Op Shop Gold: One Jacket, Five Ways
- Words by Peppermint
We love op shopping, you love op shopping, we all love op shopping, right?! For Hannah Klose, aka the gal behind Never Ever Pay Retail, op shopping’s an all-consuming passion – and she’s on a one-woman mission to prove we can find everything we’ll ever need down at our local thrifty. Luckily for us, Hannah’s here to share some wisdom on how to turn one woman’s trash into your most treasured outfit – starting with the ways a basic denim jacket can jazz up pretty much everything you already own. Hurrah!
Forget buying your first home, a thrifted denim jacket could be the best investment you’ll ever make and you don’t even have to give up smashed avocado on toast for it!
I thrifted my two jackets at a clothes swap and in the kids section of an op shop (you really do have to shop every rack people), and they came to a total of $2.70 all up. I can’t even calculate what the price per wear would be because I’ve worn them so many times… pretty sure I’ve clocked up at least #30wears!
And what’s not to love about them? Denim jackets work with so many looks and styles… you can dress them up with sequins, or keep it casual and team them with a pair of sneaks. They’re the secondhand staple that works overtime – I might be so obsessed with denim jackets I’ve come up with five ways for you to work them into your sustainable style arsenal…
Layer it up
As the days get colder take a lesson from the onion and sneak in ALL the layers under your jacket. And if you have something really fetch to show off underneath, why not wear it as a cape?
Block it out
A really easy way to make your jacket pop is to pair it with all black or all white errythang. If you’re feeling too plain Jane though, tie a bandana or vintage scarf on your handbag to break things up.
Play with proportions
Some vintage denim jackets can be slightly bulky thanks to the oversized shoulder obsession of the 80s, so streamline your look with some skinny jeans or a mini skirt. Or if you find a more fitted jacket in the kids section like me, put it with a pleat midi.
Pair it with prints
Denim jackets are so versatile, they’ll literally go with any pattern you throw at them. Try polka dots, florals, stripes or a little bit of leopard if you really want to level up.
Denim on denim
If you can find denim pieces in similar shades, double down in a Canadian tuxedo! Break up the blues with a fresh white tee or go for the trifecta and make it triple denim with a chambray shirt.
If you don’t already have a denim jacket then it might be time to get thrifting! This op shop locator is super handy for second hand hunting, and don’t forget to get your head in the game with these top ten thrifting tips and tricks. Don’t forget to tag @nevereverpayretail on Insta – I can’t wait to see what you find!
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“My piece of advice for makers and designers? Run your own race… make sure your key decisions stay anchored in your brand’s core beliefs.”
- Bec Bligh
Quick show of hands: who’s opened a water bottle expecting a refreshing sip… and instead been greeted by the unmistakable whiff of uh-oh?
Because for something that follows us everywhere (desk, car, hikes, yoga…), the humble drink bottle is strangely prone to becoming a science experiment. Hard-to-clean corners and gaskets. Mystery smells. Bec Bligh and her husband Tim know it well. A six-month sailing trip along the Queensland coast left them with a lifetime of memories and one stubborn annoyance: mouldy water bottles they couldn’t properly clean.
So they did something about it.
Enter @EverVessel. Thoughtfully designed borosilicate glass and stainless steel bottles that keep things beautifully simple: durable materials, wide openings, easy-to-clean parts and none of the techy gimmicks that tend to age badly. Turns out simplicity, done well, is pretty powerful stuff. (Their many design awards agree!)
And lately they’ve added a little extra delight: the Artist Series, where creatives like Paola Castro, Ben Miners and Martin Thompson transform these everyday companions into tiny travelling artworks. There are more colabs in the works, too: hydration, but make it joyful! 🎨💧
We chatted with Bec about the sailing trip that started it all, the philosophy behind Ever Vessel, and why the most sustainable product is often just the one you keep using.
Tap the link in our bio to read the full conversation. 🚰
#EverVessel #ReusableWaterBottle
Pull up a chair… there’s room at this table!
For the first time, Feast for Freedom is bringing people together for a spectacular long-table dinner as part of the Melbourne Food & Wine Festival.
A Longer Table is exactly what it sounds like: one beautiful shared table inside the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre (@Asrc1), piled with generous dishes inspired by this year’s hero cooks, Noha and Nige.
From 6 to 9pm on Wednesday, 25 March, this is what you can expect:
🍽 A three-course shared feast
🍷 Matched drinks
🎶 Live entertainment
✨ A room full of good humans
Your ticket doesn’t just buy you a delicious dinner. It supports the ASRC’s vital work and helps create a fairer future for people seeking asylum.
Seats are limited, and long tables have a way of filling up quickly – head to @MelbFoodAndWine’s website to book now: feastforfreedom.org.au/mfwf
#FeastForFreedom #MelbourneFoodAndWineFestival #LongTableDinner #FoodForChange
Sew versatile! 🪡
Another great make from Lisa from @SunnySewsEveryday:
My #PeppermintWaratahWrapDress is finished and I’m so proud of it. It has been designed not to flap open and flash your pants in the wind, so I feel confident it will be a great wheelchair or standing dress in English weather.
#PeppermintPatterns #WrapDress #WrapDressPattern
Frame your face with the Peppermint Bucket Hat!
Stay safe and stylish in the sun with your very own self-sewn and self-drafted wide-brimmed bucket hat. This beginner-friendly sew is perfect for a sunny day. Get out your pencils – this pattern is created using equations and maths!
This DIY project was featured in Issue 53 and now you can access it for the lovely low price of only $5.
Sun-safe chic is always in style. ☀️
Find it via the link in our bio!
Photos: @KelleySheenan
#PeppermintPatterns #PeppermintBucketHat #BucketHat #BucketHatPattern #DIY
✨ INSTANT CLASSIC ✨
The Peppermint Myrtle Shift Dress is a beginner-friendly make with a few special details based on the ever-stylish shift shape – the perfect dress you need in your wardrobe right now!
Myrtle cuts above the knee with options to customise the length. Don’t think she’s reserved for hot weather either: try a heavier-weight fabric to turn your Myrtle into a pinafore-style garment for layering.
For our fabrics we chose two from our lovely sewing partner @Karmme_Apparel – the bold Rottnest Stripes in a lightweight, soft-drape cotton, and the quality linen in the handpainted Mexico Collection.
Get making the Myrtle – the only question is, can you stop at just one?
Link in bio 🪡
Fabric: @Karmme_Apparel
Sewist: @Laura_The_Maker
Photos: @KelleySheenan
Models: @SerahSews and @Pins_And_Tonic
Location: @ShareTheDignityAustralia
#PeppermintMyrtleShiftDress #PeppermintPatterns
It’s time to Feast!
Some recipes travel a long way before they land on your table to delight your taste buds. This year’s Feast for Freedom invites us to gather our friends, cook something delectable and raise funds for the incredible work of the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre (@Asrc1) while we’re at it.
The 2026 Feast features recipes shared by two remarkable cooks: Noha, who brought the flavours of Palestine with her when she arrived in Australia, and Nige, a Sri-Lankan Tamil cook whose journey with food began in the most unexpected of places.
You can host your own Feast up until 30 April – simply register online and get planning! Host a dinner, organise a workplace lunch, or gather your community… However you do it, the idea is simple: cook, connect and celebrate the cultures and stories that shape Australia.
Want to find out more? Head to the link in bio to meet Noha and Nige, learn more about their stories, and discover a delicious recipe to try.
#FeastForFreedom #PeppermintMagazine #FoodForGood #ASRC
