All about Women and Work, how to Dress for Work, Save money and Dress Well for Work, Second Hand Shopping in Zambia and more on Mywage Zambia.
By Meluse Kapatamoyo
Ladies, everything “Salaula” (second hand) is back in fashion! While, sometime back, most women especially those holding comfortable jobs would have been too embarrassed to be seen bending over to buy a Salaula item, that is no longer the case.
Bend down boutique the way to go!
Now women know that if you are looking to save some money but still buy quality clothing the ‘Bend down boutique’ is the place to go.
Mercy Zulu, a receptionist at one of the upscale hotels in Lusaka says she sees no shame in buying second hand clothes.
Looking very stylish in a cream chiffon top and black pants, she bent over to pick up a beautiful leather bag, “I bought all this at Salaula almost two years and they’re still new. I can show you the same type of items I bought in a shop during the same time and you will not believe how worn out those clothes are right now. I can’t even wear them to work.”
She said the trick was to buy reasonably priced basics such as tops and skirts then buy really good shoes in one of the shops found in town, “I would be buying shoes from Salaula too but its difficult to find my shoe size”, Mercy quickly added.
“What works for me is that I am not into labels, if its good quality, I am going to buy it. And I am always complimented on the way I dress. One of our regular customers asked where I buy my clothes from, when I told her, she thought I was joking. Now she comes with me when I go shopping. We drop them off at the laundry and they are as good as new.
Save money
Mercy is among hundreds of Zambian workers that include men, who believe you don’t have to spend thousands of kwacha to look good at the office.
“Basically, I am sick of buying the same item several times. Not only are things in shops of low quality, they are 10 times the price I would buy one at the “Bend down Boutique”. I see no shame in doing it, despite the notions that people have against second hand clothes. The bottom line is I look great”.
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