Gone thrifting

My shopping principle has always been to only to buy things I particularly like because there's something special about them. Each item has to be like that. I trust that pieces loved in their own way can come together to form remarkable outfits.

I'm willing to spend a little more for such items, but if I really have to buy basics, I turn to thrift stores. As I have mentioned before, my trips to such shops began with the need to expand my office wardrobe.

But this time, thrift shopping has also provided me an opportunity to tread on relatively new territory. After stocking on skinny, horizontal tipped, and colorfully patterned ties in silk, wool, and cotton, finally, I find vests, a navy jacket, and yes, my very own cutaway.

I found most of these from a store that ships from Japan, so that even if there are no big-name labels, there is impeccable Japanese tailoring.

I suspect these vests were made by the same tailor. Now I have to decide if I want to send the navy one on the right to a tailor here so that the satin back can be replaced or if I want to keep the wear to let the piece have that lived-in character.

I love the cut of this pinstriped navy jacket. It is slim and the sleeves come right before my wrist.

If you remember the day I wore my tux jacket with drawstring pants, I was wishing for a cutaway jacket to make the outfit better. Well, here it is. The fit is likewise perfect. I am excited about all the combinations, both casual and spiffy, I can create from this formal piece.

Now it begins. These gold and bronze leaves baptize my wardrobe with its first brooches.

So here is the happy camper in the store where I bought most of the ties (not the jackets). In total I spent PhP1,700 (US$36).

I am still ticklish from the anticipation. Sending the clothes to the drycleaner right after I post this.


Elmo tee from Greenhills; open bonnet hat, 5cm; micro houndstoot pants, Custom Made; filigree belt, Brave Beltworks; leather sneakers; Converse; PVC bag; 5cm; gold watch, Omega Seamaster

Wearing nothing but two vests and a cardigan

This is my latest effort in finding a solution for layering in tropical Manila. The base of my top is a sheer double-breasted cardigan, which is a bit big and long. So what I did was to pair the buttons with the wrong buttonholes. The effect not only shortens the piece but also gives the impression of having more than two layers.

Since the collar of the sheer cardigan is quite low, I wore a thick vest, without buttons, on top of it, using two safety pins as fastening. Then finally on top is another vest to give the entire look more polish.

This top set is not at all warm. I may even need an actual jacket when it rains hard.


Sheer cardigan, Zara; buttonless vest, Dean & Trent; five-buttoned vest, thrifted; skinny jean, Two Percent; plastic necklace, Queelin

More vests are yet to come

After a long absence, I once again visit my favorite thrift shop, and as it happens especially when I don't expect it, the store shores up unexpected treasures.

This is my first knit vest, which I can easily imagine on golfers. I like the way yellow serves as accent. The combination allows the vest to go with almost anything — much like a steel-and-gold watch (even if I wear the two separately on my wrist).




This should have been the end of the story and I would have already gone home happy. But after telling her that I was going thrifing, my sophomore sister asked if I could find her cardigans — for the chillier mornings when she goes to school.

Again, the shop doesn't let me down. Don't you love how fine the pattern is? Espescially with the specked fabric.




This is the second piece I found for my sister, in navy blue. Instantly, I thought of a skirt going with it. But then again, pairing it with day-to-day shorts would be more interesting. (Legs don't mind the cold!)




And, as consolation for finding more for my sibling than myself, I picked up this short-sleeved shirt, which reminds me of the flag of Finland. Tell me, can you think anything better with it than white jeans?

May thrifting spree, part I

This is what happens after months of deprivation. Well, only half of it, or one-fourth (one-fifth?), since there are more thrifted items I want to show you, besides the new things, which I all bought before May turned into June.




Item #1: knit shirt with "stripes". The buttonholes are thin as threads. Still don't know what it is about knits; I always get attracted to them: big or small weave.




Item #2: adjustable wool vest with lining. I like the detail.






Item #3: suede vest. I've been looking for one for a long time now. As with many things, once you forget about them, that's when they appear. It's a great fit.




Item #4: wool v-neck sweater with crest. Got this for the volume and collar.




Item #5: leatherette bag. Have always been drawn to this color. I think this was dyed well enough to be mistaken for the real thing (until of course you see the marks of use).




Reinforced handles for carrying loads of stuff, which I always do.




Another surprise: it has a key! Before I forget, there is also Item #6: a black satin-y cap, which looked new, probably never used. There were three available, so I got them all. Then at the rightmost of the first image is Item #7: wool trousers that fit very well, even better than those I got from Muji just two weeks before.


Part II: neck ties
Part III: kimonos and obis