:D?
(Silence)
... Well, okay. Nevermind. In time to come, hopefully, this place will get more readership. Either way I still don't mind blogging for the heck of it.
So I shall split this post into a few sections!
1) Introduction to the blog
2) Musings over Singaporean shopping
3) Our one-day thrifting adventure! - I saved the best for last (:
1) Introduction and Blog Philosophy
While searching for reviews on cheap stores, outlet stores, 2nd-hand bookshops and all sorts of random, I realised that Google provided very few answers for me (which is new. I heart google, forever and always. Though wiki is coming in a close second. But I digress.).
Thus this is the brainchild of that frustration, where instead I will offer my free and sometimes pointless and rambly views about shopping/eating/living cheaply here in Singapore!
Stores will not be rated but will be heavily ranted on :D
2) Musings
Personally, I shop a lot. And I'm sure a lot of you out there do too (in fact, I bet you're online shopping while reading this at the same time! You sneaky multi-tasker. But I forgive you, because most of what I say tends to be ramble.).
Now some people rave about Singapore as a shopping haven, and... well, I guess we do have an insane number of shopping malls all with the same template (i.e. basement food court and mini-stalls selling tako-pachi, guardian/watson's, NTUC/cold storage/giant, giordano/bossini, topshop/dorothy perkins/esprit... etc) but I think what we lack really are shopping niches.
Fashion cities and capitals have little natural enclaves (by natural, I mean they were not government-planned, cough) of shopping or leisure catered to a particular type of taste, e.g. gigantic high fashion houses, or the lower-end quirky independent designers, or street stores, well you kind of get my gist.
Perhaps I have misunderstood this country or simply haven't explored it enough to find all these little niches so I have made it my mission to do so! And along the way, I will share my little discoveries with you because I'm nice. (:
Now, being kiasu Singaporeans, we sometimes set out to find the cheapest, most badly-made things that are vaguely in vogue this season (more often than not found in bugis street, but honestly, I love that place!... On a cool day). Having grown tired of seeing clothes lose their shape after (coughCottonOncough) only several washes, I have decided to emphasise the role of quality in shopping decision-making! Yaaaaay!
As for thrift stores, many Singaporeans still have the misconception (like my mother) that 2nd-hand stores are full of clothes that dead people have worn. Not everyone who donates is necessarily dead - nowadays many fashion-conscious Singaporean women constantly clear out their wardrobes for the next season's fashion (HDB flats are getting smaller and pricier. Urgh.). These clothes end up either with charity organisations such as the Salvation army or given away to relatives who eventually give them away and then away again until they get worn out or reach a thrift store. Still, I suppose 2nd hand shopping isn't for everyone (especially for those who can afford 1st-hand all the time), and we all have the rights to our preferences.
3) 1pm to 5pm on a Friday Afternoon
I sincerely apologise for the meagre number of photographs, for I really honestly meant to bring my camera today but I just... forgot. I tend to do this. I even forgot to continue taking picture after going to New 2 U. Terrible, terrible.
Our (I shall call my friends X and Y!) Friday afternoon started off meeting at Bugis MRT, and taking a quick, EXTREMELY WARM walk to Waterloo Street, where we found the lovely little thrift store in Singapore Council of Women's Organisation (SCWO).
This store is called NEW 2 U (yes it is the inspiration for my post title!), and it is located in the building of SCWO itself. SCWO is next to Sculpture Square, on Waterloo and just next to NAFA Campus 1. Here is a map of its location.
New 2 U was extremely fruitful!!!!!!!! However, we were racing against the clock, as the store closes at 2.30pm. I shall elaborate on that later.
After spending about a half hour or more going through most of their clothes (we haven't even gotten to the bookshelves and the shoes yet) and bags, we found ourselves loaded with decent conditioned potentials, such as a Mango tweed blazer, Guess red-and-blue checkered blazer, a Zara apple-green (literally. there were apples on it.) spring dress, a Liz Claiborne sleeveless batik shirt... to name a few. Of course, there were also other delectable brandless things, such as a vintage leather brown handbag that could be salvageable given the right leather care polish and a bit of sun, racks upon racks of jeans already broken in (this could be a plus point or a minus), and other random interesting dresses. There was even a rack on national costumes.
New 2 U has a changing room, which is tiny but functional, with a rule of max 3 pieces at a time, but nobody really checks. Eventually we managed to shop until the store owners had to coax us out, but this was our eventual list:
1) Guess blazer - $15
Red and blue tiny checks, single button-down front, satin inside, military shoulder buttons and regular V-shaped blazer collar. Extremely good condition without rips or holes or stains or ANYTHING. Not thick, thankfully, and can probably be worn in cold countries as well as cold Singaporean air-conditioning (is our air-con abnormally cold, or what?!)
2) Mango blazer $19
Black and grey patterned - I think it is tweed? But I'm not to sure about these things, and my friend X has the blazer at the moment - with black buttons down the front, and zippered pockets. Again, extremely good condition, but is probably a winter jacket considering its material (read: Really Thick.)
3) Long pale-pink dress with small flowers - $4
4) Liz Claiborne cropped collared grass green/dark pink batik printed sleeveless shirt - $3
5) Vintage navy blue wallet with blue and white bow and metal clasps - $1
In terms of quality as well as pricing, New 2 U definitely triumphs the Salvation Army thrift store we visited later in the day. In fact, next week (28th Sept- 2 Oct) is half-price promotion week, when everything except books goes for half-price! :O
In addition, New 2 U has been established to raise funds to support the SCWO's Star Women’s Shelter for Abused Women in Singapore. The Star Shelter is a dormitory residence that provides temporary refuge for victims of family violence and those in a crisis and in need of protection.
Possibly the only drawback about New 2 U is its opening hours:
Mondays to Fridays - 10.30am till 2.30pm
Weekends - Not open, except for the first Sunday of every month, from 1-4pm.
Volunteers are actually needed to help out in sorting donations and running the store, so maybe if more people volunteered, opening hours may change in the future. See here for further details if you're interested in donations or volunteering time.
Happy X and Y!
Moving on, our 2nd stop was the Golden Mile Food Centre, aka the Army Market (505 Beach Road, walkable distance from Lavender MRT). Not only are there little stores selling strange army knick-knacks, but also great food!!!!!! I recommend the beef noodles and the grass jelly as a couple of must-tries.
As for the army market, there is a vintage bag shop (whose name I conveniently forget at this juncture) tucked away in some obscure corner amongst a hoard of army green uniforms and insect repellent.
This place houses 2nd hand bags - anything from little leather satchels to gigantic hardcase trunks with wheels! The bags are in relatively good condition, albeit a bit dusty and sometimes moldy. However, service isn't great and organisation of the store is close to zilch. There are bags on the floor, hanging from the ceiling, walls, ... everywhere. Basket bags are with the suitcases, backpacks with the handbags, et cetera. The bags are darling, though, so they are definitely worth making a trip for. Prices are a little steep for 2nd hand (anywhere 30/40 and upwards for decent conditioned bags) but hey, real leather baby!
Our last stop was the Salvation Army - Red Shield Industries Family Store in Serangoon. It is walkable from Potong Pasir MRT - but we happened to take a bus from Lavender (133 :D, or 107/107M).
What the Salvation Army lacks in terms of organisation and quality it makes up for it in sheer frightening quantity. The entire 2nd floor (1st floor dedicated to electronics and furniture) is for apparel, shoes, bags, toys, stationery, books and art. Some items are clearly overruns by stores/factories that end up donating vast amounts to the S.A., but others are also clearly items in unwearable condition. BUT! And there is always a but - anything can be salvaged (Tim Gunn would disagree with me at this point).
Prices here are more expensive than New 2 U, but there really is a huge range of things, from gladiator sandals, to leather boots, to wedding frickin' gowns, to cheongsams, to cosplay, to shoulder-padded printed jackets... you get my gist.
What X and Y bought here:
1) A pale blue and yellow drop-waisted summer floral dress (forgot price!). There was a huge gash in the lining, but nothing that cannot be sewn back.
2) Striped sea-green and white collared shirt - looks very candy like :D
3) Black v-neck semi-plunged figure-hugging dress - HOTTTssss for $14
I came this close to buying a pair of leather lace-up heeled booties, but I couldn't find the right side of the shoe. Woe is me.
Other goods spotted: Black-and-white beaded bag, cheap sneakers, and... glittery dancing shoes (there were surprisingly many of these). On a sidenote, the Salvation army closes between 5-6pm, much better than New2U's timings.
Again, the thing about buying from charity thrift stores is that you know the money will be put to a good cause, and somehow that just makes you buy more!
Lastly, I'd just end off with a few tips about thrifting because I seeeeriously need to sleep:
1) Thrifting is best done with friends because it's Fun to share Digs :D Which brings me to my next point...
2) The thing with thrift shopping is that you have to dig. Be fully prepared to wrestle overstuffed clothes racks and rogue hangers.
3) Because of this digging activity, it may get tiring. Unless you're one of those who run on adrenaline during cheap shopping trips (like me!), have a good meal.
4) Always wear shorts/tanks/summer clothes. Thrift stores tend to be in strange locations because they cannot afford high rent, so be prepared to walk. Walking in Singapore = pespiration = ew. I had to learn this the hard way (read: experience).
Also, the Salvation Army store (Serangoon) and army market is definitely not airconditioned. New 2 U is partially air-conditioned. Again, no complaints for cheap buys.
Not all stores have changing rooms, and wearing shorts/tanks makes the process of pulling clothes over much easier, unless you want to try pants. In this case maybe a mid-length skirt or long skirt would do, but it is VERY WARM. Bring a small bottle of water if you can.
5) Bring cash. A Singapore more full of NETS than it is now is a dream.
6) Be open-minded! Anything can be salvaged :D The people who are most advantaged to use thrift stores are those who know the wonderful art of sewing (I want to be your tu2 di4!) because many items are just a tad too long or need just a few nifty tucks here and there to completely transform it from pre-loved into always-loved.
7) Learn to sew, if possible. Or find yourself a good, cheap tailor. Hemming jobs wouldn't cost you more than 4-8$.
8) ALWAYS CHECK FOR DEFECTS.
Will add more to the list if I ever think of more! I'm sure I will, actually. But only time will tell.
All right, au revoir for now! Till the next shopping adventure, or maybe even university holiday. There's no telling when our workload will finally ease off and we can go shopping again ):
