Budget Shopping Tips X Treasure Hunter

I'm a HUGE fan of bargain hunting and thrift shopping, and here's some tips from my years of scouring through piles and piles of clothing to find treasures :)

I started out thrift shopping at flea markets when I was younger, and I cannot explain why but there's this immense satisfaction when I emerge from digging through boxes of clothing with a pretty dress for $7! Now I hardly thrift shop much anymore because I can find brand new pieces for similar prices hehe ♡ 

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1. Do not do it if you hate it

Bargain/thrift shopping requires a lot of patience, sometimes you'd go through racks and racks of clothing and still be unable to find anything. The whole idea is to have fun digging for treasure, so don't do it if you're gonna feel like it's a chore!

2. Do not despise trashy looking stores

A lot of places that sell clothing for wholesale-like prices or thrift shops tend to look dingy, tiny or poorly decorated. And I've seen a lot of people pass up on a store just because 90% of the clothing on the racks seem unappealing, but if you bother to sift through the clothing, you might be surprised! 

3. Go for sale items!

Yes these wholesale/budget stores do have sales racks too, and the prices are mind-blowing!

During my taipei trip, I dropped by the infamous wholesale area WuFenPu, and I aimed for the sale racks and found a lot of pieces for only $2-$5 SGD :)) Imagine how happy I was!

My need to find bargains extend to regular stores as well, one place I shop a lot at is H&M!

They hold the best sales ever, I found a suede fringed jacket for $10 and it was originally retailing at $78 :D For luxury goods, I tend to shop overseas where there are factory outlets.

My favourite so far is Hongkong, because there is Citygate Mall which carries Burberry, Coach, Kate Spade, Club21 etc, and there's SPACE by Prada along with multi-label stores that offer crazy discounts during sale season! (I'll probably do another post on their exact locations and offerings :))

4. Always consider the value

For me, it's not so much 'the cheaper the better' kind of mentality. I like getting things that are at a bargain for their value. Do consider the material, the workmanship and the original retail price :)

5. Open up your world to Online Stores

Blogshops and webstores are springing up all over the internet, and a lot of times they are able to offer better prices because of the low overhead costs.

6. DIY and alterations

Sometimes while bargain hunting, you'd come across a top for $5 that you really like BUT it doesn't fit properly or there's an additional bow or ribbon stuck on it's side that you kinda hate. Well, you can always alter it and it'll still be a steal! There are many tailors around HDB that do minor alterations for $5-$10. Or if it's just an additional ribbon you can easily unpick it yourself! The jacket I'm wearing in this post was purchased at Bugis Street for about $10, and it came with a bow sewn on to the back that I really hated, so I removed it :)

This pretty much covers all I have to say about budget shopping, if you have any other tips to add feel free to share them in the comments box ♡

Outfit: Jacket - Bugis Street / Dress - www.mypotabella.com

Perfectly Ruined

“Life, he thought, is a blatant act of imagination.” 
― Jess Walter, Beautiful Ruins

[http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v457/ivanmadeira/Hentucky%20Stuff/david%20oades/beautiful_ruins.jpg]

Sometimes shredded / ripped pieces reminds me of ruins, the beautiful kind of course.

Damaged to perfection ♡ Thrifted this white number on a trip to Hongkong, if you're ever there you have to drop by the wholesale shopping area, it's like going on a treasure hunt.

Outfit: Shredded Cropped Top - Thrifted [HK] / Leather Skater Skirt - Julien/ Studded Wristband worn as Headpiece

Everybody Loves A Hero

Your results:

You are Spider-Man

Spider-Man 75% Robin 67% Supergirl 65% Superman 60% Wonder Woman 60% Green Lantern 60% Batman 55% Catwoman 55% Hulk 50% Iron Man 50% The Flash 30%

You are intelligent, witty, a bit geeky and have great power and responsibility.

Click here to take the Superhero Personality Quiz

With all the superhero movies flooding the theatres recently, can't help but join in the hype ⚒

Stumbled upon this cute quiz online, try it hehe :)

I'm quite happy I ended up with Spiderman, because one of my favourite superhero movie quotes is from Spiderman 2! 

"I believe there's a hero in all of us, that keeps us honest, gives us strength, makes us noble, and finally allows us to die with pride, even though sometimes we have to be steady, and give up the thing we want the most. Even our dreams…" - May Parker

Outfit: Superhero Comic Jacket - Thrifted HK / Hat & Dress - Julien

Glossi Eyewear Media Launch

I was blessed to be invited to this lovely event on Wednesday ;

The launch of the new Glossi Eyewear and other awesome designer brands at T.O.T :)

If you haven't already heard of T.O.T  (The Optique of Tomorrow), it's a wickedly awesome store that carries designer eyewear worn by the likes of Lady Gaga, Johnny Depp (my favourite), Joe Perry of Aerosmith, Sienna Miller, Jessica Alba and tons of other celebrities :) 

Here are some snapshots of us goofing around with the sunnies ♥

Me attempting to complete my black/white look ;

Moodswings?

Look what I found.. detachable frames! ^^

If you've been following my outfit posts, you'd know that I'm an eyewear fanatic and I love pairing my outfits with different frames ♥ Moreover, eyewear is very important (especially for people who drive) to protect your eyes from the sun! Otherwise, wrinkles will start appearing from all the squinting :O

So I was especially happy to receive a pair of Glossi eyewear as a media gift! 

I love love love the holographic appearance (am going through a phase right now)!

And it's so unbelievably light with special hinges on the sides so you'll never have to deal with tiny screws coming off your frames ever again.  

Thank you T.O.T for the super gift, too cute goodie bag and a lovely time ♥

If you're an eyewear junkie like me, head over to T.O.T and grab a pair of Glossi frames today!

Where: 50 Jurong Gateway Road, #03-43 JEM

Thoughts On Love

Recently I realized I might have forgotten the basis of love;

it's buried somewhere deep in my heart underneath all the resentment, anger, bitterness and the need to want the other party to "know how it feels".

But love is not like that, it's about forgiveness and acceptance.

Accepting another person for who they are, what they like and dislike no matter how insanely stupid you might think it is. The desire to simply want the other party to be happy instead of constantly trying to change them.

“Love is not affectionate feeling, but a steady wish for the loved person’s ultimate good as far as it can be obtained.” ―C.S. Lewis

♡♡♡

Outfit: Vintage Top - Burberry / Coltrane Boots - Jeffrey Campbell / Felt Hat - Thrifted

Personality Begins Where Comparison Ends

Comparisons are easily made, but no two persons are the same no matter how similar. I fell into the trap of making comparisons so many times throughout my life, and at the end of the day I find myself feeling worse than before.

This quote by Karl Lagerfeld changed my perspective and helped me to find freedom. I hope it will for you too ♡ 

Outfit: Netted Outer - Thrift / Leather Skater Skirt - Julien / Coltrane Boots - Jeffrey Campbell / Straw Hat - Thrift

My Top 5 Beauty Picks + Giveaway

Hello! Today I'll be sharing my top 5 favourite skincare products ♡

On top of being a fashion ninja, I'm also a beauty junkie who's constantly on the lookout for new and better products! After years of trial and error, these are my current loves :)

1. SK2 Brightening Lucent Base

This is my ultimate all-time favourite ever!

I discovered this while on a trip to Taipei last October and am onto my 2nd bottle now :) 

It has a lightweight translucent texture and instantly brightens up dull skin!

It's meant to be a makeup base applied under your BB creams and foundations, but I just ditched everything else and only use this with loose powder now :) No more thick cakey looking made-up face anymore!

Not sure if this photo is clear enough, I applied some of the base onto the middle portion of my hand, can you see the brighter area?

The only negative side of this product is that..

IT'S NOT SOLD IN SINGAPORE :( 

So you can only purchase it in other nearby countries like Taipei, Japan, Korea, HK etc.

Price: about $119 depending on where you purchase it from

2. SK2 Facial Treatment Essence

The famous "miracle water"! This has become a staple in my skincare routine. I like that it absorbs quickly and can be applied under the eyes as well :)

Sometimes when I'm lazy I'll skip the toner altogether! 

Price: From $99 (Tangs)

3. Laneige WaterBank Essence

I went through bottles of these before switching over to SK2 :)

Would totally recommend this for young girls whose skin is not suitable for something as strong as SK2 yet. The gel-like texture is so soothing and calming for the skin. This absorbs pretty quickly as well! Love it

Price: $65 (Tangs)

4. Skin Food Black Sugar Scrub

Hands down the best scrub ever, and at a super affordable price!

One tub can last you a really long time. I love how the black sugar granules melt unto the skin while exfoliating, and your skin becomes instantly softer after you're done, amazing. 

Price: $25.50

5. Bifesta Makeup Remover Wipes

I'm pretty lazy when it comes to removing makeup so wipes are perfect for me! Unlike many others I've tried, Bifesta feels non-oily and soft and removes makeup in an instant.

Price: $15.90

And now, I have a little giveaway for all you beauty addicts out there!

2 Pieces of Shiseido Revital Lifting Mask EX (worth $24.30/PC)

Simply follow me on instagram @audt and comment "I WANT THIS!" to win!

Contest Ends 18th June ♡

London Calling

London calling to the underworld

Come out of the cupboard, you boys and girls

(Cambridge Satchel - www.asos.com)

(http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m14wvsiBTl1qcng6to1_500.jpg)

Outfit: Kitty Bowler Hat, Black London Dress - Julien

Hide Me Under Your Wings

The black maxi is my go-to on days when I feel exceptionally vulnerable;

it's kinda like an imaginary armor that will protect me from all sorts of fears

Probably because my image of women dressed for battle are usually like these?

Long (and very complicated) dresses! 

It might sound absurd, but playing dress up does wonders for me :) I'm no expert on fashion, I just love how it allows me to somehow bring a part of my fantasy world into reality. And after looking at so many inspiring styles on the web, I'm so fascinated by how tweaking a few details can transform the entire mood of an outfit! So a black maxi would probably take on a whole different meaning for you, do you like to play dress up too? ♡

Outfit: Gypsy Maxi Dress - Julien / Silver Slippers - Charles&Keith

Pale Palette

It's been raining a lot in Singapore lately, so even when I'm home I'm constantly in sweaters and jackets. This kind of weather always makes me want to curl up in bed with a good drama series, a bowl of hot soup and an endless supply of munchies! 

Sidenote:

If you're a fan of asian drama too and am looking for something to watch,

here's a pretty good free streaming link:

http://www.lovetvshow.org/

The site is updated with all the newest 2013 shows and all the drama series have english or chinese subs! I started watching Last Cinderella yesterday (Japanese drama), pretty good ♡ 

Sometimes if the link doesn't work there are mirrors just below that work.

Only downside for this site is that you have to navigate in mandarin :/

SWEATER WEATHER DAYS

Outfit: Cream Sweater - Julien / Pants - Uniqlo / Heels - Everbest / Hat - Julien

All About Bird's Nest

Hello! I've recently developed an interest in the famed beauty miracle food, Bird's Nest. Trusted and believed by asians for ages as the secret to beautiful flawless skin. So here's a little research I did :)

My dearest boyfriend bought me a box 2 weeks ago after seeing me obsess over my skin like a brat. Needless to say, I was over the moon ♡

Contrary to popular belief, a whole box of bird's nest in it's raw state is actually a lot cheaper than buying pre-made bottles. This box costs about $290 for 18pieces which amounts to about $16/piece. According to the sales lady, 1 piece is just enough for 1 bowl. However, after cooking it, the bird's nest was so thick that I prefer splitting one piece into 2 bowls :)

Benefits

• Stimulates regeneration of cells resulting in fairer more radiant skin
• Erases wrinkles 
• Contains a water-soluble glyco-protein that promotes cell division, strengthening the immune system
• Replenishes strength and vital energy
• Accelerates recovery from diseases
• Enhances the metabolism of fat
• Moisturizes and replenishes the lung and clears intestinal heat

House or Cave Nests?

There are two main types of bird's nests selling in the market; house nests and cave nests! House nests are basically from farms whereas cave nests, as the name implies, are nests found in caves :) Most of the bird's nests you find in stores nowadays are house nests and are usually an ivory white in colour. House nests are more popular because it contains lesser impurities due to the cleaner housing provided for the birds. ( The ones I'm eating right now are house nests! ) Cave nests comes in a variation of colours from "blood" nests to yellowish white, due to all the minerals found in cave walls and also dependent on the bird's diet.

Some tips and fun facts!

• "Blood" Nests are not red due to the blood of the swiftlets, the colour is actually a result of the environment of the caves
• Some suppliers will use chemicals to bleach or remove odours from the nests to cheat customers, so beware! Always buy from reputable stores! 
• Believed to be an aphrodisiac? 
• Prices have fallen drastically in 2013 due to a ban China imposed on nests imports from Malaysia (so now is the best time to buy bird's nests!)
• There are now home delivery options available for those who have no time to cook their own bird's nest soup :O

So far, I haven't noticed any noticeable difference in my skin. Will probably have to consistently consume it for a longer period of time before seeing the results! I'm currently consuming it 2-3 times a week :) Hopefully this post is helpful for those considering to purchase bird's nest!