Before she became a team member as part of the revitalised ‘Spicks And Specks’, you may remember Ella Hooper fronting the rock band Killing Heidi.
The 2DayFM host is currently on tour with more shows in the next fortnight; she'll then head north to Brisbane to play the Caxton Street Seafood & Wine Festival next month.
Here she offers her tips for op shopping. “I'm an avid op shopper, some would say an expert. If it was an Olympic sport I would be sporting some gold bullion is all I'm saying. But there are some things that you need to be aware of when undertaking a rummaging. For optimal op action, I recommend the following:
1. Sneeze proof yourself. Take an antihistamine tablet one-to-two hours before hitting the local dust den that is most volunteer run op shops. If ain't the dust it's the mo hair rugs, the cool but been to/ through a few schools v-neck jumper, or cheap scented candles and re-gifted pot pourris that will set you off, sneezing and itching all round the joint. Not a good look. You don't want to rouse suspicion that you are a junkie, lest the biddies beady eyes follow you endlessly.
2. Plus size. Go straight for the bigger ladies section if you like your garments drapey and high fashion, like Comme De Garçon for half the price. Knotting and belting voluminous black fabric is a short cut to chic-town.
3. Catch the train further out. Often outer suburban or seaside suburbs have the best loot. They're often not as inhabited by hipsters and the like, so aren't what I like to call 'over fished' (leaving you nothing to hunt but sad bendy cotton pieces and Wakee jeans).
4. What goes around comes around. Stockpile your local op shop generously when your wardrobe’s overflowing. Forgo the garage sale and just give it away, give it away, give it away now for an injection of good op shop karma! I swear the very next visit you'll find a fur jacket for $30 as I just did.
5. Go wild! This is your chance to be uninhibited by price, or 'retail bitches', so try something out of your comfort zone, something you've been curious about (flares, capes, hats, ‘90s cheesecloth, drop crotch pants!). It's all there and it's fun to mish-mash it all up.
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Ella Hooper Tour Dates
Thu May 8 - Artbar (Perth)Fri May 9 - Jive (Adelaide)
Thu May 15 - Black Bear Lodge (Brisbane)
Fri May 16 - Soundlounge (Gold Coast)
Sat May 17 - Star Court Theatre (Lismore)
Sun Jun 8 - Caxton Street Seafood & Wine Festival (Brisbane)
