To market, to market

Image: hopestreetmarkets.com

When you are a student with illustrious ideas but a meagre budget there are only so many places you can afford to shop in order to avoid looking like a sheep that just stepped out of the pages of Cosmo magazine. The over-saturation of chain-stores and countless fashion-victims adrift in a sea of same-ness can often have a panic-inducing effect when shopping along the main drag of Pitt St mall or your local Westfield. Which is why sample sales have always been a mainstay on my to-shop list, and why I have recently turned to markets in order to find unique cheap and cheerful pieces to supplement my wardrobe.

Trawling markets (or marketing, as I like to call it) has become a favourite weekend past-time even when walking away empty handed, since there are so many interesting and hilarious things to be spotted such as giant 80s perforated leather dresses, adorable hand-sewn baby clothes, or humongous rings made from old metal liquor tags. Even though giant leather dresses aren't exactly my thing, I have found shopping at the markets to be a rewarding experience since it offers such a diverse and affordable mix of second hand, vintage and new items that are refreshingly differentiated from mass-produced chain-store fare.