20 July 2010

WHAT INSPIRES YOU?

I'm inspired by anything and everything -- people, places, blogs, books, movies, magazines, songs, window displays, paintings, designs, memories, photographs, etc. Not wanting to miss on life, I try to pick something up from every encounter.

Here's a simple example.

Carrie's outfit from the opening scene of the first SATC Movie...


...inspired me to buy this huge flower ring!


The ring reminds me of how each day is blooming with possibilities!

STUFF?

For every one who sees fashion, style as mere "stuff"...

"This... stuff?" Oh. Okay. I see. You think this has nothing to do with you. You go to your closet and you select... I don't know... that lumpy blue sweater, for instance because you're trying to tell the world that you take yourself too seriously to care about what you put on your back. But what you don't know is that that sweater is not just blue, it's not turquoise. It's not lapis. It's actually cerulean. And you're also blithely unaware of the fact that in 2002, Oscar de la Renta did a collection of cerulean gowns. And then I think it was Yves Saint Laurent...wasn't it...who showed cerulean military jackets? I think we need a jacket here. And then cerulean quickly showed up in the collections of eight different designers. And then it, uh, filtered down through the department stores and then trickled on down into some tragic Casual Corner where you, no doubt, fished it out of some clearance bin. However, that blue represents millions of dollars and countless jobs and it's sort of comical how you think that you've made a choice that exempts you from the fashion industry when, in fact, you're wearing the sweater that was selected for you by the people in this room from a pile of stuff. -- Miranda Priestly, The Devil Wears Prada



Watched the movie for the nth time. Like the LBD, I consider it a classic.

On a serious note, I enjoy fashion and style but they are actually "stuff" I can let go of. I've proven that several times, but most especially after Typhoon Ondoy took away some of my "stuff." In the grand scheme of things, I like them a lot but they're not what I hold dear in life. *wink*

MORE NINA NEWS

Internet buzz: Nina Garcia for Target?

Check Stylist.com

And WWD.com

17 July 2010

COSMELAN UPDATE

For anyone suffering from sun spots, age spots, melasma, discoloration, etc, I highly recommend doing a Cosmelan Peel.



My goals before I had the treatment:

1) To get rid of my sun spots.
I know mine's not as bad as theirs (see photos above) but I still had the sun spots which I had to cover with concealer and foundation.

2) To invest on skin care rather than make-up.
I want to be smarter with my hard-earned money.

3) To get rid of my dull skin.
I want to peel! It's been awhile (more than 10 years ago) since my last.

4) It's a Bday Gift to myself.
I'm turning 34 in two weeks.


Highs and Lows of my Cosmelan experience:

1) The first week was the worst. I faced the world with a dark red face. As if I was burnt. LOL

2) Peeling started two days after my Derma applied Mask#1. I love that it was MAJOR! Imagine whole patches of skin (not just bits), peeling off, for one whole week. Loved it!

3) It can be itchy during the first week. I cut my nails to stop me from scratching my face. LOL

4) I'm on my third week now and still peeling. Bits na lang. The sight of new skin assures me I'm getting my money's worth. Yey!

5) Almost 40 of my sun spots are gone. Goodbye!

6) I asked my Derma for my "Before" photos last night. But I won't expose them to the world (unless Cosmelan or Belo pays me, LOL).We're just working on the biggest, oldest spot now. It's lighter but it's still there.

7) My skin is tighter and baby-soft, after three weeks.

8) I have my Baguio blush back! Hello, rosy cheeks.

9) Friends have complimented me for my supposed "nice make-up" when I'm actually wearing none! For three weeks now, I've been putting on only mascara and lipstick.

10) I've tried chemical and diamond peels. None of them gave me these wonderful results.


Some couldn't understand why I went through with the procedure when I have fairly good skin. It's called "skin care," dahlings. One shouldn't take good things for granted. I guess only the kikay and vain will understand. *wink*



HAPPY BIRTHDAY to me! =)

16 July 2010

THEIR STYLE RULES

Words of wisdom from Preview's 2010 Best Dressed list (Preview, July 2010)...

GB
"You have the freedom to be what you want to be for the moment, to dress how you want, and to express how you feel."

AJ
"Shoes are the ultimate exclamation point to every outfit."

IK
"Fashion is meant to be broken, bent, and twisted around to convey the real you -- and only you."

KT
"Fit is everything. Nothing looks right if it doesn't fit right."

IH
"Integrate vintage pieces into every outfit -- they will give it some soul."

AAT
"More is more. Just wear what you want and be confident."

GG
"You are the most important brand you can wear. No one else can wear that."

RA
"I think of outfits as creations rather than individual pieces. I like being able to put things together and come up with something new."

MFG
"Everything is allowed."

LL
"Nobody can dictate what you can or cannot wear."



So what's my style rule?
I don't need to spend so much on fashion. Nasa nagdadala yan.
Fashion is a right. Not a privilege.

What's your style rule?

LOUBOUTIN LOOK-ALIKE

Ann is one of Preview's Best Dressed for 2010.

Her style rule: "Shoes are the ultimate exclamation point to every outfit."


Her Christian Louboutin for 3.1 Phillip Lim


My Look for Less


A lovely gift from my dear cousin K.
All the lady cousins (me, Ate P, C, M) received a pair!
K has them too!
THANK YOU SO MUCH!

15 July 2010

NINA'S NEW BABIES

From People.com

Nina Garcia Expecting Second Child



With the new season of Project Runway beginning later this month, Nina Garcia has a lot on her plate — and is about to add more.

The judge and Marie Claire fashion director, 45, is expecting her second child with husband David Conrod in December, she tells PEOPLE. The new addition will join big brother Lucas Alexander, 3.

In addition to her work on Project Runway and at Marie Claire, Garcia is the author of three books on style, with a fourth, Nina Garcia’s Look Book: What to Wear for Every Occasion, out Aug. 10.

– Sarah Michaud with reporting by Charlotte Triggs



Me: Two Babies on their way -- child #2 and book #4!
I CAN'T WAIT FOR BOOK #4's DELIVERY DATE! =)

13 July 2010

SEPTEMBER ISSUES REVEALED!

Every fashionista should know "September is the January in fashion."


WHO'S COVERING WHAT?
From Fashionista.Com

The (semi-complete) list, to be updated as we receive more confirmations:
Vogue: Halle Berry
Elle: Julia Roberts
InStyle: Hilary Swank
Vanity Fair: Lady Gaga
T: Freida Pinto
W: For Tonchi’s first front-to-back issue, he’s rumored to be looking at young Hollywood including Emma Roberts, ZoĆ« Kravitz and Jennifer Lawrence, according to WWD.
Marie Claire: Mary Kate Olsen
Seventeen: Katy Perry


Note to self: Do a blog entry about the documentary "The September Issue" -- loved it! The DVD was on my "Must Buy from HMV" list during our 2009 HongKong trip (success!).

10 July 2010

F21

Henry Sy must be so happy with SM's new business venture. The opening of the first Forever 21 store in Manila was a huge hit!


Proof of their success:

1) There were long lines before you could get in the store!
It was like the I-Phone 4 launch day. LOL

2) The 2,000 sqm store (huge by Manila's standards) was very crowded

3) Long lines in the fitting room

4) Long lines in the cashier


Scenes from Days 1 & 2:

1) The chocolate store (Cocoa?) in front of F21 is benefiting from its success.
I'd often see this candy store empty but now, it's surrounded by waiting husbands, boyfriends, fathers, brothers, sons. Oh, the taste of sweet success!

2) The boyfriends, husbands, fathers inside the store looked so bored. LOL.
Why can't they be like my hubby? Guys, go to the bookstore or the gadget stores while your ladies shop. Just meet up for lunch / dinner / coffee later.

3) Moms were ignoring their bored crying children.

4) Moms asked Yayas to line up for them.

5) Ladies trying on clothes outside the fitting rooms, for every one to see.


My loot:

1) Got me another LBD. In lace.



2) Very pretty but affordable accessories.

3) The oxford lace-ups I saw online aren't available in Manila. Sigh.


Hooray for cheap chic finds!


PS
Dear Mr. Henry Sy,
Can you also please bring H&M to Manila?

BLUE AND GOLD

This photo from The Sartorialist reminds me of my high school's colors.



"The blue and gold of Maryknoll (aka Miriam)
Will keep our spirits flying high
Wherever we are, wherever we'll be
Faithful always be to thee..."

Such a stand-out color combination!

DOMESTICATED DIVA

The Stylist's headline: "Gwyneth Paltrow Gets Domestic for Vogue, Cooks in Evening Gowns."


Well, I wear my pearls while doing housework. =)
I remember making this a Facebook status and it got a lot of "Likes." LOL

09 July 2010

DREW'S DRESS

Me likey!



Will try to find me a Look for Less. =)

07 July 2010

FASHION FATIGUE

After writing about The Classics, I got to read Pauline Juan's Editor's Note on being too safe with ones choices.

"(Others) choose style over fashion. They cull inspiration from Audrey Hepburn, Jackie O., or some other style paragon and recreate a classic, timeless look. The trouble with going down this route is that you end up with a look everyone's seen before, and because you're channeling dead '60s icons, you start to look their age too."**

This made me laugh out loud! Very brilliant reminder (warning?) from one of the Pinoy fashion insiders I look up to (I'm a fan of Preview).


**"When Fashion Fatigue Strikes," Pauline Juan, Preview, July 2010




04 July 2010

THE CLASSICS

I have (almost) nine of Nina's ten essentials:

1) LBD
Check!
Have a few.
My favorite: a Zara A-line dress I got on sale

2) A classic men's white shirt
Check!

3) Cashmere cardigan and turtleneck
Cardigan and turtleneck, check!
But not the cashmere. Mine's cotton.

4) A Trench Coat
Check! But mine's not yet the perfect material.

5) Denim
Check!
My favorite pair: My Viktor's (local designer).
Whenever I wear it, people say my legs look so long and slim.
I'll choose to believe, hehe.

6) A man's classic watch
Still searching...

7) Diamonds
Check!

8) Ballet Flats
Check! Check! Check!
They're my footwear of choice.
I have 4 black pairs, 1 silver, 1 brown, 1 red, 1 gold.

9) A classic high-heel pump
Check!

10) A great bag
Shoulder Bag: Check! And it's huge! I'm a big bag girl.
Clutch: Check!
Hand Bag with chain-link strap: Check!
Must-Haves: None yet


The ultimate icon of Classic Style...


And fashion items inspired by her...


INVEST IN THE BONES

"These ten staples transcend time, trends and travel. They can go from day to night, season to season, and they can still be worn five years from now. These are the classics. And they work just as well in New York, Paris, Tokyo and Sydney.

THE LITTLE BLACK DRESS
The ultimate blank canvass. In its simplicity, it makes you look effortlessly stylish. In its sophistication, it makes you look endlessly elegant.

Fashion legend has it that Coco Chanel created the first little black dress. It represents all that Chanel stood for: comfort, practicality, and self-assured sexiness.


A CLASSIC MEN'S WHITE SHIRT
It can be paired with jeans (Jackie O in Hyannis), black pants (Uma Thurman in Pulp Fiction), a long skirt (Audrey Hepburn in Roman Holiday), a gown (Sharon Stone on the red carpet). It is also incredibly useful to cover up a bad outfit when entering a good hotel (Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman).


CASHMERE CARDIGAN OR TURTLENECK
Perfect over anything -- a dress, a t-shirt, a button-down shirt -- but also incredibly sexy when worn alone, ala Marilyn Monroe.


A TRENCH COAT
A classic trench can work in any kind of weather and goes well with almost anything (or almost nothing if you are feeling very film noir).

The trench coat was first created by Thomas Burberry for the British army officers in WWI. It was designed to keep them warm and dry in the trenches (hence the name).


DENIM
There is something about jeans that gives a girl an aura of instant style. They are simple and practical. Sexy and perfect. Rebellious and elegant. They are the most versatile, most perfect item. The most alluring part about denim is that it can dress anything down and make even the most uptight items look relaxed.


A MAN'S CLASSIC WATCH
Women's watches tend to change according to trends, but a classic man's watch is timeless and looks great on a woman's wrist. It makes a statement and breaks the rules in an unexpected but subtle way. It's another great item to "borrow" from a boyfriend / husband / father / friend.


DIAMONDS
You can't go wrong here. They are perfect for day or night, casual or dressy, winter or summer, with other jewels, or not. Fake is fine.


BALLET FLATS
There are a few moments (very few) when you have to give your heels the boot in the name of practicality or shopping strategy.

Ballet flats, as the name suggests, were inspired by ballet dancers. They were introduced in France by Repetto, an American company that specialized in dance wear. Capezio, another American dance-wear company, ran with it and in 1949 created a pair of patent leather flats with ankle ribbons. In the 1950s designers began to create their own variations on the shoe, and actresses began wearing them on screen (Audrey Hepburn and Brigitte Bardot). Ballet flats became a staple in every woman's closet and have helped us navigate tricky terrain ever since.


A CLASSIC HIGH-HEEL PUMP
I am a big supporter of buying outrageous, impractical, bold shoes. I also think that you should have at least once classic high-heel that you can rely on for those times when that fierce red patent leather stiletto won't do.


A GREAT BAG
The bag, like the shoe, is a great place to have fun and play with colors, textures and shapes. But like the shoe, you should have at least one classic bag that will go with you anywhere.

Every woman should have:
*A tote or shoulder bag for daytime and carrying around almost everything
*A clutch for night time and carrying around almost nothing
*A medium-sized handbag, with a chain-link strap for those times in between
*The Must-Have Bag: Chanel 2.55, Louis Vuitton Speedy, Gucci's Jackie O., Hermes Birkin"



--The Basics, The Little Black Book of Style, Nina Garcia

03 July 2010

HOW TO EDIT

"Be an editor.

Your closet should only contain amazing choices -- it is much easier to be inspired when you see five remarkable pieces than when you see twenty-five pieces and twenty of them are unremarkable. Pick out those key items and get rid of the rest.

Mornings are rough enough; help yourself out a little bit. Edit your closet, then edit your shopping habits, and I promise you that being stylish will become much easier.

1) Throw out what you don't wear and what doesn't look good on you.

2) Buy the right size.
If you're a size 8, do not buy a size 6 "because you are going to lose weight."

3) Don't be sucked in by the sale tag.
Paying $100 for a pair of jeans that cost $200 is a great deal. But if you are never going to wear those jeans, you don't need them, or really even like them, that's a very expensive deal.

4) Don't play it too safe.
Fashion should be fun! Twenty black skirts tend to offer little inspiration. One white beaded vintage skirt offers a lot.

5) Do not buy according to the trends.
Wear what suits you and what makes you comfortable.

6) Be ruthless when you edit.
If you haven't worn them in years, you will never wear them again."

THE MORE YOU KNOW, THE LESS YOU NEED. -- Aboriginal saying



--Chapter Two, The Basics, The Little Black Book of Style, Nina Garcia

I'M BOOKED!

My current reads...

Encore! Encore!
1) "The Little Black Book of Style," Nina Garcia
2) "The One Hundred," Nina Garcia
3) "The Style Strategy," Nina Garcia
4) "Eat, Pray, Love," Elizabeth Gilbert


I'm going through Nina's books over and over...naturally! This blog exists because of these titles, my style inspirations.

As for "Eat, Pray, Love," I really enjoyed reading the title that's why I find myself scanning through my favorite lines again and again. Can't wait to see the movie adaptation starring Julia Roberts. I think it's showing next month. Gilbert's writing is so raw, so real, I often find myself saying, "I so know what you mean."

"A meditation on love in its many forms -- love of food, language, humanity, God, and most meaningful for Gilbert, love of self..." (LA Times)



Still reading...
1) "The Sartorialist"


I'm a fan of his blog. So when the book came out, of course, I had to have a copy! I enjoy looking at the photos. Such stylish people! I wonder if a Filipino has made it to The Sartorialist...




Still reading...
2) Preview magazine June 2010
3) Glamour magazine June 2010
4) Glamour magazine July 2010


I never finish my magazines in one sitting.




Just finished...
1) "Sex and the City 2. The stories. The fashion. The adventure."


Like the film, there's no point in doing a review / critique of the book. Just have fun with it (it's among the things in life we shouldn't take seriously)! I'll try to do a separate blog entry about this.




Reading next...
1) "Committed," Elizabeth Gilbert


Because I loved "Eat, Pray, Love," I'm excited for Liz's follow-up, "Committed." I'll probably start tonight.



What's your reading style?

02 July 2010

CHANNELING CHANEL

I'm ecstatic over my Zara sale find -- a navy jacket channeling Chanel!


Classic. Iconic. Chic. As the BagSnob says, "There is no other piece of clothing that transcends time, style and age as gracefully..." But since I can't afford a Chanel (yet!), my "inspired-by" find is happiness! =)

Photos from The Secrets of The Chanel Jacket exhibit...




Chanel Jacket from the runway...

COIN CHARMS

I'm not quite sure where my love for coin charms started.

Could it be something I got from my Mama? She's so into it that my Papa would often gift her with coin jewelry. But their style's not always for me. I want mine vintage-looking, more rustic than the belly-dancing / Middle Eastern / Saudi gold style. LOL

Wishing for Bryan Boy's Dolce & Gabbana necklace...


My bargain MNG find, a silver bracelet...


My H&M necklace...


Someone stylish thought it was vintage!


Would love to have this vintage Chanel charm bracelet...


And in a perfect world, I'll have the Tiffany charm bracelet, with a much bigger charm -- maybe twice the size of the one on the picture.