Making a stylish 2nd debut

SELLING houses is what earned Heather Tarboton, 56, her bread and butter for years. She enjoyed chatting to prospective customers and matching them with homes they might fancy.

But one thing always set her apart from the other agents – and that was her sense of style.

Always wearing clothes that were eye catching and well-cut, she was hard to miss or forget. These days her blonde hair has pink streaks, she is always wearing dozens of rings on her fingers and is never shy to be unique.

Tarboton says her love of fashion began when she was a teen in the ’70s – and that has never changed. On receiving her salary, the first thing she would plan on buying was a unique item of clothing she had seen at the shops.

Her shop Clothes o’ Holics in Merrivale Howick is stocked from roof to floor with eye catching garments, many of which have been in her cupboard for 40 years.

Her change of job came when the housing market became competitive. She said: “I was getting bored with selling houses and things were getting very cut-throat in the market place.

“I looked at the dozens of boxes in my garage all filled with clothes I loved and I thought: ‘This is exactly what I need to do – share my love of fashion’.”

Luckily she had her eye on an empty shop in a busy shopping centre and soon signed the lease and was opening a business.

A PASSION FOR FASHION LED ONE WOMAN TO OPEN A SECOND-HAND (PRE-LOVED) CLOTHES AND VINTAGE SHOP. HEATHER TARBOTON DESCRIBES HER BUSINESS AS ‘RECYCLING WITH STYLE’.TRISH REPORTS.

The name Clothes o’ Holics is selfexplanatory and an apt description for Tarboton and the dozens of clients who pop in to browse.

Her artistic flair is evident in the shop, as she has hand-made signs with neon paint and sequins to divide the clothes into categories.

She has also acquired various showpiece items that add flair to the displays. Garish platform shoes and high-heeled boots are eye catching and hark back to decades ago.

“I am artistic but have never made money, it’s always been a hobby. But suddenly with my shop I have an opportunity to use my arty skills to showcase my clothes.

“I paint and do pottery at home, and arranging things to look attractive has always come naturally to me. Even when selling houses I could see the potential in a home and what improvements could be made.”

Mannequins dressed in hats and coats look as if they have stepped out of a movie set. Earrings and lipsticks sit on top of an old decorated sewing machine table that has been converted into a display table. There are Ottomans for clients to sit on while trying on shoes and she has a

BEAVER

change room as well.

Her friendly demeanour and frank curiosity help her to win over clients who come back again and again.

“I’m interested in people. When they come in I interact with them and build a rapport. It is great to know what people are looking for.”

Tarboton says that South Africa is still way behind the major European countries when it comes to buying second hand or vintage clothes.

“In Europe it is very acceptable to go to charity shops and look for clothes but here people are still hesitant.”

She has been asked if her clothes come from “dead” people. She laughs and says: “Most of the clothes in this shop were mine at some stage and I’m still alive and even if the clothes were bought from someone who died – it just means they had good taste while they were alive.”

Every year thousands of tons of clothing ends up in landfills and is destroyed, as fashion fads give way to new trends.

Tarboton believes that her clothes are helping to reduce the carbon footprint. She also up-cycles preloved clothes by adding lace trim or ribbons and she adds small details that give the clothes an updated and unique look.

“Fashion goes in cycles and what was trendy 20 years ago may be back in fashion soon. Clothes that have been well looked after should be given a second chance.”

She is always looking for new items to add to her stock and she can always be seen at local jumble sales or garage sales scouting for clothes to re-sell. “My friends are always saying – how did you find that? We looked at the same pile of clothes and I spotted the one item that was truly eye-catching.”

Tarboton has developed a sense of knowing what items have a classic appeal and will outlive the current fashion trends of the day. “I always look at labels and the quality of the clothes. Older clothes are generally made with superior finishes and they will last years. Our modern chain stores produce flimsy clothes that are made to last a season.

“I also look to see if they are in good condition, whether or not they have no tears or damage. Tailored clothing is also a sign of quality. There are also certain textures that will be fashionable. Leather, faux fur, satin and cotton are timeless and always in demand.”

She has organised her clothes into colours and items so it is easy to pick out what you are looking for. She makes sure the clothes are washed and steamed before they go on display. In one corner are second-hand formal dresses and dance dresses that would retail for hundreds of rand in any regular clothing store. Here the dresses can match a reduced budget.

“I have had young girls come in and they find their dream dance dress at a quarter of the price. I also advise them on how to dress up an outfit with accessories. I tell them it’s not how much you paid for the dress, it’s how it makes you feel. If a pre-loved dress makes you look like a million dollars then who cares?”

Tarboton says, “Next time you get rid of your clothes, feel good about the fact that your pre-loved clothes are likely to end up making someone else happy. Fashion is life and just like life, you must always express your feelings freely”.

Clothes o’ Holics has a Facebook page and you can pop into her shop at the Merrivale Spar Centre in Merrivale, Howick.