Cover image via The Thing Online
Have you ever been to ukay-ukay?
For those of you who are unfamiliar of its existence, *ukay-ukay*, also known as U.K. (conversations be like: "Where did you buy that dress?" "It's from U.K.!"), is **thrift store** in English wherein you can buy secondhand clothes, shoes, and bags. Sometimes, you'll even find vinyl records and turntables for a fourth the price!
*Ukay-ukay* shopping is not only therapeutical (as how malls nowadays claim that "shopping" is). It pushes your creative boundaries beyond the limit and shows you that everything is pretty reusable if you'll just try to see it on a different light (hard to unsee, though, when the price is a tenth of its original price!)
Image via Primer
Ukay came from the word hukay which is "dig" in English
Before *ukay-ukay* stores became famous, the sellers started-out from just displaying boxes beside the roads filled with secondhand stuff and you literally have to dig in the piles of fabrics, shoes, and random stuff and no one will help you. If you will visit Baguio City, you'll notice that they close the Session Road from 10 p.m. until midnight for *ukay-ukay* sellers and buyers and still keep the *ukayan* (digging in) tradition very much alive!
However, many self-proclaimed *fashionistas* do not support the idea of "digging clothes" as "shopping" since they'd rather do it in a mall where they can visit their favorite squeaky-clean clothing stores and check-out the latest style trends whilst flaunting their recently-bought branded boots.
Author's note: I still get in awe whenever I go inside an *ukay-ukay*. It feels like I'm walking inside a time capsule filled with memories of the people who have worn the clothes, wherein their secrets have been kept under the hems and stitches of the vintage item. It's like treasure hunting and time-traveling at the same time!
Image via DB
In fact, Shaira Luna herself is a hardcore thrifter!
In case you have been living under the rock, Shaira got famous in the 90s when she became the gifted child endorser of Promil for mastering the human anatomy at the age of 8 years old.
Image via The Thing Online
Shaira was supposed to become a doctor at 19. She was 13 years old when she studied Human Biology in DLSU, but dropped-out 6 years after to pursue photography!
Today, she's a professional food and fashion [photographer] (http://shairaluna.com) whose works have been featured in major local and international magazines!
Her love for reminiscence shows in her retro-tinged photographs and thrift outfits. She even made her own hashtag: [**#shaisukayoftheday**] (https://www.instagram.com/explore/tags/shaisukayoftheday/) for her OOTDs!
When Shaira goes ukay-ukay shopping, she prefers to be alone and allots a whole day for it! She regularly visits the ukay-ukays besides the Olivarez compound in Tagaytay.
"My agents brought me to what people consider the mecca of ukay-ukays here in Metro Manila, which is this four-storey building by the Anonas LRT2 Station. I ended up with three very full bags of clothes that we had to carry home via train commute to avoid traffic. It was so worth it, though! I only spent P1100 for everything," shared Shaira to [L'Officiel] (http://lofficielmanila.com/style/cheap-thrills-shaira-luna-magic-thrift/).
Let Shaira's sublime OOTDs show you that ukay-ukay shopping is good for you: fashion-and-money-wise!
When she went to New York and wore a P120 outfit — thermals included!
When P40 never looked this good!
When she channeled Charlie Chaplin with a P15 pants!
When her whole outfit is as cheap as an ice cream cone: P50!
When she didn't let a fashion magazine photoshoot stop her for wearing ukay-ukay clothes from top to bottom!
When she personified "City Pop" at P140!
When she bought an original Dr. Martens for a fraction of the original price!
Image via LookBook
When she found a P50 Harley-Davidson cap and showed-off Michael Jackson's famous #toestand out of joy!
When she found a high-waisted capris for P35 and turned it into a chic high-waisted shorts!
When she get to channel her inner flower child for only P100!
Image via Preview
What does Shaira love about ukay-ukay shopping?
"At first I went just because it was a bang for the buck. But now it's one of the best ways to be creative, try new things and explore different styles. Aside from having no sales people or visual merchandising to distract you, it's definitely the thrill of the chase!"
"90% of my wardrobe comes from thrift shopping! I can't remember the last time I wore an outfit that was head-to -toe from retail… I'm always very, very excited each time I step into a store because I never know what I'm going to find," shared Shaira to [Preview] (http://www.preview.ph/fashion/shaira-luna-s-guide-to-shopping-in-an-ukay-ukay).
Image via Instagram @shairaluna
