diff --git a/data/styles/0-vars.otui b/data/styles/0-vars.otui
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..83c687d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/data/styles/0-vars.otui
@@ -0,0 +1,4 @@
+// Labels
+$var-font: verdana-11px-antialised
+$var-text-color: #dfdfdf
+$var-text-color-disabled: #dfdfdf88
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/data/styles/10-labels.otui b/data/styles/10-labels.otui
index 8edfbb1..e0bdb7d 100644
--- a/data/styles/10-labels.otui
+++ b/data/styles/10-labels.otui
@@ -1,23 +1,23 @@
 Label < UILabel
-  font: verdana-11px-antialised
-  color: #dfdfdf
+  font: $var-font
+  color: $var-text-color
 
   $disabled:
-    color: #dfdfdf88
+    color: $var-text-color-disabled
 
 FlatLabel < UILabel
-  font: verdana-11px-antialised
-  color: #dfdfdf
+  font: $var-font
+  color: $var-text-color
   size: 86 20
   text-offset: 3 3
   image-source: /images/ui/panel_flat
   image-border: 1
 
   $disabled:
-    color: #dfdfdf88
+    color: $var-text-color-disabled
 
 MenuLabel < Label
 
 GameLabel < UILabel
-  font: verdana-11px-antialised
-  color: #dfdfdf
+  font: $var-font
+  color: $var-text-color
diff --git a/src/framework/luaengine/luavaluecasts.cpp b/src/framework/luaengine/luavaluecasts.cpp
index 7627d90..659a4cf 100644
--- a/src/framework/luaengine/luavaluecasts.cpp
+++ b/src/framework/luaengine/luavaluecasts.cpp
@@ -82,7 +82,7 @@ int push_luavalue(const std::string& str)
 
 bool luavalue_cast(int index, std::string& str)
 {
-    str = g_lua.toString(index);
+    str = g_ui.getOTUIVarSafe(g_lua.toString(index));
     return true;
 }
 
@@ -121,7 +121,7 @@ bool luavalue_cast(int index, Color& color)
         color.setAlpha((int)g_lua.popInteger());
         return true;
     } else if(g_lua.isString()) {
-        return stdext::cast(g_lua.toString(index), color);
+        return stdext::cast(g_ui.getOTUIVarSafe(g_lua.toString(index)), color);
     } else if(g_lua.isNil()) {
         color = Color::white;
         return true;
@@ -157,7 +157,7 @@ bool luavalue_cast(int index, Rect& rect)
         rect.setHeight(g_lua.popInteger());
         return true;
     } else if(g_lua.isString()) {
-        return stdext::cast(g_lua.toString(index), rect);
+        return stdext::cast(g_ui.getOTUIVarSafe(g_lua.toString(index)), rect);
     } else if(g_lua.isNil()) {
         rect = Rect();
         return true;
@@ -185,7 +185,7 @@ bool luavalue_cast(int index, Point& point)
         point.y = g_lua.popInteger();
         return true;
     } else if(g_lua.isString()) {
-        return stdext::cast(g_lua.toString(index), point);
+        return stdext::cast(g_ui.getOTUIVarSafe(g_lua.toString(index)), point);
     } else if(g_lua.isNil()) {
         point = Point();
         return true;
@@ -213,7 +213,7 @@ bool luavalue_cast(int index, Size& size)
         size.setHeight(g_lua.popInteger());
         return true;
     } else if(g_lua.isString()) {
-        return stdext::cast(g_lua.toString(index), size);
+        return stdext::cast(g_ui.getOTUIVarSafe(g_lua.toString(index)), size);
     } else if(g_lua.isNil()) {
         size = Size();
         return true;
diff --git a/src/framework/luafunctions.cpp b/src/framework/luafunctions.cpp
index 4ea85c5..4c6741b 100644
--- a/src/framework/luafunctions.cpp
+++ b/src/framework/luafunctions.cpp
@@ -422,6 +422,10 @@ void Application::registerLuaFunctions()
     g_lua.bindSingletonFunction("g_ui", "isDrawingDebugBoxes", &UIManager::isDrawingDebugBoxes, &g_ui);
     g_lua.bindSingletonFunction("g_ui", "isMouseGrabbed", &UIManager::isMouseGrabbed, &g_ui);
     g_lua.bindSingletonFunction("g_ui", "isKeyboardGrabbed", &UIManager::isKeyboardGrabbed, &g_ui);
+    g_lua.bindSingletonFunction("g_ui", "hasOTUIVar", &UIManager::hasOTUIVar, &g_ui);
+    g_lua.bindSingletonFunction("g_ui", "getOTUIVar", &UIManager::getOTUIVar, &g_ui);
+    g_lua.bindSingletonFunction("g_ui", "getOTUIVarSafe", &UIManager::getOTUIVarSafe, &g_ui);
+    g_lua.bindSingletonFunction("g_ui", "addOTUIVar", &UIManager::addOTUIVar, &g_ui);
 
     // FontManager
     g_lua.registerSingletonClass("g_fonts");
diff --git a/src/framework/otml/declarations.h b/src/framework/otml/declarations.h
index 64c01af..c030fb3 100644
--- a/src/framework/otml/declarations.h
+++ b/src/framework/otml/declarations.h
@@ -33,5 +33,6 @@ class OTMLEmitter;
 typedef stdext::shared_object_ptr<OTMLNode> OTMLNodePtr;
 typedef stdext::shared_object_ptr<OTMLDocument> OTMLDocumentPtr;
 typedef std::vector<OTMLNodePtr> OTMLNodeList;
+typedef std::unordered_map<std::string, std::string> OTUIVars;
 
 #endif
diff --git a/src/framework/otml/otmlnode.h b/src/framework/otml/otmlnode.h
index 8d52146..251d54e 100644
--- a/src/framework/otml/otmlnode.h
+++ b/src/framework/otml/otmlnode.h
@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@
 #define OTMLNODE_H
 
 #include "declarations.h"
+#include <framework/ui/uimanager.h>
 
 class OTMLNode : public stdext::shared_object
 {
@@ -73,7 +74,7 @@ class OTMLNode : public stdext::shared_object
     OTMLNodePtr clone();
 
     template<typename T = std::string>
-    T value();
+    T value(bool raw = false);
     template<typename T = std::string>
     T valueAt(const std::string& childTag);
     template<typename T = std::string>
@@ -110,7 +111,7 @@ class OTMLNode : public stdext::shared_object
 #include "otmlexception.h"
 
 template<>
-inline std::string OTMLNode::value<std::string>() {
+inline std::string OTMLNode::value<std::string>(bool raw) {
     std::string value = m_value;
     if(stdext::starts_with(value, "\"") && stdext::ends_with(value, "\"")) {
         value = value.substr(1, value.length()-2);
@@ -120,13 +121,23 @@ inline std::string OTMLNode::value<std::string>() {
         stdext::replace_all(value, "\\n",  "\n");
         stdext::replace_all(value, "\\'",  "\'");
     }
+    if (!raw) {
+        if (stdext::starts_with(value, "$var-")) {
+            return g_ui.getOTUIVar(value);
+        }
+    }
     return value;
 }
 
 template<typename T>
-T OTMLNode::value() {
+T OTMLNode::value(bool raw) {
     T ret;
-    if(!stdext::cast(m_value, ret))
+    if (stdext::starts_with(m_value, "$var-")) {
+        if (!stdext::cast(g_ui.getOTUIVar(m_value), ret))
+            throw OTMLException(asOTMLNode(), stdext::format("failed to cast var value '%s' (var value '%s') to type '%s'", m_value, g_ui.getOTUIVar(m_value), stdext::demangle_type<T>()));
+        return ret;
+    }
+    if (!stdext::cast(m_value, ret))
         throw OTMLException(asOTMLNode(), stdext::format("failed to cast node value '%s' to type '%s'", m_value, stdext::demangle_type<T>()));
     return ret;
 }
diff --git a/src/framework/ui/uimanager.cpp b/src/framework/ui/uimanager.cpp
index 44a593f..eed7019 100644
--- a/src/framework/ui/uimanager.cpp
+++ b/src/framework/ui/uimanager.cpp
@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@
 
 #include "uimanager.h"
 #include "ui.h"
+#include "uiwidget.h"
 
 #include <framework/otml/otml.h>
 #include <framework/graphics/graphics.h>
@@ -40,6 +41,7 @@ void UIManager::init()
     m_rootWidget->setId("root");
     m_mouseReceiver = m_rootWidget;
     m_keyboardReceiver = m_rootWidget;
+    m_vars.reserve(100);
 }
 
 void UIManager::terminate()
@@ -56,6 +58,7 @@ void UIManager::terminate()
     m_styles.clear();
     m_destroyedWidgets.clear();
     m_checkEvent = nullptr;
+    m_vars.clear();
 }
 
 void UIManager::render(Fw::DrawPane drawPane)
@@ -371,6 +374,15 @@ bool UIManager::importStyleFromString(std::string data)
 void UIManager::importStyleFromOTML(const OTMLNodePtr& styleNode)
 {
     std::string tag = styleNode->tag();
+
+    // parse otui variable
+    if (stdext::starts_with(tag, "$var-")) {
+        std::string var = tag.substr(6);
+        if (!hasOTUIVar(var))
+            addOTUIVar(var, styleNode->rawValue());
+        return;
+    }
+
     std::vector<std::string> split = stdext::split(tag, "<");
     if(split.size() != 2)
         throw OTMLException(styleNode, "not a valid style declaration");
diff --git a/src/framework/ui/uimanager.h b/src/framework/ui/uimanager.h
index b89193d..7fb15f2 100644
--- a/src/framework/ui/uimanager.h
+++ b/src/framework/ui/uimanager.h
@@ -24,10 +24,11 @@
 #define UIMANAGER_H
 
 #include "declarations.h"
-#include "uiwidget.h"
 #include <framework/core/inputevent.h>
 #include <framework/otml/declarations.h>
 
+class UIWidget;
+
 //@bindsingleton g_ui
 class UIManager
 {
@@ -72,6 +73,36 @@ class UIManager
 
     bool isDrawingDebugBoxes() { return m_drawDebugBoxes; }
 
+    const OTUIVars& getOTUIVars() {
+        return m_vars;
+    }
+    bool hasOTUIVar(const std::string& key) {
+        if (stdext::starts_with(key, "$var-")) {
+            return m_vars.find(key.substr(6)) != m_vars.end();
+        }
+        return m_vars.find(key) != m_vars.end();
+    }
+    std::string getOTUIVar(const std::string& key) {
+        if (stdext::starts_with(key, "$var-")) {
+            return m_vars[key.substr(6)];
+        }
+        return m_vars[key];
+    }
+    std::string getOTUIVarSafe(const std::string& key) {
+        if (!hasOTUIVar(key)) {
+            return key;
+        }
+        if (stdext::starts_with(key, "$var-")) {
+            return m_vars[key.substr(6)];
+        }
+        return m_vars[key];
+    }
+    void addOTUIVar(const std::string& key, const std::string& value) {
+        if (m_vars.find(key) != m_vars.end()) return;
+
+        m_vars.insert(std::make_pair(key, value));
+    }
+
 protected:
     void onWidgetAppear(const UIWidgetPtr& widget);
     void onWidgetDisappear(const UIWidgetPtr& widget);
@@ -89,6 +120,7 @@ class UIManager
     stdext::boolean<false> m_hoverUpdateScheduled;
     stdext::boolean<false> m_drawDebugBoxes;
     std::unordered_map<std::string, OTMLNodePtr> m_styles;
+    OTUIVars m_vars;
     UIWidgetList m_destroyedWidgets;
     ScheduledEventPtr m_checkEvent;
     stdext::timer m_moveTimer;
diff --git a/src/framework/ui/uiwidgetbasestyle.cpp b/src/framework/ui/uiwidgetbasestyle.cpp
index 18e6b84..51a829d 100644
--- a/src/framework/ui/uiwidgetbasestyle.cpp
+++ b/src/framework/ui/uiwidgetbasestyle.cpp
@@ -30,6 +30,7 @@
 #include <framework/graphics/painter.h>
 #include <framework/graphics/texture.h>
 #include <framework/graphics/texturemanager.h>
+#include <framework/ui/uimanager.h>
 
 void UIWidget::initBaseStyle()
 {
@@ -155,10 +156,10 @@ void UIWidget::parseBaseStyle(const OTMLNodePtr& styleNode)
         else if(node->tag() == "clipping")
             setClipping(node->value<bool>());
         else if(node->tag() == "border") {
-            auto split = stdext::split(node->value(), " ");
+            auto split = stdext::split(node->value(true), " ");
             if(split.size() == 2) {
-                setBorderWidth(stdext::safe_cast<int>(split[0]));
-                setBorderColor(stdext::safe_cast<Color>(split[1]));
+                setBorderWidth(stdext::safe_cast<int>(g_ui.getOTUIVarSafe(split[0])));
+                setBorderColor(stdext::safe_cast<Color>(g_ui.getOTUIVarSafe(split[1])));
             } else
                 throw OTMLException(node, "border param must have its width followed by its color");
         }
@@ -191,30 +192,30 @@ void UIWidget::parseBaseStyle(const OTMLNodePtr& styleNode)
         else if(node->tag() == "margin-left")
             setMarginLeft(node->value<int>());
         else if(node->tag() == "margin") {
-            std::string marginDesc = node->value();
+            std::string marginDesc = node->value(true);
             std::vector<std::string> split = stdext::split(marginDesc, " ");
             if(split.size() == 4) {
-                setMarginTop(stdext::safe_cast<int>(split[0]));
-                setMarginRight(stdext::safe_cast<int>(split[1]));
-                setMarginBottom(stdext::safe_cast<int>(split[2]));
-                setMarginLeft(stdext::safe_cast<int>(split[3]));
+                setMarginTop(stdext::safe_cast<int>(g_ui.getOTUIVarSafe(split[0])));
+                setMarginRight(stdext::safe_cast<int>(g_ui.getOTUIVarSafe(split[1])));
+                setMarginBottom(stdext::safe_cast<int>(g_ui.getOTUIVarSafe(split[2])));
+                setMarginLeft(stdext::safe_cast<int>(g_ui.getOTUIVarSafe(split[3])));
             } else if(split.size() == 3) {
-                int marginTop = stdext::safe_cast<int>(split[0]);
-                int marginHorizontal = stdext::safe_cast<int>(split[1]);
-                int marginBottom = stdext::safe_cast<int>(split[2]);
+                int marginTop = stdext::safe_cast<int>(g_ui.getOTUIVarSafe(split[0]));
+                int marginHorizontal = stdext::safe_cast<int>(g_ui.getOTUIVarSafe(split[1]));
+                int marginBottom = stdext::safe_cast<int>(g_ui.getOTUIVarSafe(split[2]));
                 setMarginTop(marginTop);
                 setMarginRight(marginHorizontal);
                 setMarginBottom(marginBottom);
                 setMarginLeft(marginHorizontal);
             } else if(split.size() == 2) {
-                int marginVertical = stdext::safe_cast<int>(split[0]);
-                int marginHorizontal = stdext::safe_cast<int>(split[1]);
+                int marginVertical = stdext::safe_cast<int>(g_ui.getOTUIVarSafe(split[0]));
+                int marginHorizontal = stdext::safe_cast<int>(g_ui.getOTUIVarSafe(split[1]));
                 setMarginTop(marginVertical);
                 setMarginRight(marginHorizontal);
                 setMarginBottom(marginVertical);
                 setMarginLeft(marginHorizontal);
             } else if(split.size() == 1) {
-                int margin = stdext::safe_cast<int>(split[0]);
+                int margin = stdext::safe_cast<int>(g_ui.getOTUIVarSafe(split[0]));
                 setMarginTop(margin);
                 setMarginRight(margin);
                 setMarginBottom(margin);
@@ -230,30 +231,30 @@ void UIWidget::parseBaseStyle(const OTMLNodePtr& styleNode)
         else if(node->tag() == "padding-left")
             setPaddingLeft(node->value<int>());
         else if(node->tag() == "padding") {
-            std::string paddingDesc = node->value();
+            std::string paddingDesc = node->value(true);
             std::vector<std::string> split = stdext::split(paddingDesc, " ");
             if(split.size() == 4) {
-                setPaddingTop(stdext::safe_cast<int>(split[0]));
-                setPaddingRight(stdext::safe_cast<int>(split[1]));
-                setPaddingBottom(stdext::safe_cast<int>(split[2]));
-                setPaddingLeft(stdext::safe_cast<int>(split[3]));
+                setPaddingTop(stdext::safe_cast<int>(g_ui.getOTUIVarSafe(split[0])));
+                setPaddingRight(stdext::safe_cast<int>(g_ui.getOTUIVarSafe(split[1])));
+                setPaddingBottom(stdext::safe_cast<int>(g_ui.getOTUIVarSafe(split[2])));
+                setPaddingLeft(stdext::safe_cast<int>(g_ui.getOTUIVarSafe(split[3])));
             } else if(split.size() == 3) {
-                int paddingTop = stdext::safe_cast<int>(split[0]);
-                int paddingHorizontal = stdext::safe_cast<int>(split[1]);
-                int paddingBottom = stdext::safe_cast<int>(split[2]);
+                int paddingTop = stdext::safe_cast<int>(g_ui.getOTUIVarSafe(split[0]));
+                int paddingHorizontal = stdext::safe_cast<int>(g_ui.getOTUIVarSafe(split[1]));
+                int paddingBottom = stdext::safe_cast<int>(g_ui.getOTUIVarSafe(split[2]));
                 setPaddingTop(paddingTop);
                 setPaddingRight(paddingHorizontal);
                 setPaddingBottom(paddingBottom);
                 setPaddingLeft(paddingHorizontal);
             } else if(split.size() == 2) {
-                int paddingVertical = stdext::safe_cast<int>(split[0]);
-                int paddingHorizontal = stdext::safe_cast<int>(split[1]);
+                int paddingVertical = stdext::safe_cast<int>(g_ui.getOTUIVarSafe(split[0]));
+                int paddingHorizontal = stdext::safe_cast<int>(g_ui.getOTUIVarSafe(split[1]));
                 setPaddingTop(paddingVertical);
                 setPaddingRight(paddingHorizontal);
                 setPaddingBottom(paddingVertical);
                 setPaddingLeft(paddingHorizontal);
             } else if(split.size() == 1) {
-                int padding = stdext::safe_cast<int>(split[0]);
+                int padding = stdext::safe_cast<int>(g_ui.getOTUIVarSafe(split[0]));
                 setPaddingTop(padding);
                 setPaddingRight(padding);
                 setPaddingBottom(padding);
@@ -315,12 +316,12 @@ void UIWidget::parseBaseStyle(const OTMLNodePtr& styleNode)
                 if(node->value() == "none") {
                     removeAnchor(anchoredEdge);
                 } else {
-                    std::vector<std::string> split = stdext::split(node->value(), ".");
+                    std::vector<std::string> split = stdext::split(node->value(true), ".");
                     if(split.size() != 2)
                         throw OTMLException(node, "invalid anchor description");
 
-                    std::string hookedWidgetId = split[0];
-                    Fw::AnchorEdge hookedEdge = Fw::translateAnchorEdge(split[1]);
+                    std::string hookedWidgetId = g_ui.getOTUIVarSafe(split[0]);
+                    Fw::AnchorEdge hookedEdge = Fw::translateAnchorEdge(g_ui.getOTUIVarSafe(split[1]));
 
                     if(anchoredEdge == Fw::AnchorNone)
                         throw OTMLException(node, "invalid anchor edge");