Now is the time when cash-strapped students stock their bohemian fashion wardrobes. Style rookie Jono Edwards inspects what they are buying at the Otago University Students’ Association rummage sale.
Described by this reviewer as bohemian chic, a plain Huffer hoodie was an essential ''going to dinner in the cold'' piece, first-year student Stephanie Aldom said.
''Also for going out when it's cold with a rain jacket, sitting in your cold room.''
With two bulging plastic bags and one backpack filled with clothes, Ms Aldom cleaned up at the sale.
Her $10 haul would likely have cost more than $200 otherwise, she said.
Her red woollen cardigan was more of a colour statement than a practical item.
''I was trying not to do just black and white.
''It wouldn't do any good keeping you warm. You just wear it with 10 jackets over it and then when it gets hot in lectures, you take off your 10 jackets and it kind of still looks like you're being warm.''
Jean shorts, fashionably ripped, were apparently another must this season.
''These aren't for winter though, unless you wear thermals with them.''
A ''funny'' gold-coloured dress was a ''when I run out of other clothes to wear'' garment.
Most of her grabs were winter warmers such as jumpers and scarves.
While it was important to seek the right sizes, she admitted to sometimes getting things which were too big.
Living in an Aquinas College dorm room, space was scarce.
Adding to these troubles was that the self-described hoarder had brought a ''lot of clothes'' from her home, an hour from Auckland.
Her hall fashion hack was to fold clothes up small and stack them vertically to both save space and grab them with ease.
''I'm just happy I got all this stuff, because I'm a poor student ... I feel greedy now.''
OUSA recreation manager Michaela Tangimetua said, in general, the indoor event was a nice alternative to the unfortunate weather outside, which meant cancellation of other O Week activities such as the tent city.
''We had a gathering outside before we officially opened and come 9am the floodgates opened.''
Most students opted for the $5 fill-a-bag, she said.
''There were lots of quirky items, but some of our favourites were a giant unicorn costume head piece, skis, some antique lawn bowls balls, leather case and all, and leather couches.''
The event raised about $1200 for Volunteer Otago.
