thrifting: underground winklepicker

i picked these underground winklepicker for 550 pesos at king bhats, imus.  i spent more than i intended for shoes, but i have been looking for something like these for quite a while now.  they are surprisingly comfortable given the narrow pointed tips, and in excellent like-new condition.  so perfect with distressed skinny jeans for a rock-and-roll vibe.

happy thrifting!

tips: care and restoration of thrifted leather goods

as we all know now, there are gazillions of amazing high-quality leather goods that can be found at thrift stores.  the problem is, how do we care and restore these hidden treasures back to their glorious condition?  i am not an expert on restoration, but here are my tried and tested tips based from personal experience.

molds and mildew:  lysol it down and let the bag sit under the sun.  some people have tried using vodka and water spray with great luck.  never worked for me though.

musty storage smell:  sunlight, fabric conditioner sheet, charcoal, or baking soda.  sunlight is a natural disinfectant and odor eliminator.  fabric conditioner sheet will mask the odor but will not completely eliminate it.  charcoal and baking soda are the least effective.

indentation marks:  blow dry until warm to touch.  massage the indentation marks.  repeat as necessary. recondition after.

superficial scratches:  good leather conditioner.  i suggest leather honey or fiebing's golden mink oil.  always spot test first on hidden parts of your leather goods.

stitches:  use lighter instead of scissors to trim and seal loose stitches.  super glue also works well.

shapeless bags:  i have great success in restoring flat as pancake bags by washing them in tap water with dishwashing liquid.  stuff the bag with towels to give them shape.  dry under filtered or direct sunlight.  apply leather conditioner when almost dry.  works best on most unlined leather bags.

faded color:  at-home redye kit works pretty well and very easy to use.  for minimal scuffings on shoes, cover it with matching shade of sharpie or pentel pen.  saves you a lot of time and money.

beyond repair bags:  keep them for parts such as leather straps, zipper pull, chain strap etc.  possible diy project.

shoes a bit smaller:  blow dry shoes and wear them inside the house.  you should wear thick socks when doing this so as to avoid burning your feet.

vedasto: black croc embossed messenger bag

love:
- top of the trade materials and filipino craftsmanship.
- fresh and locally sourced genuine cow leather.  hence, the undeniably soft and smooshy feel to every vedasto bag.
- beautiful and practical.  crocodile embossing gives this utilitarian bag a softer look.  a perfect unisex bag that can transition from school bag to work bag.
- roomy interior.  bag measures 14 x 10 x 4.5 inches.
- nickel hardware.  i usually shy away from silver tone hardware but this one actually works.  i still wish vedasto would produce this style in brass or gold tone hardware.
- reasonable price.  original price was 4,900 pesos, but i got this on a sale price of 4,400 pesos.
- as always, great customer service from the lovely ladies of vedasto festival mall.
- one year product warranty.

so-so:
- i crave the smell present in almost all vedasto bags.  not everyone's cup of tea tough.
- this can get a little heavy when worn for a long time.  better wear this bag across the body to distribute the weight evenly.

vedasto: black croc embossed satchel

love:
- locally produced with high quality filipino craftsmanship.
- simplicity.  the croc embossed leather lend a sophisticated touch to this rather simple piece.  perfect for customers who prefer "silent" bags.
- boxy shape.  i super adore structured bags versus slouchy hobos.
- right size.  bag measures 13 x 10 x 5 inches.  it will carry your daily essentials and some more.
- versatile.  this beauty comes with a detachable shoulder strap.
- great customer service and one year product warranty.

so-so:
- i wish they would produce this in other colors and with brass/gold tone hardware.
- i really like the fresh leather smell but some may find this off-putting.

vedasto: mahogany croc embossed bag

love:
-  proudly philippine made. amazing filipino crafstmanship.
- materials used are of the highest quality ie. ykk zippers and hato hasi snaps.
- croc embossed leather.  the croc effect makes this bag a little luxurious yet casual enough to use everyday due to its slouchy appearance.
- the color is more of a deep reddish brown in actual.  i am super in love with this color.
- versatile.  it comes with detachable shoulder strap for customers who wants to go hands-free.
-  roomy interior.  bag measures 14 x 13 x 5 inches.
-  great customer service and 1-year product warranty.

so-so:
- too much hardware.  i removed the d-rings meant for the strap's lobster locks, and then reattached the cut parts with leather glue.  it made the silhouette a lot cleaner and minimal for my taste.  i couldn't be any happier with this simple bag hack.
- borderline knock-off.  the bag somewhat looks like a givenchy nightingale.  this is the only reason why i was a little hesitant to buy this at first.
- fresh out of the tannery smell.  i super adore the smell, but as always, it's not for everyone.

vedasto: woven leather boston bag

love:
- handcrafted locally. proudly philippine made.
- impeccable craftsmanship.
- substantial hardware and genuine leather material.
- classic traditional style. it will surpass fashion trends.
- versatile with detachable and adjustable shoulder strap.
- measures 14 x 9 x 8 inches. quite roomy bag.
- well priced.
- great customer service and product warranty.

so-so:
- nickel hardware.  i wish they would produce this in brass or gold tone hardware.  it would be more consistent with the bag's vintage look.
- a bit on the heavy side.  normal for bags made from genuine cow leather material.
- the smell is quite addictive.  please don't judge.

vedasto: woven leather bucket bag

love:
- the leather, of course.  made of soft and durable genuine cow leather.
- proudly philippine made.  quality is at par with designer leather bags abroad.
- vintage appeal.  the woven leather reminds me of patinated vintage bottega bags.
-  bag measures 15 x 12.5 x 7.5 inches.  perfect for ladies who carry the whole house inside their purses.
- price is ok relative to its construction and materials used.  i got this for 3,200 pesos with 10% discount.
- great customer service and 1-year product warranty.

so-so:
- a bit on the heavy side.  not for people with back or shoulder problem.
- smells of "fresh" leather.  just think of a live and breathing cow.  definitely not for people with hypersensitive sense of smell.

vedasto: 1-year product warranty

i ruined this poor vedasto woven leather bag the moment i got home.  it was a disaster, to say the least.  i went overboard with leather honey on this beauty, which then made the woven leather dark and uneven.

i waited for weeks and weeks thinking that the bag will return to its original color, but it stayed in the same sad condition sitting silently at the back of my closet.  therefore, albeit a little hopeless, i took it to vedasto festival mall branch to help me sort out the problem.  i wasn't really expecting any positive result.

i then finally received an sms from vedasto stating that my bag was ready for pick up.  the new color was two shades darker, more of a delicious deep rich mahogany brown.  it somehow camouflaged the ugly oil stains.  furthermore, the redye job didn't look artificial at all.  this bag went through a lot and i still feel sorry for her up to this day.

the restoration itself was free, but the shop charged me 50 pesos for what i believe was a handling fee.  not bad, right?  i am really, really thankful to vedasto leathergoods and to the lovely ladies of festival mall branch for giving this bag a second life.

one year product warranty, guaranteed.

photo credit: vedasto leathergoods

yes to handcrafted sandals!

i finally had the chance to put this newly acquired custom-made leather sandals to test.  after a long day on my feet, i had z-e-r-o blisters.  it was a surprise though, because i'm the type of person who gets blisters easily and that's why i always bring a stash of band-aids with me. it's like wearing flip-flops minus the sloppy factor.  jermaine's customized leather sandals are the best.  you can visit their shop along bahayang pag-asa subdivision main road, cavite.

thrifting: king bhats frc supermall, imus branch

i fell in love with king bhats imus branch on early 2000 when my sister's friend informed us about this lesser known ukay-ukay situated inside frc supermall.  pre-king bhats, i did most of my thrift therapy at starmall alabang (aka metropolis) because it was the only known mall during those time with multiple thrift shops inside.

fast forward to today, king bhats imus branch is super famous to thrift hunters not just from cavite area but from manila as well.  long line outside the shop is unbelievable during new arrivals.  i warned you, expect chaos. better be early if you want to find amazing designer items instead of ho-hum brands. nothing to worry though because there are plenty of left-over treasures to hunt in this shop.  however, scavenging for quality finds may require extra effort and extra patience.

this ukay shop is worth visiting during clearance sale.  i love the fact that they don't go overboard with their prices.  there are a lot of designer pants and slacks on clearance sale.  lots and lots of high-quality denim jackets and denim jeans.  you may also spot designer shirts and cardigans when you're on luck.  bags and shoes, well, not so much.

the shop is h-u-g-e, nice and clean, very organized, and well-lit.  it is fully air-conditioned with multiple dressing rooms.  the friendly and accommodating staffs are also a plus.  best of all, the prices of their merchandise are on the reasonable range.  i highly recommend this ukay-ukay shop.  you surely won't be leaving empty-handed.

thirfting: studded leather boots

i luckily picked these studded leather boots during 50% off sale day.  plus, the cashier gave me an additional discount.  well, it must be my lucky day.  i'm planning to go back there tomorrow because i'm eyeing a pair of brown suede shoes.

happy thrifting!

thrifting: king bhats molino branch

this is just one of the many branches of king bhats in cavite.  it is located beside sm molino and only a few walks away from my home.  no wonder i frequently do my ukay shopping here.  this thrift store is definitely a heaven sent for a thrift addict like me.

you can easily find amazing designer jeans, jackets, and vintage t-shirts in this ukay shop.  the men's clothing section is filled with snazzy printed buttondowns and oversized band tees.  you may also check out the jacket and blazer sections for one-of-a-kind statement pieces.  during clearance sale, the prices of their merchandise can go as low as 5 for 100 pesos.

there are also expansive selections of genuine italian leather shoes and branded rubber shoes to choose from; a perfect spot for shoe lovers or for the man of your life.  the price for shoes ranges from 280 to 1500 pesos.  the people at king bhats somehow know the retail value of some of the shoes.  nevertheless, you're buying them for less than a fraction of the brand new price.

the store is generally great, however, not to visit if you are looking for designer bags because most early pickers/re-sellers already purchased them during new arrivals.  there are times when you can get lucky even if you are few days behind, but the chances are very slim.  you really have to dig through piles of generic bags just to find those elusive hidden treasures.  i found three vintage alviero martini bags and a patent versace bag in this shop for unbelievable price of 380 pesos each.

unfortunately, there is no a/c in this thrift store and it can get ridiculously hot in the afternoon.  i suggest that you should do your thrift shopping first thing in the morning or late at night like i normally do.  this minor issue should not crush your hope from visiting this thrift store gem though.

the store is fairly new, well-lit, nice and clean, lots of vintage goodies at reasonable prices, and the staffs are extremely accommodating.  this is a one friendly ukay-ukay store, definitely one of my favorites in cavite.

beauty cheating

hello, fellow beauty slackers!

i am the laziest person in my family when it comes to beauty.  i find it cumbersome (or just plain lazy) to follow beauty product instructions, and the idea of spending hours in front of a mirror makes me cringe.  don't get me wrong though, since i also like to look attractive or at least presentable to people i meet.  the following habits actually work for me and i am very positive that they will work for you, too.  i call them beauty cheating.

hair.  choose a haircut that needs the least maintenance.  stick to your natural hair color and texture as much as possible.  ask your trusted hair cutter for a wash-and-wear haircut.  it could be a long straight hair or the ubiquitous lob, but it really depends on your stylist's opinion.  i went for a bowl haircut inspired by the 60s due to my thick and lifeless hair.  there are times when i completely skip blow dryer and just finger style my hair.  it's fascinating how a good cut makes people think that you spend hours on the mirror coiffing your hair.

skin.  taking care of the largest organ of the body is a very important habit for beauty slackers because it's the first thing that people notice.  you can always ask your dermatologist for treatments to "perfect" your skin.  since i don't enjoy applying and wearing makeups, going bare faced is the only way to go.  people equate clear healthy skin to youthfulness, and thereby, make you look as if you spend hours contouring and highlighting.

body.  staying on a weight you can maintain is probably the most practical health and beauty tip for beauty slackers.  ditch the idea of becoming a size zero if you're really a size 6.  yo-yo dieting is not good for the heart and will eventually lose the elasticity of skin.  i gained a lot of weight this past few months, but did i regret the added weight?  nope, not at all.  spending hours on a treadmill isn't for me and i don't judge people who work out to look good.  my brother constantly go to the gym because it makes him feel good about himself and i applaud him for that.   instead of hitting the gym, i can relax at home and do activities that i like doing more.

hygiene.  go for double-duty hygiene and/or beauty products.  science made it possible now to have whiter teeth while brushing, conditioned hair while shampooing, and moisturized skin while taking a shower.  it will save you a lot of time, effort, and money.  not to mention, it could also free up bathroom storage space.

fashion.  life is simple - and so should your style.  i like to keep my outfits plain (but not boring) to save me from headaches.  having a signature uniform is helpful, too.  emmanuelle alt proved this with her simple yet powerful uniform of jeans and button-downs.

thrifting: why i only buy thrifted jeans

price.  i can easily spot high-end jeans at unbelievable prices.  there are plenty of versace, celine, moschino, citizens of humanity, 7 for all mankind, true religion, dkny, max azria, and unlimited choices of vintage levi's in my favorite thrift stores. i simply have to be careful with fakes though. 

quality.  thrifted designer jeans are made of high-quality materials and the attention to details are better in comparison to fast fashion brands that i usually buy prior to my love for all things thrifted and preloved. i'm not saying that all designer jeans have better quality, but this is the case most of the time.  vintage jeans such as lee, levi's, and wrangler are also abundant in thrift stores and these (used to be blue-collar workers) jeans are made to last a lifetime.

size.  i gained a lot of weight these past few months, which ultimately worked to my advantage since there are unlimited choices of jeans in my current size.  i'm a local size 28 now, but i think i'm really a size 30.  being "average-sized" is a plus in the denim department.

perfectly broken-in.  most of my thrifted jeans are already broken-in, so there is a certain feel to the material every time i wear them.  they are extremely soft and comfortable i could practically sleep in them.  in addition to this, i don't need to worry whether the jeans will shrink or not.  i have purchased brand new jeans at shopping malls that shrunk tremendously after just a couple of washing. 

diy projects.  thrifted jeans are the perfect guilt-free way to channel my inner diy-er. i can patch up, slash out, stitch, stud, fray, re-dye and cut denim jeans to my heart's content without worrying on how much i paid for the items as compared to buying them brand new.

fashion repeats itself.  there are loads of classic looking jeans at thrift stores from different year and different fashion era.  as we all know now, fashion simply repeats itself.  flared jeans and cullotes made a huge come back this year.  you can easily scour these trends at thrift stores without breaking the bank.

element of surprise.  you cannot go to a thrift store and ask for a specific size or wash or cut or design.  it's all about the thrill of the hunt.  there are certain days when you really can't find anything nice no matter how hard you try.  i suggest that you must not lose hope.  keep scavenging because i assure you that there will be days when you will find the most perfect pair of jeans.  so perfect you would think they are heaven sent.

character.  a fellow thrifter passed up on an outrageously gorgeous vintage boyfriend levi's jeans because they had unknown stains and bleached parts. so, i hurriedly picked them up on the floor and went directly to the cashier.  why buy mass-produced and sometimes ridiculously expensive denim jeans with "character" when you can buy the real deal?  machines cannot replicate the natural distressing that only nature and time can create.

good for the environment.  who would have thought that wearing those trendy thrifted jeans could help our dear mother earth?   we give second (or third, or fourth, or more) life to a pair of jeans that could possibly end up in landfills and will take years and years to disintegrate.

go for it, buy only thrifted jeans!

how to successfuly thrift for denim jeans

hello friends!  here are my tried-and-tested tips for shopping second-hand denim jeans.

1.  bring tape measure. it is very helpful when you know your exact measurements, especially when it comes to jeans. it will save you a lot of time sorting out.  you can measure your favorite jeans for reference. 

2.  do not trust the size on tag.  a size 28 today would be different from a size 28 from 5 or 10 years ago.  vanity sizing is prevalent in most designer jeans.

3.  fit all jeans when possible.  stop eyeballing the waist line because who knows if the jeans will fit your calves or your thighs.  i thrifted a pair of well-designed jeans before, and i couldn't even raise it pass my calves!

4.  move in the dressing room. stretch, squat, jump, and bend your knees so you'll know if there will be possible butt crack exposure - not a good sign.

5.  wear cycling shorts.  no dressing room? long lines? no problem!  you can easily fit jeans without overexposing your unmentionables. 

6.  borrow a skirt.  this is useful if you're not wearing any cycling shorts. grab a long skirt from the thrift store and use it as a cover as you slide yourself to your chosen pair of jeans. a blanket or sarong dress would serve the same purpose as well.

7.  check for flaws. triple check if you must. areas to check are stitches, crotch, zipper, button, hem, belt loops, missing rhinestones or studs. if you can easily repair it then get it. 

8.  brands. you can't go wrong with designer jeans as long as they fit you and reflect your personal style.

9.  be picky. just because thrifted jeans are cheap, it doesn't mean you'll have to buy everything you like.  unworn pair of jeans is equivalent to wasted time, money, and closet space.

10.  try trends. thrift stores are the perfect place to buy trendy jeans that you know you can pull off but a little doubtful at the same time. mom jeans, culottes, loud prints, leopards, extreme flares, metallics, etc.  it's worth taking a fashion risk since you will be paying these trendy pieces for less. if it works, then you have just advanced your sartorial flair.  

11.  bring multiple eco-bags.  denim jeans can take up a lot of shopping bag space, and extra eco-bags will help with the transportation of your goodies.  oh, and please prepare your arm muscles for instant workout because it can get reeeeeally heavy.

my first locally made leather sandals

my sister and i usually encounter these numerous and interesting array of shoe makers on our way home every time we visit our favorite thrift shops in imus, cavite. last weekend, we finally caved in to our curiosities.  we both decided to have our sandals custom made at jermaine's after hopping from one shoe shop to another.  this was located along bahayang pag-asa subdivision main road and only a few walks away from the wet market.

the super nice shop keeper, sir dondon was a bit busy when we came in.  he didn't dismiss our presence though, and was actually very welcoming with our numerous questions.  he then took our exact measurements, our preferred styles, colors, materials, and other concerns.  the shop had bulk orders from other customers at the time, therefore we were put on the waiting list.  the only downside to this service, i think, is the waiting part. 

after patiently waiting for more than a week, my heart went all a flutter with how my newly handcrafted sandals turned out.  i honestly didn't expect them to be this good.  it was so good, perfect in fact, that i ended up ordering another pair!

thrifting: damir doma mandals

i picked these ah-mazing damir doma mandals today at my favorite thrift store.  they fit me perfectly, which was a surprise because they are a lot bigger a while ago when i wore them at the ukay shop. i guess, my feet swollen up from too much walking.