You scroll through Instagram and see all the celebrities and influencers wearing great clothes and looking like a million ringgit. You tell yourself you want to look like that but there’s just one problem, money.
Clothes can get expensive despite being a necessity in life. Okay, maybe you don’t need that six-thousand USD Tom Ford suit or that thousand USD Burberry handbag. But you do still want to look great. Fortunately, there are some tricks available to you to shop thrifty.
1. Thrift stores
Source: Instagram
For most Malaysians already in the know of fashion this is honestly kind of a no-brainer. But for those of you unaware Malaysia has a few Bundle shops and other similar thrift shops all around the country selling used clothing. If you search hard enough, you may find some cool pieces too.
Take your time searching through these places as there’s honestly a lot on display usually and it’s easy to get lost in the sea of fashion. Just make sure the first thing you do is get those clothes washed thoroughly for hygiene purposes.
2. Hand-me-downs
Old work shirts can be especially nice to wear, for the ladies they can look good a bit oversized too!
Sometimes your siblings, parents or other family members have old clothes they don’t want or can’t fit into anymore. Why not take them? If they’re too big you can just send the clothes for alterations or change them into accessories like scarves or pocket squares.
Just because something looks old doesn’t mean it can’t have new life when it comes to fashion. A lot of streetwear fashion does take inspiration from older styles to incorporate after all. There’s no shame in wearing your grandpa’s clothes if they fit. We’ve talked about well-fitting clothes before too.
3. Repair your clothes
Don’t be so quick to throw away your ripped jeans or jackets with broken zippers. Send them to get fixed. It’s likely that the clothing item just needs a wash and some repairs to look brand new.
The cost of repairing is usually far less than the cost of buying a brand-new pair of jeans so that’s always a bonus for your wallet. And it lessens your impact on the environment by essentially recycling.
4. Shop local
We’ve talked about being thrifty a lot here with solutions that are second-hand but what if you absolutely need some fresh threads? Well, go local! You’ll be paying more but it’s usually a lot fairer than international brands and you’re supporting your local economy!
There’s plenty of local brands in Malaysia that can deliver some quality fashion items at a fair price! Just to name a few, there’s Zoo For People, Pestle & Mortar, Tarik Jeans, and Zeve Shoes (also has Zeve Women).
