i have included her merchandise in several posts (here, here and here), i think it’s about time i feature her site.
from my favorite multiply jewelry retailer, bijoux de lou.
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wanting is my least favorite feeling. that is, if you call that a feeling. otherwise, wanting is my least favorite action. because in order to satisfy it, one needs money. and if one is not willing to part with money, the feeling has to be suppressed. or the action has to be corrected, if you consider it that. whichever way one wishes to deal with wanting, it’s not a very pleasant business.
as for me, whenever i feel a strong sense of wanting things, i write about them. it gives me a feeling of accommodation… a very misplaced security, but security nonetheless. as if by committing images of these things in my blog makes them mine in a very existential sense. ok, it’s a very perverted view of consumerism, but it sure beats the hell out of overspending. besides, i’d probably end up actually purchasing one or two of the things in consideration (especially if they are on sale; in which circumstance, i can blame marketing for ruining my budget). then i can move on with my life.
chloe eau de parfum. chloe’s concoction bearing its signature represents the unfettered me.
good luck on your upcoming bout against clottey, pacman!
online jewelry retailer bijoux de lou has restocked her boxing ring… uh, ring.
in a previous entry about this ingenious piece of boxing fanaticism, i mentioned about boxing glove charms. i have always wanted that. well, bijoux de lou just happened to address that want:
although it is one of this era’s most hackneyed words, i try to avoid “chic” as much as i possibly can because i am not even completely aware of its modern sense. its literal meaning is easy enough to grasp, but i don’t want to use it simply to get with the fad lest i misuse the darn word (like the phrase “in fairness”; more than half the people who dispense that daily aren’t even using it in the proper context).
at any rate (hey, there’s another over-used phrase!), i went on over to good old merriam-webster to get its operational definition.
chic, noun, 1: smart elegance or sophistication especially of dress or manner, 2: a distinctive mode of dress or manner associated with a fashionable lifestyle, ideology or pursuit, 3: a faddishly popular quality or appeal.
chic, adjective, 1: cleverly stylish, 2: currently fashionable.
in a bizarre development of fashion literature, usage of the word “chic” has embodied its very own definition. it’s almost like putting a mirror to another mirror and witnessing the infinite reflection. or something.
however, knowing its definition is only half the story. now we have to contend with its application. as you may already know, the word “chic” these days has a widespread reputation as an affix to other words that denote a particular style. below are some of the more notable partnerships.
of course, the idea is to look stylish and elegant, not victimized by certain categories. for instance, too much boho may look hippie-flower child (which i think is cute but i wouldn’t be caught dead walking around town in); too much military and you’d probably be better off wearing the official-issue fatigue uniform; too much goth… well, you get the drift. every now and then, we can treat ourselves to an indulgent piece (a sailor’s hat, a victorian corset, tribal beads), but it is best to keep the rest of the outfit sensible to off-set the quirk.
boho chic. bohemian style. key elements: vintage, ethnic prints, layers, scarfs, jandals, bangles, beads, multi-strand necklaces, maxi dress, big sunglasses, slouchy stuff like hobo bags, oversize cardigans, knit caps. colors: rich warm colors like brown, khaki, cream, deep orange and olive green.
casual chic. sometimes easy chic. dressed down yet stylish; combining casual wear with fashionable dressing. probably the prevailing style in 2010 catwalks. key elements: mostly for comfort like denim, linen, khaki, cotton dresses, tank tops paired with pieces and shoes in season. color: timeless neutrals, black and white with palettes from the runway.
eco chic. use of ecologically friendly materials in the construction of clothing and accessories. key elements: fair trade items, organic materials, reconstructed clothing.
geek chic. the look of geeks, once regarded as unpopular and socially awkward, has become cool by today’s standards, thanks in large part to real geeks amassing fortunes in the infotech industry. key elements: thick-frame glasses, crew-neck shirts, denim jeans, cargo pants, sneakers, surfer fedoras and baseball caps; minimal or no jewelries at all. graphic prints of video games, anime, cult films, graphic novels. colors: muted tones.
goth chic. gothic dressing can be morbid and macabre because it takes inspiration in the victorian manner of dressing for mourning. normally associated with emo and the new punk. key elements: leather, dog collars, victorian lace and ruffles, amulets, macabre jewelry (skulls, pentacles, occult symbols), fishnet stockings, thigh high boots, corsets, gloves, stovepipe hats. colors: black. sometimes with a sudden show of scarlet, fuschia or purple.
heroin chic. the emaciated and seemingly addicted look, most popular in the 90′s. thank god that’s over.
military chic. applying military gear into fashion. anything from land, air or sea warfare. elements: metal studs, insignias, emblems, antique buttons, epaulets, bomber jackets, boots, dogtags, nautical symbols. colors: army green, military fatigue, khaki. navy blue, red and white for nautical style.
shabby chic. the look of being worn or “shabby” but in a stylish way. it is usually associated with interior design, though it is also applied to clothing and accessories. “shabby chic” is coined by interior designer rachel ashwell, whose company is called that very same term.
i am currently quite fixated on shabby chic because i feel like redecorating with vintage finds and applying a few “wearing out” techniques on some furniture. which means i will be writing a dedicated entry on that some other time.
christmas has never tarnished its childlike charm to me. and i always go into the season with the same feeling of wonder and excitement as when i was just waist-high and struggling to read the gift cards. now that i have been participating in the actual buying of gifts (and have been doing so for over ten years), it is even double the merriment that i am able to both open my gifts and watch people open the gifts i wrapped.
some females choose to post their wishlist online probably hoping some of them will materialize (meaning some friends and family will read the entry and buy the stuff) like a bridal registry. i have done it myself before here, and none of the things happened to cross my hands (well, i did get a pair of stella lunas after i wrote the entry, but they’re a different pair. so that doesn’t count). of course, i may have been shooting over my head there even with just three hundred thousand pesos (php300,000.00), but i could have at least bought robyn more books for her leap pad.
today, i am still hankering for a trip to japan and rimowa luggages to travel there with, but i’ll take my return ticket to the philippines and my cheap ass generic brand luggage if it means i can visit home and eat danggit again. nevertheless, i came into the christmas season with a mental wishlist much simpler, more tailor-fit to my current situation and more accessible than my imagination would warrant. but they by all means give the same sense of satisfaction, coupled with the warm fuzzy feeling that comes with being able to take part in another season of exchanging gifts. cheesy? you bet.
i chose not to post any sort of wishlist, despite my fascination with assembling lists. however, i will post some of the stuff i received. because these are some of the things that make up my wishlist and i’m happy-dappy like a little kid.
my favorite scent, 2008′s most awarded fragrance, daisy by marc jacobs. moderately old in designer fragrance years, but still my favorite. too bad i missed the limited edition edp (which strangely cost the same as the edt) by about three days from the when the last bottle was sold, but i’m very happy with it no less. i know fragrance is such a cliche gift, but i don’t think i will ever get tired of receiving them.
a woven raffia roxy fedora with shell, grosgrain ribbon and chain embellishments and…
…a black pinstripe quiksilver “mob” fedora with embroidered crest and same-fabric sash. i started to regain my thing for hats when we had to wait in the sydney airport for nearly seven hours en route to nadi last september. my husband bought me a white-and-black hat that looks like eva longoria‘s and then i remembered how i once really liked hats but the philippines just isn’t a country that exactly embraces the accessory whole-heartedly (unless you are a musician or an artist. which i neither am). now i’m back to liking and collecting them.
coincidentally, i wrote “toothbrush” in our grocery list, and look what i found under the tree! we’ve always meant to buy the oral b electronic toothbrush but thought it too expensive to clean teeth with, so i’m happy someone gave me and my husband a pair of these things.
books from two of my favorite humorists. when you are engulfed in flames by david sedaris and mere anarchy by woody allen. i believe all the hype. yes, they are all that.
ok, i don’t have the least liking for robert greene’s machiavellian laws on leadership and how many of my previous managers so full of themselves live by his books like religious fanatics, but i admit that i read them all the time. yeah, i do, so kill me for being cliche yet again. the very same way i read so many other political philosophies i heavily disagreed with but intensely admired for the thinking behind them (like hitler’s, for instance). collaborating with 50 cent, greene comes up with another set of leadership principles in the 50th law for me to read with intense pleasure then disagree with during discussions. because i’m silly like i just enjoy insecure guys defend their peer-pressured beliefs like they are defending themselves against murder.
the advanced 32-stitch electronic singer sewing machine! with a users guide that reads more like a computer textbook than a home ec training manual. while trying to prioritize things and making ends meet, my husband and i started talking about getting one and we’ve been playing around with figures like how much we have to pay every week or how much we should negotiate for a second-hand one (especially since all of a sudden one day i found that we have to pay every week for a new tv and stereo system on top of basic needs and utilities from a single-income household with an applying immigrant who hates cooking… me, in other words). then lo! i get a sewing machine as a christmas present from the folks! doesn’t the world just work in mysterious ways?
reviews on some of the items later.
hope everybody had a wonderful christmas!
continuation to this.
placecard holders: miniature-ized well-loved trimmings
white snowflakes look great with iridescent table confetti. gold wire christmas pines are classic.
small poinsettia and christmas balls add whimsy and would make great conversation pieces.
from bridal people.
centerpiece: gather the tree trimmings and put the lights on
one of the easiest things to do is make centerpieces during the christmas season, with the abundance of decorating items. you can gather balls into a bowl or candles on a plate and voila!
from superweddings.
the wedding cake: ribbons, poinsettia and edible winter
adorn your cake with a silver or gold ribbon; instead of the usual roses, how about fondant poinsettia instead?
check this out, sprays of snowflakes as if they burst off the cake!
from wedding flowers and reception ideas and perfect wedding day.
wedding favors: christmas decorations
decorations like this snowflake candle holder and this crystal tree trimming make the best favors. your guests can put them up in their homes and be reminded of you every christmas season!
you can even put the favors in gift boxes! how about a personalized christmas ball?
from bridal people, cool party favors and stylehive.
the reception area: lots of lights and all things that glitter
like i said, i love holiday weddings because you get the opportunity to go crazy with the lights!
from wedding53.
set the atmosphere with a string quartet that plays christmas carols.
set up a space like this where you and your guests can pose for photos. this one sure beats the hell out of a printed tarp background.
from venus ensembles.
continuation to this entry.
the bouquet: berries and crystals
deep colored blooms like red roses and burgundy lilies add to the richness of the season's theme. adorned with berries, they give you the idea of a mistletoe.
from kaboodle and wedding flowers and reception ideas.
i am very partial towards crystals in just about anything, so i'm all for bridal flowers bedazzled with swarovski crystals. especially during christmas!
from pink frosting and silk wedding designs.
bind the stem with luxurious fabrics or ribbons in christmas colors; if it's a winter wedding, instead of a traditional bouquet, warm your hands in a muff of flowers!
from wedding flowers and reception ideas.
ring bearer pillow and flower girl basket: lots of bows and twigs with moss or pine needles
overload the pillow and basket with satin and gossamer ribbons. they will take on the appearance of christmas presents.
from eliza fig.
not precisely what i imagined, but very good representations of what i had in mind nonetheless: twigs and moss or pine needles with mistletoe, berries, pinecones and flowers to make the pillow look like a wreath and the basket look like a goodie stash.
from etsy and inspired occasions.
candles: bright and cheery candle holders
bright and shiny colors lend a festive feel to these otherwise austere decors, and the rustic pinecone candle holders add flair.
sendoff from church: snowflakes, stars and sleigh-bells
instead of rice, have the guests toss snowflakes and star confetti at the bride and groom.
from chico party.
let the guests jingle gold and silver sleigh bells as they toss confetti to the newlyweds. and these double as wedding favors too!
from bisman weddings and eliza fig.
like any christmas break in the philippines, many urbanites start heading to coastal areas for some holiday fun and frolic in the sea and sand. as for fiji, we get a wave of tourist arrivals from the frigid northern hemisphere, wanderlusters averse against the bitter cold to bask themselves under the pacific sun.
it’s fun to fashion-watch holiday tourists in the resorts. it’s like walking into a brochure. of course, it would be so rude to just snap photos of resort guests who come here for rest, relaxation and privacy, so just trust me that most ladies wear bright printed sundresses, wide-brim hats, oversize sunglasses and rubber flip-flops. while this kind of ensemble is very apt for the nature-inspired vibe of the island, sometimes i get to see some jordi labanda-esque tropical wear which i happen to favor an awful lot.
instead of invading the tourists’ private space by taking sudden photos, i assembled some diva-style tropical outfits in polyvore taking cues from the famous pop-art of jordi so you can get an idea of what i’m talking about. to make it more timeless, i stuck to neutral black and white with denim. plus washes of gold because i love how they reflect the sunlight and how they complement the sparkle of the sea.
poolside
resort shopping
clubbing
a few tips on how to look like a fashionable work of pop-art in the resort:
over-accessorize. if you want to look like a diva, there are times you have be fearless about wearing jewelry at the beach or poolside (that is, if you don’t intend to swim; you’d rather not risk losing them in the water). sleek or chunky watches, thick or piled-on bangles, bumblebee or aviator sunglasses, unique hats.
wear figure-skimming outfits. as much as possible, keep away from babydoll dresses and other cuts that de-emphasize your figure. you can only wear an oversize top if it is a sheer cover-up over your bikini.
limit prints. solid colors, especially deep shades, make you look leaner and, combined with the previous tip, even taller. if you want more color in your tropical diva wardrobe, opt instead for wide stripes or color-blocking.
give your flip-flops a rest. no diva will be caught dead in these. rock your strappy sandals.
nail polish. hands with bold nail colors make a strong statement. and they look fantastic holding that glass of mimosa. toenails with the same or complementing shade makes a fabulous end to your bare legs.
waterproof mascara. abundant lashes with your naturally glowing skin, thanks to the tropical sun, makes you look like a complete knock-out.
sun-seekers, hope you have fun in the holiday sun!
the sarong competition last wednesday was the first category judged in the week-long miss south pacific pageant here in fiji. seeing the ladies in this versatile piece of garment made me want to buy my own… actually, it made me want to buy many. i guess it never really occurred to me to get one long ago in the philippines because i usually wore sundresses in the beach. besides, i never really went to the beach regularly to merit a dire need for a sarong, knowing well i wouldn’t have the courage to use it in the city.
anyway, now i’m here and now i want one. or many.
i just learned a few days ago that the sarong is better known in the polynesian islands as pareo. don’t you just love that word? the way it tumbles down your tongue?
what’s a sarong/pareo? from 1worldsarongs:
Sarongs are many things to many people. Throughout history the world has known the sarong by different names as well.
For instance, the people from the South Pacific islands of Tahiti and Hawaii call sarongs, “Pareos”, in the Southeast Asian countries of Indonesia , Thailand, Malyasia, and the Philippines it’s called a “Surong”, in India a similar garment is named “Sri” and Africa they call it a “Kanga”. In ancient times of Rome and Greece it was named a “Toga”.
We choose to use the Indonesian name “Sarong”, because it’s the most popular name today and where the majority of Sarongs/Pareos/Kangas are made. Sarongs are mainly manufactured in Indonesia, but they are being made all over the world… There are as many names as there are ways to use a sarong!!!
Some people call sarongs handmade creations of art. Others call sarongs bathing suit cover-ups. It doesn’t matter what you call them. It matters what you do with it. Essentially, there is a very long list for how a sarong can be used.
with that, the best instructional video on how to wear the pareo is found here.
the video below is also very helpful, though imho not as entertaining as the one in the link above. certainly worth watching nevertheless.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j_LyRktKMOs&hl=en_US&fs=1&color1=0xe1600f&color2=0xfebd01]
if you consider getting a pareo (or more if you already have one!) after watching the videos, you might want to check out my favorite designs:
l-r: bright tribal print from seaspray; abstract mosaic with beads from la perla; colorful sheer from seaspray
be forewarned though: buying one will lead to the same phenomenon in that cliche potato chips slogan…
one of my favorite stores is definitely just g. i am largely attracted to the brand because i like the interior design of their stores more than any other’s, even if their items are primarily geared towards a much younger market (i am, though, an avid customer of their sister store, gingersnaps). their designs, whether interior or rtw, have an eclectic vibe which is, quite strangely, relaxing and calming to me. they freely use pastel and muted hues against stark whites and accents or heavy outlines of black and bolder colors. they use vintage elements, many of them victorian and pop art, and put them together in ways that scream modern. i may not be in the age bracket of much of their creations, but i would really love to wear their accessories.
just g. flagship store in sm north edsa
clothes and shoes display in the flagship store
i am crazy about that wall treatment
i could seriously go for their accessories
latest branch they opened is in the northwing of sm cebu
if that open armoire is for sale, i'd buy that too. come to think of it, also the dress forms.
just g. branches and in-store locations. update: cebu branch already open in sm northwing.
all photos lifted from www.justgfashion.multiply.com.
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