Cheap Chic Finds 2

The Frugal Fatshionista strikes again! LN was feeling extra generous this month and gave us all a RM1000 cash bonus for January and this led to a really gr8 shopping weekend. Unbelieveably though, I spent less than rm250, but you'd never know that (if I didn't tell ya) from the brilliant stuff I scored!

The Flea Market Fashion Fiend...
Made my usual stop at the Amcorp flea market and you wouldn't believe the 'discoveries' I made! Nothing more than RM15 each piece.
1) First up, my eye fell upon a sheer white chiffon kimono inspired minidress with cutout detailing. I prayed- please God of Fashion, let this fit! And it did!

2) The second find was virtually unbelievable- a genuine Marciano knitted halter-tube in psychedelic brown and white! At RM15, there was nothing to think about!

3) I then chanced upon this comfy cotton-lycra tube dress that is actually a light brown but the flash of my cam and lighting in the room made it slightly purplish! I wasn't sure about it at first but being only RM10 I figured, I hadn't much to lose. Didn't regret it one bit- the dress is gorgeous when draped on me! (If I do say so myself... ;)

Caught in the Cotton Craze

Cotton On is having a CNY promo at the moment- every second piece is 50% off. Usual terms apply such as items must be at normal price and the discounted item would usually be of the lesser value. But I took advantage of the deal to get duplicates of the stuff I liked best!

1) I fell head over studded heels in love with Cotton On's cotton/lycra A-line miniskirt. It hugs my curves and is so comfy I could've slept in them. So I got them in 3 cool designs! (For some reason the first picture keeps attaching upside down... Soz about that!)



2) I also got three pairs (black not seen here as they're already in my car!) of CO's staple ballet flats! With cutesy bows, I loved the floral one most of all!


A wardrobe's never complete...

... without gorgeous accessories! Amcorp is not just the place to get clothes on the cheap- they've also got pretty, unique accessories for a fraction of the price elsewhere. There are also other vendors with handmade goodies like these cutesy polymer clay rosette hair bands I got for a mere rm5 each! My mum's friend owns an accessory booth there too and sells great pieces at great prices. Check out this to-die-for giant faux pearl with shiny diamante caps on a woven silk string that I got for an unbelieveable RM10...
Yes, I bought the little treasure box too- hehe. RM4 at Romantika in Amcorp.

Mum's friend also sold me this genuine mother of pearl pendant for a mere RM5. She quipped that I was very lucky and such a piece was only so cheap because it was an 'extra' pearl she didn't know much what to do with.

All in all, I had a very successful bargain hunting weekend!

Cheap Chic Finds

Many people love Amcorp Mall's flea market for its strange and quirky antiques, knick-knacks, odds and ends. To a budget Fatshionista* such as myself, my purpose for trawling the booths are slightly different- I look for fashion finds- vintage or just any novelty piece that I can jazz up with accessories and some attitude to look like something out of Plus Size Vogue. And thus far, I've not been disappointed. ;)

I can attest that finding fashionable clothes for fat girls in Malaysia is as bad as looking for Winterwear- a few international shops have them and they're usually ridiculously priced. So we're either left with clothes that don't fit or leftover gunny sacks. But I refuse to be unfashionable! And so I take my shopping to dizzying heights- scouring the most unlikely of stores in hopes, one day I'll stumble on the Holy Grail of Fatgirl-dom; a fashionable plus size clothing store!

With the exception of Dorothy Perkins, many stores including Marks & Spencer can border on the dowdy if one is not careful in choosing. Now I've discovered Cotton On- that with some selectiveness can fit a girl of up to a size 16 (ie, me). Now Blook has unveiled its new plus size range which though I quite applaud, still falls short with providing a size 16 under the label XXXL. OMG, did I feel like a cow. What about a girl size 20? or 22? Are there enough X's in the universe? People, the whole point is to make us feel accepted- not like freakshows. Oh yes, but then coming from a nation that ups its AAA cup size to a B, and a natural C to E's, what is one to expect?

So yes, for a girl with a little lumps and a good rack, you can forget looking fly on the cheap. What's a poor girl to do?

Flea market scouring that's what! And I boy did I hit the jackpot. In a small 3 rack booth on the 3rd floor of Amcorp Mall, a pretty Chinese girl sells old stock clothes from various sources. In sizes suited from an 8 to a 28, Chia sells nothing for more than RM15. Of course, its a hit-n-miss at all times! As her stock is not manufactured, you'll get one piece of something in one size and its just a matter of luck. Sometimes, it may even be damaged but that's the way of the flea market, honey!

To me its akin to treasure hunting! There's always that chance you'll find that one stellar piece in just your size and I've found quite a few! The thrill of beating other bargain hunters and having the best pickings, sees me in Amcorp almost every weekend morning, bright and early sometimes even before Chia can open her stall! She knows me already and I am given (like a few regulars) the leeway of trying stuff on in the loos before deciding on purchasing.

I must gloat, some of the fine pieces I've scored for RM15 a pop!

1) The fitted plaid shirt! Snap buttons and mini pockets- looks super chic with leggings and ballet flats!

2) Cutesy ribbon print authentic DP tank with frill armhole detail- perfect for lounging about and goes with jeans and shorts alike!

3) Peach babydoll dress with buttons and pockets for a slight vintage feel. Goes great with leggings or without!
4) White artist smock shirt. Looks like a bag on the hanger but transforms with the help of a cinch belt and some leggings/jeggings. Don't forget the chunky silver accessories!
5) Frill and zipper convict print tank from Zara's Dark Emotion collection. Fits like a glove and enhances instead of constricting my 'assets'. Can just imagine this paired with either a black tulip or bandage A-line skirt!

*Thanks to Musings of a Fatshionista for introducing me to the term!

From Di's Dusty Bookshelf: The Little Big Book of Love

Found this cool little big book on Love at BookXcess today. With Valentine's looming, the arrival of the book couldn't be more timely. It is around that dreaded 14th of February that couples will be rushing to plan a rendezvous and singles will be looking to tell people how they're 'just fine' the way they are (not quite realising that by trying to prove a point, they're actually already caring more than they should!)
I've been single on Valentines and I've been erm, coupled (?) but I can now safely say I don't care which way it is anymore with me. Being single has its gr8 points and having a partner is nice too.
But you know what I do love? Love! I love the idea of 'Love'... Its really many a splendid thing- the things it makes you do and way it can make you feel. The person you're with may not be all that stellar and your relationship may not be gr8 but the very notion of Love is!

I used to think I loved this thing called Love because of my relationships, or because I had a wonderful partner but going through this book made me realised that nothing in real life for me has ever come close to being as beautiful as what this book and countless poems, stories and songs have depicted. But does that upset me? Not in the least! The perfect Love is like the perfect place or stage of being- you're not sure if it exists, you've heard lots about it but have never actually seen or felt it yourself yet you never give up hoping you'll find it.

The book was a steal at RM24.90 and not just filled with poems and stories but the gorgeous graphics and illustrations of Love through the eyes of artists. :)

Going Green- Final Day!

Its the final day of my vege pact and I am proud to say, I made it through! Although I am not sure if I would immediately go on to my usual carnivorous diet- I must say, I learnt a lot about myself and about control. I also learnt that when I put my mind to something, I really can do it! I just have to follow through!

So for the last day of this 'project', I had for Breakfast: a glass of Milo...

Lunch: Vegetarian curry laksa- the best I know; ie from A hawker centre in Petaling Street!

Teatime: Peanut pancakes! yummmm... (or as some ppl keep telling me, is called apam balik... I don't care, its a pancake to me!)

Dinner: Vegetarian rice with faux prawns! :)

A good end to the day. I really hope I'll be able to stomach the meaty stuff again tomorrow!

Going Green- Day 6

Just one day to go and I couldn't be happier. This has proven to be a truly challenging week. Answering curious queries as to why I was doing it is one thing- but trying to find food in this carnivorous city of mine was even worse. I really gave up today- really did.

For breakfast- my dad had already made a half boiled egg- so I ate that with bread.

Lunch: was banana leaf rice with an assortment of veges with VJ.

For Dinner: again it was instant noodles and an orange (it being CNY soon and all!).

I just can't wait for this to end!! My dad quipped: 'If you can't find food, just eat meat!' But I couldn't do it. I made a promise to myself and if I don't keep promises to anyone else, I should at least keep those I make to myself! What kind of person would I be otherwise? ;)

Going Green- Day 5

Sorry the post is a little late! Day 5 was yesterday (Friday, 29/1/10). I was too tired to post and had knocked off shortly after dinner.

It seems to be getting rather annoying. I can live without the meat but trying to find veg food where I stay is such a hassle (thanks to wonderful USJ traffic jams), half the time I end up with bread for dinner. I really think society should start realising how many vegetarians there are and start catering to them. They'd make a tonne of money! I really don't think I've heard of any vege restaurant I know closing down!

I also noticed I was more tired and by evening I was just feeling plain ill. I knew it; I was never meant to be a vegetarian!!! Gosh. But I told myself I'd stick through atleast til the end of the week as I promised. I am that stubborn!

So day five saw me having Coco crunch with low-fat milk for breakfast.

Lunch: vegetarian mixed rice with 2 veg and one soy 'meat'.

Teatime: an apple bun

Dinner: a stacked egg and cheese sandwich with lots of lettuce. Finished off with a handful of groundnuts.

Just 2 days to go!

Going Green- Day 4

Gosh am I stuffed full of vege!

The fourth day of the vege challenge seemed to come a little easier. I still felt a tinge when I thought of the good food I was missing but it came and went pretty quickly.

I had a thosai with curry for breakfast.

Lunch: Saigon style noodles with mix veg and a red bean and coconut dessert.

Dinner: a huuuuggge spread at my favourite Veg Restaurant in PJ State- Soy fish and pork, Mushrooms in batter and vegetable curry! Yum!

Looks like I am going to make it!! :)

Going Green- Day 3

Today was just plain strange! I was really at wits end as to what to have for breakfast- so I thought I'd be clever and have yong tau foo- thought I could pick the pieces that were just tau foo and pair it with the kuey teow. After making my choices, I took my little food sack and trotted to work- happy that I had found something different to eat. It was like a horror movie (on a smaller scale, you understand) when I saw, protruding from its beancurd shell- stuff minced meat!! Thank God I spotted it before I had opened the pack. I quickly offered it to my colleague.

Here's where it got strange- I opened the pack for her and this strong whiff of fish hit me and I felt like gagging. It smelt of rotten fish! I soon convinced myself I must have been dreaming when I saw my colleague scarf it down exclaiming between mouths how delicious it was. It surely couldn't have been spoilt.

Later I went down to a vegetarian stall in Subang to grab some vege rice. Nature soon pestered and I had to find a loo. The closest was KFC. I pushed open the doors and found I was greeted by the most horrible poultry smell ever. I quickly went upstairs to use the loo and raced out of KFC before I choked. The smell was awful! It was like a poultry stall in a market where the chicken had gone bad. I almost dove into the fruit shop next door as I savoured the fresh smell of mangoes and tangerines. I inhaled and tried to get the awful smell of chicken out of my system.

I couldn't believe it was happening to me. Perhaps it was psychological, but Hugan did warn me that I would soon not be able to stand the smell of meat if I'd gone veg awhile. I just didn't think it'd be this soon!

So breakfast ended up being: An egg sandwich and kaya puff.

Lunch: was Claypot style tofu with mixed veg and rice.

Teatime: Tau foo fah with brown sugar.

Dinner: Faux meat and two types of leafy vegetables; one curried, the other stir-fried with rice. A mango for dessert.