I have always held fashion brands at the highest regard but, the reality is, not a lot of women can actually afford this luxury so I am starting a new movement—The Unbranded Movement. I know the title needs a lot of work but my point comes across and that’s what matters. This in no way means I’m anti-branded products. If the product (branded or not) gives value for your money then, by all means, buy it. But if you’re just buying it because of the brand then that’s not a good idea. Society has always put branded items on a pedestal but ultimately the brand shouldn’t matter.
The whole idea behind this movement inspired me to put together an outfit with pieces from my favorite bargain shopping places—Divisoria and Ukay-Ukay. I know these seem like sketchy places but so is a lot of other places in Metro Manila. To ensure your safety and health, all you have to do is shop with a friend during the day and protect yourself with a mask or anti-histamine. Trust me, you’ll be fine. There are places that are way worse. Don’t forget about the best part, just think of all the money you’ll save!
Now onto my outfit, I got this brand new black off-shoulder top (very trendy right now) from the 999 Shopping Mall in Divisoria. It was originally priced at Php 100.00 but I, of course, haggled it down to Php 80.00. I know the quality of an Php 80.00 top is very questionable but this one is actually a great pick. The material is so soft, smooth, and lite. It even has a garter at the top part to create the lovely ruffled effect. I liked it so much that I went back and bought it in nude and red too.
I got this pair of pleated shorts with embossed details from an Ukay-Ukay for just Php 50.00. I know right, it’s even cheaper than the top! But then again, items from the Ukay-Ukay are second hand. I know the quality of a pair of Php 50.00 shorts is even more questionable than an Php 80.00 top but this one is surprisingly good. There are no rips, tears or stains at all. White pieces tend to become discolored after a while but this one is doing a good job of holding on—it’s not even off-white. The crisp material feels great on the skin and I love the embossed floral details. There’s even a garter at the back to ensure the best fit possible. Not bad for a second hand Php 50.00 pair of shorts.
If you decide to shop at Divisoria or an Ukay-Ukay, just remember to inspect, fit, haggle, and clean. Before you even decide to fit anything, it’s very important to inspect it. Check the quality of the fabric, workmanship, and the like. If you find something off about it, don’t buy it. Once you’ve found a piece that is up to your standards, make sure it fits you like a glove. There’s nothing worse than buying something you love and finding out after that it just doesn’t look good on you. You have to trust yourself when it comes to inspecting and fitting clothes because, ultimately, what you think and feel in the clothes is what matters the most. Don’t ever forget to haggle. It doesn’t hurt to try to get a better price on the items you want to buy—especially when you buy a lot. Just be nice to the sales people and they will be nice to you too. Last but not least, don’t forget to clean every single thing as thoroughly as humanly possible. You can find great clothing cleaning tutorials here and here.
TRINQUETS Earrings | Divisoria Top | Ukay-Ukay Shorts | AVEADENA Ring | MISSY K Clutch
Photography by RJ Dancel