Disclaimer: Ang mga salitang ginamit ng writer ay pinababaw upang mas maintindihan ng mas nakararami. Ang anumang sinabi ay hindi upang manghikayat na ang lahat ay mag Ukay, kun'di upang makatulong sa mga nais may Ukay.
Ito ay isinulat noong Setyembre, taong 2019, sa kasalukuyan na pagkakalabas ng libronh ito rito, ay nasa General Community Quarantine ang karamihan ng mga bayan at HINDI hinihikayat na mag Ukay-ukay ang mga mambabasa.
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These days, people are so interested in fashion, they always style on trends and they style-on-point. But being a good "fashionista" sometimes comes with price, most of those trendy clothings are expensive. Though the quality are worth the price, we cannot afford to buy expensive clothes all the time. We often opt to buy inexpensive and cheaper clothes just to fill the blank on our styles, which most of the time serves no quality. But how do we style-on-point and how can we be a good "fashionista" on budget?
Ukay-ukay shops, or thrift clothing shops, has been one of the destinations of our pre-loved clothes. They take your old clothes and sell it on a very cheap price. Most of the clothes they sell are the branded ones and most of those clothes are still in good condition. However, the million-dollar-question for the Ukay-ukay shoppers is, how do you do it? How do you style it and how do you pick the best clothes?
Personally, I am a huge fan of shopping in Ukay-ukay shops, most of the time, I get really fashionable clothes and branded clothes. My best Ukay-Ukay is the one here in Laguna. The selections are great since it is very wide and there are lots of racks to choose from. Some of my best picks from Laguna are from the Ukay-Ukays in the following:
San Pablo, every Saturdays sa bayan. Santa Cruz, every Thursdays and Sundays sa likod ng palengke. Los Baños, available everyday sa tabi ng shopping mall. Calamba, available every day sa Plaza ng Mahogany.
But due to General Community Quarantine is implemented (as this is published at June 5, 2020 and was written months before), many Ukay-Ukay are still closed.
There are actually no rules in shopping there, but here are MY GOLDEN GUIDELINES FOR A SUCCESSFUL UKAY-UKAY SHOPPING:
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1. Have STRONG ARMS and PATIENT MIND. You won't always get that branded tank top of your dreams, or that sparkly sequined skirt you are looking for. Clothes in Ukay-ukay are always random unlike most of the clothing shops or apparel, they also are not always on your size, so you better build your arms strong when pushing hangers, also is to be patient in looking for great clothes.
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2. Have SHARP EYES with fabric and stains. Not just because the dress you found is stylish, you will buy it instantly, you have to see if the fabric is still in its good condition. It doesn't have to always look perfect or new but at least, it must not look old and ragged. Also, some may look deceiving, see for stains and damages (unless you are okay with it or it is not obvious at all). In addition, be attentive with stains most specially in the armpit part, it might cause you an odor.
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3. SET YOUR BUDGET, do not overspend during excitement. This is the golden tip for those who thrifts so much and for those that are students. For mostly teenage fashionistas, we don't have so much money to spend since we are only given by our parents. You can set your budgets, divide it into THREE PORTIONS, one for the TOPS, one for the BOTTOMS, and the other one for some OUTERWEAR OR SHOES. You can still add some portions depending on your needs in your closet.
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4. You can have it ALTERED. Since they don't always come in your size and some fabrics are already used up, you might want to have it altered. They come in cheap and very affordable price, so paying for some alterations may not be an issue for you, especially if it is the body-con dress you are in loved with!
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5. WASHING IS THE KEY! For any clothes to look good, they way you wash it must also be good. You can have it soaked with hot water (but be careful of some fabrics that change its color with hot water) but never overdo it. Choose your trusted fabric detergent and conditioner to wash away the smell and the dirts. In addition, mostly for jeans, you can use some fabric dyes to make it look better and new.
But always remember that there are NO RULES FOR FASHION, you may follow some guidelines but you can always STYLE THE WAY YOU WANT since fashion stated no specific definitions, it is the person who styles does, and it is always the comfort which matters and not the style.
Fashion is an art where you express your personality, and not just a trend. Being a real fashionista is not about what brand or what price you are wearing, but how good it looks on you. At the end of the day, it is always our choice if we show off ourselves or we stay on what is already established.
Your looks are nothing without your personal taste and confidence!
