With the changing of seasons it is the perfect time to clear out your wardrobe and freshen your look.
Sue Gray, of What Goes Round, is happy to help at her new Allenton based studio.
The studio is nestled around the back of Sue’s house, where racks are laden with pre-loved designer labels. She also offers a style consultation service.
Sue and her husband moved to Ashburton from Timaru, her background is in fashion retail and sales.
Sue said they moved here because they wanted something bigger, ‘‘and my husband wanted to be closer to the mountains.’’
She said her new business venture has ‘‘an ethos of quality over quantity … often in pre loved shops you have to fight your way through stuff to find a treasure, I’d like to think what I have here is all treasures.’’
Sue takes garments on consignment so women who bring their clothing in get 50 per cent of the sale price when the item sells.
Sue styles garments on to mannequins, flat lays and for Facebook posts.
‘‘So it gives women who walk through the door an idea how to style a garment.’’
If the garment hasn’t sold after eight weeks, Sue donates it to charity, Hospice and St John are among charities she supports.
Sue only takes season appropriate items and is supporting Kiwi designers.
‘‘I am placing a emphasis on New Zealand and Australian designers, some garments are made in New Zealand, they are the real treasures, because it is hard for New Zealand labels to keep working.
‘‘I want women to have confidence that what they are buying is beautiful quality, the fabrics are fabulous.
‘‘Our landfills are swamped by fast fashion, we’ve all seen it on TV, I’m giving women the opportunity to love someone elses garment.’’
Styling is a service Sue offers but knows not everyone would want that, ‘‘some women may have all the confidence in the world, fantastic, but women particularly in mid-life, often lose their way and are swamped by all the young stuff and they are overwhelmed when they go shopping.
‘‘I can help them train their eye to look for garments that actually will have longevity in their wardrobe and be styled in lots of different ways.’’
Shoes, handbags and jewellery are also sold in her studio.
Sue curates outfits, meaning she puts together a whole outfit from the shoes to the jacket.
‘‘I’m always looking for good quality pieces, something that’s a little bit different, rather than the massed produced, that way women can build their style.’’
Sues inspiration and style icon is Vivienne Westwood, ‘‘one of her mantras is ‘Buy less, choose well and make it last,’ and that is an ethos I have tried to build around in this studio.’’
Sue stocks sizes 8 to 18 plus. ‘‘A lot of the 16-plus range is beautiful quality, so it is possible to still look stylish … it’s not about fashion it’s about style and it is possible no matter your size.’’
Sue describes fashion as following trends. ‘‘Style is absolutely your own spin ona trend, developing it to your own style, style is something that can be learned, some women say ‘I don’t do style’, you can be stylish in a pair of gumboots and jeans, you don’t have to wear diamonds and pearls.’’
Thestudio is open Wednesday to Saturday from 10am or by appointment, 18 Country Place, Allenton. Visit What Goes Round’s Facebook page for more information.
