{ my thrifting adventures }

What's New in the Shop

2012-01-24T09:28:00.000+08:00

1. pink floral & dots skirt 2. red paisley skirt

3. blue and white nautical skort

4. orange paisley pants 5. reversible denim vest

6. mesh blazer 7. snakeskin button-down

8. floral jacket 9. light blue top

10. black dress 11. reversible denim vest

12. blue glitter shift 13. polka dot dress

The weather's getting hotter, and we can almost smell summer. New uploads at the Shop, the first for the year, are made mostly of light-weight materials and reminiscent of hot summer days of past.

Human Heart Nature

2012-01-21T23:09:00.001+08:00

Being a consumer, and trying to be a thrifty consumer, I always try to make my purchases "make sense." While my small aparador is bursting to the seams, my beauty products are limited and well-edited. I am not a beauty junkie and do not hoard a lot of beauty stuff. I always want to keep things efficient. To illustrate, I don't want to waste water, and money, and products, I shampoo my hair every other day. This habit eliminated too much build-up in my scalp. While my hair is thin and fine and straight, and does not need chemical straightening, my scalp is a problem. I feel that my scalp is undernourished. I have tried several hair conditioners but they all failed me -- Creamsilk, Pantene, and L'Oreal. They were boo. Creamsilk was too heavy and left my face oily. Pantene was not effective and only left my scalp drier. L'Oreal was worse. I could not comb my hair after. It got tangled and was not smooth. Then I discovered (advertisement?). Ok, ok. I've had a Human Heart Nature Catalog in my bed stand for almost 4 months when I finally decided to buy a conditioner. I was actually going to buy a line of products but I still had enough soap and shampoo, so I didn't think it was practical. This conditioner lasted me about a month, or less. I used it generously because I liked that my hair felt very clean after rinsing. I also used it every other two days. I felt I met my conditioner soulmate. :P But no. I did not like the calamansi smell of this, so when I finished this whole bottle, I bought another one, the one with Gugo and Calamansi and Peppermint, and I could truly say I was in conditioner heaven. I loved the peppermint and the cool feeling when rinsing. What's even better with Human Heart Nature products in general is that they are "100% no harmful chemicals and 100% made in the Philippines." Based on this conditioner alone, I can say the product is of good quality and is well-priced. I don't and won't feel guilty buying these products, knowing I am not adding pollutants and not harming myself; instead, I am helping. The company, which is related to Gawad-Kalinga, has been in the market for some time and I regretted that I only discovered it last year. But it's never too late to make a positive switch right? More of Human Heart Nature in this Web site and Facebook page. *** This is not a paid write-up.

Glitter & Green

2012-01-18T11:43:00.000+08:00

I did say that I got hooked to green the past days before and after the New Year. These pictures were taken on New Year's Eve. My boyfriend treated me to a cup of coffee at a coffeeshop near their house. And because the coffeeshop was deserted, we took photos. :P Am wearing: green cardigan - thrifted few years ago glitter top - bought from a friend skirt - thrifted

The First Movie of the Year

2012-01-13T11:53:00.000+08:00

Every year, I always try to watch at least one entry of the MMFF. The past year we've been watching lots of Filipino movies thanks to Studio 23. This year, I watched Asiong Salonga. I'm not going to make a review because I am not a movie critic, but someone from the cinema actually clapped loudly at the end of the movie. He (because he was also cheering during the last fight scene) probably missed watching Pinoy action movies. This is what I wore when I watched the movie. Am wearing: dress - H&M, from my amiga in the eurozone top - used as a jacket, from my baptismal ninang shoes - from my aunt clutch - from my boyfriend's sister necklace - actually a belt, from my aunt

It's More Fun in the Philippines

2012-01-09T21:36:00.001+08:00

The "It's More Fun in the Philippines" virus has bitten me. With a lot of people making "more fun" memes, I couldn't help but join. As a Filipino, I could list a thousand fun things in the Philippines (but at the back of my mind, I think only those who've been to other countries could say it's "more" fun in the Philippines, which makes me ask, is the campaign targeted mostly for foreigners and for pseudo-foreigners?) On to the meme, because I am a thift shop fan, I made a meme about thrift shopping. My boyfriend took this picture in Baguio where thrift shopping/ukay-ukay/wagwagan all started. :)

Make your own meme here

Happy Halloween

2012-01-08T22:03:00.000+08:00

I remembered I had an orange long-sleeved shirt in high school that I wore when we had a tour. I thought people were thinking why is she wearing an ugly orange? My classmates used to tease me about that orange shirt and I did not understand why the teasing. Now, about 15 years later, I find the color orange difficult to wear. You'll look like you're in for a Halloween night. How do you wear orange?

Am wearing:
thrifted leather jacket
orange shirt, gift
white vintage shorts
black vintage flats
downtown-bought necklace

Green Weekend

2012-01-07T15:53:00.000+08:00

These days I've been obsessed with green and has been wearing green almost every time I go out.

lacy top - sold here
green skirt - sold here
sandals - dept. store
bag - gift

Happy New Year!!

2012-01-01T09:51:00.002+08:00

Was 2011 a good year for me? Of course! It might not have been the best year, and I was ready to bid it goodbye even before its last day, but there were blessings and good things that came my way. I only remembered one resolution I made for 2011 -- and that is to get a passport, which I never did. This year, 2012 (because it's going to be the end of the world), I'll resolve to get that passport. I'll also resolve to:

* buy and wear more vintage. The "more" was placed after "wear" to emphasize that I'm going to wear more and not buy more. (so help me, God).

* wear more shoes, and leave the slippers at home. :D

* DIY. Make more handcrafted gifts, decor, and accessories.

* eat healthier, and drink more water.

* work harder.

* bond more with family and friends.

Happy New Year one and all! And thank you! (with all my love) hugs and kisses, Psyche

Am wearing:
polka dot dress - thrifted
stockings - SM dept. store
shoes - Janeo
bag - vintage

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Another Shimmering

2011-12-28T22:37:00.001+08:00

These were taken at our team's Christmas party, some 3 Saturdays past. The cardigan I bought from a friend's preloved store.

Am wearing:
top - vintage
skirt - thrifted
flats - thrifted
cardi - preloved
bag - gift

Shining, Shimmering

2011-12-26T11:07:00.000+08:00

Our theme this year was Shining, Shimmering, Splendid. We just discovered this store in downtown Cebu that sells very cheap accessories, and we bought some to wear for Christmas eve. Friday, we spent crafting and making decors. Saturday, we spent cooking. And Sunday, we spent sleeping, watching TV and eating. :D

These are the only photos of myself that I did not look stuffed with too much sweets and food. I hope you had a joyous celebration!

Am wearing:
dress - thrifted
shoes - thrifted christian louboutin
necklace - downtown

A Merry Christmas to all of you

2011-12-24T16:36:00.000+08:00

Merry Christmas to all of you! :)

Christmases are for kids

2011-12-21T11:41:00.000+08:00

I know Christmases are not only for kids. But I know I'm not as excited on Christmases now the way I get excited over them when I was a kid. A chunk of cheese, a gold chocolate coin, an apple, and maybe a plateful of spaghetti -- these were the things I considered happy Christmases. Now, an adult, I'd still happily munch on cheese like a rat, though I'm not a chocolate eater, nor an apple eater now.

My nephew and my mother came to visit us here in the city last week, and my nephew and I went to see the Christmas village in SM. He was very happy with the Christmas village, and I admit, I'm also very happy looking at the Christmas village. :) I'm imagining myself one of the people inside the village, wearing vintage clothes. :D hahaha

Advance merry Christmas to everyone. :)

Am wearing:
top - gift
blazer - thrifted
shorts - sister's
slippers - sister's
bag - gift
necklace - gifted belt

The Other Little Black Dress

2011-12-18T21:52:00.000+08:00

I have several little black dresses. I could live in them. Black is always comfortable and easy to wear. This one is a little different from the other LBDs because the waist is slimmer and the skirt fuller. Plus, I loved that it has sleeves. Here, I paired it with a low-heeled sandals, envelope clutch, and a happy arm party consisting of cheap finds from a downtown store and a gold watch of my sister's.

Am wearing:
dress - thrifted
sandals - Janeo on sale
clutch - thrifted
arm party - downtown finds & sister's watch

P.S. I thought the storm I mentioned in my previous, previous post was just an ordinary storm. I never thought it brought so much damage in places where people I know live. :(

Project Rework No. 2

2011-12-17T00:07:00.001+08:00

Why is it that when I think of turtlenecks I always think of "old"? I fell in love with this turtleneck top because of its print and fabric, which is very comfortable. I was not very sure with the turtleneck so I listed the top at the Shop in the hopes that someone would know how to wear it better. Last night, while going over different outfits to wear and bearing in mind the stormy weather, I wanted to wear something comfortable but a little off-the-chart. I thought of this turtleneck top but I couldn't bear to wear it because I looked "old." (I do look older and heavier in the top photos). So I decided to do something. I cut off the turtleneck and sliced through the shoulders of the top so it'd show off some skin.

Do you think the reworked top looks better? Do tell me..

At the bottom photos, am wearing:
top - reworked
shorts - sister's
flats - thrifted Salvatore Ferragamo
bag - vintage, the sling I used is a chain necklace
earrings - do-it-yourself, how to here

Another re-work project here

There's A Storm Here

2011-12-16T15:21:00.001+08:00

The day yesterday was very hot. I dressed up in the afternoon to go to the bank but had a hard time choosing what to wear because it was very hot. So I decided to wear this vintage top that is listed in the Shop and this cotton drawstring skirt, which I think should be a tube top, but my sister and I wear it as a skirt. My outfit was breezy and comfortable. I did not know there was a storm.

Am wearing:
top - vintage, listed here
skirt - thrifted Miu-Miu
flats - thrifted Salvatore Ferragamo
necklace - from downtown

Was Olive Green

2011-12-13T09:51:00.000+08:00

As much as I love feminine clothes -- lace, ruffles, beads, sequins, more lace, polka dots -- I also love "masculine" clothes. I love button downs without the frills, and blazers cut for men. Mostly because they are more comfortable. One of those masculine pieces I thrifted was this olive green button-down dress. Yes, this is olive green, but I was too shy to stand up for a proper outfit photo. The dress was sheer and would be sexy, with slits at both sides running up my thighs, had I not worn a black slip dress underneath.

Am wearing:
dress - thrifted
necklace - downtown store
clutch - thrifted
shoes - gift

Start of Christmas

2011-12-12T12:18:00.001+08:00

Christmas, for me, begins after my birthday. I made resolutions at the start of this month that I will wear luxurious and glittery and festive stuff this month. I started the month wearing this dress with faux leather skirt with (wtf) slippers. The faux leather skirt left my thighs sweating the whole day. Maybe next month I'll make a resolution to wear better/appropriate footwear.

Thrifted Blazers

2011-12-10T12:45:00.001+08:00

These days I am into blazers, of course thrifted. I tried on a black blazer in Topshop and it fitted like it was made for me. It looked so good but it also came with a P5,000++ price tag(!!). The cheap-o that I am, of course I would not, could not buy it. P5k is almost one installment payment in law school. So I resort to thrift stores. And one of those blazers I found was this vintage, silky unlined long blazer that feels so comfortable. In this pictures, I wore this over a vintage one-piece bathing suit and my sister's old denim shorts. We went to a swimming pool, and we had the swimming pool all by ourselves.

Happy weekend! The day started cold, but now it's sunshiny. Hope you enjoy your weekend!

The Uniform, pt 2

2011-12-09T22:26:00.001+08:00

When I first started blogging here, my first favorite site was the Uniform Project where one woman wore the same black dress everyday for 365 days. I was not inspired to wear one dress the whole year but it made me think that clothes are not the most important things in the world. But we have this desire to look good and express ourselves through our "style." A few days ago, I watched a report on television about how the ukay-ukay "industry," which is illegal, killed (or is fast killing) the textile industry. I am not an expert on the law, especially on this, and I am, as you may all know already, a very big fan of the ukay-ukay. But I buy ukay-ukay because, I admit, I'm cheap that way. We know most big brands manufacture their clothes in China or in third world countries and most of these manufacturing companies do not have favorable working standards and conditions. We know most big brands earn a lot from so little a capital (because of cheap labor and working conditions) and most of us patronize them because they're brands. So I buy ukay-ukay because I'm cheap and I don't want to patronize brands. I'm not saying I'm correct. I'm just saying that that's the way it is with me.

Anyway, back to the Uniform Project. I have several little black dresses in my closet. And they go on heavy rotation. But I have already said this dress I'm wearing is my favorite black dress yet. Here, am wearing it with a white vintage blazer, and thrifted suede pumps. Another look of this LBD can be found here

Birthdays and Bankruptcy

2011-12-08T10:50:00.001+08:00

Dec. 8 marks the 3rd year of Tribune Co.'s stay in bankruptcy. There is no confirmed reorganization plan yet. In fact, months ago, Judge Carey of the Delaware Bankruptcy Court denied confirmation of any of the two competing reorganization plans for Tribune. One of the plan was proposed by the Debtors, the other by noteholders. Once in the past year, there were four competing plans on the table. Judge Carey denied confirmation after observing that none of the parties wanted to settle and agree to a compromise. A compelling read, Judge Carey's memorandum and opinion started out with the fable of the fox and the scorpion. At the end of his interpretation, he concluded that there is no lesson to his story. The story, he said, exposed a human character: "the willingness to visit harm upon the others, even at one's own peril."

Unconsciously, I have marked occasions and dates in bankruptcy timeline. One Valentine's Day, Solutia filed a reorganization plan. One mid-March, Lehman filed its plan. Sept. 15 will be doomsday. Or should doomsday be Sept. 11? Sept. 15 was the day Lehman filed for bankruptcy, which prompted the collapse of the financial market.

Dec. 8 is Tribune's 3rd year anniversary in bankruptcy, and also my birthday.

The Inverted Top

2011-12-03T12:05:00.001+08:00

It's not a new trick on the book. There are many ways to maximize your clothes, and one of them is to wear them unconventionally. I remembered a photo from a Preview magazine from past years where the model wore her white button-down the reverse way/upside-down. The effect was kind of a bolero but one would never have guessed it was a shirt. :)

On the first of December, it was very hot but I did not feel like going around too bare-chested. I was going to wear this vintage chiffon top the normal way when I thought it doesn't give so much volume to what I was wearing. So, I wore it upside down. The normal way to wear the top was shown here.

Am wearing:
cover-up - vintage top worn upside down
cami - thrifted
skirt - thrifted
slippers - dept. store
clutch - from a souvenir shop in Bacolod

The What.Ever Shot

2011-11-29T09:17:00.001+08:00

We were taking pictures for the shop last Sunday, and I was wearing these jeans because most of the stuff I listed at the shop were tops. This tunic, which is already a dress on me, was at the bottom of the bag I brought. We decided to take a picture anyway. We thought the outfit was funny. I thought of wearing it around but my boyfriend wouldn't give me a cent for wearing it, so I ditched the jeans.

***
A friend of mine died last Saturday because of dengue. She was 22, no longer a child but too young to die. I was/am brokenhearted because she was an energy ball and I always enjoy her company especially when studying because she's very diligent. Her death was unfortunate. So, let's all be very careful with mosquitoes and our health. Life is good, but it is also fleeting.

The 90s

2011-11-24T11:32:00.001+08:00

The 90s is my favorite era. It was the time of Backstreet Boys, the Spice Girls, No Doubt, and Leonardo diCaprio. It was the time of Gimik and Diether Ocampo (ok, ok). It was the time of MTV. It was my favorite "fashion" era. Here I'm wearing something that reminded me of the 90s.

Am wearing:
tunic - vintage
cami - freeway
skirt - thrifted
shoes - thrifted

And They Were All Yellow

2011-11-20T14:11:00.001+08:00

Your skin
Oh yeah your skin and bones
Turn into something beautiful
D'you know you know I love you so
You know I love you so

Last Friday was a reason to celebrate and dress up a lil bit. I will have a chance to sit on the grass, and drink fruit soda, and eat an english scone. And I visited Forever 21 at SM Cebu, and was smiling happily because the goods were cheap(!!!). And my boyfriend and I ate at Cafe Laguna (my long time wish that he granted because there was a reason to celebrate). I wore this yellow vintage eyelet top that I posted for sale last year but was not sold and has been sitting idle in my "for sale" bin for a while. I also used my sister's yellow bag and adorned it with a cute-cute "balahibo" accessory.

Am wearing:
top - vintage
pants - thrifted, men's
flats - thrifted
bag - sister's
accessory - bazaar
necklace - gift
fruit soda - healthy options

Purol part 2

2011-11-18T21:41:00.001+08:00

Yes, I wore the pair of shorts twice last week. Is that a crime? I'm just trying to save water (for washing) and money (for laundry). In these pictures, I just went to a nearby mall to ship items bought from the shop and buy toys for my grandmother's friend.

Am wearing:
top - sister's
shorts - thrifted
sandals - garage sale
bag - online shop
belt - thrifted