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Cheap and affordable -- Thrifty fashion trends have taken full turn with the arrival of ukay-ukay. Ukay-ukay (which means "digging in"), is the latest craze for Filipino thrift shoppers. You can find the coolest bargain items here! From clothing to bags to shoes, everything is affordable for any thrift shopper.

Just like the vintage/thrift stores in the U.S., ukay-ukay is a store for anything second hand. Yet, these second hand finds are a treasure since one-of-a-kind and hard to find designs and styles are for sale. Shipped to the Philippines, most items came from the U.S.A, Europe, Taiwan, South Korea, China, Japan and Hong Kong.

One can also find some of the popular brands at the ukay-ukay. For the brand conscious yet is looking for something affordable, ukay-ukay is definitely your fashion mecca. Famed brands like Miu Miu, Prada, Louis Vuitton, Gucci, Chanel, Ferragamo, Burberry, Adidas, Converse, Nine West, and more are sold for unbelievably low, low prices. You can have them for less than $5. It's so cheap that an average shopper can carry these high-end brands. Although expert fashionistas would say that a lot of the items at ukay-ukay are fake or are less durable, finding a high-end brand at ukay-ukay is still a sweet indulgence. I mean, who can tell it was fake especially if they came from Japan or Europe? No one sells fake items in those countries, right?

Ukay-ukay stores are everywhere now. Before, only in Baguio (a province in the Philippines) where you can buy an ukay-ukay item. The ukay-ukay stores in Baguio are a tourist destination. Local and foreign tourists take a stop at the Baguio Public Market where ukay-ukay stores mushroomed all over. Its popularity reached Manila when Baguio locals brought the ukay-ukay business to the metro. A lot of provinces in the Philippines have ukay-ukay stores. However, it was in Baguio that ukay-ukay became a household name.

I've been to these stores very often. It was during my college days that I discovered this treasure. Thanks to my gay friend who is an ukay-ukay expert. From the nearby ukay-ukay in my school to neighboring ukay-ukay in our village, I've been there and everytime I go these stores I bring home a unique item. Wide variations of outfits you can create in finding items at ukay-ukay. Go glam, fab, and even drag with all the clothes and accessories available at ukay-ukay.

I remember, my first fabulous find was a Burberry bag that I bought at our village ukay-ukay. It only costs me Php 150 (equivalent to $3). Although I can still haggle for a much lower price, I instantly bought it because I knew that what I found was a fashion gem. Imagine?!? A Burberry bag for only $3! Normally you could buy a Burberry bag for $400 and up. But this one is really CHEAP. I know that some fashonistas would think that it was fake or a copy cat. But whether it is fake or cheap imitation of Burberry, this bag is a sure envy of everyone.

Another good find that I got from ukay-ukay was a Gap dress. For only Php 120 (or $2.50), I've got a branded dress that is affordable and still wearable. Well, it only takes accessories to add a little pizzaz on the dress. Maybe wearing a belt or knee high boots will do the trick.

The ukay-ukay is a haven of "unorthodox" shoe designs! I have never found shoes so detailed, intricate, and fashionably unique. I admit that shoes are the reason why I frequent thrift shops. I am just a fan of exquisitely designed shoes. I have bought six pairs of shoes at ukay-ukay. But my favorite pair of shoes are my mint green Otto shoes made in Milan, Italy and another pair of green shoes (I don't know the brand) made in Japan. Well, they are not my ruby red shoes. But I'm simply obsessed with those shoes! Everytime I get to wear them they become the talk of the town. People are dying to know where I bought it. I just joke them and say, I got them from Milan and Japan.

Other items that I bought at ukay-ukay were a Betty Boop top, a wrap dress from Taiwan, I.N.V.U jacket from South Korea, double breasted jacket from Japan, Diesel sneakers, and I might just go on and on about my wardrobe in my closet. Well, not everything in my closet are from ukay-ukay. I still buy the real, durable, expensive, and new stuffs okay.

I often go to the ukay-ukay if there's an emergency. Let's say, two days from now I have an event to attend and I have nothing fashionable to wear and my budget is limited. I immediately go to the nearest ukay-ukay in search for something unique and trendy. Well, that for me is a fashion emergency.

But I'll give you tips on buying and wearing items at the ukay-ukay. Everything at the ukay-ukay is really cheap. If you've got a budget of Php 500 ($10) for shopping, you'll definitely go home bag-full. But remember to always haggle. Some items will start quite expensive for a second hand item. Don't buy them! Haggle! Haggle! Haggle! Sales lady will give it to you anyway. Make them go your way and not theirs.

If you find something extraordinary at ukay-ukay, or if you know that the item is genuine Prada or Chanel, grab it! Do not wait for it to be on sale because others may buy it or the sales lady will keep it for their next sale. Believe me! I've experienced this so many times and I often regret the days I did not buy a good item. You see, some items at ukay-ukay came from rich people who disposes their items in a month. So, there really is a possibility that branded items are genuine.

Befriend the sales lady! This tip is really important. Befriending the sales lady will give you a lot of perks at ukay-ukay. Without saying anything, the lady will just give you the item at the lowest price. I've made a lot of friends at ukay-ukay, sales lady in particular, and it gave me a lot of benefits. Now this is what you call "friends with benefits".

Now, in wearing an ukay-ukay item or anything second hand you've got to have the know-how! First, never wear second hand from head to toe! Even from afar people would know you're wearing something old and borrowed. One second hand item will do and pair them with a new-looking jeans or shirt. In that way, you'll look up to date and trendy.

But of course before you wear them, make sure that it doesn't have that "very old" smell. You got to wash 'em up! In fact, what I do is when I buy second hand clothes I soak them to hot water. It is best to soak them because this will eliminate the germs.

You see... one doesn't have to buy very expensive clothes just to be fashionable or trendy. All you need is to have a good fashion sense and you'll be surprised that old clothes can still look hip at modern times. In an ukay-ukay shop, you can find items where in you can revolutionize your style. Just be patient though! Fashion is for everyone. Whether you got it from a thrift shop or from a high end boutique at Beverly Hills, your style is all that matters! So be confident and be cool! Express yourself through clothes!