Coco Made Me Do It

Of course part of the lectures in the fashion styling workshop I took is a study of fashion history. And since the instructor asked us to focus on a particular era by producing editorials out of it, I couldn’t help but understand why that age was pronounced the golden age of French fashion and appreciate the designer behind it – 1920s and Coco Chanel.

Sure, it’s easy to proclaim one loves Chanel. But back then, I couldn’t afford to do so because I feel it’s too pretentious. After all, I couldn’t afford to have a single stitch of such luxurious brand. But a closer study of the woman behind the fashion house and her legacy made me realize that - I don’t have to proclaim it. It’s unconsciously within me – my love for her so-called Little Black Dress, layered pearls and nautical looks – it’s all because of the woman’s brilliance! No other designer represented elegant chic more than Madame Chanel. And yes, I love all her timeless work!

So for the actual representation in the class, I just simply had to recreate this look. This 1926 Vogue cover with her sketch of a calf-length simple black sheath and labeled it “a frock that all the world would wear”. Because all the women did indeed! :)

Dress: Warehouse; Shoes: Dorothy Perkins; Hat: Aldo

And from then on, everytime Sir Lev would assign us another editorial, there's always the question that's so worthy caption of this photo below, "What would Coco Chanel do?" Haha! One of my aspirations in life is to be known as the woman who's dressed elegantly. Sigh.

And for the other 1920s editorial, I was surprised to find out that in my state of overflowing wardrobe I couldn't find any combo that would be flapper-look worthy. I admit this did not fully commit to the look but the instructor did notice the rebellious attitude so he appreciated the effort - a bit plunging LBD, my eyebrow liner used as a cigarette props (haha!) and fur/wig that I had to get all the way from Divisoria market. 

The gallery below as per my interpretation is the day-to-night look of a French woman in the 1920s using a little plunging black dress. Elegantly clad in the day but wild and wicked at night. Lol! ;)

Dress: Mango; Coat: Unbranded; Shoes: Promod; Gloves: Unbranded

2nd look shoes: Zara; Necklace: The Landmark

Corporate Cool!

One of the things I learned in my styling workshop is the different areas that the stylists are working on. There’s TV, editorials, celebrities and so on. But I think there is something that is missing in that list – stylists should be hired or atleast have a “consultative role” in drafting the company policies too – in the dresscode department. :P

Let’s take a look for example, at the shorts. I don’t understand why shorts (I’m talking about the appropriate length here) shouldn’t be considered as wearable at work (for most companies) when there are different ways to make it look corporate-y enough.  I can pull off a hundred galleries of women who makes it work (first thing in mind: Olivia Palermo of course!). It’s the same thing for school policies too. I remember being “awarded” a violation slip for wearing sandals that are wedge-y enough to look formal for school but still not within the “should-have-straps-at-the-back “rule. :P Guess I’m really notorious for violating dress codes even back then, lol.

Having said this, I do know that there’s a lot of considerations that employers must make in instituting dress codes at work (public image, nature of work and the type of environment, etc). But stylists are exposed to different looks, materials, outfit combinations and what-not to cover atleast everything that should fit the company's general image but still giving enough leeway for the employees. And as for this shorts? For a casual Friday without the need for meeting up clients, this look should be appropriate enough. Come to think of it, the first half of this day was even spent doing the fire drill. Lol.

Fire drill. In that heels. I seriously didn’t get the memo. And let me just add that thankfully, we’re not in the 41^st floor anymore. Lol!

Blazer: Forever21; Buttondown: Lacoste; Shorts: Unbranded

Sunnies: Flea market in Osaka; Bag: Night market in Seoul; 

Shoes: Ezra by Zalora

Spring Has Sprung

I really think it’s funny that for several times now, Timehop informed me that an article of what I was wearing on a certain day was worn on the very same day in the past years! If it’s not the same cloth, sometimes it’s the same color scheme. Amazing right? Could there be a scientific theory here? Hmmm….. I’d like to think that maybe I really have “less clothes” so I have this tendency to wear them again and again but then one glance in the current messy state of my room now tells me otherwise. Yikes! Which brings me to my main topic for this post. SPRING for spring cleaning. But let’s talk about spring first. Haha!

Aaah, spring! For us living in tropical countries, maybe this change of season doesn’t really mean much at all. After all, we don’t know how it’s like to endure months of bitter cold and anticipate dropping layers of clothing with a rise in temperature. But having been acquainted with many Japanese students of mine for years now have taught me one or two about their culture and the relevance of this season (posted in my other blog here). Actually, it doesn’t really take so much to love it. You just have to step outside and see the blooming flowers and you’ll fall for it. It was the very reason for my travel last year in Osaka – to see the cherry blossoms. Well, second reason is to meet in person some of my students who’ve become friends of mine. :)

Last Sunday, it was the very same day last year when I first beheld the beauty of Sakura. I took out this floral frock (post here) and paired with this skirt (as seen here) to reminisce everything. Prior to that, I’ve already been sporting lots of blooms and there is no Timehop reminder needed for this. Because those beauties when experienced doesn’t need a constant reminder. It’s forever felt in the heart and will forever be yearned for.

Dress: Warehouse;Skirt: The Ramp; Shoes: Marks & Spencer

So I guess I’ll talk about spring cleaning next time. Enjoy the gallery of more floral prints below, the lighter and dark blooms! :)

Dress: Karimadon; Vest: Forever 21; Scarf: Plains n Prints; Shoes: Marks & Spencer

Dress: Mango; Vest: Mango; Bag: Bugis in S'pore; Hat: Unbranded

Shoes: Dorothy Perkins

Top: Unbranded; Vest: Forever21; Trousers: Tomato

Bag: Charles 'n Keith; Shoes: Dorothy Perkins;

Sunnies: Flea market in Osaka

Borrowed Button-down

For someone like me who regularly borrows a man’s button-down (my brother's), I should have noticed it already before. But as it is, I had to chance upon a Business Insider’s article (yes, a Business Insider! Haha!) to actually learn this trivia. And then it hit me that one time I think I stopped and got confused while buttoning up and then simply shrugged it off.

So, have you ever noticed why men’s and women’s shirt buttons are on different sides?   Okay, wives who styles their hubbies must know this already. As for girlfriends, go check your beau’s shirts. Lol! So, according to this,

Mens’ buttons are on the right side because men have always tended to dress themselves and most men (and women, for that matter) are right-handed.

Womens’ buttons are on the left side because years ago (say, during the Victorian Era), the women that could afford fancy clothing with a bunch of buttons would rely on maids to help dress them. So, if a servant (most of whom, naturally, would be right-handed) is going to routinely buttoning up a shirt/dress for someone else, that servant is going to prefer to have the buttons on their right side (which would be the left side of the garment).

Ooh, I love trivias like this. Haha! So, for this post's gallery, I'm featuring this pale blue buttondown that I usually borrow from my brother and how I've styled it in the past so far. 

Blazer: Mango

Buttondown: Lacoste

Skirt: Topshop

Shoes: Dorothy Perkins

Bag: Marks & Spencer

Sunnies: Unbranded

Buttondown: Lacoste

Dress: Dorothy Perkins

Shoes: Dorothy Perkins

Buttondown: Lacoste

Top: Aeropostale

Jeans: Mango

Shoes: Dorothy Perkins

Third-Piece Rule

Last month, I came across an article about some retailer companies in the US that encourage employees to be more stylish at work by applying this rule.The third-piece rule is something that is apart from your top and bottom but is not the shoes too. Then what is it?

After putting on the basics, one must think then of a layering piece to add that interesting element in the outfit. True, it can be an outerwear or an accessory. And later on, in our fashion styling class, I would learn it to be called a "focal point." Focal point as my instructor would simply define it, is that center of attention of your outfit. But must it always be an outer layering piece?

The first thing that came to mind when I read that article is this ensemble from last December. What I lacked in photography though was made up in the caption. "Three-parts black" as I have used to be specific.  The lace details of the dress underneath is too subtle but considered obligatory for a bardot crop top.

Yes, I am making the lace detail the focal point of my ensemble. And yes, sometimes the third-piece rule doesn't have to be an outer layer but an intriguing detail that leaves the looker a question, "Is it a part of the top or the skirt?" Now I got their attention. :P

Dress: Warehouse

Top: Topshop

Skirt: Asos

Shoes: Zara

Roooaaarrr!!!

"I've never met a leopard print I didn't like."

One of the outdated fashion rule is to never mix print on print. I believe it was created before for some aesthetic reason but as we all know, rules are meant to be broken.

As quoted above, I love myself a leopard print. But a leopard on leopard? That's just double the fierceness if I dare say. I was really excited when I first visualized this look in my head but hesitated when I first tried it on a regular "dress rehearsal" that I had to abandon the idea completely. It was just too strong for my eyes then.

I gave it another try the week after and, in the words of my fashion styling instructor (yes!!! breaking news, I'm studying :D), "for some supernatural reasons, it worked." Lol! I just had to keep everything else minimal (aka stick to black).

I guess this just proves another point I knew all along. Leopard is a neutral. I've seen it worked on numerous occasions and in different pairings. I guess this is what our ancestors were thinking when they decided to use animal hides for cover (well, practical reasons aside of course!) Aaah, too many takeaways from my styling class. Expect more of that in my future posts. Tata! =)

Dress: H&M

Skirt: Apartment8 Clothing

Shoes: Marks & Spencer

Bag: Charles & Keith

Sunnies: Flea market in Osaka

Emma-fied!

I still remember that moment where we all thought "Wow, look at her. She's all grown-up!"  It's that photo of her that circulated in the web soaking some sun while filming one of her movies two years ago.  And that was that.  Late and early this year I was on the lookout for Lupita Nyong'o's red carpet moments which are let's be honest, not exactly copy-able.  I wasn't looking much for style inspiration but there she is - always coming out everywhere looking so chic and sophisticated.  So when I found this ensemble that she wore for a Vogue Foundation Gala recently, I knew that it wouldn't take long for me to copy her look.  To deviate a bit, I injected my favorite animal print in my look. I've just been Emma-fied! I super duper love her! :)

Blazer: Forever21

Tank top: H&M

Belt: Mango

Trousers: Mango

Clutch: Dorothy Perkins

Shoes: Bebe

Sunnies: Sunnies Studios