High-Low Shopping
In early spring last year – or perhaps even late winter – flicking through a shopping catalogue I spotted a completely frivolous and utterly fashionable garment that I had absolutely no need of. Of course that did not preclude my hankering for it.
The item in question was a pair of black sequin harem shorts by the label Bettina Liano, so needless to say they were exorbitantly priced (for a pair of shorts). I firmly put away this ridiculous passion and went on with my life, picking up various bargains in charity shops (my more usual milieu).
But as spring progressed, the Spring Racing Carnival drew closer and I began to ponder what to wear to the Caulfield Cup. Those dashing shorts returned to mind; I decided I would bedeck myself entirely in black and white. The clincher was a vintage black and white feather hat that I won at auction on eBay.
…I spotted a completely frivolous and utterly fashionable garment that I had absolutely no need of.
The cutest little sequinned harem shorts you ever did see… on the Bettina Liano catwalk at the MYER Spring Summer 2009/10 Collection Launch. (Ph: Gaye Gerard, from life.com. Click on image for larger version.) So I hied myself off to Bettina Liano in Little Collins St; made a beeline for the rack that held the shorts; tried them on; and immediately returned to the front counter, credit card held at the ready, and determinedly ignoring the fact that the shorts cost only $30 less than the ankle-length harem pants. The entire procedure took about seven minutes.
I was in an exceptionally buoyant mood as I pranced back up the street to my tramstop, swinging my bag. It was enormous, bright egg-yolk yellow with black trim, and extremely ostentatious considering the diminutive contents.
On the way, a print skirt caught my eye in the gaudy window of 7 Angels, a cheap and cheerful boutique positively jammed with racks from floor to ceiling, and barely enough space to squeeze between the circular racks on the floor. What the hey? I thought, and went inside. I wasn’t a snob – although my designer bag might be.
The skirt transpired to be rather nasty, and I lost interest after a closer look. Remarkably, however, I did find a nice little top: white, with a low back and a silver beaded halter-neck. It went perfectly with the shorts, and it was only $30. Bingo! I had my outfit sorted!
So I handed over the dosh and practically skipped all the way home, amused to have my designer tote flanked by a cheap plastic carry bag.
It was a pity after this that all my plans fell to ruin, with a tardy eBay seller not posting my hat in time, and the freezing weather both conspiring against me. They, however, are merely the slings and arrows of fashion fortune, and the shorts will have their day. But that’s another story.