to market to market to buy a...

So today was an eventful trip to the Camberwell market.  In a previous post - I did state that one must arrive at said market between 8-9am for maximum bargainability.  Which was in fact quite a bit easier when I lived down the road in Armadale.  Now, attempting to get to the market at my pre-determined time means getting up at six thirty am. On a SUNDAY.  Great.  So obviously this doesn't happen very often.

But today as my alarm rang out at the crack of dawn, I sprung determinedly out of bed. My heart was set of attending the market - and tiredness was not going to stand in my way.  Having saved time the night before by pre-selecting the market outfit (YES admittedly I broke my other golden market rule - I got dressed up to go. Well not super dressed up: Sportsgirl oversized sleeveless shirt, Metalicus aztec print tube skirt and Seed Femme ankle boots dressed up.. okay okay I was doing a city trip and wanted to feel good).  So off Citroen and I went, passing a couple of diehard groups still out from the night before, plus numerous cars pulled over by the side of the freeway (doing any number of different activities in the bushes). Early sunday morning driving always makes for an interesting ride.

So thanks to: 1. exiting to get a coffee at McDonalds and then having to reverse out the drive through when they didn't have soy milk; and 2. the ever-present roadworks in the Citylink tunnel, I arrived slightly later than planned - 8:45am.  Bathroom and soy latte stop saw me get there at just after 9:00am.  Not bad for someone who resides 1.5 hours away.

It was one of those market days where there just wasn't enough money present in the wallet for all the bargains that were available; I needed to be really selective on what I was going to spend (waste?) my $64 (after coffee) on.  This unfortunate type of day leads me to miss out on items I would have otherwise purchased immediately, as I force myself to do the 'walk away and if you are still thinking about it then you know you want it' (mother's favourite) test to see if I really needed/wanted said item.  Which then invariably means that when you go back for the item.. its 'Oh sorry love I just sold that five minutes ago. Really cheaply too. You should have bought it before if you liked it - I would have done you a deal'. Exactly the words I wanted to hear. Thank you very much.

Surprisingly, I was quite good with the test today - and think I only invested in items that I: 1. Actually like; and 2. Will actually wear again.  Bonus.  Here is what I snapped up:

SO (if you can see clearly in the darkest pictures ever):

1. Vintage cotton bright blue kimono with oriental flower print - $10. This is just gorgeous, and because there will be communal room sharing during my Noosa holiday later this week (WOOP mini-break) this is just perfect.

2. Country Road cream smock button detail tunic - $5. Yes it was only five dollars.. which I walked away thinking 'hmm something must definitely be wrong with it' for that bargain basement price.  I had quickly scanned it for defects prior to purchase.. but noticed nothing.  Upon second check - there was a 2cm long ballpoint pen mark on the front. Pen? Nothing a little SARD WONDER SOAP can't handle! Already came out.  Not my style but now I'm going to resell and triple my money.

3.  Sportsgirl coffee and aqua coloured sequin jacket - $20. Sounds horrible - but in reality the colour combo really works together. It was a supplier sample - so not even sure if it went to production. Look out for this piece to debut very soon; already building outfits around this baby.

4. 2x vintage belts.  YES I do have a ridiculously large collection of both vintage and tan belts, but at just $1 each I just couldn't pass these babies up. One of them is super skinny (1cm wide), and I have been on the look out for one of this size for some time now.

PLUS there was also a black Sportsgirl exaggerated shoulder top ($5 - this baby goes on the 'falling over reject shop rack' to join its 'smart business casual friends' - I know strong shoulders are over but I don't even think they have begun here in Ballarat), and a pair of Revival cotton mustard floral print shorts ($5 - these are really cute and I can't seem to get enough of printed shorts for weekend right now).  These items were not in the photo as Sportsgirl was in the wash - and I was wearing Revival and couldn't be bothered taking them off for the purpose of the shoot.

Total purchases = $47.  Nice one.  Came out with enough change for a berry scroll and a 500ml can of coconut water (yes I was also impressed with this find - this thing was massive).

Overall - perfect day.  Now to start the 1.5 hour trek back home.

FFIFY xxx