If you followed my Twitter last week, I’ve been raving about a new brand called Lacoste L!VE. I was able to go to the official launch at Whitespace, where I donned an almost-full-Lacoste L!VE outfit which apparently surprised a lot of people! 

“Is that really Lacoste?!”

Well folks, you can say hello to Lacoste’s rebellious offspring, Lacoste L!VE. It is hipper, quirkier and a lot more fun with this super fresh twist to the signature crocodile that launched the preppy trend way back in the 80s. Think cute twists to the classic Lacoste look that we grew up with.  

Before the launch, I was fortunate enough to pick my own Lacoste L!VE outfit to style, which was a dream come true as I immediately fell in love with the gravity-defying interiors and store displays in the new Glorietta 2 store! 

And boy, was it my lucky day or what? This top has books printed all over it. BOOKS. Now, where else can you find this print? This is something that all bookworms should definitely have!

Hype this look on Lookbook here.

I went all-out Lacoste and wore the preppiest stuff that I could find. I wanted to create a mix of formal (with the button-down long-sleeved top and skirt) and casual (with the cap, sneakers and satchel), and I hope I did a good job. 

I think it’s only the second or third time I’ve ever posted a shot of myself wearing sneakers. I dared to go bright red this time. What else could be a better statement than bright red shoes? 

As I’ve mentioned a few posts back, I’m a little obsessed with flat brim caps now that SNSD’s IGAB brought it back. Lacoste L!VE is a good place to find these caps, to those who are interested to get high quality ones! Available in other colors too, like black, blue and white. :D

Here’s another Lacoste! LIVE outfit where I decided to keep it more simple and me. I used the same space-age sheen bag but styled it with another printed top. The short sleeves are ideal for summer as it’s getting quite warm already!

Hype this look on Lookbook here.

Paired it with trendy pointy heels for another of that formal-meets-casual effect. 

Don’t you just love this print? It is another one of Lacoste L!VE’s original prints that can not only be found in this t-shirt style, but also in a one-piece dress style that’s very chic and appropriate for all occasions. Personally, it reminds me very much of old Japanese patterns. The peach-pink color accents also add a more feminine twist to the normal printed tee which we all love.

Here are some pictures from the event:

Wearing Lacoste L!VE with David (OMG HIS JACKET, RIGHT? I WANT IT) and Lissa. Bumped into our friend Patricia and the 4 of us had to take a photo together as we were all reminded of the good old days where we would attend certain events as a group! 

Also bumped into my friend and forever muse Julz who rocked her blonde hair so much  it made me miss that time when my hair was super light too! I feel like she would be the ideal type to wear all of Lacoste L!VE’s products in a heartbeat as her style is quite edgy and fun like the brand!

Models lined up with their colorful statement outfits.

They were having such a blast on stage!

Something I’d wear. 

Loving the colors on this outfit!

Bumped into my virtual friend of 3-4 years, KT! The world conspired to bring us together after so many Facebook and Twitter messages to each other. <3

The Lacoste L!VE event was a really a gathering of people like her who evoke a kind of quality that makes you want to take the world very lightly and just have loads and loads of fun!

In the Philippines, Lacoste L!VE is exclusively distributed by Stores Specialists, Inc. (SSI) and is located at New Glorietta & Rustan’s Tower Shangri-La Plaza Mall. Do drop by as soon as you can as their recent SS13 collection is to die for! 

Sponsored post.

(EGOIST bag, Esperanza boots, Massimo Dutti knit top, Forever 21 collared top, Topshop bodycon skirt, Yhansy necklace, Watch Factory watch, olive + piper bracelets) Hype this look on Lookbook here.

Since I’ve been posting a lot of red, white and black for this series of MOFW, I figured I should just continue with it and not force myself to wear something I don’t want to wear, just because all my recent posts have been looking quite similar. Maybe because it’s almost Chinese New Year (or Valentines?) that I’ve been bringing out all the reds out of my closet, or maybe it’s only another one of my strange color accent phases. Wear one color every day for a week. I think I’m one of the very few who can live with this. Shows how passionate I can be for something!

But anyway, it’s not really the red that I want to emphasize here, but my bag, which is one of my most favorite purchases during my trip to Japan! It’s from the brand EGOIST, which you might find familiar if you’re an avid reader of JELLY and SCawaii. They sell quite a lot of black and white clothes, but what sets the brand apart from other MODE brands like EMODA and MURUA is that they offer more mature and feminine silhouettes, and sexy-meets-edgy pieces. Not only do they sell clothes but also accessories, shoes and bags which are all very stylish and up-to-date with trends.

Speaking of trends, studs have been all the rage for the past couple of months, and EGOIST was there when it all started. This bag was only one of the many bags that made use of studs in their designs, but this bag was *the* winner. Don’t you think it’s genius to just put the studs on one side, and make the opposite side plain? It’s like having 2 different bags! <3  I can show the plain part of the bag if my outfit is intricate, and the studded part if my outfit is super simple.

(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!

(Batik Keris top, DAS wedges, Soeurs necklace) Hype this look on Lookbook here.

I’m on the 4th day of My Own Fashion Week already? It really is the busiest time of the year. I just felt like posting the first one yesterday, and now I’m three entries away from completing yet another series.

This top was my very last purchase from my Indonesia trip. I asked one of the people helping out in the familiarization trip if there existed a number 1 destination for batik souvenirs in the mall nearest the airport, so she led me to Batik Keris. I spent a long time choosing what I wanted in the store, because everything was so pretty and the prices weren’t bad at all. In the end, I decided on this 100% cotton top for its bright fire-like color and high neck (which you all know I absolutely love). What do you think?

I paired it with a girly old rose pleated skirt to give it a nice modern contrast, as well as sky-high wedges that can be seen from a mile away! 

(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

(SM Accessories earrings, necklace, ring and clutch, Forever 21 top, Clothes for the Goddess skirt, Indressme coat, FashionCookie ShoeAvenue wedges) Hype this look on Lookbook here. Thanks to RG for taking my photos.

Holiday dressing at its finest. I know well that it’s too hot to wear a coat out in Sunny Manila, but I couldn’t help but throw it in for the sake of these photos. Burgundy and camel always make for a classy combination, don’t you think?

I’m sure you’re all as excited as I am, that Christmas is just around the corner. It’s my favorite time of the year for a number of reasons! Firstly, everyone just seems to be friendlier and happier than usual! The effect of seeing giant parols in the streets and hearing Jose Mari Chan’s songs *cue Christmas in our Hearts* playing everywhere (and starting as early as September) is something I wish we could carry on for the rest of the year. People happily sip their peppermint coffee, red cups in hand, while they enjoy the cool evening breeze in mall parks with their loved ones by their side. Looks like a very warm and fuzzy picture, eh? It’s just like we were born for this occasion.

Secondly, the gimmicks, the events and all the parties! ‘Tis the season to be chubby~! If I didn’t have good metabolism, I think I would gain about 10-15 pounds every Christmas just by the sheer amount (and not to mention, quality) of food that I stuff myself with every time I have to attend a Christmas party. Seriously, where do all these food come from? But the bigger question here is how we are all still able to miraculously finish EVERYTHING from lechon to bibingka. 

Thirdly, besides all the piggy moments, these parties are extra wonderful because we get to see all our relatives too. Not all families get together every chance that they get, so Christmas is definitely one of those important things that we don’t want to miss out on. <3

And lastly, HOLIDAY DRESSING! Call me shallow but I absolutely love all the sparkle and glitter that comes with Christmas. Brands suddenly bring out their Holiday collections, which usually consist of my favorite red, blue, green, black and white, as well as all the manifestations of gold and silver that you can ever think of.

Something that is uniquely *me* during this time of the year is wearing shiny bling and not feeling overdressed for it. For the rest of the year, I always try to keep it simple and minimal, but for the strangest reason, the celebratory atmosphere during the holidays transforms me into this completely new person who suddenly likes dressing like there’s a party everyday… even if there is none. 

When I saw that SM Accessories was stepping up the game with the biggest and brightest fashion foursome, Georgina Wilson, Xian Lim, Richard Gutierrez, and Anne Curtis, I immediately thought… IT’S ABOUT TIME! Whenever I would go to SM Department Store, I would never fail to buy at least one little trinket from SM Accessories. At a very affordable price, you wouldn’t even think twice about purchasing their products. They have a wide array of designs, which are arranged by… *drum roll* COLOR, making it so convenient for all of us shopaholics. I often immediately go to the black, silver and gold sections to see if there are any nice necklaces or earrings I can add to my jewelry collection.

See how accessories can make a seemingly plain outfit look elegant and classy?

I am so obsessed with giant earrings, if you’ve noticed! They conveniently make your face look smaller (and I’ve always believed that my face looks huge compared to my body type/frame). I’m not so much into transforming my face permanently, but I’m all for creating illusions to fit my own standard of beauty.

Every girl should have a classic black clutch. Most of us have black heels as our wardrobe staples, but for the holidays, you can also invest in a matching clutch that can transform any outfit into a party-ready one.

This new favorite gypsy-esque necklace seems too busy and ornamented for my taste, but it’s a nice touch to add under collars. If I had to go out with only one accessory, my choice would be a tie between earrings (which I feel naked without) and a statement necklace such as this one. 

When it comes to wearing accessories, I don’t mix metals! Some people can pull wearing both silver and gold off, but it’s one of my personal pet peeves. Sometimes my intense sensitivity to details helps when it comes to keeping an outfit from looking incoherent. Details as simple as the accent of my clutch and the corners of my diamond-shaped ring are things I never overlook. I even get worked up when the metal buckles of my bag don’t match the rest of my jewelry.

For the holidays, black/white and gold, I think is the more Christmas-y choice. This is why I particularly chose these four accessories - earrings, necklace, ring and clutch, to create a warm, festive vibe to my whole outfit. 

Finished this whole outfit off with simple black wedges that give all my accessories the spotlight that they deserve. :D

Not convinced that accessories are this season’s must-haves? The new endorsers should be enough to make you want to head to the nearest SM Department Store. I’ve been following Anne and Georgina on Instagram - I love their faces so much and could only wish to look like them!

Sadly, I just arrived from Indonesia when they gathered the “it crowd” in Republiq to unveil “The Supreme Four”. It was graced by personalities from all over the industry; celebrities like Annabelle Rama, Eddie Gutierrez, Raymond Gutierrez, Tessa Prieto-Valdes, Nancy Castiglione, Sarah Lahbati, Frencheska Farr, Kylie Padilla, Rocco Nacino, Enzo Pineda, PBB Teens housemates Ivan Dorschner, James Reid, Bret Jackson, and Devon Seron, One Mega’s Sari Yap, Preview’s Lyca Puno and Anna Canlas, and supermodel Danica Magpantay. Also spotted were Marie Lozano, IC Mendoza, Bianca Roque and Chino Lui Pio who were covering the launch. Guests danced to the beats of crowd favorite DJ Mars Miranda, and were treated to prizes such as SMART Bro Tablets and an iPhone, courtesy of SMART.

The biggest celebrities have already been spotted with SM Accessories! It’s your turn to get spotted, with the leader and the authority in fashion accessories! You can get more of what’s new and get a chance to win up to 100k by following them on Facebook (just click on their ad on my sidebar) and Twitter. Don’t forget to include the hashtag #FashionAuthority. :)

(iAnyWear top, Oasap leggings, Sugarfree heels, San-Sue bag, Apartment 8 earrings and necklace) Hype this look on Lookbook here.

AHH! The quest for the perfect checkered leggings is finally over. I don’t know if it’s just me, but I get really obsessive-compulsive about patterns. High standards, maybe, or I’m just a little sensitive to what I like to see and wear. Some checkered leggings I’ve seen have squares that are too big, or have too contrasting colors. This, one, however… <3

I paired it with a top with cut-out shoulders, and holes that remind me of the ones that you cut out of giant posters and tarpaulins so that air can pass through. Err, yeah. I have the most unglamorous stuff in my head sometimes. 

It’s wine red season again, and I went all matchy-matchy with my bag and shoes. These heels are my first pair in this color, and I wear them all the time now! It’s a classy shade of red that’s not too bright and bold. Now available in Schu Trinoma and Rockwell. 

(iAnyWear cardigan, beckybwardrobe shirt, Topshop shorts, Forever 21 heels, Louis Vuitton bag, leopard print hair pin used as tie) Hype this look on Lookbook here.

Reduce me to my bare essentials and I assure you that my inner geek will come out. Before this whole blogging thing happened, I spent most of my high school and college time in front of the computer geeking out on pop culture on the Internet, creating graphic and web layouts, watching anime and reading manga as my primary form of relieving stress and passing time, and of course, spending every minute with a camera on my hand. I enjoyed fashion but didn’t let it dictate my life. I liked dressing up once in a while, but didn’t mind wearing my brothers’ oversized shirts to school. And curling irons and circle lenses were once non-existent in my life… *gasp* 

Recently, I’ve been going back to these roots in a lot of ways. For one, I dyed my hair back to the same color I had back about 3 years ago. Quite a bold move as I’ve been blonde for a really long time now. I’ve grown sick of being blonde for so long that I don’t even want to look at my old blonde wigs and hair extensions. This is coming from the same person who has always dreamt of going blonde since she was a little girl. Fickle-minded me!

This season, I’m also watching and reading a number of anime and manga again! There was a point in my life (probably around the time I stopped going to cosplay conventions) when I just wanted to spend my free time doing other things. My 3 brothers have constantly lived up to their otaku-ness since Day 1, so it was easy for me to get back into the habit. I’m hooked on Sukitte Iinayo, Tonari no Kaibutsu-kun, Kamisama Hajimemashita, Zetsuen no Tempest, K and PSYCHO PASS. I also just finished watching Uta no Prince-sama, Kokoro Connect, Chōyaku Hyakunin isshu: Uta Koi, and Kuroko no Basket. Yeah, you can sue me for loving mostly shoujo and josei stuff, but if it matters, I’m still reading Blade of the Immortal (at least). 

Most of the things I’m doing now take a lot from my old self… not that I liked my old self better. I’ll never trade my present self for anything else. To be honest, it’s very easy to lose yourself with all the things happening around you, especially if the community that you are in is one that requires you to show a public face. Some people try to create a different persona to suit their audience, and I could totally understand why’d they want to do that. Perhaps they want to preserve the little privacy that is still left with them? Perhaps they’re only protecting their “real selves” in the process? We’ll never really know. All I know is that it seems difficult, especially if you created something that’s *too* different from who you really are. 

I’m not totally innocent. I’ve also had my fair share of moments when wanted to appear a certain way to other people. At one point I wanted to fit in and be the type who would tote designer bags and know everything about fashion by heart. Of course, I fail, because I’m too awkward for my own good, and I’m the kind of immensely introverted geek who cannot act to save her own life, more so pretend to be a know-it-all in the realm of fashion. In the end, I guess I’m stuck with presenting my 100% real self by default! Let’s just talk about things we can all easily relate to, shall we?

This is one of my displays of intense optimism, lol. Failures aren’t all that bad. They actually teach us to become better people, and sometimes, they even save you from becoming someone that you shouldn’t be. :)

(Time Depot Baby G watch, Bayo shorts, Mexy top, jacket and stockings, MURUA iPhone case, DKNY boots) Hype this look on Lookbook here.

The world is ending. I’m wearing something totally out of character, and I am blogging on time now (not at like, 3 in the morning).

Well, I’ve always admired girls who can dress this way and get away with it so effortlessly (ehem my favorite redhead Tracy)! I mean, I seriously think that I’m bordering trying too hard to dress up like a stereotypical band geek and not wholeheartedly going for the complete Jane Lane from Daria look. With these bouncy, contrived curls? Really now? Who am I kidding?

Staying truthful to my personal style, I did black and white with color accent again! This time is quite different from the usual since I almost never do bright red. The conservative person in me tends to lean towards wine red and burgundy more for their not being too conspicuous and attention-grabbing. I don’t even do intense highlighter neons and print-on-print-on-print-on-print (yeah, I really had to mention it 4 times) so anything that seems loud and bold…? Definitely out of my comfort zone. This kind of red, and tattoo stockings included.

So what made me want to dress up like this for a day? I should say I built an outfit around a watch, instead of adding the watch as a mere accessory. It’s the red watch design that Sunny from SNSD wore in the Tough, Cute, Cool Baby G campaign! Being a fan of SNSD, I knew I had to get my hands on these new watches somehow. 

This watch that I wore in the past turned out to be the same design that Yoona modeled. Coincidentally, without prior knowledge about who modeled which, I also got the white and silver Sica design. One of the reasons why Sica is my bias is because I personally love her style and her taste in fashion (dem airport outfits). I was so happy to find out that we have the same watch… *shallow* TT

Anyhow, this particular one that I’m wearing here is my first ever red watch! The red star was too adorable to resist. All my watches are white, for some reason, but this one inspires me to try other colors out. 

Time for all us Filipino SONEs to rejoice! Thanks to Time Depot for bringing all the SNSD watches in. <3

It’s all in the details. Red watch and red shorts, and matching card suit prints on my stockings and iPhone case. If you guys are wondering how I got my hands on MURUA all of a sudden, I had my boyfriend get it for me at The One mall when he had some free time in his recent Hong Kong trip. I originally wanted the Hello Kitty one but it was sold out! ;_;

If you follow me on Instagram, you’d know that I have enough cases to last me a lifetime, but I have a soft spot for MURUA iPhone cases because they are très chic AND incredibly durable at the same time. Totally worth all your munnies!

Sponsored post.

(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.

(Red pants, pink sweater, printed top, white button-down all from Bayo)

We live in a world where we see blue, black, white and gray pants on a daily basis. Everything just seems to fit these pants colors so effortlessly, so why go through the trouble of getting a different pop of color? Well, colored pants are back, and it definitely wouldn’t hurt to at least invest in one color that’s out of your (or everyone else’s) comfort zone. 

Red can be quite intimidating since it’s such a loud color, but I personally think that it’s also the most classic compared to other colors like pink, purple, green, etc! Red pants have been around for a long time, and they can be dressed up or dressed down depending on the items you pair them with. Styling red pants isn’t as difficult as you think! Here are some tips on how to wear them:

Read more

(Luscious Closet lace top, Topshop tank top, My Cup of Tea shorts, from Japan eyeglasses, Esperanza boots) Hype this look on Lookbook here.

Such a laid-back look for a change. Found my inner hipster roots in the middle of the crazy Manila heat. Somehow it feels refreshing to just go out in something as simple as this. But definitely not as refreshing than a nice glass of iced lemonade on a hot summer’s day! 

The school year is over and a lot of people have recently graduated! It’s Holy Week soon and I’m sure a lot of you guys are going out on vacation with your families. That, or the usual church visits! Care to share your plans for the long weekend? :)