Customer Profile: Chantel Billy

Chantel is an avid thrifter who loves to share her thrifted fit checks, vibrant op shop hauls, and body positivity on TikTok. This year, Chantel has challenged herself to visit #everysalvosinvictoria. Naturally, we are totally on board with this quest! So much so that we wanted to get to know a bit more about Chantel and the kind of Salvos shopper that she is. Read on to see what Chantel had to say about thrifting your winter wardrobe, being stylish regardless of size, and her #everysalvosinvictoria journey so far...

Tell us a little bit about yourself…

 My name is Chantel, I am 26 and I work in the legal industry. Outside of my 9-5 you’ll find me at the cinemas, doing arts and crafts, and of course - thrifting.

How and when did you first get into op-shopping?

I grew up quite poor so some of my earliest op shopping memories are going to stores that had “fill a bag for $5” sales. It wasn’t until last year that I rediscovered my love for thrifting after a spontaneous trip to a Salvos. Since then, I have fallen in love with thrifting and it has allowed me to explore my creativity, meet like-minded people and has been a massive part of my self-love journey.

A little birdie told us that you are on a mission to visit every Salvos store in Victoria this year. What have been the highlights so far and where are you headed next?

That little birdie is correct! There are so many fantastic Salvos stores and so my partner gave me the idea of travelling to every store in Victoria! I started a TikTok series #everysalvosinvictoria and have loved sharing my thrifting adventures. The highlight has been sharing my thrift trips and having viewers on TikTok comment things like “I work at that store!” or “what a small world, that was my jacket I donated!”. I think it is so cool that through thrifting I have connected with so many people. The best stores I have visited so far would have to be Abbotsford (vintage heaven) and Mordialloc (for all things new-with-tags). Next I want to hit up the South East - the Beaconsfield and Pakenham stores are always full of goodies. 

What are your winter wardrobe essentials?

Colourful knits!! I base so many of my outfits around colourful knit jumpers and we all know in Victoria that a thin long sleeve just isn’t going to do the job. I have also been loving the colourful scarf trend as of late- so thrifting a colourful scarf to match my outfits and keep me extra warm is a must.

What will you be shopping for at Salvos this Winter? If you could manifest an item to find, what would it be?

Maxi dresses (easy to layer with knits, thermals and knee high boots), quilted jackets and all things denim. If I could manifest any item it would be a colourful hand knit jumper (anything made with love is an instant winner to me) or an oversized fun print coat (think Gorman on a budget!).

What are the benefits of buying your Winter wardrobe pieces secondhand?

There are so many benefits, the list is endless. Sustainability and the benefits for the environment are massive when choosing to thrift (rule of thumb: pop into your local op shop before you buy brand new- you never know what you’ll find). But as well as that, I have found that thrifting has allowed me to experiment with my own style which has given me a world of confidence. You can take inspiration from current trends, yet also find pieces that speak truer to your own personal style. As a size 14 woman, I have found in the past that some trends and styles aren’t inclusive of body shape and size, which in the past has left me feeling like I need to change to fit a trend. Finding pieces at Salvos - whether it be vintage, one off hand made garments, or even international fashion pieces - has shown me that I don’t need to change at all, and that I can be fashionable, stylish and engage in trends regardless of my size.

Can you tell us about the best purchase you have made in a Salvos store? (Include a picture if possible!)

 This beautiful Forever New set or this brand new with tags bag that I will cherish forever. 

What is your best op-shopping tip for Salvos customers this Winter?

Look. Through. Every. Rack. You honestly find the best pieces when you go in with an open mind. If you’re a new thrifter and you’re feeling overwhelmed, look through your wardrobe and decide on what pieces you think would compliment what you already have. Get inspo from Pinterest, Instagram and TikTok - then go in with a list or an item in mind. For example, this weekend I know what I want to find is a coat for winter, so although I won’t be able to help myself from looking through every rack, my mind will be set on finding that coat. Another tip: look through the $1 and 50% off racks! I have found SO many goodies there. 

What would you say to someone to encourage them to get into op-shopping?

Honestly, I would give them a tour around my house. From my wardrobe to my kitchen, some of my most complimented and unique pieces have been thrifted. I would then tell them to have a look on TikTok at mine and everyone else’s thrifting adventures. Some of the things people find are honestly unbelievable! I’d also just say: you have nothing to lose but so much to gain and also give back. You are helping the environment, preventing preloved items from ending up in landfill, supporting a great cause, and of course saving yourself money which we all know at the moment is more important than ever.

You can find Chantel and follow her #everysalvosinvictoria journey on TikTok @chantelbilly