It’s another season of cut-outs, and I am so in. Well, it’s been around for a long time, but I couldn’t really push myself to go completely out of my comfort zone with waist-baring, back-revealing ones that will compromise my usually-conservative style. I find that there are more options for cut-outs now, and my favorite kind would be the ones that show off the neck and shoulders. 

Here are three outfits that clearly show my growing obsession for cut-out details. They range from subtle to something more obvious, and I can’t wait to get my hands on more creative cut-out placements in the future.

Pardon the overuse of girly skater skirts for these looks. This formula has become some sort of uniform for me recently!

(iAnyWear top, JOA skirt, Balenciaga bag, heels and earrings from Japan) Hype this look on Lookbook here.

(Chicwish top, Ellysage skirt, Chicnova shoes, INGNI headband) Hype this look on Lookbook here.

(iAnywear top and skirt, Tracyeinny bag, FashionCookie ShoeAvenue heels, Gorgeouxshop accessories) Hype this look on Lookbook here.

(Ellysage dress, Dorothy Perkins belt, Jellybean heels, Daniel Wellington watch, Louis Vuitton bag) Hype this look on Lookbook here.

I found the nicest summer weekend dress! Sleeveless dresses are rather tricky for me, but this one is just more than ideal with the kind of cut that I am always drawn to. Forgive my lack of proper boobage (Oh yes, I said it.) to fill this dress out properly, but the dress is kind of amazing for still making me seem like I have a feminine figure, especially with the belt accessory to accentuate the waist. It’s so rare for me to find sleeveless dresses that don’t emphasize my strange boxy body type. /cry

The black of the belt matches the black of my heels perfectly, like salt and pepper or peanut butter and jelly. It’s easy to misconstrue this as overthinking outfits too much. In all honesty though, I think I’m just immensely obsessive about the colors that I wear - being all matchy-matchy is like second nature to me already. 

ALSO, don’t these heels look just like the Zara ones from a few seasons ago? Lucky me, as I failed to buy the real ones while they were still in stores. What a steal.

(Apartment 8 cut-out top, Ellysage denim circle skirt, Comfit heels) Hype this look on Lookbook here.

I can’t even start talking about this top. I have to have it in all colors possible! For girls with small shoulders like me, this is seriously the best style to show them off. The high neckline and the cuffed sleeves make it all the more perfect. Striking a balance between sweet and sexy is difficult, and this top pulls it off so well by providing peekaboo cutouts in the right places.

Somehow, before I knew it, I found myself going back to this sweet style again. I blame it on the major life changes that has been happening recently. Let’s just say that it involves a lot of ties being cut off, both in physical and emotional aspects. Because I can’t go on sulking forever, I’ve just learned to accept these things that I can’t change and have no control over. Praying about them every night keeps me sane.

Anyhow, speaking of going back to sweet style, I’m quite proud that this has zero black or white in it. Huzzah! I missed this so much. Apartment 8’s Blair is back with a new look, and no, it’s not about this wig that people think is my real hair, or my newly revamped pre-summer layout. XOXO

Sponsored post.

(Disney x Giordano hoodie, Ellysage skirt, Choies wedges) Hype this look on Lookbook here.

It’s the end of the week, and I’m afraid I’ll have to end My Own Fashion Week Hong Kong today. It has been so fun, being able to wear all my new purchases and feature brands from a specific country for 7 consecutive days. I started this whole concept for the heck of it, but somehow I feel so clingy every time I reach the last day of every series. I was planning on going straight to MOFW Fukuoka when I get back from my trip in Janaury, but it seems like it won’t be long until I hold another one of these things this month. :D

I’m spicing things up in my next MOFW, so please do watch out for that. If I had to give a clue about it, it will just be one word. BATIK!

Anyhow, I saved the best for last for this edition of MOFW Hong Kong. Giordano has always been one of the most trusted brands I’ve known when it comes to classics and basics. As a kid, I owned quite a number of plain v-neck and round collar tees and straight-cut denims from them. Although I somewhat eventually outgrew them as I decided to experiment more with fashion and integrate trends into my personal style, this Disney x Giordano collaboration made me think twice about my decision to let this brand go off my radar.

Houndstooth-print Mickey silhouette on a batwing hoodie with the most adorable Mickey ears attached to the hood? No one in their right mind will overlook this kind of perfection. Totes love Disney, but hats off to Giordano for this modern take on our favorite childhood character. Never thought I’d ever go the street/urban wear route, but I couldn’t help it. And you all know exactly why. <3

Too bad this collab won’t ever be released here in Manila! But this shouldn’t stop you guys from visiting the nearest Giordano. See you all again next time for another round of My Own Fashion Week! Expect the next one 2-3 weeks from now. :D

(Ellysage shorts, Tracyeinny top and blazer) Hype this look on Lookbook here.

Subtle print-on-print on the 4th day of My Own Fashion Week, Singapore Edition! These shorts from Ellysage are quite a huge statement. The loud tropical print is quite unlike me, but I love it for being the first of its kind in my closet of black and white. 

Since I don’t think loud print-on-loud print trend suits me well, I decided to play the shorts down a bit by wearing a sheer floral-print top and a light beige chiffon blazer that is actually quite nifty! Under sunlight, the floral print of the top shows through the thin fabric of the blazer.

Just to give this outfit a pop of color, I decided to turn to green and turquoise accents! I made sure there was a bright contrast between the color of the blazer and the color of the shoes, since I didn’t want to wear accessories (again) and this is one of my no-fail ways to make an outfit look interesting as is.

(Astars top, Oasap leggings, Gurly Glam Shoppe shoes, Chicwish button-down shirt) Hype this look on Lookbook here.

Shiny leggings and jacket! If you’re on a budget and you can’t afford to buy all the pretty leather goods in the world, there is always artificial leather.

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