a hole in her op shop wishlist…
Full-length overalls
#ICYMI 90s fashun is back in a big way, and nothing says the 90s more than a pair of full-length overalls…especially if you pop a strap, TLC style! I’ve had a pair on my op shop wish list for almost a year now…they’re pretty much my holy grail of thrifting, and I’m still hoping I’ll track some down before winter’s out! If you see some secondhand ones, DM me on Insta – @nevereverpayretail – please and thank you!
Old-school Vans or Converse
Old-school kicks with stars or stripes are the next step in the sneaker trend. Alllllll the fashion bloggers and models were wearing them at Fashion Week in May, so now I’m on the hunt for some pre-loved puppies…preferably some red Converse with the white star cut out, but I’ll also happily give some black Vans with a bold stripe a home.
Two-piece suit
Nothing says you mean business like a two-piece snappy suit! I’m talking tailored blazer and jacket styles that give a nod to the 90s. One of my favourite fashion bloggers, Brooke Testoni, was recently working a pinstripe combo that had me at hello, and I feel like I could definitely recreate the look for a lot less at my local thrift shop. Watch. This. Space.
Plain white tees
Customisation is king at the moment. I’m always scouring the op shops for fresh white tees, so I can either stitch cute phrases like ‘Running latte’ or ‘Gone thrifting’ onto them, or print them with political statements similar to the ‘We should all be feminists’ tees that have been going viral.
Men’s collared shirts
Before you look at me funny, hear me out…men’s shirts are probably the most overlooked items in the thrift shop, but they’re also the most versatile! There’s so many ways you can style them that are so on-trend…wear them half unbuttoned and off one shoulder, open and tied up at the waist, or tucked into some high-waisted jeans with the sleeves rolled up. You can do so many DIYs with them too, from ruffle creations to off-the-shoulder tops and dresses like the one I’m wearing in the photo above, with only the most basic of sewing skills! I’m always looking for slim-fit men’s shirts in go-to prints like gingham or stripes.
National Op Shop Week kicks off on 27 August. If you’re in Brisbane on 31 August, you can join Hannah at the Never Ever Pay Retail and Studio Thrifty4 VIP evening at 21 Collingwood Street in Albion – it promises to be a night of bubbles and bargains galore!
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Look, I don’t want to make anyone panic but IT’S DECEMBER!!! If you’re planning to give homemade gifts, you’re going to have to act fast. …
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🌻 The Paddington 🌻
This is a much-loved staple, created for Issue 50 in 2021. We love seeing the #PeppermintPaddingtonTop continually popping up in our feeds!
How stunning is our model Elon MelaninGoddessEfon – she told us it was one of the first times she had been asked to come to a shoot with her natural hair. 🌻
We worked with South African patternmaker Sarah Steenkamp of @FrenchNavyNow_ to create this wardrobe essential – the perfect puff-sleeve blouse. Raglan sleeves make it the ultimate beginner sew, plus the gorgeous back buttons let you add your own personal twist.
Pattern via the link in bio! 🪡
Photos: @KelleySheenan
Fabric: @Spoonflower
Model: MelaninGoddessEfon
“In the 1940’s, Norwegians made and wore red pointed hats with a tassel as a form of visual protest against Nazi occupation of their country. Within two years, the Nazis made these protest hats illegal and punishable by law to wear, make, or distribute. As purveyors of traditional craft, we felt it appropriate to revisit this design.”
Crafters have often been at the heart of many protest movements, often serving as a powerful means of political expression. @NeedleAndSkein, a yarn store in Minnesota, are helping to mobilise the craftivists of the world with a ‘Melt The Ice’ knitting pattern created by @Yarn_Cult (with a crochet pattern too), as a way of peaceful protest.
The proceeds from the $5 pattern will go to local immigrant aid organisations – or you can donate without buying the pattern.
Raise those needles, folks – art and craft can change the world. 🧶
Link in bio for the pattern.
Images: @Gather_Fiber @NeedleAndSkein @a2ina2 @KyraGiggles Sandi.204 @WhatTracyMakes AllieKnitsAway Auntabwi2
#MeltTheIce #Craftivism #Knitting #CraftForChange
TWO WEEKS TO GO! 🤩
"The most important shift is moving from volume-led buying to value-led curation – choosing fewer, better products with strong ethics, considered production and meaningful stories. Retailers have real influence here: what you buy signals what you stand for. At Life Instyle, this means using the event to discover and invest in small-scale, planet-considerate brands that align with your values and your customer’s conscience. Consumers don’t need more things; they need better things, and retailers play a key role in selecting, contextualising, and championing why those products matter."
Only two more weeks until @Life_Instyle – Australia`s leading boutique retail trade show. If you own a store, don`t miss this event! Connect with designers, source exquisite – and mindful – products, and see firsthand why this is Australia’s go-to trade show for creatives and retailers alike. And it`s free! ✨️
Life Instyle – Sydney/Eora Country
14-17 February 2026
ICC, Darling Harbour
Photos: @Samsette
#LifeInstyle #SustainableShopping #SustainableShop #RetailTradeEvent
Calling all sewists! 📞
Have you made the Peppermint Waratah Wrap Dress yet? Call *1800 I NEED THIS NOW to get making!
This gorgeous green number was modelled (and made) by the fabulous Lisa of @Tricky.Pockets 🙌🏼
If you need a nudge, @ePrintOnline are offering Peppermint sewists a huge 🌟 30% off ALL A0 printing 🌟 when you purchase the Special Release Waratah Wrap Dress pattern – how generous is that?!
Head to the link in bio now 📞
*Not a real number in case that wasn`t clear 😂
#PeppermintWaratahWrapDress #PeppermintPatterns #SewingPattern #WrapDress #WrapDressPattern
8 Things to Know About January 26 - from @ClothingTheGaps:
Before you celebrate, take the time to learn the truth. January 26 is not a day of unity it’s a Day of Mourning and Survival for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
It marks the beginning of invasion, dispossession, and ongoing colonial violence. It’s time for truth-telling, not whitewashed history.
Stand in solidarity. Learn. Reflect. Act.
✊🏽 Blog written by Yorta Yorta woman Taneshia Atkinson.
🔗 Link in bio of @ClothingTheGaps to read the full blog
#ChangeTheDate #InvasionDay #SurvivalDay #AlwaysWasAlwaysWillBe #ClothingTheGaps
As the world careens towards AI seeping into our feeds, finds and even friend-zones, it`s becoming increasingly hard to ignore.
We just wanted to say that here at Peppermint, we are choosing to not print or publish AI-generated art, photos, words, videos or content.
Merriam-Webster’s human editors chose `slop` as the 2025 Word of the Year – they define it as “digital content of low quality that is produced usually in quantity by means of artificial intelligence.” The problem is, as AI increases in quality, it`s becoming more and more difficult to ascertain what`s real and what`s not.
Let`s be clear here, AI absolutely has its place in science, in climate modelling, in medical breakthroughs, in many places... but not in replacing the work of artists, writers and creatives.
Can we guarantee that everything we publish is AI-free? Honestly, not really. We know we are not using it to create content, but we are also relying on the artists, makers and contributors we work with, as well as our advertisers, to supply imagery, artwork or words created by humans. AI features are also creeping into programs and apps too, making it difficult to navigate. But we will do our best to avoid it and make a stand for the artists and creatives who have had their work stolen and used to train AI machines, and those who are now losing work as they are replaced by this energy-sapping, environment-destroying magic wand.
Could using it help our productivity and bottom line? Sure. And as a small business in a difficult landscape, that`s a hard one to turn down. We know other publishers who use AI to write stories, create recipes, produce photo shoots... but this one is important to us.
`Touch grass` was also a Merriam-Webster Word of the Year. We`ll happily stick with that as a theme, thanks very much. 🌿
