Second part of my Osaka trip is all about free time and shopping! Since I made the itinerary for the whole trip, I’m pretty sure my whole family expected 1-2 days for exploration… a.k.a. mall hopping. Thankfully, none of them complained about having too much free time, as they also had their own share of unique fashion finds!

Me and my brothers at Kyoto Station. Our trip also had Kyoto and Nara in between (which I’ll be blogging about in the next few weeks) but in the end, we had to go back to Osaka to take the plane home to Manila.  

Traveling from Osaka to Kyoto (or vice versa) is so fast and easy that you can just take a day trip to one place but go back to your original hotel at night.  

After dropping off all our luggage at the hotel, we headed straight to the Shinsaibashi area for some sightseeing… err, shopping. We stayed in the same hotel in JR Osaka Station, making it very convenient to just take the train straight to Shinsaibashi Station.

My brother Calel waiting outside Tokyu Hands. Always a good place to start shopping.  

No one in their right mind would attack without filling their stomachs first! Before we did any real shopping, we went for some katsu in one of the underground passageways.

Wonderful wedges!

Shinsaibashi-suji is a covered shopping street that is a must visit for all shopaholics! 

I particularly loved the Lowry’s Farm here as the store was huge! I make sure to drop by Lowry’s Farm every time I get the chance (also available in Collect Point in Singapore and Hong Kong) because they are one of the most affordable Japanese brands I know that carries quality trendy items. 

Allamanda by INGNI. The mannequin on the left makes me miss my long hair so much! It would probably be this length now if I hadn’t cut it short. 

I didn’t buy anything from this store (though I would have, if you presented these clothes to 20/21-year-old me) but it was a delight just looking at their clothes. Everything was extra sweet and dainty. Florals and pastels galore.

one spo’s summer collection is to die for! I’m a sucker for black and white with yellow color accent so I pretty much ogled at everything when I was here. Daisy prints are huge right now and I couldn’t blame them for placing them everywhere - tops, skirts, caps, accessories and even shoes!

Dotonbori billboards.

The famous Kani Doraku built in the 1960s.

Why hello there, Nino! <3

Osaka Shochiku-za, a theater for kabuki plays.

Taken just before the influx of people who went here to eat dinner. Good thing I managed to snap this photo before it got crazy! 

Me and the iconic Glico man, originally installed in the 1930s. 

The end of Shinsaibashi-suji.

The start of Ebisubashi-suji. (Crowd was starting to get crazy here)

Dotonbori canal just before sunset.

Went back to the entrance of Shinsaibashi-suji!

I saved the best for last. Went to Shinsaibashi OPA for 11 floors of Japanese fashion goodness! This is my favorite place in Osaka for shopping as it’s reminiscent of Shibuya 109.

Laguna Moon’s S/S 2013 collection was also resort-inspired like most of the other brands. Not a bad thing though, as the palm tree prints and light, breezy materials are perfect for us living in tropical countries. Matching top and bottom set is also a big trend.

LANDS OF Eden had these cute neon yellow/green accents to give spunk to dark colors and neutrals. Peplum is also not yet over!

Retro girly is still in for spring! This style is something the Japanese will never get tired of, I guess! 

Sky high strappy platforms at Esperanza. Got lucky with a pair of two-tone white/yellow pointy pumps at 50% off!

OMG, SLY. I’ve been obsessing over their current collection/s for the past months. This brand has also converted me into wearing more dangling earrings and statement accessories. This is a huge leap considering my usually conservative taste in jewelry.

Current collection features Keith Haring collaboration items.

EMODA, of course. Love the leaf print series, as well as the all-white coordinates that look so neat. Minimalist but chic as always! I didn’t splurge too much here because I already knew I was going back to Tokyo anyway for EMODA’s TouchMe show. I already blogged about it here!

KOJIHARU by the entrance to OPA. She’s my AKB bias! Too pretty!

Creative Marc by Marc Jacobs store display! The head scarves make me want to try this style out one of these days.

Yakitori for dinner.

Went around the area (at this point, I didn’t bother knowing which street was which) and spotted some unique stores. Surprisingly, there was also an American Apparel in the area.

Vintage-inspired tank tops at this place where they sell gas masks and military stuff, lol. The contrast!

Vintage adidas everywhere! They were selling a lot of discontinued and limited edition items that are now apparently super hard to find.

I remember taking a photo of similar vending machine in Fukuoka, and it didn’t look anything like this, hahaha

Stylish young mom in front of McDonalds. I went to Japan just before Golden Week and they had these special burgers that I failed to try, lol. Maybe next year? *hopes and prays*

The next day, which was our last whole day in Japan, we just killed time around JR Osaka Station. There was a giant Yodobashi (electronics heaven) so we went in and geeked out for a while. Took a break from all the fashion and got myself a quirky camera bag for my dSLR and lenses. It is white and red with floral prints. ONLY IN JAPAN! Been looking out for cutesy ones for the longest time now but have only been seeing boring black ones which I know have more functionality and stuff but sue me for being a girly girl

Who can say no to all this beef? 

The eggs are for our tamago kake gohan <3 I don’t normally eat a lot of rice but Japanese rice (especially with egg) is my weakness.

Chanced upon this new place called NU Chayamachi by the Chayamachi exit of Umeda Station. 

There were many artists exhibiting their work in the area, but I was fortunate enough to watch this girl create her masterpiece from scratch. They weren’t just limited to drawing on walls though! Some of them created 3D art and placed them everywhere — on trees, lamp posts, etc. 

KATE SPADE SATURDAY! This is only available in Japan so I totally spazzed when I saw it accidentally.

I was able to talk to one of the shop staff who wanted to practice her English! She told me she used to work for Uniqlo where she was able to meet a good friend who also happened to be Filipino like me. Now her friend is working in New York! She, on the other hand, would love to go to Paris one day. I also told her to visit the Philippines too, and then she went on and on about some of her friends loving every bit of Cebu and Boracay. Yay!

Another artist’s work. 

One of the store displays along EST. Transparent bags were also everywhere, in different shapes and sizes. These heart-shaped ones were absolutely darling, and now I regret not buying one!

For cat lovers! They even had cat-shaped tape dispensers!

Afternoon coffee at this quirky bookstore. 

HEP Five, also a must visit for those interested in shopping for fashion in Osaka. It’s a quick walk from JR Osaka station and you can’t miss it! There’s a bright red ferris wheel on top!

After shopping, I had some free time to sneak in some shots of people’s outfits. Everyone was walking so fast though, and my photography skills were rusty. Couldn’t keep up. :P

This girl’s shoes are killing me (in a good way)! I can never pull this look off but she worked it so well. Fell in love with the whole pastel color scheme that even matched her youthful face and hairstyle.

Ugh, they make oversized clothes look good too! <3

Entrance of HEP Five. Spotted two girls wearing vertical striped bottoms and denim jackets. Another huge trend in Japan now.

Positivity all the way! Even this brand agrees with me! 

JR Osaka Station at night. It was my last night and I wanted to explore on my own a bit. 

Managed to catch Arashi ni Shiyagare on TV just before I went to sleep!

Osaka was super fun - I can’t wait to go back. If someone were to ask me to choose between Osaka and Tokyo, I’d be so torn. This place is so endearing in its own special way! <3

By the time this gets posted, I’m probably packing for my flight to Tokyo! Queueing is awesome.

It’s not even funny anymore, how much I’m obsessing about this brand, rienda. I know I go through phases in fashion, and that this particular obsession was most probably brought about by recent spring/summer collections all being so lust-worthy, but in general, I really love this season’s key items and trends so freaking much. Way to spend the summer - splurge on all the onee-style floral pastel flowy goodness. 

I’ve been following the brand for a while, but never really felt as strongly about it as I do now. As much as I love all the older campaigns with Lena Fuji, I think I was at a time in my life where I simply didn’t consider a more mature approach to my usual fashion. This was only natural, as I was younger then and could still get away with wearing very cutesy stuff.

But now, I find myself at a very in-between stage. Chalk it up on quarter life crisis. I’m turning 25 this year, and I am well aware that I’m not exactly on the same teenager level/segment that I once used to belonged to. The things that I used to like? I sort of outgrew them already, even if they do still attract my eyes (and wallet) every now and then.

Case in point, Liz Lisa. I had a major Liz Lisa phase about 2-3 years ago, but now I totes can’t see myself wearing that uber cutesy style anymore, even though I am still a huge fan of florals and pastels. The cuts and styles of the clothes feel a little bit too young for me now. :s

The latest rienda S/S ‘13 campaign came out right while I was on the prowl for inspiration, particularly for a more classy and sophisticated style that would somewhat overlap with the dolly Liz Lisa aesthetic I once had. So timely.

My heart stopped. This was exactly what I was looking for! Shortly after, the brand, all the rienda girls, and especially rienda producer Murami (who is already 31 btw omg) started becoming more active on Instagram. It made it even harder for me to completely ignore them as they post frequently. 

Last April, I finally got myself a nice floral top from a rienda store in Kyoto. Wore it twice since then, and have gotten really nice compliments for it! Someone even asked me to buy the exact same thing for her if I had the chance. Totally heading to a rienda store in Tokyo~ Saved up for some pieces already!

When I got back to Manila, I tried to resurrect all the existing items in my closet that would fit the rienda look! I know, lol, I’m starting to sound cray

The most recent campaign features Saeko in these sexy but simple and classy outfits that I would totally wear in a heartbeat. The outfit on the right looks so clean. Just the way I like it! Girly but still elegant!

Some of their early 2013 spring coordinates. You can most definitely find similar items in Western high street fashion, but I think it’s how it’s all styled together that makes it very Japanese / very rienda.

Last year’s campaign with Lena Fuji. So much orange! Not the most flattering color on me, but the pastel pink and bright orange mix was quite unique and refreshing. That floppy hat is way too adorable.

It’s already a given that Lena Fuji sells the clothes that she wears like a boss. She make everything look so good without even trying, huu~

A collage of Murami and Mika, my two rienda loves at the moment. Because of them, I’m thinking if I should grow my bangs out or not. Or maybe even get a slight sexy tan!

They both wear a lot of easy-on-the-eyes neutrals. Sometimes they throw in black here and there, but they make it so feminine and distinctly them. The cocktail dress on the lower right - I covet! *tears* I can go on and on about this as I’m on a clear rienda high! 

I’ll make more of these inspiration posts in the future. Obviously, I’m the type of person who never gets overprotective of the things I like. I am actually happier if more and more people get into the same things that I like/do! A bigger community to share it and talk about it with. Next Japanese fashion inspo post would probably be SLY or dazzlin, so watch out for that. I won’t be limiting these kinds of posts to Japanese brands though, as I also feel strongly about a lot of other brands from different countries. Share the love! <3

Follow the rienda webstore here and their Twitter here. You can also follow their IG @rienda_official religiously like me. The rienda girls all have their own personal IG accounts as well, and I’m sure you can find their handles on the brand’s IG. 

(Time Depot Casio Sheen watch, Ray Cassin dress and blazer, Yesstyle leggings, Jeanasis necklace, L.Chance earrings, EGOIST bag, Charles and Keith flats) Hype this look on Lookbook here.

Took these pictures while waiting for boarding at Kansai Airport. As with all my previous trips to Japan, this particular trip to Osaka and Kyoto felt a little too short. I could’ve used an extra day or two to travel to Kobe or something, but I guess I’ll have to wait until next time. Nonetheless, Japan was still awesome. Nothing new!

With all the traveling that I do, I’m pretty sure some of you guys are curious if I’ve ever had any airport nightmares. Luckily, I’ve never had any weird transfers or unexpected delays, or worse, missed flights. Knock on wood that these will never happen! I guess you can call me paranoid for always arriving at the airport way earlier than the preferred time. You’ll never know! Usually, the check-in counters for my flight are still closed when I get to the airport, lol.

Most people (myself included) nowadays just look at the time on their phones. But when traveling, I always make sure to have two sources. Obsessive-compulsive me is always on schedule (though if the need arises, I can always adjust and be flexible) and looking at the time on my wrist is waaay faster than having to bring out my phone from my bag or pocket.

This particular Casio Sheen watch that I brought to Japan has a face that is entirely covered with SWAROVSKI ELEMENTS. You’ll never need a lot of jewelry with this on your wrist. 

You can get it here.

Kept the rest of my airport outfit simple and comfy because I had to wake up at 4 in the morning to get ready.

This necklace style, where the ends aren’t connected, are all over stores in Japan! On one hand, it just looks like the necklace is broken. On the other hand, it’s like the jewelry version of a scarf. Unique design! 

Stay tuned for my Osaka and Kyoto travel diaries! I’m already bound for Tokyo mid-May so I might just do a single MOFW (My Own Fashion Week) for all. Can’t wait to show you guys what I bought! So many cutesy floral stuff for a change. <3 The exchange rate is wonderful right now so I was able to get a lot of clothes for cheap. AND ALL THE GOLDEN WEEK DISCOUNTS. I die!

Sponsored post.

As promised, here’s my Fukuoka travel diary after a whole week’s worth of MOFW features. Since this is not my first time in this place, I pretty much spent my time here just bonding with my family, stuffing ourselves with the arguably the best ramen in the world, and of course, my favorite - shopping!

People have a notion of Japan being a difficult place to go to because of the language barrier, but it’s not like they put zero effort into bringing tourists in the country and showing them the beauty in their country. In that one year in between my previous and my latest trips to Fukuoka, a lot has changed in terms of tourist-friendliness - more restaurants have printed out English menus, department stores have suddenly given out shopping privileges for non-Japanese passport holders, etc. I think now is a wonderful time to go to Japan, actually. Your thoughts and words can never be entirely lost in translation. They’re also trying their best to help too! :D

I usually stay in Hotel Miyako which is right in front of the station. This is the view from the entrance of the hotel. It’s super convenient to stay here because you can go shopping whenever you want, lol. Plus there are a ton of places to eat inside Hakata Station so you’ll never grow hungry!

Don’t forget to visit the food section of Hankyu and the beauty section of Tokyu Hands.

First picture of me straight out of the plane. As usual, we took the direct flight to from Manila to Fukuoka via Philippine Airlines.

First stop? IPPUDO! Let me be annoying and say that my family and I were already hooked on Ippudo even before the ramen craze trickled over the rest of Asia.

So hooked that it is also a must for me to go to the Ippudo in SG and HK even if the experience is a little different from the original. Never fails to give me nostalgic feels from the very first time I was able to taste Hakata ramen. <3

Before sunset, we decided to go around the station for a walk. They finally finished the new roof deck area!

They had these cute stalls where you can buy souvenirs and traditional Japanese desserts.

There was also a shrine.

And a giant space for kids to play in!

Such a tranquil place.

Overlooking the city.

We also dropped by the new cinema area which wasn’t there the first time we went to Fukuoka. My dad watched Les Miserables because he couldn’t wait - the Metro Manila Film Festival was still going on when Les Mis was already being shown in different countries. We had to wait til mid-January to be able to watch foreign movies again.

When in Japan, visit Maruzen and buy all the Japanese magazines. :D Well, I didn’t go crazy this time because I already knew exactly what I wanted - ViVi, SCawaii, Jelly and the recent Ninagawa Mika photobook.

Plus I was so afraid to go over my baggage weight limit because it’s normally the books and magazines that I buy that make my luggage so heavy by the end of the trip. T_T

I also buy my magazines in other countries where it’s available! They’re everywhere in HK. In SG, you can get them at Kinokuniya.

Before going back to the hotel, we stuffed ourselves with some yummy Marbre Blanc parfaits. <3

On our third day (second was spent in Hiroshima and Miyajima), we went to Tenjin for shopping! First stop was Tenjin Core which is one of my favorite places to shop in Fukuoka! You can go to this place via subway. There’s an underground shopping center that connects the different buildings together so it’s super convenient during winter time when it’s too cold to walk outside. After Tenjin Core, I went to Parco to check out EMODA and MURUA with the other MarkStyler brands.

Didn’t take a lot of pictures here because my mind was 100% concentrated on shopping! And by lunch I couldn’t carry my camera properly anymore because I was holding too many paper bags lol #shopaholicphotographerproblems

titty＆Co

Spiral Girl

Ank Rouge

CECIL McBEE

Besides the ones I posted here, Tenjin Core houses other brands like Liz Lisa, rienda, dazzlin, INGNI, PeachJohn, Heaven and Earth, GILFY, DURAS, and Lip Service. I know I missed a lot but I’m typing this all purely out of memory. My bad for not taking proper notes. Anyhow, their fall/winter collections were mostly oxblood + brown + black and old rose + white + cream. Adorbs!

Don’t think shopping in Japan is just for girls though. Most places usually have 1-2 floors just dedicated to men’s clothing. My brothers like buying from RAGEBLUE.

EMODA

Jouetie

Hello me! Simple and comfy outfit for shopping. Nothing special!

After a long day, we had yakiniku back at Hakata Station. So rich in flavor huhu I felt so guilty for my stomach after each bite! IDK how everyone manages to stay thin in Japan considering the high quality of food being sold everywhere. The sorcery!

On our last free day, we walked from Hotel Miyako all the way to Canal City. It’s only about 10 minutes away so it was definitely a good warm-up exercise in the morning.

Except it was raining again. Gosingtian family, bringing the rain from Manila to wherever they go to, since… the beginning of time.

This is one part of the mall where you can find Western brands like Zara, H&M, etc. My brothers went crazy at H&M because they were having a sale and they were selling good collared shirts at Y1500 and blazers and jackets at Y2000-3000. NOT BAD AT ALL.

There’s a part in Canal City where I spend hours shopping - it’s on the second or third floor of the mall where they sell brands like moussy, SLY, rosebullet, Ungrid, EGOIST, Esperanza, etc.

Wearing new purchases from the day before. You might find the SpRay jacket, CECIL McBEE sweater and EGOIST bag familiar from my MOFW posts!

One of the special things about Canal City is that they have a Ramen Stadium! It’s like one giant food court full of ramen restaurants with different specialties, cooked in distinct styles. Only the best ramen restaurants can continue selling their ramen here so I think after a certain point, the one with the least sales will have to give his space up for a new “challenger”.

Long queue probably means the best so we queued along with the people haha but it’s already our second time here so I guess this restaurant (Kizuna) still remains to be a fan favorite after all.

Cafe MUJI after a long day of shopping! The MUJI in Canal City is like one big multi-level department store. If you think that the ones we have here is already huge, you should check this particular MUJI out.

My brother Juju having cake!

My cafe au lait. <3

On our last night in Japan, I was lucky enough to catch Kyary and AKB48 perform on television. <3

I was luckier last 2011 though. I caught the whole Kouhaku on NHK on New Year’s Eve. If you still remember my old Fukuoka post, I managed to catch some screens of Arashi and Laruku.

Time to say goodbye to my hotel room. Wearing mint houndstooth pants from Romwe. UGH writing about this trip now is making me miss Japan so badly.

At the airport. Goodbye, peaceful city of Fukuoka! *tears*

‘Til the next travel post and my next trip to Japan! I hope you guys can also visit Japan soon! :)

(OLIVE des OLIVE sweater, Chicwish skirt, Romwe shoes, Miss Selfridge clutch, Yhansy headband - SO SNSD IGAB, RIGHT?, Forever 21 earrings) Hype this look on Lookbook here.

The day that I’ve been dreading has finally come, so here’s a bright and golden outfit to celebrate the end of my My Own Fashion Week Fukuoka series. No oxblood/maroon or black for this one, I’m afraid.

Now that my hair is lighter, I can wear these kinds of light monochromatic outfits again without my old dark hair contrasting too much.

This cream sweater is something I got on sale at the OLIVE des OLIVE store in Canal City, the same store where I got a few of my cute button-downs and peter pan collar sweaters last 2011. One year has passed since my first visit to Fukuoka, and they still possess the same daintiness that drew me to them in the first place. 

I heard daisy motifs will be huge this spring/summer in Japan, following the success of the Marc Jacobs Daisy branding. I’m not surprised the Japanese loved the white and gold flower design so much that it has somwehow transcended into their fashion as well. OLIVE des OLIVE had a very subtle take on it. From afar the sweater looks quite plain and ordinary, but it actually has flowers with small golden studs on each center. It’s these details that make me love Japanese fashion so much. Sometimes they’re not so in-your-face when it comes to trends so you can still wear their clothes regardless of what’s in or what’s not. 

Ahh, I’m so sad that this is going to be the last MOFW for a while, since I don’t have any planned trips until April (possibly Europe, like Austria and Germany) and May (Hello USA!). Unless I get a spontaneous sponsored trip this February or March… which is my ultimate wish right now, lol. T_T

My blog needs rest from all the constant traveling too, I guess. :) 

(SpRay jacket, Greenhills top, FashionCookie ShoeAvenue boots, moussy bag) Hype this look on Lookbook here.

Debuting my lighter hair color in time for spring/summer. Actually, this is only my lame excuse for simply being fickle about my hair. No bleaching involved since my hair ends are pretty much fried already. I just missed the light brown after 3-4 months of dark hair. To be quite honest, as much as I loved my previous color (which was quite *mature*), I think I was really made for this in-between brown and blonde thing. Makes me feel lighter and brighter too!

I can’t believe I’m already on my 5th day (LOL, it sounds like I’m talking about my period) of MOFW, which means I only have 2 more purely Japanese fashion features after this! Sad face.

On a lighter note, this outfit is very me circa early 2012, back when I was obsessed with wearing oxblood with light blue denim and black. I also came back from Japan around then, so I’m pretty sure they’re the ones to blame for all the red that I’ve been consecutively wearing. Never a bad thing though, because I love it anyway. Matches the red of my blog layout!

This jacket is from a brand called SpRay which I was able to visit in Tenjin Core Fukuoka (but they also have a store in Shibuya 109). The whole place looked like my closet because they had so many sweaters, jackets and collared tops a.k.a. my default uniforms. And the prices were comparable to CECIL MCBEE as well, which I previously mentioned is already an affordable gyaru brand compared to most. 

Spazzed like a crazy person as soon as I laid my eyes on this jacket, because it was perfect in so many ways. I’ve been meaning to get a red varsity jacket (since I already have a black and a pastel one) but it was so hard for me to find the ideal length and design since I usually only found short ones with like, weird embroidered text. :))

Paired the jacket with my ever-so-trusty moussy bag, also purchased in Fukuoka. It only occurred to me now that the handles look very Givenchy!

(dazzlin skirt, Choies top, Mango blazer, EMODA earrings, Esperanza boots, Romwe bag) Hype this look on Lookbook here.

Sorry guys, my bag isn’t Laguna Moon but it sure looks like it. It was sold out when I went to the actual Laguna Moon store in Japan, but thanks to Romwe I managed to get myself the exact same design. Thanks to ViVi and a close-to-iconic photo of Lena Fuji holding the same bag, I went all cat crazy for the nth time. Lucky for me last F/W, high street had a lot of these feline furries.

For the 4th day of MOFW, I’m wearing a gold skirt from dazzlin and a pair boots from Esperanza. First things first, Esperanza is on the top of my list when it comes to the best shoe brands I’ve ever tried in my life. I have another pair of boots from them, a black platform pair with a higher heel height, that I’ve worn on my Lookbook a number of times already. They are still in almost-mint condition after wearing it pretty much everywhere. Most of the time I pack at least one pair of heeled shoes when I travel, and that particular pair is always my first choice. I never get blisters and I can wear them for hours, without hurting! What is this sorcery, Japan?!

Anyhow, after a good experience with the Esperanza shoe brand, I got myself another one back in Fukuoka. This time I chose a shorter heel height which is ideal for traveling in both comfort and style. There’s a slight cushion inside that makes it even more comfortable! Plus it makes you feel like you got your money’s worth lol. I also chose it for the two-toned design which was all the rage in Japan during my short visit. :D

On the other hand, this fabulous gold skirt is from the popular Japanese brand, dazzlin. I know them primarily because they present regularly in the touchMe presentations along with EMODA, MURUA, and the other brands from Mark Styler (a fashion group that manages a roster of brands that I all coincidentally love). They recently got Jennifer Eyemere, editor-in-chief of France’s JaLouse magazine, to style the recent dazzlin presentation, which I think is quite genius for them to do, since it presents a different kind of Japanese fashion to people from all over the world. Not the popular notion of it always having to look like cosplay, lolita, decora, etc. I’ve already lost count of all the times when I’ve gotten strange looks from people who ask me about my ultimate fashion influences. When I say Japanese fashion, I guess most people expect me to dress up like Gwen Stefani’s Harajuku Girls. Story of my life. Huu, it doesn’t always have to be wild and colorful! T_T

(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!

(Indressme top, Sheinside jacket and pants, CMG wedges, EGOIST bag) Hype this look on Lookbook here.

Officially my first outfit post for 2013! Clearly I’m trying to start the year off with a more mature look that I’m quite into nowadays. Somehow I’ve been feeling my age recently, and I’ve finally realized that I can’t be all cutesy forever… after 4 years of already being 20-something. I guess I can always be young at heart, if there is any consolation? And while I still can’t see signs of aging on my face (in my ideal world, this will never even happen huhu), I might as well try to pass off as a teenager from time to time and see if I’ve still got my charms intact. Wish me luck!

Anyhow, it’s a new year again and I’m most thankful for guys who have stayed with me since the start. I’ve been a little invisible in the outside world last year, if anyone ever noticed. Part of my 2012 resolutions was to do a reality check (by constantly reminding myself with how I started and the people who helped me get to where I am now) and a life detox (in terms of toxic relationships built on the questionable things). Real life had its way with me and I traveled and traveled like the world was really going to end. So many things these eyes have seen. I learned to let go and not concern myself with things that actually aren’t so important. Gone are the days when I would sulk over a bad comment or a false rumor about myself, and the days when I would be fixated on my follower/like/hype/comment count. If you extend your horizons, the things happening to you might look surprisingly small. And they did, after *literally* putting myself out there for the world to see. 

(mysty woman jacket and skirt, Romwe top, FashionCookie ShoeAvenue boots) Hype this look on Lookbook here.

Thank you Christmas breeze for allowing me to wear jackets without going out feeling like death. It’s about time! I feel like I was made for cooler weather. I prefer wearing long sleeves and chunky knits instead of tank tops and swimsuits. This particular jacket is from Japanese brand mysty woman, which you can also find at The One Mall in Hong Kong. They have a ton of cute autumn-winter stuff out right now, making me wish we had all four seasons here in Manila. 

Been immensely busy with my upcoming travel posts recently, so I’ll keep this short and sweet. My Indonesia photos are too many to compress into one post, so I’ll be distributing the photos in two entries or so. Can’t wait to finish writing it and sorting out all the photos!

Didn’t see this coming, did you? I made sure to post this before the month ends, since I know that a lot of you will be going to Hong Kong for the holidays, and I figured I can help you guys decide which places you can go to while you’re there. Only applicable if we have the same interests, of course! :D

Last October, just before the long All Saints/Souls Day weekend, I went on a spontaneous trip to Hong Kong with one of my friends Jee. Both of us have already visited this place in the past, so we only went to our most favorite places this time. 

First stop: BUY ALL THE BERRIES IN THE SUPERMARKET.

We literally stuffed ourselves with blueberries and strawberries during our stay in Hong Kong. They were priced so reasonably.

While walking to the nearest station, we spotted this Korean tourist couple wearing matching outfits. They even had matching Mario keychains!

Jee, also being Korean, admitted to this whole matching items thing being a very iconic part of culture. I wouldn’t be surprised - they make some of the most romantic dramas, and they *always* insert a scene where the guy gets couple rings… which the girl ends up temporarily losing at one point, lol

Saving money by commuting! Going around Hong Kong via MTR is super easy, as long as you make sure you don’t join the rush hour crowd. 

Guess where our second stop was?

DISNEYLAND!

Hong Kong Disneyland is the most accessible Disneyland to us Filipinos. “The happiest place on earth”… is surprisingly just an hour or so away from Manila. You can order tickets online so it’s a lot more convenient.

Pumpkins everywhere! Jee and I were so lucky to catch all the Halloween exclusives. They even made a special map where you can see all the spooky new attractions.

Of course I had to get a Minnie Mouse headband by the entrance before I had my photo taken in front of the castle!

BABY POOH Y SO CUTE

The cutest but most expensive ice cream ever. I love how the Minnie one comes with a yellow ribbon!

Adorable Mickey luggage. So pretty but I wouldn’t want to use it because I would only be afraid to damage it :(

Colorful Mickey iPad case.

Heavy eyeliner to match my Halloween Minnie headband. This was taken while we were waiting for…

OUR MICKEY WAFFLES! Came with whipped cream (that formed a :> smiley) and fresh strawberries. Didn’t taste anything special, but it looked wonderful in pictures (just like most of the overpriced food in Disneyland).

Shoes from Choies. So many people in HK complimented me on these shoes but unfortunately my shoes weren’t able to reply properly lol

The cutest Nightmare before Christmas glass figurines. Reminded me of my good friend Tracy so much!

Epic glass rose from Beauty and the Beast. Belle is my favorite Disney princess! How about you?

Limited edition Minnie pumpkin figurine. I’m not sure if they’re still selling this now, but I’m sure the Christmas products will be just as nice!

Jee and I come in peace! Thank you to the stranger who helped us take this picture :D

Must-haves for all Minnie lovers. That polkadot cardigan, I covet.

Just because Jee is adorbs.

These boys are wheely cute.

*get shot*

It’s a small world after all! It was so fun to spot all the characters from the Disney movies. Here is Cinderella.

I can show you the world~

Just because I love Japan and I can’t freakin’ wait for Fukuoka and Hiroshima in December. I couldn’t ask for a more ideal way to end 2012.

PHILIPPINES REPRESENT. Check out the tarsier!

This part of the whole boat ride was my favorite. PASTEL GOODNESS EVERYWHERE. I was spazzing the whole time so this was the only non-blurry shot I could post. :P

One of the rides in Disneyland. Not for those with motion sickness (like me).

The new part that I only got to see recently! Some of the rides are still under construction, but I’m glad they’re making HK Disneyland bigger. I used to think it was too small to spend the whole day there, but maybe after they finish all the new features,  we can enjoy it until late at night.

Vinyl toys for all the collectors out there. I particularly fancy the wicked witch one (second figurine, bottom row)

Duffy! A lot of people don’t know who Duffy is, so I’ll post the Wikipedia link here so you can read all about it and realize how IMMENSELY ADORABLE it is on your own. <3

After Disneyland, Jee and I spent our remaining days just shopping like it’s the end of the world. Via MTR, we first went to Langham Place in Mong Kok, where we headed straight to H&M and Monki.

Monki, which I think is Scandinavia’s answer to H&M. Very similar styles and selections, and they’re located right next to each other. 

If H&M won’t come to the Philippines any time soon, I hope Monki will! We need some more Swedish brands in this part of the world~

I.T. is popular fashion conglomerate of sorts. Interestingly, the selection of brands per I.T. store differs per location.

Crazy for kitties!

Japanese magazine heaven in a store called kaimonoou. I prefer buying magazines here because they sell the Japanese versions and not the Taiwanese/Chinese versions… which are so much thinner than the originals. 

Also, you know how Japanese magazines usually include limited edition tote bag collaborations from different brands? They also sell the tote bags here separately, in case you missed a certain issue or in case you’re only interested in the bag and not the magazine.

Also in Langham Place, you can find Baby Cafe by the one and only Angelababy! She has been one of my ultimate girl crushes for the longest time. If I could trade faces with anyone, I would choose Angelababy’s face. Or Lena Fuji’s, Nozomi Sasaki’s or Keiko Kitagawa’s.

Found a hidden dazzlin in a building near Langham Place. You might’ve already heard of this brand if you closely follow ViVi and SCawaii!

If you’re up for some good food, don’t forget to drop by the restaurants on the higher levels of Langham Place before you leave. 

Hong Kong by night… is not dark at all. Well, the side streets and residential places are, but all the commercial areas are lit up like this even until late in the evening.

Chicken, fish, pork, sausage and fries in one meal. All for about HKD50+. NOT BAD AT ALL.

Another thing about Hong Kong that I should mention is…

They are also crazy about Japanese brands and Japanese fashion. They have collect point everywhere, so brands such as Lowry’s Farm, JEANASIS (my top 1 collect point brand), HEATHER, and GLOBAL WORK, among others, are easily accessible. They’re all selling Fall/Winter items now, so prepare your wallet if you’re into the styles and colors of the clothes worn by the mannequins above.

Hong Kong by day. 

Along Park Lane Shoppers Boulevard early in the morning. No shops were open yet. I just wore a cozy sweater and a pleated leather skirt because I wanted something comfortable to wear for my official ultimate shopping day.

BECAUSE WE WERE GOING TO THE ONE, MY FAVORITE MALL IN HONG KONG! All caps for emphasis. I went back to this place everyday during my stay. 

This is like, every Japanese fashion lover’s mecca… outside Japan. 

But first, lunch! A lot of the stores in The One open late, so it’s better to go there during the afternoon or evening.

Rose Champagne White Chocolate at Harlan’s Cake Shop.

Refreshments at one of the cafes in the mall.

Okay, it’s time to start spazzing now. MURUA…

and EMODA…

ENOUGH SAID. My top 2 favorite MODE brands are available in Hong Kong! AHH! JUST TAKE ALL OF MY MONEY.

b+ab is a high-end Hong Kong label which I also love. They recently released a b+ab x Angelababy collaboration, which I’ll be wearing in two of my MOFW Hong Kong posts soon. 

I also got my hands on an old b+ab x Hello Kitty iPhone case, which was surprisingly still available! It was definitely meant for me, lololol

Truffle Xiao Long Bao for dinner!

Near the Jordan Station is Prudential Centre, which seems like a weird place to go to from outside, but there are two stores there that I always visit. One is this store called Zucozz.

The other one, which I couldn’t take a picture of, is a hidden gem. But since I love my followers, I’ll let you in on it! It’s called Ayumie, and they sell old season Japanese and Korean brands for cheap! 

Nice merry-go-round display at Samantha Thavasa. If I were still in my Liz Lisa phase, I would get one of these bags in a heartbeat. Sadly I got over it a long time ago, so there’s no room in my closet anymore for bags that come with ruffles, heart keychains and giant toy plushies.

I still love them for getting Miranda Kerr, Tomomi Itano and After School as endorsers. Taylor Momsen was an odd choice.

Me in the middle of Times Square in Causeway Bay. Comfy shopping/walking outfit! I can’t imagine walking the whole day in HK wearing heels!

Top from Lowry’s Farm, and skirt from Far East Plaza in Singapore.

Halloween in Times Square.

Jee and her perfect hair being blown by the wind. The weather was wonderful and cooperative. You might want to schedule a trip to Hong Kong around late October to mid-November! Not too hot but not too cold either. It was windy and cloudy, but definitely not rainy! Perfect weather for those who prefer packing light. 

I still prefer going there late December though! :D Light coat weather!

SOGO and the iconic giant pedestrian. We went here early Sunday morning to avoid the crowd, but there were still too many people D:

Inside the dressing room of :CHOCOOLATE. Just thought it was nifty, lol

These flats, I DIE. I just had to take a photo. I just came from Disneyland, and this was what I immediately get in real life?! *dreams shattered*

When in Causeway Bay… GO TO IPPUDO!

I know you guys are probably already super tired of me always raving about this place. I’ve mentioned it in my Fukuoka post, as well as my Singapore post, and because I love their ramen so much, I need to post it here too. There is always room available for the best Hakata Ramen in this world.

You can find it on the second floor of one of the building in Russell Street… which is the street right in front of Lane Crawford/Times Square in Causeway Bay. 

Going back to I.T., the selection of brands in Times Square is much different compared to the ones in Tsim Sha Tsui, etc. 

Hong Kong has also caught the Comme des Garçons craze, it seems! Lucky for us in Manila, we also now have it in One Rockwell. 

Jee and I wrapped up our trip with a small detour. Just a street away The One is Granville Road, which is this nice and quirky place to shop for edgy items that are priced cheaper than the ones you can find in shopping malls. Well, I remember it used to be so much cheaper here in the past compared to now, but I still love it for its character! It’s like a much, much subdued version of Takeshita Dori in Harajuku.

I love how it still manages to portray the image of the “real Hong Kong” that I’ve known throughout the years. 

Halloween fever ain’t over yet! Orange and black lomo cameras on display.

A hot pink car parked in the middle of the road. 

Posters and graffiti everywhere. 

Nifty lightbulbs on display. While in Granville Road, there’s this 4 or 5 story building that you should visit. I don’t know what it’s called, but it reminds me of a smaller Shoppesville in Greenhills where you can find some young independent designers and online stores selling their stuff in one little space. It’s super cramped and the building looks weird and old from outside, but it’s a must if you like edgy, one-of-a-kind pieces.

The store owners wouldn’t let me take photos so here’s a photo of clocks instead (WHAT).

Granville just before sunset. That store on the right, Cutie Little Fun, sells Liz Lisa-inspired items at half the price. Of course the quality is much different, but it works if you’re on a budget! Liz Lisa can get reaaally expensive.

If you like the real Liz Lisa, you can go to Miramar Shopping Center, which is just beside The One mall. In here you can also find other Japanese brands such as SLY, snidel, moussy, etc.

Foggy morning view from my hotel. I stayed at BP International Hotel for the second time already. It is perfectly situated along Austin Road, perpendicular to Nathan Road, where you can find The One, Miramar Shopping Center, etc. The Jordan and Tsim Sha Tsui stations are also conveniently walking distance! Right in front of the hotel is Cafe de Coral, which I frequent for their yummy fish fillet breakfast set. Just a minute’s walk away is also Sasa, which I know you can also find everywhere in HK, but it’s nice to know that there’s one that is super nearby. At the end of your trip, you can spend all your remaining money on Japanese cosmetic brands like CANMAKE, Dolly Wink/Candy Doll, etc. <3

Phew, that was long! Stay tuned for my MOFW HK, as well as my Indonesia travel entry in December. :)

(EMODA top, Fairground leggings) Hype this look on Lookbook here.

(This is the nth time I’ve been inspired to dress up the whole pajama concept. Too comfy!)

The moment I saw this top, I knew I had to have it. The statement on the shirt is so relevant to my life, and to the lives of most people too!

To shoe or not to shoe? That is the question. That is always the question! It’s always a debate between “want” versus “need”. Sometimes it is so frustrating when you see a nice and shiny pair of shoes on display, but you already have too many shoes for your own good. I don’t even wear a different pair everyday. I have a few favorites that I use really often, but I have some that can last a year without being worn. I don’t see it as a waste because I love all my shoes equally like my own children, lol. Some of my shoes I don’t wear often because I’m afraid I’ll overuse them, which would require me to finally throw them out. NOOOOOOOOOOOO

I think, 50% of my whole shoe collection consists of black shoes, to match my wardrobe… which is also 50% black. You know how you have to have a certain shoe even if you already have something similar on hand (or foot, lol)? I don’t know what goes through my brain whenever I purchase another pair of black shoes. I mean, how many styles do I have to own before I get totally contented?! 

Not to mention, there are still sub-styles that fall under the existing categories for shoes. For example: shoes -> black shoes -> black boots -> high-heeled boots, flat boots, chunky boots, cut-out boots, wedged boots, sneaker boots, etc.

Everybody’s wallets will continue to suffer if I still elaborate and go into that specific “etc.” :/ Don’t you already feel like your pockets are getting lighter…

Sure this statement on my shirt can apply to everyone, since we all need shoes for its function of protecting our feet from external elements.  But only certified shoeaholics can ever understand the pain of going through a month without getting a new pair of shoes. Unthinkable!