(Yesstyle top, Sheinside skirt, Dorothy Perkins belt, FashionCookie ShoeAvenue wedges) Hype this look on Lookbook here. Thanks Tracy for helping me with these pictures.

An older look which I only got to posting here today. A lot of people were fooled into thinking this was a dress, when in fact I was actually wearing two separate pieces. Sometimes you’ve just got to improvise. In this case, I didn’t have any dresses with this kind of silhouette, as you all know how much I absolutely love wearing loose shift dresses. So I made my own version of the off-shoulder top and peplum skirt dress, and put it all together with my trusty shiny belt.

I know I could’ve put some sort of color contrast with the shoes, but I couldn’t help breaking fashion rules for this particular pair of wedges!

(Yesstyle top, iAnyWear skirt, Tory Burch flats, Kate Spade bag) Hype this look on Lookbook here. Thanks Tracy for helping me with these pics!

Quick post! I’m here in Kyoto, relaxing after a long (but good) tour day. I hope everything’s been just as good back in Manila! Though I’m pretty sure it’s even better, since I just found out a few minutes ago that all my friends and my boyfriend are going out tonight without me! Ahh, if only teleportation existed!

Anyhow, before flying out to Japan, I was swamped with a lot of work and errands and couldn’t really prioritize my personal style as much as I wanted to! Took a break from heels and opted for statement flats from last season’s Tory Burch. Recently, I’ve been trying my best to revive all the unused flats because I’ve been giving my heels way too much attention in comparison. By the time I get back from Japan though, my flats will probably appeal to me more as I’ll need to rest my feet from all the walking! It has only been 3 days and I feel as if my legs can fall off any minute now…

If there needs to be any proof to how my style can be quite bipolar, I think these two looks would be the best ones to show. Both are trendy B&W. Both make use of the same earrings and shoes. Both feature patterns that we normally see anywhere.

Styling them to suit completely different moods only takes some slight adjustments, contrary to popular belief. It’s not too hard, if you know what kind of elements you have to inject in your look.

(Apartment 8 top and skort, EMODA earrings and vest, Forever 21 heels) Hype this look on Lookbook here.

Sexy rocker chic with the IT patterns of the moment. The V-neck top and high-waisted origami skirt create a really interesting play with diagonal lines! But I made sure to balance it all out with a boxy vest. There’s nothing like a little leather to achieve that nobody-messes-with-me kind of look!

(Apartment 8 top and skort, EMODA earrings, Time Depot Baby G watch) Hype this look on Lookbook here.

Sweet goody two shoes look with polkadots and ribbons! What else could be a sweeter combination? Ribbons, regardless of color, will ALWAYS make for a cute statement. I also have to mention that the top is super sheer and is absolutely perfect for the insanely hot weather that we’ve been having in Manila! I heard today was the hottest day of the week. T_T It also comes in mint green with white polkadots, though I hope they also come out with a vertical stripes version in the future!

Thanks to Tracy Monsod for taking my photos.

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Seasons and trends will come and go, but neutral colors in classic shapes, and sleek straight lines will never go out of style. I’ve always been a firm believer of investing in timeless pieces that you can use 5 to 10 years down the line, and lucky for us, there are brands that cater to just these!

One of them is ESPRIT, which I have often adored for their simple yet city-ready advertisements featuring top models like Gisele Bundchen, Erin Wasson, and now Dree Hemingway and Liu Wen. On a geeky perspective, the minimalist and fuss-free way that their pictures are usually shot comes very close to home! On a style perspective, everything that ESPRIT offers has a certain kind of modern yet laidback elegance to them that is so easy to style. So easy that you don’t need a lot of accessories to achieve that perfect, modern city girl look that is appropriate for all ages. 

Here are four outfits that I styled using some items from their recent collection. Arranged from lightest to heaviest for all kinds of weather conditions.

(ESPRIT top, pants and bag) Hype this look on Lookbook here.

Print pretty. Oh, I know — this look is typical Tricia. Plain button downs with printed bottoms make for a fun and chic look that can be dressed up or dressed down depending on the items you style them with. Wearing this outfit with flats would scream Parisian chic.

(ESPRIT top, cardigan and bag) Hype this look on Lookbook here.

Sweet sophisticate. One of the reasons why I deliberately chose these colors to play with is because they are no-brainers when it comes to dressing from day to night. This look is quite appropriate for a lunch out with friends or even an after-work girls’ night out over drinks.

(ESPRIT top, blazer and bag) Hype this look on Lookbook here.

Too cool for school! Two tone everything is all the rage, and this blazer trumps everything else in my closet right now. Pair with short shorts to balance the weight out. 

(ESPRIT top, jacket, skirt and bag)

Fashion front row. Here’s something for cooler days! Who needs a lot of bling when you can layer these fabulous pieces on top of each other and still be able to create something that’s fashion-editor-worthy? For this one I was inspired by Michael Kors, Tommy Hilfiger, Rag & Bone, and Thom Browne which are only among the few that utilized houndstooth for their recent collections. 

Cinderella Marketing Corporation is the exclusive distributor of ESPRIT. Follow ESPRIT on their newly launched Facebook here.

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Photos by Rg Gabunada

(MURUA top, moussy bag, Romwe pants, Topshop tanktop, Topman hat, Zara heels) Hype this look on Lookbook here. Thanks Kristin for helping me with these photos!

Say hello to what I call my ultimate dyslexia top! Some of the letters are flipped, making it almost impossible to understand at first glance. It would take you a good few seconds (given you have perfect eyesight) to take it all in and realize what the message is. If you don’t want to go through the effort, I’ll just type it out. It says, “Don’t you think now is the time to be adventurous while we’re still young?” While I think we can be adventurous at any age, I do feel that I’m in the prime of my youth and that it’s the perfect time to try out new things and have fun, without all the serious stuff (like health problems and physical limitations for example) that goes with growing old. 

I don’t have a lot of graphic tops but I just felt drawn to this particular one as soon as I saw it on a mannequin in the MURUA store at Parco (same place where I bought my EMODA dress from my previous entry). I guess I thought it would be a good reminder to my ever-so-introverted and conservative self, to dare to go out more and not be so anti-social like I always am. Note to self: Be more adventurous, meet new people, be open to more opportunities, have fun, etc. 

Anyhow, it’s not the first time I’ve mentioned MURUA here before. As with EMODA, it’s one of the most popular MODE brands out there, if not one of the pioneers of the movement. Recently, they got Kate Lanphear to style their fashion show, as well as to collaborate on some exclusive designs for the brand. How cool is that? MODE is really going global these days. I’m still waiting for the day when MURUA decides to open a global webstore just like EMODA. T_T

On another note, my bag is also from Japanese brand moussy. Got it from their Canal City store. Their recent campaign features Charlotte Free (and her fabulous pink hair), and I remember them also getting Agyness Deyn a few years back. I absolutely love visiting them specifically for the bags and shoes. This one that I have here is such a gem with its classic design with a hint of edginess, studs and all. It can also fit so many things inside, including my camera - my primary requirement for everyday bags. 

P.S. Thanks to SNSD I Got A Boy, I am OBSESSED with flat brim caps! I need more!

(EMODA dress and necklace, Chanel bag, Time Depot Sheen watch, Sugarfree Shoes heels, Mango sunnies) Hype this look on Lookbook here. Thanks Kristin for helping me with these photos.

My new default lazy dress c/o none other than EMODA. I already splurged a bit when I went to their store in The One HK, so I decided to behave like a good girl, and choose only 1-2 items to get from them this time. The EMODA in Fukuoka can be found in Parco, which is near the Tenjin Core and Solaria Stage area, so it was quite easy to go to, and very convenient as well since it was located beside other MODE brands like MURUA, if you’re into that kind of style. I’ve always supported EMODA thanks to the constant features in ViVi, but my love for it is mostly because their style is a perfect blend of everything that I consider my fashion influences. Just the right marriage of Japanese fashion and Western high street. Not so cutesy (like Liz Lisa) but still youthful and timeless.

After racking my brains out in the store, because everything was just absolutely wonderful, it all boiled down to this dress and this necklace. The dress was a sure winner - my mom even asked me if it came in other colors because she would totally get one for herself too. The original black, gray and white pattern is classic, and the boxy cut is also sophisticated and chic. On the other hand, the necklace is just something that is so me, yes? Based on years of posting outfit photos, you guys might have already noticed that my taste in accessories is very simple and understated. You won’t even notice the necklace against the busy pattern of the dress, but that is exactly the way I like it.

(CECIL McBee sweater, EMODA bag, Romwe skirt, Forever 21 necklace and socks, FashionCookie ShoeAvenue shoes) Hype this look on Lookbook here. Thanks Kristin for helping me with these.

“My Own Fashion Week” is back, and this time, I’m featuring Japanese brands! I wear them regularly, even when I’m not explicitly promoting them, but for this particular series, I’m going to be wearing my new purchases from my recent Fukuoka trip last December 2012 (so it’s still MOFW 2012). I couldn’t be more excited for this, really. Totes right up my alley because my personal style is deeply rooted in Japanese fashion. Well, I can say that my style at this point in my life is also mixed with Western high street fashion, but I still follow ViVi, etc. like bibles! 

Speaking of Japanese magazines, this sweater was featured in a recent JELLY issue and worn by one of my fave models Miyagi Mai. Perpetually a fan of black and white, I couldn’t take my eyes off it when I walked into the CECIL McBEE in Tenjin Core. These are the kinds of sweaters that anyone can always wear regardless of trends. Classic. But for this look, I went all-out trendy for a change! I paired it with black and white items too, since black and white (together) is going to be huge this spring/summer. Good for me - I always wear them anyway. 

CECIL McBEE is a brand I *always* go to when I’m in Japan. They sell stuff relatively cheaper and more affordable than most gyaru brands, and they usually have huuuuge store spaces with the widest variety of styles to choose from. I’m sure they’re one of the highest-selling gyaru brands because of this! They also sell cosmetics, bags, etc. So much love. Paired the color block sweater with my EMODA bag (which I ordered online some time last year) that is super popular in my Instagram, haha. Because they think it’s a Phillip Lim. :))

(Romwe top, Oasap skirt, Choies headband, Moussy bag, EMODA necklace, Trè Kouture wedges) Hype this look on Lookbook here.

It’s the combination of two different things that made me so happy about how this outfit turned out! Spikes and pearls surprisingly work well together, and I think it’s also very descriptive of my personal style (which tends to be rather bipolar). If you’re still into royal blue color accent like me, feast your eyes on these sky high wedges! They’re definitely one of the most photogenic pairs of shoes that I have. 

Anyhow, I’ve been feeling under the weather recently, so I apologize for the lack of new entries (I know I posted this look 4 days ago on Lookbook and I’m only posting a proper entry for it now), but I promise to get back on my feet as soon as I get better! I wasn’t able to share how incredibly tortuous my throat became last December, but I actually got a major fever and a really bad case of pharyngitis before Christmas. Had to be on a soft diet (seriously, on Christmas eve too) and antibiotics for days. I thought that was over until two days ago when my throat started acting up again like it’s desperately trying to claw its way out of my body, which was the same exact feeling I had with my throat last December. Hoping I’ll get enough rest tonight so I can go back to work tomorrow. Health is wealth~

(The Orphan’s Arms sweatshirt, EMODA leggings, Moussy bag, Sugarfree heels, Forever 21 necklace) Hype this look on Lookbook here.

Comfortable dressing at its best. I’m feeling quite the opposite of what’s written on my new sweatshirt, but I see it as a good conversation topic for someone like me who fails so bad at small talk and… well, talking to other people in general. I could already imagine it — “Why do you have woe written on your shirt?” / “I’m actually super happy right now because… (state random reasons here in an attempt to salvage the conversation and not make it throw itself off a cliff)” Yeah, I know that it’s lame, contrived things like these that never successfully push through. But it’s fun thinking about them anyway. 

Because my sweatshirt is so gloomy (but might I add that it’s my most comfortable one to date, as expected from The Orphan’s Arms), I made sure to wear happy printed bottoms and colorful shoes! Yay!

(Time Depot Sheen watch, Romwe top, Oasap heels, SM Accessories ring and bracelets, EMODA earrings) Hype this look on Lookbook here.

Silver everywhere! The holidays make it so acceptable to go all-out with everything shiny, and it looks like I won’t be getting over it any time soon. Metallics make seemingly-plain outfits look fancier than they actually are, which is always good for those like me with closets full of mostly casual basics.

The highlights of this outfit? My silver Sheen watch and tassel heels. Sheen watches never fail to give off a very classy vibe, and I’m so happy they recently got SNSD to endorse their watches. Check out the new Sheen ad with Yoona and Seohyun on my sidebar! SO PRETTY!

And these heels! Oh, where do I even start? If Santa’s little elves went into a major fashion revolution, they’d probably wear shoes that look like these.

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(EMODA top and cardigan set, bag, FashionCookie ShoeAvenue boots, Forever 21 necklace) Hype this look on Lookbook here.

This is what I wore to a shoot I did recently for Apartment 8’s holiday collection. Right now, I’m super fascinated with the whole concept behind wearing tops and outerwear made from the same fabric. Consider me a new fan of these things called “twin sets”, thanks to this particular EMODA set that I got from my last trip to Hong Kong. I saw it first on EMODA visual merchandiser Naoko Kuroishi’s blog header, and instantly fell in love. I have yet to style them separately, but I’m really determined to replicate this twin set effect with other patterns. New information and ideas make me so excited. <3

Bonus photo of me and my friend Ernest, the designer for Apartment 8’s Paris collections. We simply found it amusing that we wore similarly-themed outfits the day this was taken. I was also telling him that I will totes wear his whole outfit in a heartbeat. Love the crisp button-down with the checkered sweat pants. Dressy but still simple and laid back. Just the way I like it!