Supplier Spotlight – OOSHASC by Mel Anderson

Supplier Spotlight – OOSHASC by Mel Anderson

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Supplier Spotlight – OOSHASC by Mel Anderson

Who is Mel Anderson

I first met Mel through Women Together Network an inspiring collective of female business owners, entrepreneurs creatives, and like-minded women. I knew the moment I met her we were kindred spirits and a fast friendship was formed. Mel is a fabulous fashionista with a penchant for animal print and a mischievous glint in her eye.

Personal Branding Photography by JB Moments Photography

I haven’t featured a wedding supplier in ages and with weddings and events (hopefully) back in full swing this Spring/Summer, Mothers of the Brides, Grooms, and all the other wedding guests are going to need new outfits. And that’s where Mel comes in helping women find outfits that look amazing but don’t cost the earth – literally and figuratively!

Personal Branding Photography by JB Moments Photography

Thanks so much for agreeing to be interviewed, Mel. Tell everyone what OOSHASC is all about!

Ooshasc is a preloved ladies’ clothing shop based in Dollar. The name was created from the acronym for – Once Owned Should Have A Second Chance. It was started up ten years ago when I was looking to eliminate my “corporate working” wardrobe and wanted to help with sustainability in the fashion industry.

When you consider that it takes 20K litres of water to make a kilo of raw cotton – that is between 10-20K litres of water required per cotton dress! It takes 7.5K litres of water to make a pair of jeans! Considering the countries where a lot of these items are produced – it seems incredible! 5 Trillion litres of water are required in the production of fabric dyes per year alone! Can you start to see the challenge?

What can you help with when it comes to wedding outfits?

The shop stocks a variety of items – from jeans to skirts, tops, coats, jackets, everyday dresses – plus occasion and evening wear. We can help with not only outfits for the Mother of the Bride or Mother of the Groom – but also outfits for guests and the wedding party. That includes hats, fascinators, and bags!

OOSHASC by Mel Anderson
Statement MOTB/MOTG outfit
OOSHASC by Mel Anderson
Statement MOTB/MOTG outfit

PLUS -we stock a fabulous range of costume jewellery – Park Lane – which helps complete your outfit.

OOSHASC by Mel Anderson
Statement MOTB/MOTG outfit

All sizes are catered for – remembering, as it is preloved, I will only have one of any item in the shop!

OOSHASC by Mel Anderson
MOTB/MOTG Outfit
OOSHASC by Mel Anderson
MOTB/MOTG Outfit

What trends are you seeing with regard to wedding outfits? What’s going to be big this year?

Trends for weddings change annually – and the last two years have seen incredible differences in what people are looking for. There are always the classic styles for Mother of the Bride and Groom – that will always be the case – but some people have been looking for slightly less formal outfits as weddings decreased in size in 2020-2022. In addition to these classic styles and colours, we are seeing brighter, bolder colours in occasion outfits – solid colours, along with polka dots and tropical prints.  Actually, many weddings have been held out of doors – so fashionable wellies have been sought after! Sadly I don’t stock wellies!

OOSHASC by Mel Anderson
Event/Occasion/Wedding Guest Outfit
OOSHASC by Mel Anderson
Event/Occasion/Wedding Guest Outfit

Why should people consider pre-loved outfits for a wedding?

I know only too well how expensive weddings can be – not only for the families holding the wedding but for the guests invited too! So often, outfits are worn just once, and then cleaned and put away – never to be worn again! All the preloved occasion wear items coming into the shop are mainly only worn once – and it is a golden opportunity for the savvy shopper to save themselves a lot of money by purchasing preloved, and still have a quality item for the day! Prices vary per outfit – but I would say, on the whole, clients would be making a saving of 75% on the price by buying preloved – plus they are making a big impact on protecting the planet.

OOSHASC by Mel Anderson
Event/Occasion/Wedding Guest Outfit

Sold on buying pre-loved – why wouldn’t I just go to a website like Vinted?

Vinted is a great site to go to – but there are disadvantages. At Ooshasc, you get to try the items on and see if the style you’ve selected suits you before you buy it. The appointment system we operate allows the client to browse at their leisure whilst receiving the one-to-one personal styling advice from myself. I like the client to feel comfortable and not pressured into buying the wrong thing! In addition, I know where all the items have come from, and I am extremely selective about the items I stock.

OOSHASC by Mel Anderson
Event/Occasion/Wedding Guest Outfit

Amazing stuff! Aside from weddings what else can Ooshasc help with?

As I said at the start, Ooshasc doesn’t only sell occasion wear. We stock everything from jeans, skirts, tops, jackets, coats, dresses, occasion outfits, and evening wear. In addition to this, we sell bags and hats. To top off the outfit, we sell the beautiful Park Lane Jewellery – the perfect finish! Ooshasc is really a One Stop Shop.

OOSHASC by Mel Anderson
Event/Occasion/Wedding Guest Outfit

Finally, in my prep guides for people coming to my studio for a photoshoot, I suggest wearing something you feel fabulous in. If someone came to Ooshasc looking for an outfit to wear what would you suggest?

People come to shop at Ooshasc for different occasions. I like to establish what they are looking for when they first arrive, make sure they are comfortable, and let them browse the rails. I always make sure that if buying a dress or skirt, they are able to sit down comfortably in them.

Personal Branding Photography by JB Moments Photography

For a photoshoot – if they want to look fabulous – I have wonderful items in all sizes that they could buy. Neutrals are best for something like a photoshoot. You don’t want anything too distracting like wild patterns and logos. My experience as a colour consultant would allow me to ensure if they were looking at coloured items, I could suggest colours that complement their complexion. Outfits can always be jazzed up with a statement piece of jewellery or colourful scarves. Again – Ooshasc can help here. 

OOSHASC by Mel Anderson
Photoshoot suggestion

So there you have it, you can grab a bargain and save the planet. All served up with Mel’s expertise and wonderful customer service!

Personal Branding Photography by JB Moments Photography

Visits to Mel’s shop are by appointment only so she can offer you a bespoke shopping experience. You can book an appointment via her Facebook Page or by calling the number she lists there. She also goes live on her Facebook page twice a week to show off stock and you can also see those lives on her YouTube channel.

Happy Shopping!