Hello 2017!

Dress/ Robe: H&M

Subdued (All Black Part 2)

Guess you can say I’ve been reading so much style tips from websites or that I really do wanted to belong in New York City during my short visit last year when I realized how much it affected what I wore after reading this recent article. If you’re too lazy to click on the article, let me sum up a few points here. According to the author, living in the city is already difficult enough and as a result it kind of has an effect on their style in the ffg ways: (1) wearing less make up (very me! ✋) because they can't be bothered at all, (2) opting for flats over heels 99% of the time because of the subway walks (check out what I wore here) and (3) wearing way more black however cliché it is. So, let's just focus on that third item as I feature another set of all black outfits that kind of makes me a New Yorker wanna be. 😜

Just an fyi, this is already my second post for this subdued color pattern (first one here), so more or less the tips applied in the first post still apply. Anyway, a few reasons why I love wearing black is listed in each look and in the tips below. Enjoy :)

Look #1: Edgy. An all-black outfit lends itself nicely to a downtown look.

Top/ Skirt: H&M; Shoes: Mango

Look #2: Sheer advantage. If wearing all black feels a little too heavy, you can always layer it with something sheer. :)

Bodysuit: H&M; Dress/ Shoes/ Bag: Mango

Look #3: Play with textures. The beauty of an all-black outfit is that you can mix textures without creating an overly busy ensemble. Like a sheer/ velvet and tutu skirt here.

Bodysuit/ Shoes: H&M; Skirt: Kashieca; Clutch: Mango

2016 Squad

It's that time of the year again when you take a moment to reflect and thank some people who made this year a memorable one. Of course, this being a style blog #ootds (or lack thereof) included. Lol!

Let's start with the bff. I know I just featured her two posts ago but I couldn't have been more thankful for the level of closeness we shared this year. Just a little background, we've known each other as "seatmates" from the backside of a jampacked Retropop class on a weekend some 5 years ago. On Wednesday nights though, we take it up a notch and take the left front side of the GX (group exercise) classroom because we're that rad in hiphop. Lol! We started really to get closer when we both trained as Retropop instructors in the gym two years ago and even more so when we both shared the same "olats" (losers in lovelife) status this year. Also a certified Karen (kaladkarin), I could easily pull her to places I wanna go to even on a very sudden birthday trip to a wellness sanctuary.

Aside from being the package deal (her +1), we're also quite known as the twinnies in the gym. Ze bff and I own a lot of the same pieces (her size a tad smaller of course, lol!) and sometimes even turns up together in unexpected matchy matchy pieces.

The million dollar question will finally be answered. Most of you who are so curious about my instagram-husband photographer would be satisfied to know that this fella is responsible for my #ootds. One of my trusted staff at work, this talented guy is one of the persons I share most of my passion in life with: dancing, traveling, fashion/ styling and lovelife goals. Lol. Though x years my junior, it's amazing how he could knock some sense into me when I talk to him about ze boyz. The talk doesn't seriously get more real (albeit funny) with him. =))

Same with ze bff, we also turn up sometimes in matchy matchy outfits as seen below. What can I say, great minds do think alike! Hahaha!!!

Pink in the Park

Who's looking forward to the holidays??? Yaaaayyy!!! I badly need longer sleep!!! Seriously, who doesn't? Just this week alone, I had three straight night gym classes because of course more than the erm extra moolah, I also need to double time my cardio workouts for the upcoming feasts and pig-outs and a cruise that's just three weeks away. 

So speaking of holidays, isn't it amusing how the corporate world now wants high uptakes of annual leaves and are encouraging their employees to maximize this entitlement? A lot of studies suggests the benefits of an employee taking holidays outweigh than the kind of staff with a dedication to work all-year round in terms of innovation, productivity and so on. But more than the long holidays, there is a type of break that is indispensable in everyday lives too. Hang in there, I'm getting to my point. Hahaha!!!

I'm basically talking about the science of taking quick breaks at work. If you click on the link, there are break methods to try and productivity-boosting activities that you can try. My favorite? Taking a walk. Not only does it help in eliminating those muffin tops (yikes!) but also has some proven brain benefits. And I'm happy that a few walks away from the workplace, we have this small park where I can just sit, find some cute dogs (seriously! Haha!) and just inhale some fresh air. I'm talking about Salcedo Park in Makati.

A recent review of pics revealed though that most of my pictures taken here were those when I was in pink. Haha! So here's a compilation of the looks that were taken ever quickly and I hope that this post encouraged you to pause sometime and take whatever kind of breaks you need in your life. 

P.S. The petals of this dress is in rose pink. Fyi. Hihi. 

Dress: Here. (Also here); Shoes: Mango

Top: Topshop; Pants: H&M; Jacket: Mango

Top: Mango; Skirt: Kashieca; Shoes: Dorothy Perkins

Dress: Mango; Shoes: H&M; Bag: Here.

Sponsored: Athletic Chic

As a certified gym rat, let me just preface this by putting it out there: what you wear to the gym matters. Your workout wardrobe can help you make or break your goals. So pick a clothing that doesn’t only make you cute but functional too. :P Don’t believe me? Then read up on ‘enclothed cognition’ here. 

I am grateful that Zaful gives me enough freedom to pick a collection for a blog feature and up until no I still wonder why it took me so long to look at their activewear collection. Seriously? I need more gym clothes than dresses, lol! Well, to be fair to me though, they really have a lot of products. :D

Their entire line is surprisingly stylish and performance ready at affordable prices. For this post, I’m featuring their matching sets that are certified to make you “fitspiration chic” in the gym. Lol! And I’m also grateful that for this, I get the chance to feature the sets with none other than ze bff in the gym. See us work up our sweats in  effortlessly cool cropped hoodies and leggings/ pants below. :)

Btw, the bowling was actually a first for both of us and it was so much fun! Hahaha!

Cropped Hoodie with Mesh Leggings

Hooded Cropped Top and Pants

Bombs Away!

Featured heavily on S/S2016 fashion shows with metallic midi skirts, the luxe bomber jacket has taken over the athleisure world. It took me a little while to get on board with this trend but will never resist the chance to explore this silhoutte if the opportunity comes.

Then the said opportunity came, a sponsored item from Dresslily and after a few wears, I must admit I’m already a fan of this item. It’s a simple way to add a little attitude to your look, no? My favorite bottoms to pair it with? Skirts! Since it’s a jacket, it’s important to keep the clothes underneath simple. But I like it with a little character though. Check out the two looks below:

The bomber jacket kind of grounds the princess-like structure of this flashy umbrella skirt. What a contrast to the image on the graphic shirt. Haha!

Jacket: Here; Top: My brother's :P; Skirt: The Ramp; Shoes: Miss Selfridge

And in this second one, I couldn’t help but be reminded of Tom Cruise’s Top Gun. :P Raise your hands if you’re old like me. Lol!

Jacket: Here; Dress/ Skirt: H&M; Shoes: Adidas; Sunnies: Here

Lost and Found

Do you know that saying "If you love someone, set them free. If they come back to you, it's meant to be."? Well, such is the case of this lost pants that was reportedly missing after my US trip last year here. *grins*

Seriously, it's not like I made up that story but it just so happened one afternoon last April when I found it magically hanging by the stair handrail in all its newly ironed shiny glory. I had a lot of questions in my mind but I stopped asking and simply welcomed it back to my life. :D

So before you judge me as someone who makes up stories where in fact she's just too careless about her clothes, let me tell you how a black skinny jeans should be your classic closet staple. The dark wash is inherently polished and can be paired with a chic blouse and blazer combo for me at work or as seen in the case here: my off-duty life (staycation in Solaire) or casual Friday (catching international DJ Armin Van Buuren). One thing that's common in the two photos? The high-rise skinny jeans worked well with bodysuits. :) Let me leave that as a style tip for you. ;)

Arriving at Solaire:

Bodysuit: Zalora; Pants: Dorothy Perkins; Dress: H&M; Shoes: Vincci

DJ Armin Gig at Valkyrie Club:

Bodysuit: Topshop; Pants: Dorothy Perkins; Shoes: Mango

Toy Museum

Coz it's not everyday that you visit a toy museum all dressed up in a red gown...Lol!

Dress/ Boots: Mango (also here)

Zaful Holiday Dresses

It's officially holiday party season and most likely you got your social  calendar full with all the soirees and shindigs and even wedding-related events (yes, here it is quite popular!) I know sometimes it's easy to reach out for the usual little black dress (LBDs) but here below I present to you the party silhouettes that are stylish and celebrity-approved? Here are the five types of dresses you can pick from and I've sourced from Zaful. :)

The Sparkly Dress
Coz what's a holiday party without something sparkly? ;)

Sequins Scoop Neck Half Sleeve Dress

The Sheer Dress
A popular red carpet choice.

Stylish Boat Neck Flounce Design Sleeveless Dress 

The Slip Dress
Very on-the-moment and can easily be dressed up and down.

Cami Lace Panel Dress

The Maxi Dress
Perfect for more formal events, a wedding perhaps?

Pleated Maxi Chiffon Dress

The Fringe Dress
The ultimate party frock! Bonus points if it has sequins in it. ;)

Tassels Sequins Party Dress

So what's your favorite from these party silhouettes?

Rosegal Christmas Big Promotion

Time flies by reallly faasssstt!!! Is it gonna be December in two days already?!?! Next thing we know it's the long holidays and then BAM! Summer season! Yes, let's fast forward to the main purpose of this post right? Lol!

This realization needs to be stressed more than ever because admit or not, it's very hard to prepare for a summer body! Lol! And in my case, it'll come a bit early because of an upcoming cruise sometime in January. *panics*

So to prepare for that, I have already made my swimwear wishlist from Rosegal since I learned that they have a wide-range of swimwear styles that will fit every body frame. Consider it, a vision board! If you have this vision, you know exactly how to work on while visualizing you wearing their pieces. Haha! To let you have an idea, I have included here three items that I think stood out from the rest of their collection (but there's about 3000 styles, mind you! )

If ever you're wondering why this swimwear looks familiar, it is because the style was launched by the Jenners. But in an affordable price, yeah? ;)

Stylish Bandage Color Block Women's Bikini Set

This might be in my wishlist forever because I think that my body frame can't carry this but I love it anyway.

Halter Voile Spliced Floral Pattern Backless Women's Swimwear

Because I'm a fan of anything sheer and see-throughs. Lol! This two-piece item is a winner!

Hollow-out Black Two-piece Women's Swimsuit

You should totes check out their pieces now while they're still having their promotion. :)

Sponsored: Athleisure ala G

Just in case you haven't realized it yet, athleisure is alive and well and is here to stay. It’s now the cool It-girl style. While the debate is still on whether leggings are acceptable to be worn as pants, we look at one master of athleisure who’s fighting the good fight on making them acceptable – Queen G.

But how do we make our exercise gears in leggings totally elevated? It’s been proven that stylish gym wear can be the key to a great workout. Of course we turn to her inspiring ensembles and break down some pointers.

First look: It’s all about the bag. By adding a simple structured purse into your athleisure mix, you bring an extra ounce of polish to your look as demonstrated by G her. I also like the way she wrapped the cardigan around her waist. Obvs, G won the athleisure game here, style slam dunk! ;)

Second look: The bomber. I myself in the past had my second thoughts about the longevity of this trend so whether to invest in a piece or not was a crucial question for me. However, the answer came when Dresslily offered me an opportunity to choose an item from their jacket collection and I just really had to test drive the trend.

Also, you have to admit that it's very hard to resist owning a piece especially when you see how cool it looks when worn by Gigi and Kendall. Like hello, when was the time they look otherwise? *roll eyes* Lol!

Well, if you're not sure about how long this trend will last, the key here is to invest in cheaper pieces like Dresslily's piece below:

Pilot Zipper Bomber Jacket

At such an affordable price, you can always look cool like Queen G below. ;)

Sponsored: Red Bag and Camel Coat

In this time we live in, the fashion rule about matching your shoes and bag already sounds outdated. As they say, fashion is not about the rules, it's about breaking them. But if  you carefully think about it, there's a reason why it was also invented. Though I like it mix-n-matched, I'm also a big fan of coordinating and the whole color scheme thing. And it just so happened that I have these two red pumps that I need to pair with a bag.

So when Dezzal offered me an opportunity to look at their products, I just had to look at their amazing bag collection. They seriously have a lot of bags that I am in love with! As expected, it was very hard to choose from their 2000+ styles but in the end I settled for something that I need as of the moment. So in the end, I settled for this metal chains lock crossbody bag in red leather.

For someone like me who carries a lot of stuff, it's a wonder how I am so into small mini bags. Haha! But since it is already expected for me to have a bigger bag (gym instructor necessity), I can always have a backup storage as long as the main bag could contain my phone and a few makeup tools for retouching purposes. 

To make the story short, this bag certainly fulfilled my needs in life. Lol! I like how it is made plain with the gold chain and hasp closure. And how I can create a plain two tone look using black and red in the picture below.

Metal Chains Lock Crossbody Bag

Or actually, make it more neutral with the addition of this camel coat from Dezzal's sister company - Dresslily. You may have also seen my feature of their amazing coats in this previous post.

As briefly explained in another post, there's a reason why camel is the signature shade of a chic trench coat (hello Burberry!). It can easily be matched with any color and will never go out of style. All the same, Dresslily's collection of coats also appealed to me more because my old trench coat needs a replacement. Hence, I chose to feature this double-breasted beauty from their selection.

I think the secret of this item is it's neutral hue. That gives it a well-made feel or perhaps the mere association with the aforementioned British brand who pioneered it. For whatever it is, a camel trench coat is your best layering tool to upgrade an outfit. ;)

Buttoned Belted Longline Trench Coat

Thank you Dezzal and Dresslily for partnering in this post. :) And I really mean it that you should check their bag and coats collection. :P