‘Op shop chic’ a Brownlow fashion trend as three Saints wives wear preloved gowns

THREE St Kilda WAGs will turn their backs on designer couture and wear budget op-shop gowns to footy’s night of nights, showing second-hand does not mean second best.

THREE Saints wives are bucking the trend on football’s night of nights, dressing in preloved gowns from a South Melbourne op shop.

Jo Richardson and D’Arne Finnis model their budget Brownlow gowns from the Sacred Heart Mission Op Shop. Mrs Finnis’s dress cost $8. Picture: David Smith

While many of the WAGs have spent months primping and preening themselves for the Brownlow red carpet, the wives of three St Kilda Football Club executives have bought off-the-rack items from the Sacred Heart Mission Op Shop in South Melbourne.

D’Arne Finnis, wife of Saints chief executive Matt Finnis, said wearing the second-hand garment — bought for $8 — was about raising the profile of the Sacred Heart Mission, a charity strongly affiliated with the club.

“They do such an amazing job for the community of St Kilda and both the club and Sacred Heart come from that community and are supported by that community,” she said.

Mrs Finnis said the idea to dress in op shop chic came about “by chance” about two years ago.

“Around the time Matt got the job, I went down to the mission to show the kids St Kilda and where the hub of it all is and explain the importance of the Sacred Heart Mission to the St Kilda Football Club and vice versa and we happened to see a dress there and I bought it and wore it to the Brownlow,” she said.

Mrs Finnis also donned a “Sacred Heart-brand” dress to the club’s best and fairest awards this year.

At Monday night’s Brownlow, Jo Richardson, wife of senior coach Alan Richardson, and Karen Massen, partner of president Peter Summers, will join Mrs Finnis in wearing op shop couture.

Mrs Finnis, who also volunteers at the mission’s aged-care residence, said the label on the black and white dress she will wear on Monday night wasn’t important.

“As far as I’m concerned it’s Sacred Heart brand,” she said.

“It’s the brand of Sacred Heart that is important to us and that’s why we’re doing it.

“I started volunteering (there) earlier this year and it’s really touched my heart how important their work is for so many people in the community.”

Mrs Finnis said picking a dress and shoes from the op shop had “taken some pressure off” ahead of the glamorous event.

D’Arne Finnis and Jo Richardson prepare for Monday night. Picture: David Smith

“I’ve got three young children so (getting ready has) never been something I’ve been able to dedicate a huge amount of time to on the day,” she said.

“Hopefully we look lovely too, but we also like to be feeling fantastic about doing something that has a much broader impact than just wearing a nice dress on the night.

“I think if you feel good about doing something you look better anyway.”

Mrs Finnis said she hoped to see more people “getting on board” in future, including players’ wives, and was planning to hold a “gown drive”.

“Every female has copious amounts of dresses in the cupboard they flick through every time there’s a function and it would be great if we could get them to donate some of the ones they don’t wear any more,” she said.

“The mission could then sell those dresses — every $8 provides three meals for someone, so it’s a small gesture that creates a huge impact on people’s lives.”