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.
from bridal people.
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!
i’ve been wanting to buy a new watch since november last year, but i just haven’t felt the very crucial need to actually go to the store and buy one. i wanted to get a technomarine watch, but i wasn’t entirely sure whether i really like it or i’m just enslaving myself to the trend du jour.
what i really need though is an everyday watch that can withstand intense arm gesturing, rough shelf and wardrobe rummaging, weaving through heavy crowds and chasing a little girl across playgrounds and tight spaces. i am given to more-than-occasional small accidents like socking my hands onto walls and banisters, so the watch also has to be durable enough to accommodate my abrupt reflex movements.
i am one of those people who use a stopwatch frequently (i have an actual sports timer at work; and i’m not even athletic) for reasons that are professional and sometimes bizarre, so i could use a watch that has a built-in stopwatch feature. the calendar including date and day of the week should be a given, this one is extremely necessary.
i guess that boils down to casio g-shock. aside from its clear shock-resistance advantage and its multi-functional feature, casio also wouldn’t rob me of my hard-earned cash. and the designs look either industrial or adventure-y, they’re perfect for my jungle psychological state.
g-shock now comes in an endless variety of styles, but this dw6900 model maintains the classic design. photo from casio-gshock.com
many other styles feature the more traditional analog display, but there certainly is nothing old-fashioned about the design.
released in 1983, many of us would remember ogling at the watches and feeling insanely jealous of classmates who used to don these hardware pieces in school. i distinctly recall wanting the baby-g so bad. we were a private school of bland uniforms, regulation black shoes and limited accessories, so our one chance to express our artistic selves was through wristwatches. baby-g with its pastel colors and complicated-looking face was the ultimate fashion statement.
casio baby-g bg-198v series. i was guilty of a capital sin because of these.
now that i’m older and significantly bigger than my schoolgirl self, i still want a g-shock, but i want it clunkier. i have small wrists, but i want a big watch.
the casio g-shock g-1000d is one of the models that don't use the brand's better known digital face. photo from www.fashionloft.techcastnetwork.co.uk
it may be analog, but it carries all the main features of the g-shock we have known and loved: stopwatch, calendar, world clock and alarm.
the g-1000d is a flight from the earlier g-shock designs. marketed to more discriminating consumers. photo from www.fashionloft.techcastnetwork.co.uk
i want the g-1000d because it is a big chunk of metal and resin. it looks heavy but it’s actually not, i was quite surprised when i lifted it off the display module.
as always, "shock resist" is emblazoned on the rim. photo from www.fashionloft.techcastnetwork.co.uk
casio g-shock is available in leading department stores. the free-standing store, g-factory, is in glorietta 4.
other designs that knock me silly:
now here's a real fashion statement. the orange gulfman from the rescue series. nothing can declare "lifeguard" more than this.
gorgeous. the two-tone g540d-9 from their cockpit series. features both digital and analog display.
nature has always been one of the most enduring themes in fashion, but can you recall any other season when they’ve been so girly and so chunky as they are today?
combining such disparate characteristics as dainty and ostentatious, these necklaces and bracelets bear resemblance to the sweet and gorgeous flowers of home gardens, striking the irony of being demure and outrageous at the same time.
openwork flower necklace from promod
flower collar necklace from topshop
fabric flowers corsage necklace from dorothy perkins
long beads with flower from promod
pearl shell flower necklace from dorothy perkins
flower link necklace from topshop
corsage and pearl necklace from topshop
daisy bracelet from promod
metal and wood bracelet from dorothy perkins
though still nothing compares to the real organic thing, in the matter of accessorizing, you don’t need a green thumb to grow your own garden.
step 1 - select a face
step 2 - select a strap
step 3 - select a charm story
et voila! customized watch!
visit la mer collections to customize your own watch. click!
polyvore is my hobby du jour.
see my widgets, click on the badge, join polyvore and let’s all drag and drop like stylists!
although bratz has been reeling in a larger portion of the tweenie market, i still happen to like myscene, mattel’s answer to the doll phenom, better. first off, i think they look cuter. then there’s the issue of loyalty; i grew up on barbie and other mattel toys.
another reason to like myscene is their frivolous and fabulous website.
www.myscene.com
and since i feel as if i missed out on my teenage years because i was a wallflower then, i can make up for it by drawing vicarious pleasure from living the cyber-life of the myscene girls (frankly, i just want to play…).
you can meet the myscene friends, get to know them and sneak a peek into their bio:
get to know the myscene friends: kennedy, madison, nia, chelsea and delancey.
if you have valley girl fantasies, this is your chance to play out your inner teen diva:
go shopping with two friends. among other scenes, you can shop for going to a concert event, a winter getaway, or another, uh... shopping spree.
give a friend a makeover: hair, make-up and accessories.
be a fashion designer by creating clothes, shoes and accessories you can print out for your own paper doll.
or maybe interior design is more your avenue. unleash the artist in you by getting a room makeover.
sounds like a lot of fun, doesn’t it? plus you can get beauty and fashion ideas from the styles you create.
who said (cyber)dolls are just for kids?
as you can see, i’m not over it yet. and i’ve been fascinated to the point of obsession for years now. there’s something about chandeliers that i like, the victorian or elizabethan styles more than the modern art deco/art nouveau ones. they’re opulent, garish and some of them may even be downright grotesque (like this one we saw in a chinese restaurant last weekend), but i gravitate towards figures or art that depict their general form. my notebooks, sketchpads and office journals have doodles of them swarming the margins. perhaps i need psychoanalysis for this. a shrink might even say i have a deep-seated longing for wealth and attention, but i can explain very clearly why i like chandeliers.
morbid fear of the dark + interest in historical art and artifacts = chandelier fetish. makes sense, right?
since our flat cannot accommodate a real chandelier, i wrote in a previous entry that wall decals can serve as a suitable illusion. but aside from dressing up the house, chandeliers can also dress up an outfit.
www.trenddelacreme.com
plastic pendants from betsy blonde and fuzzy design workshop
locally, i found the following in the multiply shops of bijoux de lou and shop wanderlust:
www.shopwanderlust.multiply.com and bijouxdelou.multiply.com
i get dibs on the beaded black one!!! unfortunately the one with charm cluster is out of stock. the other two have been sold to you-know-who… they still have similar designs though, so if you like them, go now before someone else beats you to them (that would be me).
i could certainly go for these:
from etsy, shopbop and eva franco
but i don’t think i could get away with this:
just one of the things you'll see at the glass fashion show in new york
i might as well swing from the rafters if i wear that. i’m not that deeply involved. though i would love to see someone wear it in this year’s halloween party.
this is my entry to the contest posted by posh pinay.
as i normally select which of my personal items would be useful for certain days, then leave behind the rest which won’t be of any purpose, i maintain a general weeday pack and a general weekend pack.
this is my weekend junk:
my favorite red bag
weekend pack
this is my weekday junk:
my typical weekday bag
weekday pack
what’s in your bag?
thank you, Shallow, for allowing me to contribute for the men.
Summer aahh!! First, let us all put our hands together for the sunshine and the brighter days. The Philippines, Land of Beauty, Sunshine and… a very Shy Beach Culture!! What?? Did I just say that?
After flipping through photos of a recent trip to Boracay, I was actually kinda saddened because with all the hype of the beach, sand and sunshine, I noticed fellow beach-goers were still wrapped up in jeans, relatively beach-like shirts (old business shirts) and the beach sandals that look like they could second for construction boots ala super duper Crocs. I’m talking bout the men… Ladies fashion to be commented on later.
Gone are the days when rolled up jeans and white shirts passed as beach attire. Not water friendly, very drab and just a hint of  ”look at me I am a pirate with my cutoffs”. If I had to choose three things I could take out of the Beach Scene nowdays,  it would be:
The Nut Huggers
Â
swimming trunks (ballus prisona/budgee smugglers)
Smite he who weareth the tight spandex number, unless you are a super model… actually no… keep them at home or stay in the water… So we can’t see you.
The Makeshift Beach Shorts
denim shorts
Oh c’mon a little effort please. We have all seen these and we all know someone who wears them… For shame…
The Over-Tanned Foreigner
donatella versace with an overtan
We love Donatella, but you know what I mean with the tan : )
OK. Maybe not so much the last one (they bring money into the country lol), but I mean sometimes don’t you just wish you could say easy on the tan-oil. Anyways, back to the point… A fellow traveler on the way to our island getaway asked me a if I was going for a Pro-Am competition. I asked “Why?” and he pointed out the obvious, which was me dressed head to toe in Quiksilver. I am talking hat, shirt, boardies, backpack and my duffel Bag. Only My Oakley Oildrum Sunglasses split the Sponsored Surfer Image. I turned to a large window in the airport to check myself out and was like totally… HAPPY! Yes, I was in my fave beachwear from my fave beach company and I was asked if I was a Surfer. SWEET! (I am shallow)
Gentlemen, summer vacation is about hanging up that work hat, taking off the suit and just chillaxing. Just because you work in an office don’t mean you bring it to the beach. Get into it, enjoy the shirt-less, sweat infused, drenching warmth of the sun or if not bikini style atmosphere. Dig in and express yourself. The great thing about beach wear is that there are plenty simple or loud designs to just bring out that inner sun god (provided you can even go on a summer break).
I also realized getting geared up for the beach can pack a wallop to your wallet. So now I also understand the whole denim shorts on the beach thing. The metro really makes the beach experience expensive even before you leave. But with an okay budget, one can gear up for a summer fiesta.
So the Essentials:
BOARDIES
The summer equivalent to a cold beer after a long week. But Boardies need to be worn with authority. Your board shorts are a reflection of you… crazy, cool or simple. Wear boardies with pride.
A few faves I have seen and want:
billabong LSD eco-shorts spring 09 collection
Billabong’s feast for the eyes will keep stoned friends entertained for hours. Incorporates eco-friendly technology.
quiksilver my dog spot shorts
These shorts are too cool… Will add to the delight of those special medicated friends who stare at the LSD shorts. Throw them a curve ball and switch shorts.
quiksilver raimana shorts
Polynesian design influenced by the Samoan Tatau/Maori Ta Moko (Tattoo). So you can get the design on the same part of you body and take it off, rather than suffer immense pain by having the tattoo smacked into you skin using wood and sharks teeth. Thank god for technology.
Most board shorts can be found at the signature stores or from outlets all around malls. Can be anywhere from p600, if you are lucky, to about p1400.
SUNGLASSES
Not only do they help you from developing cataracts, they also hide your dodgy eyes peeking at the bikini clad ladies on the beach. Sunglasses also add that extra layer of cool, but beware!! Failure to observe the sunglass switch rule (i.e., take them off from time to time and put on a hat) will result in the highly embarassing PANDA eye effect.
I love the these little numbers
electric velveteen sunglasses also available in cnady apple green, bubblegum blue and black
Now they may look like ladies glasses so maybe you can buy her a pair and get your special treat, but for the the select few that can pull them off, these babies are a beauty.
police 8103 sunglasses also available in silver and red.
The middle ground stylish sexy slash corporate number without looking too bling. Great coverage.
spy haymaker sunglasses coco creme fade.
Like their name suggests, the Haymakers konked me out with their awesomeness. Last pair i saw cost about p9050, but there are other knock-offs out there. To find these sunnies, Stoked Inc. is usually the best bet, but a little walking around never hurt anyone, especially if you are walking off the Beer gut, you lazy bum!! Get your body ready for the beach.
ACCESSORIES
Now walking around in the Metro during summer equipped with your Boardshorts and Sunglasses and swag, how about just add that extra Booyakasha (lord have mercy) when you walk with your ipod/mp3 player blaring dem summer beats through these babies:
skullcandy G.I rasta headphones in black
Now if these don’t sear Bob Marley onto the surface of your cranium via the ear canal, what will?
skullcandy T.I (titanium) rasta headphones in gold foil
These will get you bumping like a reggaeton superstar, the titanium enforced speakers truly deliver them brain-numbing beats.
Skullcandy allows you to find the headphones that fit your personality. Not only do the look awesome, they also allow you to interchange the earpieces just in case you wear the foam out quickly. Also check out the METALLICA signature series. Skullcandy can be found in the A.SHOP or BRATPACK. The TI series will set you back bout P4050
In the next summer series, greatly appreciated bikini numbers for the ladies as told by men. killer tsinelas the croc eliminatahs! and sling bags.
Love, Peace and Inspiration.
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