Beach Campin'

First summer getaway for 2016, check! Yaaaaay!!!

It is duly acknowledged that I should not flood photos that focus only on one angle but this place is so crowded already. Eight or ten years ago, we used to have this lovely island all to ourselves only. Tourism changes things. I'm all for sharing and for others appreciating its beauty but what about control and such things? Ever heard of Sagada province's devastation after it was featured in a local movie? Sigh.

This place is now called Kwebang Lampas in Pagbilao, Quezon whereas before we just used to call it our very own "Pulo" (island). We made a lot of memories in this place after finishing our degrees and it's just a good time to go back and reminisce considering another friend is leaving for US for good. After all these years, it still feels good going back to basics and cowboy living (sleeping in tents, showering in makeshift toilets and eating by the humble nipa huts *wink*).

Stay tuned for more summer updates soon in this blog. :)

Cover up/ Dress: H&M; Bralette: Zalora

Fuchsia

In the Philippines, we have a joke that if you say the color fuchsia and you were asked to spell it, the common response is "Pink na lang" (I'll spell pink instead.) Lol! But here's a better trivia about the color's etymology as picked up randomly from today's article, haha!

The vivid red-purple of fuchsia, the color, comes from fuchsia, the flower, which is in turn named for 16th-century German botanist Leonhart Fuchs. (His last name, by the way, comes from the German word for fox.) And if you think fuchsia and magenta are the same color, you're closer than you might think: Magenta was originally an aniline dye named fuchsine, named after the fuchsia flower. The name was changed in 1859, the year it was patented, in honor of the French victory at the Battle of Magenta. That apparently helped the dye become a stunning success. 

So the next time somebody asks you to spell fuchsia, better tell the etymology instead. :P Haha! Meanwhile, enjoy this post below highlighting this fuchsia top I got from Topshop. :)

Top: Topshop; Trouser: Mango; Shoes: CMG; Bag: Aldo

Red and Blue Mono

Though I don’t really celebrate Valentine’s Day, there’s something fun about wearing red on the love week itself. And to make things grander, why not go on a full monochrome mode? Lol. A screaming red on red on red as if your heart is bursting with so much passion and love for somebody. Yep, that’s what I did. It didn’t really feel cheesy at all.

Blazer: Mango; Top: Apartment8 clothing (see also here); Skirt: Bugis market in SG

But it turns out, according to a survey that Red or Pink is out for this year. A Rent the Runway study reveals that 70% of orders from this store on Valentine’s week have reflected dresses in other colors such as green and blue. It didn’t really say what particular reason though we all know as I’ve pointed out before that red does increase your attractive quotient. But in any case, I’ve got a mono look in blue here too since we’re talking about other colors, haha!

Dress: Dorothy Perkins (also here); Shoes: Zalora PH; Bag: Mango

In another post here, I highlighted the benefits of wearing monochrome. I believe in both two looks above, the key is to vary the texture. It’s in my footwear for both looks. Btw, I wore both on the same Valentine's week (pre- and post) =)

Jumpsuit Work (ala Rihanna)

All that I wanted from you was to give me

Something that I never had

Something that you've never seen

Something that you've never been...

With Milan being ranked as one of the fashion capitals in the world, it is but right to listen to what their influential women has to say or two about style and grooming. And it’s just surprising that, according to this report from Vogue, Italian women would never wear a jumpsuit. *Gasp*

A jumpsuit!!! I would love to tell a tale about the very many ways to wear a jumpsuit, haha! But that can’t be possible because that piece is endlessly versatile especially a black one. Read about my white one here or how I copied Olivia Palermo's look using the same jumpsuit below here. I can practically imagine my whole wardrobe around a jumpsuit. I can't live without one. I. CAN’T. EVEN. Lol.

So to prove the versatility of a black jumpsuit, let us start off with a celebrity-inspired look from Rihanna with gold accessories.   This look may be from years ago but it doesn’t feel so outdated isn’t it? And also why her? Coz she just released a new album and I’m LSS-ing (last song syndrome) on  the first release Work. :P Stay tuned for more jumpsuit posts. 

Blazer/ Necklace: Mango; Jumpsuit: Topshop; Shoes: Zara

Portraits and Interviews

Portraits and interviews. In one of the world’s most amazing city. It seems like the Humans of New York author has the correct recipe for success. But it’s not like character diversity is only present in that city. We have that too here in Makati, for the backdrop of my style post today. :) This exhibit is by Xyza Bacani, a street and documentary Filipina photographer who rose to fame after using photography to tell the stories of OFW human rights victims in HK. 

Since I didn’t get a chance to blog or micro blog even about it, I’d like to take this opportunity to talk about my brief encounters with humans of New York. I wish I had more time to people watch or interact with them but on few occasions that my friend and I would stop to consult our maps, these humans would approach us and ask us if there’s anything they can do to help us. Imagine, how many times would you hear the word “Can I help you?” from a stranger. That’s too seldom, almost never. Too good to be true and yet that warm feeling they gave me will forever be remembered. At one point, when we gave up looking for the subway in Little Italy, Soho, this store owner gave me a paper flower before leaving. Amazing people, I wish to get a chance to go back someday. :)

Incoherent already on its own but I just couldn’t help end this post with a question. If Xyza or any other street docu photographer approached you, what story would you give them?

Top/ Shoes: Zara; Skirt: Apartment8 Clothing

Project Makati

Finally, this "creative" project of mine has kicked off. It’s been a vision ever since for this blog. To do outdoor shoots that is. Sayang kasi ang outfit! Lol!  No, what I’m saying is justice is served in the outfits when shot in the open, agree? There’s sunshine, there’s a backdrop and trust me there really are nice backdrops.

Coz this is what me and my friend/ co-fashion blogger John realized while doing this project 30 minutes after a quick lunch during workdays - that there are still unexplored areas here within Makati that’s *“Pak” for photography. Not that we’re saying we’re professional ones. To be honest, we’re just armed with a Go Pro and iPhones

So for the first venue, we’ll take you to this park that’s just *“one tumbling” away from our building – Ayala Triangle Gardens. Haha! It takes a certain nerve being seen by other people while shooting though but as John would always tell me, *“Derma!”.

*Pak! A common gay expression to denote high impact! Haha!

One tumbling or isang tumbling in gay lingo means the place is so close, you can just do a cartwheel and get there.

Derma or Deadma. Means to ignore what everybody is saying or thinking. It’s a close association to a “beauty” term dermatology. Lol.

Dress: Apartment8 (also here); Skirt: Topshop (also here); Shoes: Call It Spring

Belt/ Wallet: Mango

A Red Tag

That awkward moment when you’ve been pronouncing a brand name all wrong. There have been numerous Youtube tutorials in saying designer names but never about Zara or you mean dzah-dah. What?!?!

As a brand that is based in Spain, turns out that Zs should be pronounced with a soft ‘th’ and Rs most closely to Ds. Here’s a video about how to pronounce it correctly.

Somebody might just consider it a fun fact but in my recent trips, I couldn’t stress enough the need for proper pronunciations when speaking to locals. There was a time when an old man (who started talking me up on a bus from Boston to New York) couldn’t understand me when I said “Newark” coz I apparently was pronouncing it wrong. He even taught me the correct way. And I pride myself an English tutor. *facepalm* So the next time you’re in Spain, you might consider pronouncing Zara the correct way. *wink*

Anyway, here’s a favorite and fun purchase of mine from Zara last year. A red tag. It’s always fun looking out for these tags in their outlets because their price somehow make me feel like I scored them on sale. Haha. The dress is also seen here. J

Dress: Zara; Shoes: Miss Selfridge; Necklace: Juicy Couture

HK/ Macau 2016

With their love lives (or anything remotely close to that) in danger of extinction, three girls packed their coat-laden bags and set off on a journey to this neighboring harbor. With its energetic vibes, fantastic shopping opportunities and numerous attractions, HK seems like the perfect place to bond with gal-pals!

True story though. Two days before the trip I realized that the friends I traveled here with in the past didn’t really end in a nice way. :-/ Two girlfriends, different instances, different dramas. I wonder if history really repeats itself but I seriously hope not though. I still believe in that saying that lovers come and go, but friends remain forever. Those true ones at least. J

Pics were taken in Lantau Island (Ngong Ping Cable and Disneyland), Times Square Causewaybay, Harbour City in Kowloon, Macau Fisherman's Wharf and Hongkong Park in Central).

Poncho: Unbranded (also here);Pants: Mango; Shoes: Chinese Laundry

Jacket: Topshop; Skirt: The Ramp Crossings; Shoes: Chinese Laundry

Jacket: Topshop; Dress: H&M; Shoes: Chinese Laundry

Hat: Aldo; Cape: Mango (also here); Skirt: Zalora; Shoes: Chinese Laundry

Coat: Unbranded; Top/ Sunnies: Mango; Skirt: H&M; Shoes: Chinese Laundry