Tricia Will Go Places | Tricia Gosingtian

(Romwe top and shorts, S&H heels, Bayo glasses, LV bag, Lovisa earrings, ClubCouture cuff) Hype this look on Lookbook here.

The power of red lips! I can’t believe I am just joining the red lipstick bandwagon now! After much encouragement from my make-up artist friends, I decided to wear red lipstick for consecutive days to be able to get used to it. It really does create a totally different look, especially on someone like me whose comfort zone switches from nude to pink lips only.

Here I am wearing MAC Ruby Woo (with clear gloss) to complement my minimalist black and white outfit. I feel like red lipstick makes this rather simple outfit seem fierce and sophisticated without having to pile on accessories to achieve that effect.

Also, am I the only one who thinks that Ruby Woo is *the* universally perfect red? Thanks to Reggie for always being my red lipstick inspiration. I wouldn’t have discovered this lipstick if it weren’t for her.

Anyhow, try to imagine me wearing this outfit but with my usual pink blush and pink lipstick. So different, right? Here are some tips if you want to try red lips too:

1) Keep your eye make-up to a minimum. Avoid looking like a clown by keeping your lids and lower lashline free from anything heavy and dark. Red lips work best with just eyeliner, mascara, and a neutral barely-there eyeshadow.

2) Choose a shade that works best for your skin tone. Warmer reds are generally more flattering on medium/olive-toned Asians. 

I know I haven’t updated my blog for a few days now since I’m quite busy with other work (mostly post-processing and photography-related work), but don’t fret as I’ll be trying to post more often after this! I’ll be out of the country again starting this weekend, so I’ll definitely be queueing all the Lookbook outfits that I haven’t posted here yet. Watch out for my last Paris post too! I’m so excited to share it with all of you.

(Just G top and shorts, Tonic bag and shoes) Hype this look on Lookbook here.

One of my most favorite no-brainer outfits is this loose top and short shorts combination. There is no harm in getting basic button-downs in all the possible colors, since they will never go out of the style! Plus, they are appropriate for most occasions too. Instant “smart” effect! On a casual day, I’d tuck the shirt inside my shorts and wear ballet flats. On a more dressy day, I’d wear this with a blazer, and a classic pair of heels. I can also imagine pairing this with flip flops and a straw hat to the beach.

What we usually consider “plain” can actually work to your advantage! I personally love wearing casual basics because not only are they comfortable, but they’re the kind of clothes that go with ANYTHING. These bags and shoes are so bold and striking, that only a basic outfit can bring out their fullest potential. 

I can never stress enough how important it is to have basics in your closet. One can dress up or dress down just by adding complementing accessories. This particular shorts and button-down look is, I think, one of the most ideal templates for all those who have a lot of bags and shoes, but not a lot of tops and bottoms in their own personal collection.

Sponsored post.

(EMODA top and hair band, Zara pants, FashionCookie ShoeAvenue wedges, 37LA book clutch, from Singapore spikes bracelet) Hype this look on Lookbook here.

Mentioning EMODA for the nth time because I absolutely love the brand from the bottom of my heart! I got a few goodies from them a few months ago, thanks to Namiko-san from the EMODA Global Webstore. I almost cried when I got a message from her! For some reason, Japan always makes me cry tears of joy - I still vividly remember that moment years ago when I was able to taste my first bento in Tokyo, and it was so good that I just spontaneously shed a tear… in public! 

Anyhow, Namiko-san sent me a printed blazer (the oversized one I keep on wearing on my Instagram), a pearl collar top in my favorite blue color, as well as a casual rose-printed peplum top that was then being sold in the Japanese Webstore. 

I did, however, order some more when I found out they had a 50% off sale recently! This box top was part of my impulsive shopping spree. I almost never do any real online shopping, but… it’s freaking EMODA! *flails*

My first order arrived after 5 days or so, and I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to hoard everything else that I liked before they ran out of stocks. I’m still waiting for my second package to arrive some time this week. The shipping fee isn’t so bad considering that EMS delivers it straight to your doorstep. I know I would’ve saved money if I just ordered it all at the same time, but I wanted to double-check how long it would take for them to process my credit card payment, how long it would take for the package to arrive, etc. When it comes to online shopping, I’d rather be safe than be sorry! And people of the Philippines, you definitely won’t be sorry with EMODA’s Global Webstore! 

I am not embarrassed to say that I stalk all of the EMODA staff blogs almost everyday! I have them all bookmarked on my iPhone. Be scared, lol.

When I saw all the colors of this top appearing on everyone’s blogs, I was pretty much set that I had to get my hands it somehow. The boxy silhouette is a unique twist to the basic black top that we all consider a wardrobe staple. EMODA press assistant Erina Abe wore this top with white pants and a metallic necklace. I put my own flavor to it by wearing printed floral pants, and the black version of the silver wedges I spotted in EMODA’s “Mode Exotic” Spring Summer 2012 collection. 

Fell in love with this top too much that I got it in blue as well. I hope there are still stocks left for this top, in case you’re interested in getting one for yourself! Both the box top and the hair band are 50% off right now. Shopaholics and Japanese and MODE fashion enthusiasts, you know what to do next. ATTACK!

(EMODA top and headband, from Singapore skirt, Twins Closet wedges, San-Sue bag) Hype this look on Lookbook here.

Quick post! Pair something girly like florals with something badass like leather, and this is what you’ll get - two opposite things that surprisingly work well together.

Isn’t this brown leatherette skirt such a steal? I found it at a random store in Cineleisure Orchard one night, just before I headed back to my hotel to call it a day. Talk about luck! Now, all I need now is a black pleated version of this skirt. H&M released it a few seasons ago, but it got sold out before I knew it. I did, however, find a leatherette circle skirt at Forever 21 yesterday, so do go to the nearest store before everyone else!

I’m sure by now you’ve already seen Bayo’s new “A Colorful Life” campaign all over the place! How do you like it so far? I personally love the styling on all of Jasmine’s photos, and I’m so happy they didn’t disregard black and white too! *biased forever*

To see what the campaign was all about, I dropped by the nearest store to get a few pieces from the new collection for myself. Everything I picked was super versatile that I managed to come up with three different outfits with primary colors as the theme! 

(Bayo jacket and pants) Hype this look on Lookbook here.

Still obsessed with blue. This jacket is one of my most overused items in my closet nowadays. I wish they had it in other colors too!

I love these printed pants with a very loose silhouette. Such a refreshing change from all the printed skinny bottoms that I’m always wearing. Pair it with heels and it can create a chic office-appropriate look.

Matching blue nails. <3

(Bayo top and shorts, Forever 21 heels, Yesstyle headband, Plusminustimesdivide collar chain) Hype this look on Lookbook here.

Hello to my first ever pair of bright red shorts! I paired it with a crisp, white, collared shirt and loafer heels to attempt to look like a little school girl.

Added a collar chain…

…and a spiked headband (that’s all the rage right now!) to add edgy, rocker elements.

(Bayo glasses and pants, Romwe top, Zara heels, Team Manila ambassador pin) Hype this look on Lookbook here.

Yellow pants and star prints for a laid-back, casual look that you can wear while you go on a coffee date with your girl friends. 

Can you tell that this is inspired by ulzzang and Korean fashion? 

Pastel yellow pants reminiscent of Sooyoung from SNSD’s Gee days.

A pin from Team Manila’s recent campaign. It’s about time someone thought of a movement to spread good vibes in Manila! Keep positivity trending everyday. 

I hope you liked these three coordinates from Bayo’s newest collection. Live a colorful life and you’re off to a good start!

Sponsored post.

(Motel Rocks pants, Gowigasa top, Sheinside jacket, San-Sue bag, Zara heels) Hype this look on Lookbook here.

This is me clearly taking advantage of the cold(er) weather! For this outfit, I paired my new printed bottoms with a faux leather jacket to create a playful and casual look that I was able to wear day and night.

Because I am very predictable in terms of my fashion choices, it’s already probably no surprise that this is mostly black and white again, with yellow color accent. 

My supposed attempt to bring something new to the table was this maroon-colored bag, which turned out to still be very “me”, considering I practically wore this color almost everyday when the year started! 

How do you like this look? I was inspired by the kind of fashion I saw in Paris while I was there last April! Most of the girls in the streets wore all sorts of chic leather jackets which they styled in different ways. Of course this jacket isn’t real leather, but it totally works here in tropical Manila since it doesn’t give off the same amount of heat as real leather, making it still very wearable on gloomier days!

(Storets shorts, Topshop top, Dazzled Bags satchel, from New York wedges, from Singapore necklace and bracelet) Hype this look on Lookbook here.

Quick post!

I have a slight obsession with anything that is silver nowadays. Luckily, I was able to score this shiny silver glitter top at Topshop Singapore last month, with a really, really good price tag attached to it. It was 70% off, and I was pretty sure my encounter with it was love at first sight.

I didn’t care that it was too big for me, because I like wearing loose clothes anyway. I didn’t care if it had a few undone stitches at the bottom, because I could always hide them by tucking them in. Sure, it was an impulse purchase, but I find myself wearing it too often nowadays that it makes me so proud of myself for being able to find something so nice at a bargain price!

This was my first coordinate wearing it shortly after I got back to Manila. Now that it’s the second half of the year already, with the weather is slowly cooler and the days are getting shorter, I’m back to my “Black, white and gray! All day, everyday!” mode. It’s never too early to start building up your Fall/Winter closet, in time for the chilly -ber months. 

Hype this look on Lookbook here.

It’s been said that every girl must have at least one little black dress for her closet. I totally agree! Lucky for us, little black dresses come in different styles so you’re not only limited to ones like bodycon dresses that don’t fit most body types. Personally, most of my little black dresses are the sweet and casual type, complete with lace and poofy skirt details that give the illusion of a fuller bottom, as well as that certain look that makes it totally possible to wear with flats.

This one is my newest find from Apartment 8, and it is quite interesting as it is a hybrid between a bodycon dress (which I never wear) and a peplum dress (which I love). I can never emphasize enough how peplum is such a lifesaver for people who have straight bodies like me!

To attempt to make this look more polished and put together, I paired my little black dress with a black and gold bag and pearl accessories ala Audrey Hepburn.

What I love about little black dresses the most is that you can wear them during the day without looking overly done, and also at night without looking underdressed even with the littlest accessories. If you haven’t gotten an LBD for yourself yet, you should head to your favorite store right now to find the perfect one for you! 

Sponsored post.

(Zara top and bag, Apartment 8 leggings, Michael Antonio heels) Hype this look on Lookbook here.

Recently I’ve been a little more biased towards dressing up like this, instead of the usual cutesy socks-and-heels and florals type of fashion that I used to often don. But of course, I still make sure I stay true to my “sophisti-cute” style. And peplum tops are the perfect combination of sophistication and cuteness!

Peplum is such a huge trend nowadays! I’ve always been a fan of this kind of silhouette, where there is some sort of winged out part in the waist or hip area. Not only does it give you more room to pig out and eat without being conscious of your tummy, but it’s heaven’s gift for people like me with small hips. 

Pair it with a classy pair of printed leggings, and you’ve got yourself a very classy ensemble that highlights your womanly figure. Peplum tops are so sexy and sweet at the same time, yes? It’s a nice alternative to babydoll dresses too.

A definite must-have for this season! 

Château de Versailles was the official residence of the kings of France from 1682 until 1790, and is considered as one of the finest, most superb examples of French Baroque architecture. Most of us now recognize this place for its association to Marie Antoinette and Louis XIV. 

I think it would be a sin to skip this place if you’re a tourist in France! Fortunately, from the heart of Paris, it only takes a 30 minute train ride before you can witness the splendor of this place. The best thing about Versailles, I believe, is that it is so massive and ornate that it definitely will make you blurt out, “Humans are too amazing!”

Early morning view in front of Versailles. 

The Sun King, and also the longest-reigning king in European history, reigning for 72 years and 110 days. If you’re a fan of Alexandre Dumas, you’d recognize Louis XIV as the twin brother of The Man In The Iron Mask!

Me at the Marble Court. I look like I was just photoshopped in!

The Golden Gates of Versailles.

So many people were taking pictures of the gates from outside. Why not take a picture from inside? *ninja photographer mode*

Me and my prince-like outfit! No one was taking pictures from this side of the gates, so I took the liberty to do a funny leg pose.

The Chapels of Versailles, where Marie Antoinette married Louis XVI.

Inside each room, you can find beautiful oil paintings on the ceilings. Here is Apothèse d’Hercule (Apotheosis of Hercules, where this room’s name, Salon of Hercules, was derived from) by François Le Moyne. He committed suicide after painting it. :(

The Salon of Abundance.

The Mars Salon where the paintings are all military-themed.

Diana’s Salon.

Chandelier details.

Hall of Mirrors / Galerie des Glaces, one of the most popular places in the world! Louis XIV always passed by this hall to go from his private apartment to the chapel.

Mirrors everywhere.

The mirror at the Queen’s Bedchamber. This has got to be my favorite room in the whole of Versailles. You’ll see why in the next few pictures.

To say that this room has so many flowers is an understatement! Very fitting for Marie Antoinette, yes? 

The headboard. If you look closely, there is combined M and A in the middle.

Beautiful fabric. How grand! Can I stay here forever?

Fidelity, Charity, Prudence and Generosity were depicted in the 4 gray paintings in the ceiling (you can see one in this picture).

One of the gardens in Versailles.

Not entirely related to Versailles, but they had Angelina in one of the rooms so I was tempted to… well, eat cake.

“Qu’ils mangent de la brioche!” is said to not have been Marie Antoinette’s line though! There have been lots of speculation that “Let them eat cake!” was uttered by another great princess. Oh well!

So many people! It’s a good thing we were free to take pictures in Versailles. Now, I wish Windsor Castle could also allow picture taking at the State Apartments…

The Latona Basin, found in between the Palace of Versailles and the Grand Canal (also visible in this picture).

Latona, where the statue on top of the fountain was based on, turned the Lycean peasants into frogs when they refused to give her water.

Looks like it could be a scene from a movie.

Spotted a couple taking a stroll from far away.

Ducks at the Grand Canal.

Versailles is HUGE. You definitely can’t walk through the whole of it in a day, especially if you’re not going to pay extra for a cart. Too bad all the carts were sold out when were were there because it was raining pretty hard. :(

One of the rooms at Petit Trianon. Not too many pictures from this place because it was honestly too plain compared to the Palace of Versailles. A good spot to still visit if you have a lot of extra time.

But it started raining so hard by the end of the afternoon that everyone, including us, just decided to call it a day. Well, as long as you visit the main areas, you’re pretty much good to go. I wish I could visit this place again next time, when the weather is a lot better!

Dropped by Starbucks before heading back to central Paris.

Hope you liked that short tour of Versailles! I’ll be posting more from my Paris trip next weekend. I hope I can do travel posts on a weekly basis! <3

(Zara top, Romwe pants, Chicwish bag, Comfit shoes, from Singapore earrings and necklace) Hype this look on Lookbook here.

Like the new look? Bold lippies can complement outfits, especially simple ensembles that still need an extra kick of color. MAC Morange is a bright orange/coral that I honestly only purchased because I saw Ena Matsumoto wearing it in one of my 2011 Japanese magazine issues. Anything that she wears instantly becomes super chic and sophisticated! I’m always fangirling about her in my blog because she is one of my fashion icons!

Morange gives me a pretty good tan, yes? So ideal for dressy, summer outfits, and for girls who aren’t used to wearing striking colored lipstick but want to add more drama to their look. 

It’s always out of stock here in Manila, but I got my hands on it when I went to DFS Galleria in Singapore, a place that I always go to because you can get a GST refund if you purchase a minimum of S$100! I’m such a sucker for these things. It really saves you a lot of money as a tourist. I use the refund to buy more stuff at the airport. *evil laugh*

I had a semi-awkward moment while wearing this! I go into a restaurant for dinner, and a girl sits on the table beside mine… wearing the mint version of the same top. 

Well, what can I say? The girl has good taste, lol. *optimism*

Matching yellow bag and shoes! It’s already second nature to me to resort to similarly colored bags and shoes, especially when I’m running out of time to think about what to wear. It’s one of those no brainer things that always seem to work!

Watch out for my Versailles post soon. I’m really trying to schedule at least one travel post per weekend! Something to look forward to after a stressful week at work or school!

Instagram is totally ruining my blog and my photography, but I still love it anyway. I am so torn! I’ve already told the story on how my picture-taking skills have drastically changed ever since I switched from a Blackberry to an iPhone 4S last December, but I still want to mention that nothing has changed since then… except probably my even greater addiction to Instagram. I never imagined the day would come when these words would escape my mouth - “I won’t bring my camera today. I have my iPhone anyway.” OMG, RIGHT? Why must Apple always create perfect products!?

Anyhow, since it’s such a huge part of my Internet life recently, I figured I should share some of my iPhone pictures here, for those who don’t have iPhones or Androids. Plus, this is really where it’s all happening. I guess there’s this sense of realness on my Instagram that I only wish my actual blog could also have.

So I’m calling this my first ever “Instagram Photo Dump”. Actually, I was thinking of naming it something funnier, like “Instawillgoplaces”, but then again my dream of being taken seriously may never be fulfilled anymore!

By the way, most of the pictures here were taken with Hipstamatic, ClassicINSTA and Camera360.

Dory and Mushroom pasta from Pasta de Waraku in Novena Square 2, from my Singapore trip last July. I stayed alone at Hotel Ibis in Novena, which was about 10 minutes away from the nearest mall.

(In case I haven’t shared it yet, my no fail comfort food is anything with any or all of the following: mushroom, cheese and egg.)

Also in Singapore! One of the best salads I’ve ever tried in my life. Seared tofu and smoked mushroom salad from TCC. 

Oh wait, I just may be biased because it has mushroom in it.

Beef and foie gras at Sun with Moon Japanese Dining and Cafe at Wheelock Place. NOM.

I had a quick dinner with Jingna (also known as zemotion from dA) who was the sweetest, nicest and not to mention, most talented person ever. We immediately clicked because of so many geeky things that we both coincidentally love. These included travel, photography, art, anime and video games. 

APPLE, JUST TAKE ALL MY MONEY! Crappy front camera has its advantages too - no blemishes, for one. Plus the app filters to make your skin look nicer also work.

I don’t know what I’ll do if they finally create an iPhone with a good front camera!

We shared this green tea tiramisu before parting ways. </3 Miss you already, dear!

Also in Singapore, I managed to get myself the new Canon pancake lens at the airport. Finally, the solution to my serious back problems (caused by my 24-70L).

Someone bring Hada Labo (and the whole of Sasa) to Manila! I swear by their products, and it saddens me that I have to wait for my next Asia trip every time I run out! #firstworldproblems

MAC Morange and Ruby Woo, two lipsticks that you would never imagine me buying. Oddly, it’s always out of stock here in Manila…

When I got back, I just continued stuffing myself with food. This is Spaghetti Tavolara at Pagliacci. 

Yup, it’s crab fat.

I had a quick meal with my brother at Starbucks a few weeks ago, just before I got about 20 tape-in extensions on my hair, for volume’s sake.

Wild mushroom with emmenthal cheese croissant = winner. And you know exactly why.

If you’re wondering what my default Starbucks drink is, I’ll tell you but I hope you guys can try it out yourself and tell me what you think by commenting in this post. It’s iced white chocolate americano with a shot of half and half (breve), on the rocks. It sounds complicated but it’s reaaaaaaaaaally good.

My favorite soft shell crab roll at Kogi Bulgogi. Posting so you can see WHY it’s so convenient to just take pictures with your iPhone. If it can capture the slightest bit of detail without having to artificially light it…

Macarons make me happy! These colorful ones are from Chez Karine in Serendra. I’ve been posting macarons on my Instagram for the longest time now, and for some reason they get the highest likes. I now have a “macaron theory” where pictures of macarons automatically appear on Instagram’s popular page.

Silly, but it happens every single time I do it.

I also regularly post pictures of my nails on Instagram. The Chanel logo ended up looking like a distorted DC logo, unfortunately. This one didn’t last more than a week because black is super tricky and it becomes so obvious when it gets chipped.

My favorite blue, and a single silver nail. Someone’s excited for Christmas!

Then I recently had Shellac Romantique gel nails (from Dashing Diva) because I wanted to try long nails out for a change, and I couldn’t risk my nails breaking because of my carelessness. Someone commented on my Facebook that the ingredients of Shellac are pretty harmful… so I guess I won’t try it out again any time soon. D:

Comfy airport outfit for my SG-MNL flight. EMODA blazer, Mango top, Romwe shorts, Kate Spade bag.

A sophisticated outfit I wore for a magazine shoot! Zara top, Dorothy Perkins belt, Romwe skirt.

Simple MODE style when I went shopping at MOA with my family. HEIR top, Topshop pants, FashionCookie ShoeAvenue heels.

Another outfit for a shoot with Edric! Dress from Korean Rose, heels from Comfit.

My outfit for Stratmark at the SM Arena where I spoke in front of 6,000 students! H&M top, Far East Plaza skirt, Sugarfree shoes, Kate Spade bag, Yhansy necklace.

An outfit I wore on a day of pull-out/styling errands. Topshop top, Mango cardigan, Romwe shorts, Primadonna flatforms, Kate Spade bag.

Phew! Wasn’t that a lot? I currently have a total of 600 photos on my Instagram (and 73,000 followers - YAY), so just imagine how much longer this would be if I posted everything. If you want to see the rest, just follow “tgosingtian” or just wait for my occasional photo dumps here. INSTAGRAM IS THE NEW BLOGGING.

(Club Couture sailor romper, Asian Vogue heels) Hype this look on Lookbook here.

Channel your inner pin-up girl by donning a sailor romper.

Nautical fashion isn’t even a “trend” anymore, I think. It’s always gonna be around because it’s just too adorable to ever outgrow. 

Match it with vintage-inspired sunnies for a more playful vibe.

(Freedom Manila top and shorts, H&M jacket, S&H shoes, Mauve bracelets) Hype this look on Lookbook here.

I knew I said I was going to take a break from wearing brights and pastels, but the rainy season just makes you want to fight the gloominess in every way possible. The most basic thing I can do is, well, express it with fashion!

Speaking of the rainy season, it’s finally time to get your jackets out of your closet! This denim jacket is from H&M’s newest collection, and I love how it’s long and how it doesn’t have a collar. It’s all in the details.

Rarely do I wear fitted bottoms, but these shorts were just too adorable to only end up being covered by my blue velvety top. Do they look familiar? It’s because I have the same one in orange!

Mint is one of the “it” colors of 2012, if not “the” color of the year, and I don’t think I can get over it any time soon. Such a classy color that makes a rather simple outfit stand out!

After my short trip to London, my family and I headed straight to Paris via Eurostar!

Steam punk vibe at the station. It was love at first sight.

Different trains arriving from different places such as Amsterdam and Brussels. It’s so easy to travel from one place to another while you’re in Europe! Wish I could say the same about Asia! My craziest dream is for a train/tunnel to magically appear from Manila to Tokyo.

Ah, la belle Paris!

As usual, we walked around the area of our hotel after leaving our stuff in our rooms. We stayed at Hotel Saint Petersbourg at 33-35 Rue de Caumartin, which is a humble place that’s only one block away from the Opera and the subway. Excellent location! It’s also near shopping places such as Galeries Lafayette and Printemps.

We passed by an Office du Tourisme to get our bearings. You can get almost all your tickets to all the famous tourist spots here. Talk about convenient!

From here on, I couldn’t help but snap pictures at almost every corner. 

Ministère de la Justice at Place Vendome.

Librairie Galignani in rue de Rivoli. It is the first English bookshop established on the continent! It’s been around since the early 19th century.

When in Paris, eat macarons. I think I ate macarons everyday when I was there. I tried Pierre Hermé, Angelina, and of course Ladurée! 

So many people having their afternoon tea and cake. Angelina (formerly known as Rumpelmayers) was once a favorite of Audrey Hepburn and Coco Chanel.

I can stare at this the whole day. I loved all the macarons so much that I had to buy some more before heading back to Manila. My tummy was very satisfied.

Hello there, little fella!

Jardin des Tuileries, a public garden located between the Louvre Museum and the Place de la Concorde. There weren’t a lot of people when I went there because it was so windy and rainy.

My hair after being subjected to x number of hours of different weather conditions. Nothing like a little red lipstick to save a bad hair day.

River cruise! Vedettes du Pont Neuf. Pont Neuf is the oldest standing bridge across the river Seine.

Rue du Bac, near Musée d’Orsay.

The flag of France. The Tricolour.

Gare d’Orsay is a former Paris railway station and hotel. Now, we just know it as Musée d’Orsay, the famous art museum.

In front of Musée d’Orsay. Went here on another day, so more pictures of this place in another post.

Pretty French buildings.

Even tree branches are photogenic in Paris.

Feels and looks like a dream. 

Had afternoon coffee (al fresco) at a small cafe where everyone was too nice! One of the waitresses knew how to speak in English so she patiently took our orders and even complimented us for looking cute. Little did she know that she was the cutest one!

One of my favorite landscape photos from my Paris trip. Here’s a good view of the Eiffel Tower, the River Seine, and the Pont Alexandre III arch bridge. 

Thank God we found someone who could understand English!

Hotel des invalides and Dome des invalides. Louis XIV built Hotel des invalides in the 17th century to serve as a home for invalid war veterans. Now it’s a war museum. 

Dome des invalides is the burial place of Napoleon, two of his brothers and his son Napoleon II. More pictures of this place in another post!

Place de la Concorde, one of the major public squares in Paris.

Here you can find the Obelisk of Luxor, another one of the three Ancient Egyptian obelisks. I already posted a photo of the London Cleopatra’s Needle before, so I only need a photo of the one in New York to complete the series! Back in early 2011, I wasn’t able to take a lot of pictures and go around Central Park because of my 38-39 degree fever. Hopefully I can come back soon, yes?

Stylish Parisian pedestrians (and some tourists!)

L’église de la Madeleine. The Madeleine is a parish of the Archdiocese of Paris.

Every fashion fan should know the significance of 31 rue Cambon. Clue: She invented the concept of the modern boutique… and of course, N°5.

The Opera by day.

Guess where I am?

Just in time for the lights! I’ve always preferred the Louvre when it’s dramatically lit up in the evening. 

Time for fill our empty stomachs with classic French food!

But first we had apéritifs with my mom’s former student and my former schoolmate (he went to Ateneo for a few months as an exchange student) Frédéric, who introduced us to Sauternes. Sweet wine will be the death of me! Someone bring this to Manila!

The Opera by night.

I absolutely love Paris at night. It’s like it completely transforms into another place! Nothing can ever compare. Everything is so wonderfully lit, and the fact that there are so many places with Paris with a very rich history makes it all the more magical.

Up next: Versailles!

(South Sartorial blazer and shorts set, The Posh Wardrobe top, Esperanza boots, Ferreted accessories) Hype this look on Lookbook here.

Blazer sets don’t always have to be plain and formal. Here’s a pretty cool twist to the trend: matching bold colors and prints, and on shorts, not trousers.

This entry has been queued on my Tumblr for the longest time. You see, I’ve been testing different things out with my blog layout recently so everything’s been pretty much in a temporary state. Feedback so I can improve the readability is greatly appreciated, however! Are the “continue reading” cuts more convenient and Internet-connection-friendly? I kind of patterned it from Livejournal because I generally find everything (I’m still there for the communities!) so much easier to read there. Or would you rather have everything load without having to click on a link even if it means a much slower loading time? My travel entries can go up to 50 pictures, and with my higher-res 620x413 pictures, I don’t know if a lot of people’s computers can handle it. I *did* notice that people have been commenting more frequently now though, even if my Tumblr notes have very much decreased. You win some, you lose some, I guess?

(Sheinside top, Zara skirt, CMG heels, 37LA book clutch, Yhansy necklace, Dorothy Perkins belt, Ferreted bangle) Hype this look on Lookbook here.

My clutch has a Harry Potter and The Prisoner of Azkaban cover on it. Someone’s still not over her previous Harry Potter post.

Anyway, time for another quick outfit entry. Here’s something I wore to an intimate personal branding talk where I was one of the speakers. Usually I wear pants to these kinds of occasions, but this time, the setting allowed me to wear something a little less formal.

Even if we don’t really have Fall in Manila, I can’t wait to bring all my Fall items out of my closet. This kind of orange, as well as this kind of darker, non-pastel floral print, scream autumn leaves and autumn trees. 

These were shot some time ago, when my brown hair decided to give up on me and go back to blonde. I went to the salon immediately after this to have my hair dyed brown again even if my roots weren’t so bad yet! Everything is serious business when it comes to my hair. 

It took me a year to grow my hair out after cutting 6 or so inches off last summer 2011. Now that it’s long, I suddenly have the urge to cut it shorter again. 

Ahh, people always want what they don’t have!

So many colors for a change. My daily fashion choices surprise me too. It’s funny how I only really get to evaluate my outfit choices days and weeks after I actually wear them. Just shows how much thought I put into my styling process before heading out.

I think I’ll give my pastel colors a rest in the next couple of months. The typhoon we’ve been having in Manila has been so discouraging too. Makes you want to just curl up in a cozy sweater while you drink hot chocolate with a loved one.

Hope everyone had a good week!

Having Harry Potter withdrawal now that the books and movies are over? Can’t go to the studio tour in London any time soon? Fear not, Harry Potter fans! I am back and I come bringing gifts. :D I almost missed my bus to this tour. I am so glad all the wizards in the world conspired to not make that happen! 

Prepare yourselves for some major eye candy. Some of these are the actual props, sets and costumes from the movies.

Me at 4 Privet Drive. OMG. Also, I totally planned wearing my Gryffindor-colored sweater that day.

Leavesden Studios, where all the eight films were shot. This was where all the magic was made! You can get a ticket at £28 but you have to do it in advance!

Gryffindor uniform. You can purchase all sorts of Harry Potter goodies at the store by the entrance. Don’t be surprised by the prices though! £500 for Dumbledore’s robes set - I can’t even.

Triwizard champions wand set. Yup, you can also purchase this for display purposes! Or I guess you can also use them for practicing magic.

The cupboard under the stairs.

Great Hall cutlery.

Words from the directors. David Yates directed the last four films. Mike Newell directed Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire.

Harry’s, Hermione’s, Krum’s and Cho Chang’s Yule Ball costumes! 

Chocolate desserts at the Yule Ball. Check out all the pretty details. I bet most of us didn’t even notice all this in the movie!

Sirius Black character art. He’s my favorite character in the books, and I love Gary Oldman as an actor, so just imagine all the spazzing I did while watching the movies.

Templates for Harry’s scar. The scar was applied by make-up a total of around 6,000 times (on Daniel Radcliffe and all his stunt doubles).

Fleur’s costume details. I’ve always loved her hat and the color of her dress.

Got a peek of Dean, Seamus, Ron, Neville and Harry’s room.

Harry’s luggage.

One of my most favorite parts of the tour - getting to see everyone’s wands displayed next to each other.

I just noticed how Umbridge’s wand is shorter than everyone else’s.

Because I am Sirius-biased. I love how his and Hermione’s wands don’t have obvious handles.

The mirror of Erised, where we can see the “deepest and most desperate desire of one’s heart.” I think it didn’t work because so many people were looking at it. The mirror didn’t know which desire to show first, lol.

Harry’s and Ron’s Christmas sweaters!

Sirius’ costume.

Tonks and Lupin, together forever.

Dumbledore’s office entrance.

Dumbledore’s office with portraits of all the previous headmasters.

Triwizard cup. Don’t touch! You might get transported to that graveyard where Voldemort was (unless you actually want to see him).

Rowena Ravenclaw’s diadem. ”Wit beyond measure is man’s greatest treasure.”

Door details.

The Burrow.

Death Eater masks. They made sure that no two masks are the same. Everything is so personalized in this movie franchise! 

AFRAID. And mini Voldy was moving too. :(

Dobby looks so real. RIP.

The iconic Hogwarts letter.

Ticket to Platform 9 3/4! Sadly I wasn’t able to go to King’s Cross station for the platform and the trolley disappearing into the wall. :(

What I believe is one of the best things in the whole Harry Potter movie franchise - The Marauder’s Map. It would pretty nifty if we really had something like this in real life.

Mischief managed!

Umbridge’s costume detail.

Umbridge’s office is super pink. And surprisingly adorable unlike the owner. On the walls are plates with cats on them. 

Riddle graves.

There’s an outdoor section in the tour where you can buy refreshments and butterbeer! YUM. Official £5 butterbeer… that’s not even real beer. It tastes like soda with whipped cream. :)

The Knight Bus.

Diagon Alley! Obligatory Ollivander’s.

Wiseacre’s Wizarding Equipment.

Weasleys’ Wizard Wheezes.

And finally, the highlight of the whole studio tour. Here is the original 50-foot-wide model of Hogwarts. If you can’t spend 3 hours in this studio, you can just swiftly breeze through everything and only check this model out. It is a masterpiece. I wish I could bring it home and place it in my living room. Oh wait, it’s bigger than my living room…

Meticulously made with traditional building techniques.

You can view it in all different angles, and the light changes depending on where you are in the room where this model is found.

This is one of my favorite parts of Hogwarts… mostly because of the precious bridge scene with Harry and Lupin talking in the third movie. (Obviously, the third book is my all-time favorite.) 

That’s all for my UK entries for now. It was *insert magic pun here*! I absolutely recommend this tour to anyone visiting London. Even if you’re not a Potterhead, the sheer craftsmanship for all the props, sets and costumes is enough to make your jaw drop in awe. (Just got back from Singapore and saw tons of posters of a Harry Potter exhibition in Marina Bay Sands. It’s only 3 hours away from us so I guess that’ll do for now, until you can travel to London in the future!)

If you’re like me, who grew up with the actors (I’m the same age as Rupert Grint!) and the books, there’s nothing quite like seeing everything with your own eyes instead of through a movie screen. You might even get teary-eyed during the tour, especially if you’ve been having some major withdrawal since the end of the books and movies. However, If you can’t visit this tour any time soon, the books and movies will forever be around to tickle that little wizard in you.

“No story lives unless someone wants to listen. The stories we love best do live in us forever, so whether you come back by page or by the big screen, Hogwarts will always be there to welcome you home.” - Jo Rowling couldn’t have said it better!

(Time Depot Baby G watch, Greenhills white top, Topshop shorts, Feet for a Queen boots, Satchi Store clutch) Hype this look on Lookbook here.

Before anything else, I just want to say that I am overjoyed that I am blogging for the same watch brand that recently got Girls Generation as endorsers. I am still waiting for the day when they’ll come here to Manila for a concert. Crissey and I will challenge all the other SONEs for the best seats for sure! 

Also, sorry for the punny title, lol. I know you can’t unread it that easily.

Compared to the previous watches I’ve worn, this is the one that is quite unexpected. I think it’s the lack of metallic elements that makes it unlike me (I love gold or silver accents in my arm parties), but the heart and the different sized numbers were too cute to resist. And besides, I’m still relatively young. A watch like this? I could still definitely get away with it.

However, when I got my hands (or wrist?) on this watch, I was suddenly faced with a problem! I’ve always loved wearing button-downs and dressy shoes - things that match perfectly with all my classic accessories. Because this watch is really casual-looking, I was forced to look for items in my closet that looked just as casual.

Here’s my styling process for this outfit: 

In my usual matchy-matchy fashion, I first decided to look for an item that’s the same color as my watch. In this case, I found an old white oversized shirt (that seriously looks like something I got off my brother’s closet). I was going to go for that white shirt plus denim shorts look, until I was greeted by these purple boots in the mail! How timely!

It was pretty easy once I was able to set my color scheme to purple and white, with the platform boots and chunky watch as my statement items. I grabbed a light pink pair of shorts and a lavender clutch to make the outfit more put-together without having to compromise the items that I wanted to highlight. The paleness forces you to look at the lightest and darkest things first, before everything else.

I sound like I overthink my outfits, but I promise I was only able to realize and process all this as I type! My blog serves as a platform where I can evaluate and look back at certain aspects in my life, instead of just being a cold place where everything ends as soon as I post stuff. I’m sure most of you with personal diaries can relate to this!

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