The Thousands

It’s grey. Wet. Clothing has reverted to wintery layers of black staples, woolen scarves and closed shoes. Passers-by clutch tightly capped coffees and headphones aren’t just for music – they’re for warming your ears as well. Tights and coats are items du jour, as are the boots and oxfords that pound the pavement of a popular shopping strip.

Through a single doorway nestled between familiar shopfronts lies a set of multicoloured stairs that descend into a cosy den of lads and ladies’ threads. Kitsch ornaments fill obscure nooks, while the racks offer up labels that are hard to come by in this city – Limedrop, Maise, Mother Maria and Album – not to mention the locally designed accessories, well-priced vintage pieces and small collection of second hand records. There’s even a smattering of couches and lounge chairs to rest those weary legs on. The space is named after a Bob Dylan song, and has ‘real’ opening hours with late starts and closes well after the sun has set.

But this ain’t Copenhagen. It’s not even Melbourne. This is a wet Adelaide, and this is Clothes Line Saga – a perfect escape on an grey autumn afternoon, and a definite go-to store for winter threads.