Om Diva: cutest boutique in Dublin?

With June around the corner, it's almost time to mark the 9th month of my fast fashion detox. Not that I'm really keeping count any more. At this stage, choosing vintage over high street fashion is just how I shop; it doesn't feel like a challenge.

It's become such a non-story in my life that I haven't really felt the need to blog about it... Sorry about that!  I've bought a few vintage pieces here and there but didn't feel like it was anything worth posting about. 

Recently however I visited Om Diva near the George’s Street Arcade. Although it had been recommended to me when I started the detox, it had fallen off my vintage radar. Passing the shop recently though, the lovely big Yes Equality sticker in the window caught my eye and I remembered that they had a basement full of vintage fashion. 

With contemporary fashion upstairs and vintage downstairs, Om Diva is probably the prettiest little boutique in Dublin. Pink stairs lead down to the vintage basement which is decorated with fairy lights and jewelled hangers.

Something I've noticed since shopping exclusively vintage and second hand is that lots of vintage styles do not suit my body type at all (boooo!). Having a narrow waist and shoulders but wide hips, means that most of the 'straight up and down' styles trendy in vintage shops right now just do not work for me. So when I found myself browsing rails and rails of pretty, waisted dresses in Om Diva, I knew it would be difficult for me to walk away empty handed. 

I picked up three pieces: two jumpers and my new favourite dress. This dress might not look so exciting in the photos but I LOVE it. The fit is just perfect for me. I love the full, lined skirt, the long sleeves and the fittest waist. It's so comfortable and flattering. The dress cost €55 and the jumpers were about €30 each. 

If I wasn't delighted enough to pick up some nice new vintage bits the owner of the shop made my day by gifting me a pair of Dior style earrings. How cool are these? Just need an excuse to wear them now.

Whether you're into vintage or not, do pop in to Om Diva the next time your passing. Local shops like this deserve our business and I know you'll find something you love there! Check out there website: http://www.omdivaboutique.com/ 

Thanks for reading!

X

PS With only 3 months to go until I complete my challenge to live without fast fashion for a year, I'm starting to think about what kind of  brands I will support once the challenge is over. If you have any recommendations for ethical fashion brands, please let me know! Get in touch on twitter @marylquinn.

Recycle your style with Siopaella

I've noticed that since I started this challenge almost 6 months ago (that's right, almost halfway there!) that I've had two different types of shopping experiences when buying second hand. One is all about trying to find basic items to fill gaps in my wardrobe like a simple black top to go with a skirt I already own or leggings for the gym. Typically to find these pieces I look in charity shops. The other experience is more a little more exciting - it's about buying for fun. In this scenario, I find myself in one of the many cute vintage shops scattered across Dublin.

Recently, I discovered something that fits somewhere in between the two - Siopaella. Siopaella (meaning Ella's shop) is a place I had visited before starting this challenge without realising it sold second hand goods. Based in Dublin’s Temple Bar, the shop is divided across 3 locations. Each shop caters for a different demographic; men, women and designer brands.  

I love these cute bags!

The great thing about Siopaella is that it combines the kind of second hand high street fashion that you hope to find at a charity shop (but at much better quality than many charity shops) and the fun, boutique vibe of a vintage store. The staff at Siopaella are great too; really friendly and very helpful.

So, how does it works? I asked the cashier about this the last time I was visiting and she explained that Siopaella allows people to sell, consign or swap clothes. According to their website:

By consigning to Siopaella, you, as the consignor, receive 40% to 80% of the final sales price, depending on the item’s resale value, and we keep your items for up to 3 months *. As a guideline, you will receive 40% of the final selling price of most high street and vintage items and up to 80% on couture and high-end designer pieces such as Chanel, Cartier and Hermes.

I haven't consigned anything to Siopaella myself. Usually if I'm doing a wardrobe clearout I donate my clothes to the nearest charity shop but if you have high quality pieces or designer items and would like to make a few bucks then maybe Siopaella is for you.

I have purchased from Siopaella though! Although the designer shop stocks some really great brands (Chanel handbags anyone?!) big names aren't really my thing. Instead I headed to the women's fashion branch around the corner, where I picked up this silky hoodie (above). Originally from Bershka (you'll find a lot of high street brands here) I thought this hoodie was a lot of fun and something a bit different. I can't remember the price anymore (sorry!) but I did remember thinking it was more expensive than charity shops. Siopaella is a for-profit business after all and considering the high quality of the clothes there, I was happy enough!

Couldn't say no to this print!

Considering the recent close of Shotsy, I think it’s more important than ever to support sustainable shops like this. I totally recommend checking it out the next time you're in town. As they say themselves, by shopping with Siopaella you can “Recycle your style today, and smile knowing that you’re doing your part for the environment – and your wallet!”