Three Cheers for Cheap Thrills

As many people (I think many are. Lol ) are aware, I used to spend a lot on clothes. Like, a lot. And since my parents encourage saving up for something we like, I'd usually have to spend days of filter feeding and water dieting back in high school just to be able to buy shoes from Topman or those nice shirts from Zara. It was no easy task. The benefits were great though; we got skinny as a result. Back in the days, if you were gay and skinny, you're fabulous. So we, the skinny bitches, would go shopping for stuff and look great at the same time; it's a win-win situation. Or if I'm lucky, I'd get sent all these fabulous jackets by my aunts from abroad; even if the jackets were meant for countries that lie on the northern hemisphere. It was a comfort disadvantage but definitely a style advantage. And a popularity raiser too. I remember having one of my motorcycle jackets being borrowed by my friend in the other section. After recess, it would be in another section. It's the same case after lunch. I'd have to trace my jacket not only in other sections, but also in the other batches for safe measure. But that was in high school. And with the price of fashion getting higher than my allowance, I had to find a way to sustain my craving for new pieces without sacrificing a whole week's worth of recess and lunch.

Then someone introduced me to thrift stores. Oh God, the glory of thrift stores! Where have they been all my life? I was actually reluctant at first; the shops made me sneeze like hell and wreaked of old clothes. But once I spotted the vintage Givenchys and the old Diors among the Bossini pants and Chinese clothes, I was sold! It found it insane and mind-boggling how these fabulous clothes end up in places like this. I felt like I was rescuing long forgotten luxury and bringing them back to life. It was surreal.

So now, what I'll do is share these fabulous finds and maybe inspire those people who think that fashion has to be expensive to be fabulous; not that it isn't true, but then again, a cheaper alternative is always better. I'll be posting stuff I found that's sure to inspire the fashion adventurer in you to dive in to the experience and maybe, just maybe, get awesome stuff like I do. 

I got these boots from a thrift store near SM Centerpoint. I remember squealing in delight when I saw them. I was eyeing these particular boots on mrporter.com, a website that's basically my dream closet. These are around $200 on the website. I got to haggle it from 700 pesos to 450 pesos. And in such pristine condition! Gosh, amazing.

Now these 2 glasses are some of my recent acquisitions from the Super Sale Bazaar. Online, these would fetch around $150 to $275. Even more! So when I saw that these glasses are 250 pesos and 150 pesos respectively, I just couldn't say no! It's insane, I'm telling you. And it looks so vintage too!

These rings, however, ain't really that cheap. It's from Forever 21. But since the rings I usually buy hit 400 pesos to 700 pesos, I think it's only fair that I consider these cheap since it's 160 pesos for 3 pieces. Not bad. Not bad at all.

When I saw this leather envelope/clutch in a thrift store, I just had to have it. I've seen many of these kinds of bags in bazaars and I'm telling you, they're 600 pesos and above. So when I saw this and found out it's only for 200, I grabbed it and paid. It's now one of my fave bags because the leather is so soft. And it's not the type of leather that feels cheap. Amazing, really.

There are so many things in my closet that I got for a really cheap price. It's amazing how the universe seems to provide me with all the things I want but for a really, really, really, lower price. It's like I'm cheating fashion; the hundred dollar look for a huge fraction of the price. A lot of fashionable people will attest to this. So if we could find things like these, definitely so can you. 

It's just a matter of looking at the right places. 

And haggle, my dears. Haggle, haggle, haggle. 

The Manila Adventures: Viva Divisoria!

Well hello there! I'm going to have a new section in my blog which will be called "The Manila Adventures" which will chronicle the good, the bad, and the simply what-the-hell-just-happened things that happen to me and to those people unfortunate enough to be with me. As in swear, kung kilala nyo ako personally, you know the cray cray things that happen to me. I mean, 10 hour trip to Laguna from Manila? DI BA. But anyways, will definitely start in one of my secretly favorite places to go to. And that is none other than Divisoria!

This place, MRD2 (short for Mura Dito. Smart!) , has seriously awesome finds. They carry very trendy pieces at rock-bottom prices! As in grabe. Though be warned, they carry not-legit na items from Topshop, Topman, F21 and I think Zara and H&M too. And they have also bad-ass heels! Not-legit too, some of them. But dude, if you're a fashionista on a budget, this place is definitely worth checking out.

Now this is another place worth checking out! It's called Push Thru marketing and the wonderful thing about this is that it's not the only one in Divisoria. I think there are 5, yes, 5 outlets just scattered all over Divi. There's a few in 168 and a few in Tutuban. They also have nice clothes but more on the casual side. I saw some H&M v-neck but not sure if they're authentic. I doubt. But hey, try checking it out. 

 We we're in the new area of 168 when we passed by a stall that just smelled of buttery goodness! Turns out it was the Mister Bibingka stall and maaan. I'm telling you, they have seriously awesome bibingkas! SERIOUSLY. And they're not the huge ass bibingkas but small, cutesy ones you can cup in your hand. It's only 20 pesos each and it's more than worth it. And the cheese! Gah, the cheese! BTW, the packaging is really cool too!

Wasn't planning on buying anything but this, THIIIS, is an exception. I'm currently looking for a "boy cap" since my caps are all too homo for the streets of Manila. I mean, hello, fur hats and velvet berets? Dad will never let me out of the house. Saw this one on a shelf and I just flipped for it! Snagged it and haggled it from 300 to 250. Not bad! It's perfect. It's blue and has Captain America embroidered on the front. Comicky and bad ass at the same time. Rawr. 

 I have a thing for studs ever since a particular Givenchy collection came out with studs all over it. So when I saw this particular bracelets at 40 pesos for 3 pieces, I flipped again! Like a fish! HAHA CHOS. But seriously. They're plastic though. But for around 12 pesos per bracelet, well I'll be damned. Divi has everything!

Thankfully, no transportation mishap happened to me. Usually, the jeep I'm riding will crash into another jeepney or I'd almost get run over by a 10-wheeler. And I'm used to it already. I was with my friend, Jane Sy the whole time and thanks to her positive energy, I survived without any fatal accidents. My negative energy usually attracts holdappers and snatchers of all sorts. 

Here's to more Manila Adventures in the future!