80's Fashion Fever: Insights from a Visually Impaired Thrifter

Bec: 00:00:00

I can't always wear glasses, so my vision tends to fluctuate.

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I know my limitations.

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I always carry a magnifying glass with

me and I've got some really cutesy

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little traveling ones that fit into my

handbag . All my friends just, they, we

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have to laugh at it 'cause they're like,

for a blind person, you do pretty well.

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Chryssius: Hey, Relovers!

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Welcome back to another

episode of Reloved Radio.

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I'm your host, Chryssius Dunn, and today

we have a super interesting guest joining

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us, someone with a unique vision and

a passion for all things 80s fashion.

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Now, you know, we're all about

sustainable style and the stories

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behind our preloved treasures.

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Today's guest embodies that spirit.

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She's not just an 80s fashion curator

and reseller, but also a remarkable

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individual who navigates the world of

thrift stores, op-shops, and vintage

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markets with a unique perspective.

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With a keen eye for authentic pieces

and a commitment to sustainability,

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she's curated a collection that

tells a story beyond fashion.

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You might know her from the journey

she shares on Instagram under

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the handle @aninsightfulhaul.

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So grab your favourite drink, settle in,

and let's dive into the world of authentic

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80s fashion with Rebecca Collins.

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Welcome to the show, Bec!

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Who doesn't love the 80s?

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I feel there's a lot people out there

that don't love the 80s, and I do get

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a little bit devastated sometimes that

they don't have the same passion for

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the 80s as what I do, but I try and

put it out there as much as I can.

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Love that.

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Tell us how you got started

as an 80s fashion reseller?

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Bec: Interestingly, I didn't

really grow up with loving op-shops.

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Um, I am a maximalist.

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I always have been, but I kind of got

into it about 10, probably eight to

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ten years ago, a friend of mine said,

"I'm going to hormone school and I've

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just learned all about hormones and

I think you should get on board."

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And I was like, "What do you mean?

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I've got absolutely no idea

what you're talking about."

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And it started with Alexx Stuart, who...

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she does Low Tox Life.

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She started as a podcast but basically,

it was talking about how you live with

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a, a level of toxicity in your life.

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And my journey actually

started with clean beauty.

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So I got onto Nourished Life and Irene

Falcone and learning that story which

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then went into like Sarah Wilson with

I Quit Sugar, and then Clare Press with

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Wardrobe Crisis and, and learning about

ethical fashion and being educated.

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And that was probably all through

a lot through Covid as well, that I

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re-listened to a lot of this, but that's

kind of where it all STARTED started.

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And then I got into the whole

secondhand shopping, I guess from

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the ethical fashion movement.

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I hated going into op-shops when I

was growing up, but then realised

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the connectivity between going into

the op-shops and actually buying

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preloved clothes because we just

already had too many clothes in the

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world as it was, becoming the eco

warrior that I did, all of that was

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really impressed upon me, I suppose.

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And yeah, I just started going

into op-shops, then I started

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finding little bits of treasure.

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I started adapting my style, because I

wasn't conforming to what everybody was

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wearing every single day, mass produced.

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I started looking at clothes in a

completely different way, and I don't

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know why the 80s specifically called

out to me, but you know, I was born in

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the seventies, so I grew up in the 80s.

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So for me it was all about Melanie

Griffith's "Working Girl" you know, her

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hair and shoulder pads, and listening to

Laura Branigan and, Olivia Newton-John

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"Physical", we would do aerobics

and wear those outfits, you know?

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So I guess that's where

it kind of transformed.

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And I never looked back.

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I thought, wow, I'm so into

this and there's gotta' be

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a niche of people out there.

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So I started sourcing, I

started buying it, and then I

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was wearing a lot of it myself.

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And then just working through that style

and then thinking, oh, this is great.

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Like, surely there's gotta' be more

people that think that this is a good

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idea and like this kind of clothing.

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So then you start seeing people out

in the street wearing bits and pieces,

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and you're like, yeah, there they are.

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There they are.

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I can spot them.

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Chryssius: And just to clarify for

our listeners, when we're talking

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about 80s clothing, the pieces that

you were starting to be attracted

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to, like, are we talking leg

warmers and Lycra or something else?

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Bec: Hey, I've never stopped

loving leg warmers to be honest.

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I think for me the biggest

thing is probably shoulder

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pads, first and foremost.

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I'm lucky to say that 'cause I'm quite

tall and rather broad-shouldered,

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I feel like, once I started wearing

things again with shoulder pads and

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I'm talking, the bigger, the better.

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I just found that my

whole silhouette changed.

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I also really love massive earrings.

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I also wear very bright lipstick.

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Always do.

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I can't wear a lot of eye makeup because

of my eyes and what's going on with them.

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So I really don't wear

a lot of eye makeup.

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So lipstick, not hair so

much, but yeah, shoulder pads.

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I love a blazer and I love a coat, so I

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Chryssius: Kindred spirits.

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Bec: Right.

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And then I started getting into dresses,

which I've never been a dress wearer.

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And then I think it was also a

combination of what I started to see

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through the op-shops, what I deemed

as "treasures" through the op-shops.

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And also, power suits, things like

that, that I just started seeing

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in a whole different light that

really just ignited this passion.

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And I was like, "Oh my God!"

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Like I, I feel like I'm so old school,

but I'm okay with that, you know?

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So yeah, that's kind of where it happened.

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But yeah, the, the op shopping

itself is, is a really big thing.

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'Cause I, I just actually can't

go into a normal shop now.

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You can't find 80s in a normal shop.

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Oh, what I was gonna' say was also

with 80s was, going into the shops

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and finding it, but also finding

the right people on Instagram.

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People get shown up to you all the time

and you're like, oh my God, there are

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other people out there that are into this.

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So you know, to coin the phrase,

"finding your tribe" online and then

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just starting the conversations with

people and, and seeing what they were

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sporting, whether they were reselling

or whether they were just doing

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outfit of the day or whatever it was.

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You just go, "Oh my God!

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Yeah, that person loves

that dress as much as I do!"

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Chryssius: Mm-Hmm.

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So when you're out there how do you find

authentic 80s pieces for your collection?

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Bec: I will take any opportunity to

pretty much source from anywhere.

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It could be a tin shed for all I care,

garage sales, vintage shops, anywhere

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and everywhere that sells something

that is preloved or secondhand.

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I actually love going in, I probably

shouldn't say it is a bit of, retail

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therapy, but yes, I do wholeheartedly

believe in retail therapy.

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From personal experience and my own

lived experience and family and friends,

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if we're all having a bit of a down

moment, we kind of pick our socks

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up - or leg warmers - and runners,

and we'll be like, let's just put our

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gear on and run down to the local oppy

and see what's going on down there.

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Because everyday changes in an op-shop, as

the listeners and yourself would be aware.

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But you know, some of these places

you just, could go daily, you could

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visit daily and there's always

something different and there's

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always someone else in the store.

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There might be a new volunteer

that you can have a chat to.

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But yeah, so I don't really

look at it as sourcing, per se.

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I would say it's the thrill of the find.

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Chryssius: Oh, absolutely.

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I will say I've never found leg warmers...

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...in of the op-shops.

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I'm disappointed now.

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Now that

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Bec: I know it's gonna'

be on our list, right?

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Chryssius: I'm putting it on the list.

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As someone with low vision,

is that what you would say?

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Bec: Yeah.

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Chryssius: How do you navigate

the stores, and the markets?

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Does hold you back in any way?

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Bec: Yeah.

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Look, it's been tough.

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So I've had the condition since birth,

and I've had three corneal transplants.

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I was born with corneas that were

shaped like footballs, and yours

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would be shaped like basketballs.

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They got cut off and I've

had three donors sewn on.

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They don't always work and I'll

get to a point where I won't

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be able to do that anymore.

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I had my first transplant

at 16, so I am now 50.

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I just turned 50 last week.

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The procedure that I had had done at

that time is pretty much no longer.

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The older you get, the expiration on the

corneal transplants is a lot quicker.

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So yes, it has been a journey up and down.

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And I can't always wear glasses,

so my vision tends to fluctuate.

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But I have to say, and all my

friends just, they, we have to laugh

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at it 'cause they're like, for a

blind person, you do pretty well.

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So yes, it is difficult, but I think

because I'm so used to, let's say, looking

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for things now, I, I know my limitations.

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It does depend on the store or

the shop that I'm going into,

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how they set up the store.

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So some shops can be easier based purely

on how they've oriented their stock.

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The more stock that they have, the

more difficult it is 'cause I feel

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like there's just too much to see.

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I always carry a magnifying glass with

me and I've got some really cutesy little

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traveling ones that fit into my handbag.

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When I'm checking the garments, I

check everything from head to toe.

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For me as a reseller, it has

to be about quality assurance

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as well and quality control.

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So I won't pick up things like if there's

missing threads or if there's sun fade

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or there's stains, or there's rips.

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I won't always pick up those things,

but, you know, when people go into an

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op shop, they might determine within 20

minutes, oh yeah, this is it for me, and

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I've found something, or they haven't.

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Where for me, I take a little bit

longer because I am so particular

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about what I curate anyway.

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I also take that extra time for

the quality control element to it.

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I can usually tell by

the vibe of the shop.

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I can tell by the colour element to it.

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There's some op-shops, like, I'm pretty

sure it's Vinnie's, that colour block.

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I do like..

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Chryssius: They do.

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Bec: Yeah, I like a colour block element,

but I don't like everything in one colour.

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So for me, that's just a wash of colour.

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It's like everything's in

red, everything's in blue.

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I like, especially for 80s, you never

really went with block colour, right?

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So in the 80s there's a lot of neon,

there's a lot of print, there's a

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lot of animal print, polka dots,

abstract, you know, patterns.

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Everything was polyester then.

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So going via a tactile element,

like touch and feel, that's a

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huge element to what I do as well.

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I can literally run my fingers across

the clothing and pick out instantly

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what feels good, what doesn't.

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Because I've gone through it so many

times, I do feel like I can instantly

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pick up things and know whether

they're gonna' be of quality, but

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to check them out, yeah, I will go

from head to toe and look at all the

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detail that incorporates that item.

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Chryssius: Do you have any tips for

incorporating those amazing 80s pieces

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that you find into contemporary outfits?

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Bec: Yeah, I think you probably

should start with one item.

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So I think the easiest, and it may

be a seasonal thing too, but I think,

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I guess coat or jacket or blazer.

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Not to say that because that is my

first and foremost and it is the

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first rack that I will always go to.

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I will seek out a shop just to

find that rack first and foremost.

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I think because coats, jackets, and

blazers, they might change a little

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bit in terms of the silhouette wearing

them, but if you can get the really

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good quality ones that are wool

or cashmere, or that have a blend.

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They don't have to have

shoulder pads, obviously.

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I prefer them.

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But you know, it depends

on whether you like colour.

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So you, you know, you might

buy a jade green coat.

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I found an emerald green coat for

$6 in a Vinnies and it probably

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took me two hours to brush it down,

steam it, do all of that, which, you

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know, we can get into a bit later.

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But for a $6 coat that turned out to

be an absolute jewel in the closet,

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that was probably one of the first

things that I was like, yeah, I'm

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actually gonna' insert more colour.

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'Cause being a Melbournite,

Melbourne is grey.

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I've always had an element of colour

in my wardrobe, but being from

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Melbourne, it's always been black,

neutral, grey, white, you know.

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That IS the Melbourne uniform.

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It is a Melbourne uniform.

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Yeah, for true.

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So, then inserting something like

a cobalt blue or a, a jade green or

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a emerald green or I don't know, a

canary yellow coat into the wardrobe.

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Also a blouse, a jumper and a scarf.

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They're my main elements.

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A blouse, you can, especially an

80s blouse with a pussy bow like...

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yeah, I do really love a pussy bow.

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And I have several.

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They're probably the key things

I would put in straight away.

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And everybody can wear a jumper.

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So, 80s was about oversized, windcheaters.

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Chryssius: Knits with cats on them.

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Bec: Oh yeah.

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Can you see?

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Oh my God.

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So...

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Chryssius: Oh no.

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Is that what you're wearing?

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No way!

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Bec: Oh my God, so this was my Mum's

from the 80s, just a white windcheater

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and it's got cats on the front and

then it's got their faces at the

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front and their bums on the back.

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Chryssius: That was totally unplanned.

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I could not see what was on your jumper.

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So for everyone listening Bec

has a jumper over her shoulders.

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Very on trend, but I couldn't see what

it was, but when I think of 80s jumpers,

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I do think of knits with cats on them.

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Or

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Bec: Yeah.

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Chryssius: We've seen that 80s fashion

is definitely making a comeback.

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Bec: Yeah.

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Chryssius: Why do you believe

that it continues to appeal to

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today's fashion enthusiasts?

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What is it about it?

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Bec: There's, there's quite a few

elements to that answer, I think.

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No one wants to be held back

anymore, everyone wants to express

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themselves in some way or another.

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And I think fashion is one of

the, the main elements to do that.

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Not specifically 80s, but I.

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I don't know, 80s just seemed to be like

the total fun decade, 80s and nineties.

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You know, their clothing

was just super fun.

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When I think back to the sixties and

seventies, like I was born 74, but,

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and I wasn't in the sixties too, you

know, but all of that fashion I see.

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It was nowhere near as vibrant

or as exciting as the 80s, you

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know, and then Stranger Things,

there's always that connection.

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Stranger Things with the 80s, and

that was a big thing when I did

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some work with the Garage Sale Trail

campaign, and I think it was either

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last year or the year before they

did, um, they took it back to the 80s.

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So I just thought that was hilarious.

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They made that connection.

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I was like, oh my God, that's true!

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Chryssius: I feel like I need to

go back and watch it again now just

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to look at what people are wearing.

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Bec: Yeah.

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Chryssius: When you're out

there and finding these beautiful

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pieces, how are you ensuring,

first of all, the authenticity?

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Because there's a lot of

copycats that are coming out.

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At the moment that are, you know,

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sort of, Yeah.

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Yes, exactly.

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And also the quality, because

obviously the quality is going to

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be a completely different league

to what's being out there now.

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Bec: Yeah, I always check

the label, to be honest.

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I, I look at colour, I can look

at an item and I can touch it.

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I can feel it.

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But the first, first thing I'll

do is even holding onto the hanger

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before I've even touched the item.

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I will look at the label.

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And the labels are always

indicative of the era.

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There's always the labels, then there's

the buttons, then it's how they're sewn.

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As in the garment itself, not the buttons.

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But buttons are a huge element

because you just don't get buttons

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like that, that you would previously.

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So yeah, the labels are really

important and they always

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dictate to me how old they are.

302

: 00:17:18

Buttons, a hundred percent.

303

: 00:17:20

Or the accents on any garment.

304

: 00:17:22

So whether that's a metallic thread

through it, whether it is a certain

305

: 00:17:26

pattern, you don't get patterns.

306

: 00:17:29

With today's clothing, they're all just

prints there's no real pattern to them.

307

: 00:17:33

They're not taking into account

a lot of historical patterns

308

: 00:17:37

that were made back in the day.

309

: 00:17:39

And in terms of longevity, like

of keeping them too, I just,

310

: 00:17:43

I never keep them in plastic.

311

: 00:17:45

A lot of people that resell, buy stuff

and then they put 'em in plastic and I

312

: 00:17:51

think they're already polyester, which

can't be recycled, which is a fossil fuel.

313

: 00:17:57

Right.

314

: 00:17:58

So at the end of the day the

polyester that we're wearing

315

: 00:18:01

is a fossil fuel, it's an oil.

316

: 00:18:03

We're already wearing that.

317

: 00:18:04

We don't need to put plastic on plastic.

318

: 00:18:06

So you just have to be mindful of

washing them on a gentle cycle.

319

: 00:18:12

Spraying with vodka because

that gets the smell out of it.

320

: 00:18:16

And , depending where it's come

from, if there's moths that you

321

: 00:18:19

need to keep at bay, you freeze it.

322

: 00:18:21

So you freeze things for a couple

of weeks and then pull them out.

323

: 00:18:24

But yeah, just to get that musty

smell away, I would spray everything

324

: 00:18:29

with vodka and then I steam everything

out, 'cause steaming at that heat and

325

: 00:18:33

that level is also antibacterial.

326

: 00:18:35

Chryssius: I can't live

without my steamer.

327

: 00:18:37

Bec: Oh, I know.

328

: 00:18:38

I actually find it very therapeutic.

329

: 00:18:40

I would rather steam

something than cook dinner.

330

: 00:18:45

Anytime anyone says, oh, I need

to have this ironed, I'd be like,

331

: 00:18:47

yeah, I'll steam it for you.

332

: 00:18:48

Don't worry.

333

: 00:18:49

Give me two seconds.

334

: 00:18:50

Yeah.

335

: 00:18:51

So I think in terms of the quality

and keeping the quality, so

336

: 00:18:54

the authenticity is one thing.

337

: 00:18:56

It's about looking at the labels and

checking all those details and how it's

338

: 00:18:59

tailored, how it's made, the fibre that

they've used, but then keeping it and then

339

: 00:19:04

making sure that you keep it as quality.

340

: 00:19:06

Um, never put in plastic.

341

: 00:19:08

And a lot of my resellers will hate me

for saying that, but never put in plastic.

342

: 00:19:11

I hang everything up and I just have

racks in my garage that I just, I, I try

343

: 00:19:16

to keep a very small inventory at any one

time so I can kind of rotate it out there.

344

: 00:19:22

Chryssius: What's your

selling platform of choice?

345

: 00:19:23

So you say you don't keep

too much stock on hand.

346

: 00:19:26

So is it Instagram, is

it in in person markets?

347

: 00:19:29

I know you do a few markets.

348

: 00:19:31

Bec: Yes, I love the markets.

349

: 00:19:32

I love the in real life markets because

it means I've got an opportunity

350

: 00:19:36

to talk to people about the clothes

and where they've come from.

351

: 00:19:39

And even if it's not my story to

tell, it's somebody's story to tell.

352

: 00:19:43

So anything I source or anything that

I obtain or find, I usually like

353

: 00:19:49

to try and wear it myself, or I will

fit it on my body so I know how it

354

: 00:19:54

looks and what it looks like, and

then I can talk to people about it.

355

: 00:19:58

So, yes, markets are key.

356

: 00:20:00

I also find that with markets, you

talk to a lot of the stall holders and

357

: 00:20:05

you've got similar values and similar

mindsets and your neighbours in the

358

: 00:20:09

stalls, they're a wealth of information.

359

: 00:20:11

Especially if you're selling vintage

and I don't know about every single

360

: 00:20:15

vintage market that's out there, somebody

might know of a vintage market and my

361

: 00:20:19

particular genre or my niche, which

is 80s, they might go, oh, your stuff

362

: 00:20:24

would really do really well at this

store or at this place, or whatever.

363

: 00:20:27

So yeah, first and foremost, markets,

just because they're a wealth of untapped

364

: 00:20:31

knowledge and just the comradery of it.

365

: 00:20:34

I think the bonding and

the comradery of it.

366

: 00:20:36

I also, I don't do a lot online anymore

as you know, like we were both in

367

: 00:20:41

the Poshmark game and that lasted

for so long at a really good level.

368

: 00:20:47

And then it didn't.

369

: 00:20:49

Etsy, same-same.

370

: 00:20:51

They give you a lot of support

to start with, but then it's

371

: 00:20:54

all about making it on your own.

372

: 00:20:56

But online platforms for

me don't really cut it.

373

: 00:21:00

It's also about having low vision

and I have to then spend time

374

: 00:21:05

taking the photos, editing, filters.

375

: 00:21:08

I can't tell you from one

filter to another filter.

376

: 00:21:11

I've got absolutely no idea.

377

: 00:21:13

So a lot of that that's at my fingertips

is actually very difficult, to manage.

378

: 00:21:19

I also can't use my phone on the run.

379

: 00:21:24

I don't have enough vision

to allow me, even just to do

380

: 00:21:27

a text message or whatever.

381

: 00:21:28

I don't drive either.

382

: 00:21:30

So that's a really hard thing

to maintain when you have to

383

: 00:21:34

refresh your stock all the time.

384

: 00:21:36

So I kind of pick places where

I know I could probably get

385

: 00:21:40

to via train if I needed to.

386

: 00:21:43

But usually I'll enlist

in someone to drive me.

387

: 00:21:45

So, whether that's a cousin or a friend

or whatever, and then I just kind of book

388

: 00:21:50

them in and say, "Hey, I've gotta' go and

refresh my stock at blah, blah, blah."

389

: 00:21:53

And it's the same with the markets.

390

: 00:21:55

Like I always have to have someone with

me at the markets to be able to drive

391

: 00:21:58

me and support me and, that's all.

392

: 00:22:01

Yeah, that's kind of what I do.

393

: 00:22:03

Chryssius: Whatever works.

394

: 00:22:04

It's always interesting to see what

is working best for other people.

395

: 00:22:08

Bec: Yeah.

396

: 00:22:09

Chryssius: I know you touched on this

very briefly when we were talking

397

: 00:22:12

about authenticity, um, labels.

398

: 00:22:15

Are there any particular brands or

labels from the 80s that you would

399

: 00:22:21

recommend people look out for?

400

: 00:22:23

What are your favourites?

401

: 00:22:24

Bec: There's way too many that I

know of and as soon as I see that

402

: 00:22:28

label, I will pick it up and it's

like nine outta 10 times I will

403

: 00:22:33

buy it just because of the label.

404

: 00:22:35

Some personal favourites are

Beaujolais for mostly blouses.

405

: 00:22:42

Because, well, they're a pussy bow

406

: 00:22:45

or got a Yeah, course.

407

: 00:22:48

Or they've got, a great

colourway or a pattern.

408

: 00:22:51

So instantly when I see them,

they've got some quirkiness to them.

409

: 00:22:55

They might have a really

lovely button cuff.

410

: 00:22:58

They might have a really nice

shoulder pleat or a little, puff

411

: 00:23:01

sleeve or something like that.

412

: 00:23:03

So I tend to go for

Beaujolais as a blouse.

413

: 00:23:07

A One, Pelaco, they're really good.

414

: 00:23:10

Anything that's A One and Pelaco,

they're not in production anymore.

415

: 00:23:15

Mr.

416

: 00:23:15

K for eveningwear.

417

: 00:23:18

The old Jacqueline Eve

is today's Jacqui E.

418

: 00:23:23

But the old school, Jacqueline Eve,

everything about Jacqueline Eve, it

419

: 00:23:28

was the cut, it was the buttons, it

was the pockets, it was the scalloping

420

: 00:23:33

around the bottom of the blazer.

421

: 00:23:36

It was the shoulder pads, the

print, everything, Jacqueline Eve.

422

: 00:23:40

Katie's back in the day.

423

: 00:23:42

Target...

424

: 00:23:44

Geoff Bade was a really good brand.

425

: 00:23:46

Anthea Crawford, Sportsgirl...

426

: 00:23:50

Dolina.

427

: 00:23:51

There's just so many.

428

: 00:23:52

The original Sportscraft, like

Sportscraft and Sportsgirl.

429

: 00:23:56

I remember getting my very

first denim jacket in the 80s.

430

: 00:24:00

Sportsgirl.

431

: 00:24:01

I still have it.

432

: 00:24:02

It's in my wardrobe.

433

: 00:24:04

But yeah, I don't wear it.

434

: 00:24:05

I actually don't wear it.

435

: 00:24:07

I think I've worn it half a dozen times.

436

: 00:24:08

It's something I, I'll

never be able to part with.

437

: 00:24:10

Chryssius: I remember getting

my first Sportsgirl T-shirt in

438

: 00:24:13

the nineties, early nineties.

439

: 00:24:16

Bec: Yeah.

440

: 00:24:17

And Esprit back in the day, and

Miss Shop Myer, I've still got,

441

: 00:24:22

I think I've got a couple of

things Miss Shop Myer, still.

442

: 00:24:25

Chryssius: Do you work in

a corporate environment?

443

: 00:24:29

Bec: Not anymore.

444

: 00:24:30

Chryssius: I wanted to know if you

wear these beautiful pieces to work!

445

: 00:24:32

Bec: Oh no.

446

: 00:24:34

And God, it's so funny because I've

always been known for my outfits.

447

: 00:24:41

Like everyone's always been

like, "What's Bec wearing today?"

448

: 00:24:45

Even in my corporate days, I used

to be an events director and work in

449

: 00:24:49

events and travel, and I was always

a power suit wearer, but I never wore

450

: 00:24:53

Cue because I could never afford it.

451

: 00:24:55

So it wasn't until that later on when

I was on the disposable income that I

452

: 00:25:00

started getting into Cue and Veronika

Maine and kind of elevated that game.

453

: 00:25:07

Even to this day, I mean, they're not

as fast fashion as now, but as soon as

454

: 00:25:12

they went offshore, for me that was it.

455

: 00:25:15

It was like, okay, well they've

almost become commercialised now.

456

: 00:25:20

So I've been on the journey for say, 10

years, but the actual style change has

457

: 00:25:25

only been in the last four or five years.

458

: 00:25:29

I actually stopped working, just

prior to lockdowns and everything.

459

: 00:25:34

Because my vision was deteriorating and

I couldn't retain the job that I had.

460

: 00:25:39

I was managing a bunch of people and it

was just progressively getting worse.

461

: 00:25:44

So I had to kind of bite the

bullet and go, all right,

462

: 00:25:47

corporate's not for me anymore.

463

: 00:25:49

And then it didn't matter 'cause I went

on a holiday for my birthday and came back

464

: 00:25:52

and we're all, we basically in lockdown.

465

: 00:25:54

I like, oh, I, I don't need to make

any drastic career changes right now.

466

: 00:25:59

And then I just probably got

really full on into it and just

467

: 00:26:02

listened to everything, podcasts...

468

: 00:26:04

Chryssius: What else were we

gonna' do while we're in lockdown?

469

: 00:26:07

Bec: Exactly.

470

: 00:26:08

And then you'd be going down

those rabbit holes on YouTube or,

471

: 00:26:12

Instagram or something like that.

472

: 00:26:14

And then that was really what propelled

me to really adapting my style and kind

473

: 00:26:20

of clearing out my closet and thinking,

why do I need eight different black

474

: 00:26:25

blazers or, you know, mind you, I did

do a reel on that and I actually started

475

: 00:26:31

explaining how sometimes you do need

extra black blazers 'cause they come

476

: 00:26:37

in all different sizes and shapes and

silhouettes and for different things.

477

: 00:26:41

Um, But yeah, through that whole

period, like you just become

478

: 00:26:43

mindful of what you've got.

479

: 00:26:45

Chryssius: Side note: have you seen.

480

: 00:26:48

"What We Wore"?

481

: 00:26:49

Bec: Yeah.

482

: 00:26:50

With Celeste Barber, that one?

483

: 00:26:51

Chryssius: Yes!

484

: 00:26:51

That has a really good piece

in there about Cue, actually.

485

: 00:26:55

Bec: Yeah, it's a really,

really interesting history about

486

: 00:26:58

how they redefined themselves

and developed their style.

487

: 00:27:03

And, you know, people don't even know that

they've got the sister companies of Dion

488

: 00:27:08

Lee and Veronika Maine, and then they had,

Cue In The City, they were their first to

489

: 00:27:14

go offshore and then get made in China.

490

: 00:27:17

So you had Cue as a mainstream and

they had Cue In The City, which

491

: 00:27:20

was made for the younger woman.

492

: 00:27:22

Then you had Veronika Maine,

which was for the older woman.

493

: 00:27:24

So then their styles changed for, it

wasn't as much of a v-neck, it was

494

: 00:27:28

a little bit higher, the skirt was

a little bit lower than the knees.

495

: 00:27:31

There were these subtle changes

through their designing process,

496

: 00:27:36

on how it affected and how it

changed with a woman's body.

497

: 00:27:40

It's just, it's fascinating.

498

: 00:27:41

It's fascinating.

499

: 00:27:42

I find any Australian brand, that's

another thing with the 80s for me,

500

: 00:27:48

it's Australian brands and "Made

in Australia", and that's one of

501

: 00:27:52

the key elements other than labels.

502

: 00:27:54

So you'd still find it on not

just a brand label, but on the

503

: 00:27:58

actual, um, the care tags on it.

504

: 00:28:01

If it says, if it gives you

your measurements and then it

505

: 00:28:04

also says "Made in Australia".

506

: 00:28:06

It's a, it's a key piece.

507

: 00:28:08

It's gotta' be, it's a key piece.

508

: 00:28:09

Chryssius: It's a piece of gold.

509

: 00:28:11

Bec: Yeah, that's it.

510

: 00:28:13

Chryssius: I reckon we've got

time for one more question.

511

: 00:28:15

Bec: Okay.

512

: 00:28:16

Chryssius: Have you noticed any

particular 80s trends or styles

513

: 00:28:22

that are making a comeback?

514

: 00:28:24

Bec: Yeah, well, shoulder pads are, I

definitely think they are, they're not as

515

: 00:28:29

out there as I would like personally, but

I can sport them myself, with confidence.

516

: 00:28:35

So I feel like I can

take a hit for the team.

517

: 00:28:37

That's fine.

518

: 00:28:38

And shoulder pads especially,

'cause just, it just changes the

519

: 00:28:41

whole structure of an outfit.

520

: 00:28:44

I think hair, so there's

elements of big hair coming back.

521

: 00:28:49

Chryssius: Miley Cyrus.

522

: 00:28:50

Bec: Well, I was gonna' say like,

if anybody hasn't seen it, yes.

523

: 00:28:54

The Miley Cyrus in her, like Tina

Turner, look for the Grammys.

524

: 00:28:58

That just, that was everything for me.

525

: 00:29:01

Um, mullets, I hate mullets, detest.

526

: 00:29:05

DE-TEST.

527

: 00:29:06

Never liked them back then, and I don't

like them now, they are terrible.

528

: 00:29:11

There's loaded makeup...

529

: 00:29:13

80s was very heavy on the colour scheme

of electric blue eyeshadow or bright

530

: 00:29:19

red lips and put that all together.

531

: 00:29:21

Bright red cheeks, bright red lips,

electric blue eyeshadow, and heavy,

532

: 00:29:25

heavy black eyeliner, you know?

533

: 00:29:29

Just the rouging of cheeks

is just like killer.

534

: 00:29:32

When you see like Linda Evangelista

in some pics or whatever, you just

535

: 00:29:35

look at it and go, oh my goodness.

536

: 00:29:38

But loaded makeup is still a thing.

537

: 00:29:40

It's just a, a different way

of applying it, I suppose.

538

: 00:29:43

Um, and I think what really has come back

as a resurgence is probably the colours.

539

: 00:29:48

So I feel like it's a good nod back

to the 80s, like what we have now by,

540

: 00:29:53

by those of us who keep pushing it.

541

: 00:29:56

I mean, I get looks all the time.

542

: 00:29:57

'Cause you can have "80s

wear" and "80s wear", right?

543

: 00:30:00

But I'm very, like, quintessential

80s, the neon and the classic wear,

544

: 00:30:05

where I know people that do the

80s as well, but they're all about

545

: 00:30:08

the sequins and the evening wear.

546

: 00:30:10

So if you look at mine versus someone

else's, it could be that the key

547

: 00:30:13

differences might be sequins and,

um, mine's, a lot of occasional

548

: 00:30:19

wear and a lot of that corporate,

because that was me as a person too.

549

: 00:30:23

I lived through all of that.

550

: 00:30:25

So yeah, there are different

elements of the 80s, but there's

551

: 00:30:28

just such a big nod back to it.

552

: 00:30:30

I can't really say why people

do, but that's, that's my

553

: 00:30:33

opinion on why I think it is.

554

: 00:30:35

I just wanna get it out there.

555

: 00:30:36

I wanna push it.

556

: 00:30:38

I wanna just be like,

come and buy all my shit.

557

: 00:30:39

I've got heaps.

558

: 00:30:41

I've got such good things.

559

: 00:30:44

The stuff that you find is

outrageous, and I'm like, it's key.

560

: 00:30:47

It's like venting.

561

: 00:30:49

That was something I

didn't mention before.

562

: 00:30:51

"Venting" is when an

item has a slit in it.

563

: 00:30:55

So if you are wearing a skirt or a

blazer and you have that little slit

564

: 00:30:59

at the back, you go to a shop now,

you will not find venting on anything.

565

: 00:31:03

And if you do, it's stitched together.

566

: 00:31:06

No one knows that that's just

holding the garment in place until

567

: 00:31:10

you snip it and then you let it

open because it falls against your

568

: 00:31:14

waistline or your butt or whatever

it is to, you know, fit you better.

569

: 00:31:19

So many things like that are lost.

570

: 00:31:21

Chryssius: Yeah, I've done that.

571

: 00:31:22

So awkward.

572

: 00:31:22

I'm like, oh, excuse me while I

just snip the back of my blazer.

573

: 00:31:26

Bec: Yeah, exactly.

574

: 00:31:28

When I was listening to Claire Press

and all of her stuff, you know, going

575

: 00:31:31

into it, when I started doing it for

myself, I would actually start looking

576

: 00:31:35

up, what's the terminology for this?

577

: 00:31:37

Like embroidery versus applique

versus scalloping versus, you

578

: 00:31:43

know, venting or jacquard, paisley.

579

: 00:31:47

I, I didn't know paisley.

580

: 00:31:49

I thought paisley was floral.

581

: 00:31:51

I thought it was the same thing.

582

: 00:31:52

No, it's not, everybody.

583

: 00:31:54

It's not.

584

: 00:31:55

And then working out the difference

between a chevron print, houndstooth,

585

: 00:31:59

dogstooth, tweed, boiled wool.

586

: 00:32:02

It's just, it's a quagmire

of what's out there.

587

: 00:32:06

But I love that whole process, that

whole process of learning about it.

588

: 00:32:10

Chryssius: It's an

educational process for sure.

589

: 00:32:13

Once you start op-shopping, and

not even just as a reseller, but

590

: 00:32:16

just even when you're op-shopping

for yourself, it is educational.

591

: 00:32:21

You learn a lot.

592

: 00:32:23

And listening to podcasts, of course.

593

: 00:32:25

Bec: And listening to podcasts.

594

: 00:32:27

Chryssius: All right, so three

really important things that I can

595

: 00:32:29

take away from this conversation:

"venting" - I didn't know what that was.

596

: 00:32:33

I need to buy more vodka.

597

: 00:32:35

And I definitely need a bigger freezer.

598

: 00:32:37

Thank you very much.

599

: 00:32:47

Before you go, Bec, I would love to

know, what is your Best Bargain Brag?

600

: 00:32:53

So something that you have found

secondhand, whether it be an

601

: 00:32:57

op-shop or market, a tin shed,

wherever that's, your favourite

602

: 00:33:02

or the most unusual, or craziest.

603

: 00:33:05

Tell us.

604

: 00:33:06

Bec: Look, I do like something that

has more of a, an attachment of sorts.

605

: 00:33:11

That is from a, I like to say as

a descendant or as an heirloom, I

606

: 00:33:17

find that resonates more with me

than just obtaining it through an

607

: 00:33:21

op shop or something like that.

608

: 00:33:23

I probably have three things in

my wardrobe that I will never get

609

: 00:33:26

rid of, even if I never wear them.

610

: 00:33:29

I have my Mum's Perri Cutten, it was a

cropped bolero kind of cropped jacket.

611

: 00:33:36

The colour is like a goldy,

quilted kind of jacket with

612

: 00:33:41

this beautiful metallic thread.

613

: 00:33:43

That would be one key thing that I'll

probably keep and I may or may not wear.

614

: 00:33:47

The other one was from my great

aunt, and it was a tomato red

615

: 00:33:52

wool coat from the seventies.

616

: 00:33:55

The brand is Solo.

617

: 00:33:56

That's another brand I did not mention,

but one of my all absolute faves.

618

: 00:34:00

Anything from Solo is key because of

the tailoring, the accents, the wool.

619

: 00:34:08

It's just gonna' be a gorgeous piece.

620

: 00:34:10

And then, the other thing, funnily

enough, was donated to me from

621

: 00:34:15

one of our Poshmark friends.

622

: 00:34:18

I don't know whether she would want to

be named, so we will leave it at that.

623

: 00:34:21

But she leave it as anonymous.

624

: 00:34:23

But we had just been having this

random discussion about Glomesh

625

: 00:34:27

and I cannot believe that Glomesh

has not come up once on this whole

626

: 00:34:31

Chryssius: Oh my God.

627

: 00:34:32

Bec: discussion.

628

: 00:34:34

I know we might have to go back and

retape it all over again, 'cause

629

: 00:34:37

I haven't even told you about my

Glomesh collection, my obsession

630

: 00:34:39

with it, like absolute obsession.

631

: 00:34:41

And we had had this conversation

and she said to me, "I'm trying to

632

: 00:34:46

sell a Glomesh purse in my closet."

633

: 00:34:49

And I was like, yeah.

634

: 00:34:50

She goes, "You know what?

635

: 00:34:52

I'm not even gonna' sell it.

636

: 00:34:54

I'm just gonna' gift it to

you because it was my Mum's."

637

: 00:34:58

And her Mum's still alive.

638

: 00:34:59

And she said, "It's my

Mum's, it was from the: 1980

639

: 00:35:03

I just don't have someone

that I think would appreciate

640

: 00:35:07

this as much as you would.

641

: 00:35:09

I want to give this to you."

642

: 00:35:11

And I said, "I'll take it.

643

: 00:35:13

I will take her and I will treasure her."

644

: 00:35:15

So she arrived in her original box with

the original authenticity and everything,

645

: 00:35:20

and I wrote her Mum a card and I said,

oh my God, she will be loved forever.

646

: 00:35:26

And she's in my collection.

647

: 00:35:28

And she was one of my first pieces

of the collection of my Glomesh.

648

: 00:35:32

Chryssius: Oh my God, that

is such a beautiful story.

649

: 00:35:35

Bec: Yeah.

650

: 00:35:36

Yeah.

651

: 00:35:36

And I'll pull her out.

652

: 00:35:37

I pull it out and then I'll, I'll use it.

653

: 00:35:39

And I always know where it's come from.

654

: 00:35:42

Those kind of pieces are more like

they're my sentimental keepsake pieces.

655

: 00:35:48

I can thrift anything and you can

always find a really good find.

656

: 00:35:51

So it is something like that.

657

: 00:35:55

Chryssius: For anyone listening, you

can just go to the Highlights on the

658

: 00:35:59

Reloved Radio Instagram, and you'll

be able to see those pieces there.

659

: 00:36:04

Bec: Perfect.

660

: 00:36:05

Chryssius: And that just

about wraps it up for today.

661

: 00:36:09

Thank you so much, Bec.

662

: 00:36:10

You've been a pleasure to chat to.

663

: 00:36:11

Can you tell everyone

where they can find you?

664

: 00:36:15

Bec: Yeah, so I'm on Instagram and

Facebook, but for the life of me, I

665

: 00:36:19

don't even know how to use Facebook.

666

: 00:36:22

So find me on Instagram @aninsightfulhaul.

667

: 00:36:26

" Insightful" was on my play of words

for being a low vision person, because

668

: 00:36:31

I've virtually had no sight or I don't

have any sight, but "An Insightful

669

: 00:36:36

Haul" because all of my hauls are

insightful and they're always curated.

670

: 00:36:42

So you can be sure that you'll find

some kind of unique piece and whether

671

: 00:36:46

I have it on my grid or not, if you're

looking for something you can always

672

: 00:36:50

send me messages and I can kind of

do some sourcing for you if you need.

673

: 00:36:55

And just keep an eye on my Stories, 'cause

I'm always down at the Seddon op-shop and

674

: 00:37:00

finding pieces and putting them out there.

675

: 00:37:02

No money comes to me for those.

676

: 00:37:04

They go straight back

to Epilepsy Foundation.

677

: 00:37:06

I just like to be the in-betweener,

the broker, that can get it out there.

678

: 00:37:11

Chryssius: And for our listeners

that are local to Ballarat,

679

: 00:37:14

you are coming in March...

680

: 00:37:16

Bec: 23rd of March I'll be at

the BWC Op Shop and Vintage Sale.

681

: 00:37:21

Chryssius: At Barkly Square.

682

: 00:37:22

Bec: Yeah.

683

: 00:37:23

10 to one.

684

: 00:37:24

Chryssius: I'll be there.

685

: 00:37:25

Bec: Yeah.

686

: 00:37:25

Good.

687

: 00:37:27

I'll find you some bits and pieces and go,

this is what you need in your wardrobe.

688

: 00:37:31

Chryssius: Oh, I'll be there.

689

: 00:37:32

I'll be all for it, believe me...