Bonds TSL

Prior to my trip to Bonds TSL last week I did not own a pair of shorts. I needed a pair of shorts because it’s now summer, I might want to go swimming, and I imagine there would be a scenario where wearing a pair of shorts around the house would be preferable to jeans/​pants/​nothing.
A simple pair of board shorts would have sufficed. These were available at a reasonable price ($ 10) but only in L and XL. Those sizes are of no use to me. How can a long established fashion outlet such as this not stock a full range of board short sizes coming into summer?
I ended up going with a nice pair of olive green shorts. The government would have you believe olive green in an unattractive colour. This is why they plan on making all cigarette packages olive green. I beg to differ, as do the olive industry.
Anyway, I ended up paying $ 28 for my shorts, which were reduced from $ 45, and yes they are nice shorts, but stock the cheap ones in all sizes already.

A large room full of deals on brands like Bonds and bedding.
We all know Bonds, they do undies, singlets, tops, thermals and bras. But the problem is it’s all a bit expensive for what it is. TSL sell all these things at marked down prices, some savings are large, others not so. The undies are still pretty pricey, one for $ 10. Which seems a little steep for what’s meant to be a clearance outlet.
At the moment they’re purging all the winter stock so if you need PJ’s for next year or thermals (medium in heat strength, I wouldn’t wear them to the snow) it’s all here waiting.
There are a quite a few bed sheets and that’s where you’ll really see a big saving (as well as a body pillow for the lonely).

Trackies, Socks & Linen. That isn’t what TSL stands for, but it’s far more useful and interesting than what those three little letters really represent.
It’s all Bonds stock in here and apparently at discounted prices. Some of the items like tracksuit bottoms and tops can be heavily discounted, but overall, the price of most items seems suspiciously similar to the retail cost. I’m not convinced I’m getting the best rate here, but it’s good to have such a huge selection of Bonds stock under one roof.
They often have their heavily discounted items on racks just outside the shop on the street, so check this out before going in store.

Over this last winter I was in the hunt for some trakkies to go with my newly acquired Ugg boots. This threw up an imminent problem for me. I wanted some trendy looking wear. Now I know what you are thinking here — dude you are in the market for some trakkies to go with your Ugg boots — fashion does not and never will exist here. Well I say that if there can be honour amongst thieves, then there can be fashion to be found amongst clothing’s most comfortable of wear.
Well I am sure you guessed it. The fact that I was in the market for such items probably speaks volumes about me as a person. There is no way that good looking trakkies exist. Enter TSL on Smith Street.
Of course they don’t sell fashionable tack suit pants. They do sell a wide range of underwear, bedding and nightwear at very cheap prices. Which is really how they solved a problem for me. You see, having grasped the fact that I was not going to find good looking track suit pants, I came to realisation that there was no way I was going to pay $ 30-​$ 40 for a pair of Everlast or Nike trakkies.
Well TSL is an ideal shop to get any of the aforementioned items and reasonable prices and reasonable quality. Now that summer is on its way I am now in the market for some cheap wife beaters. Thank you TSL.

I have a love-​hate relationship with TSL. On the one hand, I love that I know I can go there and pick up Bonds undies, singlets, fitted Ts, hoodies, jumpers, towels, socks, pillows, blankets — the lot. It’s pretty much a one-​stop Bonds deal. On the other hand, it annoys me that what is essentially a Bonds outlet store is no cheaper than you’d pay retail in a department store. It’s all there, shoved onto the racks with seemingly little overheads, yet I’m paying full price? Pfft. And yet the telltale sign that the love outweighs the hate is the fact that I keep going back because when you need a singlet or a decent hoodie, you can’t beat Bonds.
On that note though: the socks section is pretty small and disappointing so I wouldn’t bother making a special trip if that’s all your after. The winter wear selection is particularly good just before winter starts, with heaps of styles and thicknesses to choose from.

Why the obscure name TSL, why? I’ve just spent ten minutes researching — and three days wracking my brain — to figure out what your shop is called. And for what? So that you can keep your weirdly old fashioned and completely esoteric name…
To most it’s simply known as ‘that Bonds outlet store on Smith Street’ which is exactly what it is. An outlet store stocking an excellent range of Bonds’ clothes and underwear alongside bedding, bathroom textiles and more at heavily discounted prices.
An excellent place for a browse if you need to stock up on undies or are looking for a new quilt cover set — or doona set depending on your provenance — the TSL shop is a firm Fitzroy favourite and one of the best outlet shops on Smith Street. Its name might be obscure but this is a hugely practical shop. If you haven’t been, go. And tell them to change their name.

I was in need of a new pair of tracksuit pants and I figured the TSL on Smith St might be able to provide. I’m welcomed as I walk in by three staff chatting behind the service desk. I sift through the pants and decide on a couple to take to the dressing room. As I get to the change rooms, I’m reminded that I’m on Smith St and its reputation, as there’s a deadlock on each door. I hail a staff member to open one up and feel quite uncomfortable being deadlocked into a tiny room to take my pants off.
A friendly staff member relieved me of my unwanted pants and left me to continue browsing in peace.
TSL is mainly full of women’s clothing with a touch of men’s. A large selection of manchester down the back, and the whole place feels like it’s made of cotton. The store is full of decent brands that are at the end of their season or overstocked elsewhere. Most are discounted and you can pick up a bargain if you go searching. My pair of $ 5 Levi’s boxers are funky and comfy.

So you may not think about it much, but we all needs sheets and towels and socks and jocks! TSL is that one-​stop shop to get the things that you never think to shop for.
One stop means you gotta go less often. And you get it all together. Make the towels match the sheets. Get a new pillow. Try them out. It’s a superstore for all this background stuff that some marketing guru somewhere out there decided to call «white goods.»
But it’s not just that they have it all, it’s that they have it all CHEAP. You’ll wonder where to find this stuff one day, when your pillow is flat, your towels have holes, and your undies are daggy.