The local and international catwalks are telling us that no girl will survive this pring without the 'must haves' - a pair of high waisted pants, a pinafore style dress, a bubble skirt or god forbit - a playsuit!  Could it be that all you really need is just a good Spring Wardrobe overhaul? 

The fate of my entire clothing collection rests on the strength of an old golf club. The reason for this is when I moved into my share-house four years ago, I inherited a decrepit wardrobe. At that time, the clothes rail was fashioned from an old broom handle. Then, about two years ago, the broom handle finally tired of supporting my shopping addition and broke in half. However, rather than fork out cash for a new wardrobe, I instead decided to invest the money in buying more clothes – and I just replaced the broom handle with a golf club I’d scavenged from road side rubbish.

At the beginning of September every year the golf club sags and moans with displeasure each time I add another item to its already overburdened load. So, this weekend, I’m dedicating to Operation Spring Wardrobe Overhaul.

It’s not quite as painful as it sounds. Last year I found some real gems. A pair of forgotten brown velvet knickerbockers looked ridiculously hot when teamed with newly purchased knee-high leather boots. But, with the gems came the tragedies. What in God’s name was I thinking when I purchased those pink kitten heels with a big white flower pasted on the front?

Usually after an entire day of hard labour, the tragedies and errors in judgement end up in bulging boxes cluttering my hallway. And, as much as I love a charitable cause, it hurts my feelings terribly to see a $350 jacket go to the Salvos. Therefore, on the completion of Operation Spring Wardrobe Overhaul, I commence Operation Hawk my Crap at the Local Market.

Last year I teamed up with a stylin’ friend to offload our combined rejects. We loaded her car to the brim and headed for my favourite Melbourne market in suburban Camberwell (www.sundaymarket.com.au). Held every Sunday, and run by The Rotary Club of Balwyn, we had to get in 8 weeks prior to secure one of the 140 stalls available (over 360 stalls operate). The $45 needed to operate the stall was returned 5-fold from the thousands of bargain hunters visiting the market.

I’m in my element presiding over a market stall. Call me crazy but I get a strange rush from haggling over 60c for a scarf I wouldn’t normally be caught dead in. Added to that, the old adage of “your trash is somebody else’s treasure” is totally true. We quickly established that my friend’s rejects were my treasures. I picked up a delicious vintage skirt (due to her post-break up weight gain), and she gained an interesting pair of pink kitten heels with a white flower pasted on the front.

After market day I’m not only cashed up, but, courtesy of my stylish friends, I’m also armed with an entire new collection of clothes for spring. Naturally the golf club doesn’t share my pleasure. Perhaps this year with my market proceeds I’ll buy a sturdy wardrobe. Or at the very least a new golf club.