What's Lurking Behind the Doors?

Have you ever wondered what’s behind those wooden doors that lead from the shop into the workroom at MP? If you leave the confines of the air-conditioned shop during the day, there is a large chance that you will be accosted for ironing duty, especially as we prepare for our winter change of season event, on March 2, 2012. But as the team are madly ironing, washing and pricing, this front of shop makeshift reporter, armed only with a camera and the knowledge that she can’t iron, ventured out the back to bring you this sneak peak of our preparations for March 2.

By March 2, the work room will be transformed into a hub of excitement with change rooms lining almost every wall. While this may seem a tad excessive, seasoned shoppers will note that come 6 or 7 o’clock, there will not be enough change rooms, with queues often stretching the length of the work room and back into the shop. That’s where the communal change rooms come in – if you aren’t shy and don’t mind not having an individual curtain, these change rooms are great fun. Plus, you get to try on everyone else’s finds without leaving the change rooms!

Hidden under the multitude of coloured fabric is a selection of the 2012 winter collection. In less than a week, the empty racks will be full, with in excess of 5000 items of clothing anticipated to be tried on and hopefully loved both that evening and the following weekend. Somehow I don’t think it’s all going to fit!

Before the collection is unveiled, every piece is cleaned and ironed. Thankfully, there is an amazing team who have been preparing for months to have each piece looking it’s best for the launch. While many of you only know the front of shop staff, there would be no Material Pleasures without the wonderful ladies who work tirelessly behind the scenes. So next time you pop into the shop and find that treasure you can’t live without, spare a thought for the wonderful people who work tirelessly behind the scenes.

Don’t miss Material Pleasures Winter Collection Preview Evening on March 2, 2012 from 5-9pm. Come by, find a treasure and share a glass of champagne and some nibbles with the Material Pleasures team. It should be a great night and certainly one not to be missed!

Lost and Found

Is the world more blurry than normal because you can’t find your reading glasses? Do you find yourself applying a tube of sunscreen every time you go outside because your hat has gone missing. Can’t find your purse? Your shoes? Then we a MP may just have the solution to ease your frazzled nerves and calm your pounding heart.

Over time, we have had some wonderful success stories with lost and found property, particularly that eventful morning at the Old Bus Depot Markets when a lady left her mobile phone behind in the change rooms. Now it is a contentious issue about whether or not it is appropriate to search a mobile for a contact number, and so, after much debate and prompting from every customer in the shop, we did hit the contacts button and tried to find the word ‘mum’, ‘dad’ or ‘hubby.’ So you can imagine our surprise when we did not find the anticipated family members, rather the number of a certain ex-prime minister who had THAT election campaign in 07. You certainly can’t say that life at MP is un-eventful and the same day after day – after all, it’s not every day you get to ring K Rudd!

And while this day ended in a very excited reunion between technology and owner, there is a box tucked away in the corner of MP that is full of sunglasses, reading glasses, hats and shoes, that haven’t been able to experience that jubilant feeling of going home.

So, if you think you have misplaced some of your treasured items, then just ask our friendly staff next time you are visiting our Fyshwick shop, and  hopefully we  will be able to reunite you and your lost property.

Wow Mel!

When she’s not inspiring the ACT’s brightest young minds as a teacher and having fun at the Old Bus Depot Markets every Sunday, MP’s very own Mel has a passion – for timeless frocks! And now you too can share in her love of everything glamorous and admire the exquisite fashions in Mel’s new shop, Librarian Chic, at the Lyneham shops.

From dresses to shoes to jewellery, books and more, from the 1940’s to the present day, you’ll find it at Librarian Chic, or visit Mel’s website at http://www.librarianchic.com.au/ to find out what new and exciting treasures there are to be found.

When you find that one irresistible piece, don’t forget to ask Mel what its number is – in true Librarian style, every dress, jacket and skirt has their own dewy decimal number, just like you see on the spine of books in the library - to give it personality, character and spunk!

But be quick! Librarian Chic is only at Lyneham shops for a little while longer. And don’t forget to stop by Material Pleasures at the Old Bus Depot Markets on Sundays to have a chat with our fabulous Mel.

Congratulations Mel, well done!

Sneak Peak: Winter Collection 2012

Inspired by the success of our Summer Fashion Shoot and appearance in the January edition of Vogue Australia, here at Material Pleasures, we have been working hard to prepare our Winter 2012 collection that will compliment the steaming mugs of hot chocolate and bowls of rich pumpkin soup that are often required to survive Canberra’s winter.

While we have not had the normal chance to lose a few layers and spend lazy afternoons dressed in our Material Pleasures summer fashion finds, we at MP have decided to put together a sneak peak of what you can expect from our Winter 2012 collection, and don’t forget to get the March edition of Vogue Australia Magazine to see our Material Pleasures advert.

  

For more stunning images, head over to our Facebook page, and while you're there, why not click LIKE to keep up to date with new stock, sales and exclusive inside scoops, so you don't miss a moment here at Material Pleasures.

A big thank you to the talented ladies who made this shoot possible.

Do you need to clear out your wardrobe?

When you walk into out showroom you’re hit with a kaleidoscope of colour, the walls lined with clothing. We are often asked where it all comes from.

Our best pieces often come from  local fashionistas who update their wardrobes seasonally. We also have ladies who have lost lots of weight and their clothes no longer fit and women who are moving and can't take all their treasures with them.

If you are clearing out your wardrobe and would like your clothing, shoes, handbags or jewelry treasured by a new owner come visit us. We buy for all seasons all year round including children’s clothing and men’s wear.  You can make an appointment at our Fyshwick studio to go through your collection with Rebekah or you can simply drop it off with your name and number attached to be assessed.

Modern styles in natural fibres with no signs of wear are preferred. Most in demand are Trelise Cooper, Nicola Waite, Oroton, Loui Vuitton,  Lanvin, Dolce & Gabbanna, Armani and Mimco. The more current the item is, the more likely we are to be able to sell it so if you have items you currently are not wearing bring them in now rather than in a few seasons time! We buy all items outright, offering about 30% of our selling price. To get an idea of our price point drop into our Fyshwick store. 

For more details go to materialpleasures.com.au

We hope to see you soon! 

What's in store

Bags and accessories have been selling as soon as they go into the show room. I was told we had a Louis Vuitton bag last week but of course it sold before I even got a glimpse!

Here's what is in store at the moment:

Morrissey Bag
$65

DKNY

Midas Bag
$70
Leather

Mollini Heels
$40
Size 40

Wayne Cooper
$45

NEW ARRIVALS Tuesday: looks like Santa has been here early, ho ho ho.  Hopefully you can sleigh into our flagship store at 3 Barrier Street, Fyshwick & pop one of these bargains into your Santa sack to keep you festive, merry & bright.


Paula Ryan, Tiffany Treloar, Oroton, Trelise Cooper, Pedro Garcia, Crea, Trenery, Nicola Waite, Kenzo, Paula Ryan, Jayson Brunsdon, DKNY, Donna Karan, Akira Isogawa, Lanvin, Camilla, Megan Park, Armani, Mia Mea, Max Mara, Easton Pearson, Sarah Pacini, Flannel, Max & Co.


OMG! where do I start? Not to mention the 400 garments with green dots that are 50% off!


Merry Christmas from the Material Pleasures' Team