H&M Jean shirt X DIY

This was my friend, Tel’s original idea. She showed me a picture of a shirt from H&M that she should’ve bought for her now fiance but when she was actually going to buy it was gone already. Too bad! Then, she told that it can be done by just cutting off the sleeves of a jacket and attaching a new sleeves to the jacket.

This was that H&M shirt minus the navy blue sleeves. Couldn’t find the exact shirt.

Finding your materials
So it instantly sparked my creative juices, I got off to the nearest thrift store to find some cool pieces that I can deconstruct. Luckily, I got something with 160 pesos, a pair of jackets in muted colours.

Dyeing
The shirt on the right side is too pale for blue so I decided to dye it to navy blue to emanate like a denim. See instructions for dyeing here.
While for the khaki brown shirt on the left, I didn’t go for dyeing it since fabric dyes here are little too limited with colours it might turn out like mahogany so I’m saving it. Hehe.

Chopping and attaching the sleeves
1. Measure the length from the middle of your palm to your shoulders and then use this measurement for the length of your sleeves. What I did was I gave a few allowance like 2 cm from the sleeve and then cut it out.
2. If you know how to sew using a machine then go for it. As for me, I opted to have it sewn from my friend.

And Voila!

Thoughts?

 

Just Got Lucky Me

Baguio City is renowned for Ukay-Ukay also known as thrift shops. As far as I know, this is where it all began. The Mecca of thrift shopping, Baguio City. This is also a prime reason for my utter excitement. And to pay homage to the birthplace of Ukay-Ukay, I would dedicate this post to the adorable city.

Moving on, the most exciting part of our day was when we went to the night market. A whole side of the street is alloted to shoppers and sellers of almost all sorts of stuffs. When I saw the strip of ukay-ukays, I got so positively overwhelmed because I didn't know where to start! The first night was quite a snooze. I just managed to get a pair of shoes. Not so good shoes but okay shoes.

I was heading towards desparity during our last day because I thought I'm going home empty handed. As we are walking along the Session Road, one of my friends stopped by a store where we saw people scrambling through just-opened balikbayan boxes, loaded with heaps of clothes and whatnots. So we got curious and joined them. Haha.

I got my revenge on day 2, I amassed quite a load of stuffs. I did what I came there for.

I must say that these Lacoste shoes will give me a run for my money. This was originally priced at 1,500 pesos but we haggled with the seller and amazingly cut off 700 pesos. What a bargain! And still is in mint condition.

I got these shirts for 150 pesos each. Amazing! H&M. And I specifically love the gray Bossini shirt with epaulette detail. This leather handled hand bag also took my attention among the pile, a good buy as well.

We came to Baguio with thick pockets and headed home broke but we were utterly on cloud nine considering what we bought and the amount of money we shelved out to get them. Mission accomplished. Fun plus shopping!

I know Baguio loves me. Till we meet again!

♛ AUK ♛

Versace for H&M

Designers and clothing brands have tried collaborating to create looks that are not too expensive but still having to experience high fashion design. H&M has collaborated with top designers for the past years. Versace is the latest famed collaboration.

This geometrical print T-shirt from the Versace for H&M collection instantly got my attention and I was in love with. The print resembles like a zebra print but in geometric figures. It can best be paired with a skinny jean and a neon coloured shoes or a black patent leather laden shoes. I hope to get my hands on this hot tee.

Photo credits courtesy of Wikifashion.com

♛ AUK ♛

Varsity Blues Jacket

I unearthed this varsity jacket from SM department store. It reminded of H&M’s varsity jacket which I was raving for this past few months. Although the jacket that I saw from the department store does not have a faux leather detail, this jacket’s sleeve is made of polyester leaving a shiny leather like finish. Last month, I also saw a jacket same as the H&M’s version with the leather detail from Penshoppe but it looks bulky on me.

I posted this on my LookBook account. Hype it on http://lookbook.nu/knyfortaleza! Puhleease?

What I wore: Varsity jacket from SM Department store, Shirt from Bench, Shorts from American Eagle

I Stumbled Upon These H&M Fab Finds

If you’ll going to ask someone what they want, you’ll need to brace yourself.

Here are some pieces that I want to have from H&M and since there are no stores here I would just like to let everybody know I want these! haha. For those kind-hearted out there, friends you know what I want now. On top of the list is the jacket in a wool blend with leather sleeves. It really looks like me! Gorgeous! Edgy look meets soft lux style. Also, looking sleek is the maroon trousers that could be paired with either a blazer to just a plain shirt. Making it to my next project is the boots. But I am still contemplating as to what color or finish I would like to have. Lastly,  since I am legally blind and I have to wear my glasses 24/7, I kind of wanted to try other frames and this one is worth a try.

The Art of Ukay-Ukay

Shopping without punching a hole on your pocket sounds enticing and definitely music to any shopaholic’s ears. Who wouldn’t grab the chance to buy stuffs without any pressure of overspending. Today, we are not just confined in high-end stores and the mall to shop. We can also enjoy shopping at thrift stores to hunt for great finds. Thrift stores are becoming well received by the public. Even some local celebrities and socialites have expressed their fondness.

Here in the Philippines, we have Ukay-ukay shops, a colloquial term for thrift stores. I think this started in Baguio and then down south. From accessories to garments to foot wear, name it and they might have it all. Merchandise found here are largely pre-owned. It also boasts for housing some designer brands like Prada, Balenciaga among others for a very reasonable cost which almost you can’t say no.

You can catch ukay-ukay shops almost anywhere. It is never easy to rummage inside thrift shops as it will test your patience and determination. At first, I didn’t appreciate these stores because of the amount of stuffs they have are suffocating that it’s barely impossible to move comfortably(mostly). But after some frequent trips, I managed to get used to it and actually enjoyed the experience.

Thrift Tips from the king of Ukay-ukay! Haha

• A notable tip that I can share with you is that you need to have a goal for every shopping trip you make as you might end up purchasing the same stuff all over again or if not you might end up buying stuff because they are just too cheap to make a pass.

• You can bargain with the sales person at the price you want. Try asking for the half of the price and take it from there until you meet halfway.

• I have favorite shops to go to. Some have  a list of customer’s contact numbers and they notify them once they have new goodies. Also, it is wise to get into the shop as soon as you receive their message since this is the perfect opportunity to get hold of good quality and branded items before anybody else will. During their new arrivals, prices are a little expensive(if you have been an avid thrift shopper) but still low-priced compared to mall rates.

• You just need to be meticulous in examining your choices before paying. Some shops do not accept exchanges but seldom do this happen.

• Bring a friend with you whenever you shop. To help you decide or to maybe drag you out of the store when you are overspending! I have my friend/shopping buddies: Tel Mistal, who is in Dubai right now fulfilling her hardcore shopping there(I miss her a lot) and Jinky Bautista, she is widely acquianted with a lot of brands and we go mostly to flea markets(In Apo, Haha). But sometimes friends will push you further to shop more haha.

• These shops also hold SALE! from as much as 500 bucks to as little as 5 pesos! Take the advantage of rummaging during these times for there is almost no reason to feel guilty and if you are into garment deconstruction this is the time to seek your raw materials.

Here are some of the great finds I amassed!

Shopping is addicting. You might need to step back a little if you think you are overspending. You don’t want to be a member of Shopaholics Anonymous, Do you? Luckily, I’m not yet. Haha

You don’t need to spend your hard earned cash on fancy things and there are no excuses for not being IN STYLE because a lot can be done. You need to just bust your *ss and think!

Happy shopping everyone! I will see you around.