From Fashionista to Frugalista

Hell if I know of a better stress cure than retail therapy!

The problem with retail therapy is that you get the high from hunting things from the rack and making that transaction, and not necessarily the merchandise itself.

The other problem with retail therapy is that it hurts... in other ways (I learned it the hard way), often like drugs, you're addicted to spending. The more you spend, the more unhappy you become. 

Fashion blogs and magazines are always touting words like 'classic', and 'timeless' and 'investment pieces'. Investment? Bull shit. Clothing is meant to be worn, and once you've handed over your cash (or swiped that plastic), it is what economists call 'sunk cost'.

It is just like what it sounds like. Sunk. Cost. Gone forever.

I was once caught up in a cycle of buying shoes and more shoes, and clothes and more clothes. But then, that guilt started creeping up on me. 

I started hunting in thrift and vintage stores to clear my conscience, and I swear this is the best kept frugalista secret, ever.


The treasures I've found, I'll have to save for yet another future post. Lots of pics required. For now, I want to share my most recent trip to my neighborhood Goodwill. [non-profit organization that sells donated clothes and housewares] 

Aquascutum Linen Button Down Shirt - $7

I was looking for some new shirts because in light of my professional exam, I had felt the need to dress up more... professionally to work. I'm sort of digging that chambray shirt trend so I headed off to the blue shirts rack.

Aquascutum? Never heard of it, but the fabric was extremely nice. "100% linen" says the label. Perfect for spring/summer.

Whoever made this shirt was definitely into details... I thought, as I inspected the checkered lining on the collars and cuffs, and see here, engraved buttons!! I later found a matching one in off-white on the other rack. They were $6.99 each. What the heck, can't go wrong with that, right?

I got home and googled "Aquascutum" and turns out it's a top UK luxury clothing manufacturer that had dressed british royalty, aristocrats and all that. A brand alongside Burberry, except sadly it had very recently gone bankrupt.

Meh. All I know (and care about) is that I got two fabulous summer shirts for less that what it would cost to get them dry cleaned! 

I foresee this becoming a segment on this blog.. more frugalista posts to come!

For now, here are some more Aquascutum prints:

Kate Middleton:

Goodwill Store (Near West Side)

1201 W Washington St
Chicago, IL 60686
(312) 563-1187

See yelp reviews

xo
Kakjah

#1 Sayang

Source: Wiktionary

Sayang: 1. (noun) love

              2. (synonym) darling, sweetheart

              3. (verb) to love

And it also has a meaning in Tagalog, but no direct translation in english. In Tagalog, 'sayang', is used as an expression of failure to capitalize an opportunity.

When i was in highschool, my Malay Language teacher told us to try and say the word 'sayang' 11 times to make a sentence. Try it.

sayang-sayang, sayang sayang sayang? sayang sayang sayang, sayang sayang sayang?

understand?

to those who havent.

the first 2 'sayang' indicates the first person calling out to the second person as their beloved.

the 3 'sayang's after that, is a question which directly translates to "darling, do you love me?" whereby the first person has already acknowledge that he/she is the beloved. It's more of a rhetorical question if you ask me.

the next 3 'sayang's simply means "i love you". (noun first person)(verb)(noun second person)

the last 3 'sayang's is just the same question, but asked again as a reinforcement. 

So basically, the direct translation of the whole sentence means:

"darling, do you love me? i love you. so, do you love me?"

It is interesting to note that the word 'sayang' can be use to describe both parties. It is like, both of them are already in love, which is why i think it is a bit rhetorical.

In Malaysia, 'sayang' is also used as a way to express when you don't want to throw something away due to its preciousness (as was explain by one of my sister below). And it can also be used the same way it is use in Tagalog, which is to express the failure to capitalize an opportunity.

The examples of this, respectively:

Situation 1: "Sayangnya nak buang makanan ini" which roughly translate to "it is going to be a waste to throw this food away", but 'sayang' here is use as the expression

Situation 2: "Sayangnya, awak patut dapat kerja itu" which roughly translate to "you should have gotten that job", again 'sayang' is use as the expression.

Sayang,

Iman

p.S: no, 'sayang' cannot be use to denote "love," in this case. Well, maybe you could, but i'm not too sure. It sounds a bit weird

#1 Sayang, I love shoes

[scene from "10 Things I Hate About You"]

(around minute 5:03)

Bianca: Yeah, but see there's a difference between like and love. Because I like my Sketchers... but I love my Prada backpack.
Chastity: But.. I love my Sketchers!?
Bianca: Well that's because you don't have a Prada backpack!
Chastity: Aahh..!

/more/

#1 Sayang

Imagine you have foreign friends, who doesn't understand Malay.
How would you explain the word "sayang" to them?

How do you define the word sayang?

PS; your post doesn't have to answer all my questions, they're just for your easy reference. Write anything.

5 posts a week!

So I've noticed a bit of uhm, how to say it, inactivity here.

Come on, sisters. There are 5 of us, we could at least write 5 posts a week.

Here's what we're gonna do.

Every week, one of us will propose a topic, and the 5 of us will write a post about it, as in there will be 5 posts a week.  Get what I mean?

If you're too busy, or too lazy, post a picture, related to the topic. okay?


Since I'm the one proposing this; I shall have the honor of proposing the first topic.
First topic will be in the next post.



K: Uhm. wah sungguh ambitious. i cant write 1x/week. biweekly bleh. so am i supposed to post about sayang now. eh. ok.

I don't eat squid, but..

One of the best place to have Thai food in London!
Busaba Eathai.
They have lots of branch scattered around the best place in London; Soho, Covent Garden, Next to Selfridges, Westfield (east and west), etc..

I had:
Jasmine fragrant rice
Thai Calamari (MUST TRY!)
Morning glory (vege)

And for drinks, the guava Collins is the BEST!!



Thai Calamari!



xx
LoveLondon


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