2in1: Monday Blues

“If Monday were shoes, they’d be crocs.”

I’m so happy that Olivia Palermo and I share the same view about crocs. She said she wouldn’t try it. “It’s never going to happen” . Oh I can just feel the shudder at that last sentence.  You see this is the reason why she is my style icon. It’s not like I have to emulate her POV or something. These things just come out to "us" naturally. :P But I’m not here to talk about crocs. Rather, it’s about sharing how bad I feel for Monday and all its ugly quotes. It’s not Monday’s fault isn’t it?

A lot has been said about Mondays and about needing a day between the two-day weekend. But I feel that if this thought would escape the hypothetical realm, meaning that we’d have a 3-day weekend, I don’t think we’d give up the thought of TGIFs (since we love it so much) that the governments would have to arrange for the third day to be Monday isn’t it? So what’s my point? Nothing. Hahaha!

I’m not here to preach about finding a work you love and all that jazz but I just want to share my tricks when it comes to Mondays. What I do is think of a really pulled together outfit for the start of the workweek and that alone sort of motivates me already. In fact, I feel like I’m always best dressed on the first day and the other days can just be blah. Haha. Well you can adapt the same thinking too and see how it goes? After all, nothing can make us more motivated and focused when we’re dressed up smartly and sharply for work. There was an actual study about this case and it is called “enclothed cognition”. Click here if interested.

"Clothes may not make the man but they do hold a strange power over their wearers."

So to literally translate those Monday blues, here’s a gallery of my recent blue-inspired corporate styles. Enjoy. J

Sunnies: Ray Ban

Blazer: Mango

Top: Dorothy Perkins

Skirt: Miss Selfridge

Shoes: Dorothy Perkins

Watch: Mango

Sunnies: Ray Ban

Top: Penshoppe

Skirt: Dorothy Perkins

Bag; Unbranded

Shoes: Dorothy Perkins

Blank Space

We all love our LBDs (little black dresses) but one thing that is as equally versatile as them is the LWD. Wearing white is always a great way to instantly create a fresh, chic look. And just like their counterpart, a solid white base leaves lots of room to play with. You can contrast it with darker outerwear (think leather jackets) or let it be a stylish backdrop for displaying interesting accessories.

For this unbranded LWD with peplum detail, I simply decided to match it up with a bright color to draw attention to my cobalt lace-up sandals. To stay true to the blue and white combo, I threw on my striped blazer and accessorized it with my flashy lens. For some reason, using it as a blank canvas reminds me of one of the Billboard’s Woman of the Year 2014 song, as the lyric goes…

"but I've got a blank space baby, and I'll write your name"

Sunnies: Ray Ban

Blazer: H&M

Dress: Unbranded

Shoes: Ezra by Zalora

Pleated Culottes

A skirt-trouser hybrid – this is what makes this piece tough to pull off. It is also the reason why I’ve had this for a long time but wore it only a couple of times thinking it’s not that bad since like the PVC skirt in my last post, I got it also on sale from the same shop. :P

But with its recent resurgence in the runways, countless inspiring ways have emerged to wear this wide-leg bottoms  and I just couldn’t help being inspired. So, in a matter of months, I’ve managed to wear it in three ways as seen in my other blog here. :P But my personal favorite would have to be the one below: with my inspiration for losing weight this year – the cropped top (haha!) and a tailored jacket.

My favorite feeling is whenever I walk down the stairs.  What with its volume, yes it flows and sways but no need to fear on seeing undergarments because it is essentially a pants. Haha! 

Blazer: Mango

Top: Forever21

Trousers: Topshop

Shoes: Ezra by Zalora

Bag: Charles 'n Keith

Sunnies: Flea market find

Lace x Lace

Call me shallow but apart for getting style inspirations from current events, I do dress up when I think of a nice caption too.  I don't know why, lol! You wouldn't believe what a corny caption did I manage to pull off on this one but hey, atleast it's a good combination.  Haha!  This skirt which has always been a yardstick of how much I gained or lost has been fitting really well for the least month thanks to my improved diet! So much that even layering a lace dress underneath is even possible.  Yes, this is a lace dress indeed! It has that same stretch material as that of the skirt which needless to say is only worn when I'm feeling super fit.  So hopefully, you'll get to see more of this dress in the future.  Oh and by the way,  still haven't mentioned the caption yet right? I'll save you the trouble of going to my IG (cassey_cakes is the handler if you must know, lol!).  Ready?  This.

Lace on Lace.  Because everybody feels "lacey" on a Monday.

Ok, kill me now! =)))))))

Sunnies: Dotonbori market in Japan

Dress: Mango

Skirt: Dorothy Perkins

Shoes: Dorothy Perkins

Necklace: Accessorize

Watch: Guess

The White Buttondown

Correct me if I'm wrong but I think nothing spells corporate more than a crisp white buttondown shirt.  Think: iconic looks like Miranda Priestly's in The Devil Wears Prada.  I myself had survived and championed (if I may add) many job interviews using that paired with of course the classic black pencil skirt.  But just like denim, this classic staple is not only limited to a basic black and white pairing.  It's a very versatile piece and can be worn in so many ways.  Here's another corporate styling using a gray wide-legged highwaisted trousers.  I may have channeled Miranda Priestly a bit in here.  So the question is, will this look pass for a fashion EIC? Haha!

Shirt: Mango

Trousers: Maldita

Shoes: Miss Selfridge

Necklace: Mango

Sunnies: Unbranded

Bubblegum!

With Manila's temperature recording it's highest to 37-degree Celsius last Friday, I'm sure that every FIlipino would just die for a piece of Olaf's cloud of flurry.  But since that is impossible, I'll be happy with having refreshments as a replacement.  And what's the first refreshment that comes to your mind during summer?  Please say ice cream, please say ice cream.  Hahaha!!

I knew it.  This is what actually inspired my #ootd today.  And since it's #tbt, this outfit is actually a #throwback to this favorite ice cream flavor of mine that I used to enjoy when I was a kid.  I've been looking for a photo of it via Google but sadly, I couldn't find any.  I do remember the brand being Coney Island though and of course, the colors.  It's part pink/ part mint (or light-blue) and it has this yummy bubblegum at the bottom of the cone. Hehe. :) So if this post actually made you wanna eat an ice cream right now, go ahead and indulge. =)

Top: Aeropostale

Skirt: The Ramp

Shoes: Dorothy Perkins

Blazer: Sari-sari

MET Inspired

In my other lifestyle blog, I made a #threesomethursday post about my work outfit being influenced by recent events.  I can still remember what they were all about.  One is about wearing corsets.  I saw a Huffingtonpost  news article about a girl in Europe who made her waist size smaller by wearing corset everyday.  Not that I'd do the same.  Lol.  The others were about wearing black and white as a tribute to Michael Jackson's death anniversary (of course it was about the song, haha!) and doing a colorblocking of royal colors just in time for the royal birth. ;) 

Yesterday (yes, this post is very recent!) I was resigned to wearing an old combo of black and red at work when inspiration hit me while browsing through the MET Gala 2014 gowns!  Well, it wouldn't be such a highly-anticipated fasion event for nothing!  I'm still in an Emma Stone girlcrush mode after watching The Amazing Spiderman 2 last Friday with my friends at work Sad ending for Gwen Stacy tough (*tear) but I mean seriously, who doesn't adore Emma Stone? :)  Pink and Emma and automatically she's in my one of the best dressed list.  And please, let's not talk about how adorable he and Andrew look together at the red carpet.  So before I swoon further, I give you my Emma-Stone-MET-look-inspired workwear. :)

P.S.  Check out my other blog for a #threesomethursday post about wearing pink and red. :)

Top: Tomato

Skirt: Forever21

Belt: Meg

Shoes: Call It Spring

Winter White

The Winter White theme has been on since like forever.  And just because it has “winter” word into it doesn’t mean that it’s not applicable in this tropical country.  Nope.  Certainly not.  Atleast for me! *laughs out loud*   

I’ve seen Iron Man 3 before but I happen to catch it again a few days TV prior to the day I wore this.  When I saw Gwyneth Paltrow in that white-on-white ensemble on the very first few scenes, a sudden flash of inspiration hit me.    I just knew that I have to reproduce something like it.  It's so smart and sophisticated.  So as a slight modification instead of a white dress, I opted for a white skinny jeans and a white tank top.  And to break up the look, I knew something dark such as bright red pointy flats the exact hue of my lips would be a good mix. 

And now that I have recreated her look, it’s time to work on establishing her figure.  Ooh la la.  Who doesn’t envy her physique?  A woman of marvel indeed! ;)

Blazer: Mango

Skinny Jeans: Mango

Tank top: Topshop

Shoes: Dorothy Perkins

Watch: Mango

Lips: Revlon True Red

Zebra Stripes

If you see a dress modeled by a Victoria's secret vixen Miranda Kerr in a fashion boutique catalog, what's the chance of you wearing it better? Nil.  Nada. Null.  Zero.  Absolute zip.  Haha! This number with contrasting neutrals is something that I will never miss from Mango.  The material, albeit figure-hugging, will always be work-appropriate for me.  In the catalog, Miranda wore it with a huge black belt (like seriously, is there a need to emphasize her already minuscule waist? :)) but thankfully, this yet-another monochrome vest has always got my back (or rather my waist, haha!).  Didn't wanna deviate from the theme, I wore it with my comfy snakeskin print pumps. :)

Dress: Mango

Vest: Forever21

Necklace: Accessorize

Watch: Mango

Shoes: Marks and Spencer
Sunnies: from Hanoi night market

Dots & Lace

This skirt, aside from being a steal from Topshop on a discounted price being the last of its size, has become a yardstick of how much I gain weight. :P  The fit is just right (and makes no leeway for any size increase whatsoever) when I first saw it and stubbornly insisted to buy it using the excuse "office-wearable". Luckily, for times when I slack on my diet a peplum top comes to the rescue to keep off those bulges when it feels too tight. :P

P.S.  I really need to start measuring my weight and don't just depend on clothes to tell me my body's status.  Hehe. :D

Top: Dorothy Perkins Polka Dot Peplum

Skirt: Topshop

Necklace: Chatuchak store in Bangkok

Shoes: Dorothy Perkins

Watch and Wallet: Mango 

Hint of Gold!

This combination is memorable because its something quick that I came up with in that morning.  The inspiration came from the gold skinny belt that my Aunt left at home.  I thought I might as well use it while it's there.  Haha.  I created a blue color scheme by pairing my trumpet dress with that cobalt blue blazer from Mango (that will forever remind me of Kate Moss in that Mango cover).  It has some gold buttons that perfectly match the gold tip teal shoes.  For the accessories, I opted for a different hue with some emerald-like layered necklace.  And oh, I remember having a movie date in that afternoon too! :P

Dress: Dorothy Perkins

Blazer: Mango

Shoes: Dorothy Perkins

Necklace: Unbranded

Belt: Unbranded

Sunnies: Ray-ban

Eclectic!

For this blog's debut, I chose one of my favorite work #ootds.  The prints and textures chosen, albeit clashing worked well I guess. :)  This dress is also special because it's a hand-me-down from my favorite aunt.  It'd be a shame not to dress it up properly. ;-)

Dress: Plains n' Prints

Shoes: Marks n Spencer

Sunnies: Aldo

Belt: Mango

Necklace: Diva

Bag:  Cole Vintage