FANCY a spring racing outfit for under $50?
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Cash-savvy fashionistas are heading to their local Vinnies Centres to find unique outfits that don’t cost a fortune.
“We’ve been saying at Vinnies in Wodonga spend less on your outfit so you can buy more champagne,” centre manager Wodonga Kylie Hateley said.
Ms Hateley said both sexes were realising that fashionable racewear could be affordable, with sales of hats, bags and frocks skyrocketing in the last couple of weeks.
Vinnies Centres area support manager Liz Rogewski said Vinnies offered a “winning trifecta” of affordability, an exclusive outfit and a contribution to help the community.
“Vinnies lets you express your own personality on a budget and the chances of fellow racegoers sporting the same look are small,” she said.
“Our vintage outfits are the ones that are highly sought after, they really show off individual flair and help you stand out in the crowd.”
Sales of race wear items have gone up 17 per cent in the August to October lead-up to spring racing season over the past three years, according to Vinnies Centres Victoria.
Many of the items are brand new or barely worn, according to Ms Hateley.
“We get a lot of things donated because people don’t want to wear the same thing twice, basically unworn items,” she said.
Model Miss Albury-Wodonga Kaly Eames even wore a Vinnies find when she was crowned, sporting a pair of $10 shoes at the gala night.
Ms Rogewski said people should visit regularly, with stock being updated up to twice a day.
“We have new stock arriving every day and it goes very quickly,” she said.
But she advised not to pin all your hopes on one trip.
“You can’t come in today and expect necessarily to get the outfit you really want on the day, plan ahead, if you know in a month’s time you’re going to cup day start shopping then.”
Vinnies Centres help St Vincent de Paul Society provide material goods, financial aid, practical support counselling, and referral services to more than 660,000 Victorians in need each year.
Proceeds from sales go directly back to the local community.
