nouveau/skin

Little Kel

2012-02-08T22:00:00.002+08:00

Guys, meet little Kellogs, Mac's new baby girl. Kel is a shih tzu poodle combination. Still a little shy but is slowly warming up to her new home and family. She'll be a spoiled brat for sure. You'll be seeing more of Kellogs in the days to come.

Dude & Dog

2012-02-07T21:49:00.000+08:00

A little off beat for 2 reasons.

#1) I miss our old dalmatian Skahespeare. He'd be really big and old by now.

#2) Mac recently bought my cousin's little pup. I'll introduce her to you guys on my next post.

Spring Dressing

2012-02-06T22:46:00.001+08:00

floral shirt from Topman

Japanese Kokeshi Dolls

2012-02-05T10:22:00.001+08:00

traditional Kokeshi dolls from Japan

I found myself back at the antique shops of Cubao X last week looking for a wedding present. A friend is getting married today and I thought I'd get her something different than the usual kitchenware and bed sheets. There was a new store in the area selling a lot of Japanese toys and collectibles including these wooden hand-painted dolls. The jolly store owner said they're authentic traditional Kokeshi dolls she bought from Japan. I found them really cute and adorable and the owner said she'd give me a huge discount so I bought two, a boy and a girl.

Kokeshi dolls are handmade wooden dolls that originated from Nothern Japan. They have a simple trunk often with a floral and linear design. Noticeable are their enlarged heads and lack of arms and legs. Thin lines are painted on the face to define its features. The bottom of the dolls bear the signature of the artist who made them. It is said that the dolls were made and sold during the Edo Period to people who visit the hot springs in the north-east.

the artists' signatures

The problem is I totally fell in love with the dolls when I placed them on my desk. Staring at their faces, they seem to have personalities of their own. I couldn't take to wrap them up and give them away so I decided to keep the dolls and buy a different gift for the wedding instead. Oh silly me!

When He Starts to Dress Better Than You

2012-02-02T20:32:00.000+08:00

taken by iTouch camera

I'm beginning to think Mac is competing against me. :)

Exactly Eric

2012-01-31T22:10:00.003+08:00

Last Saturday, we celebrated the 23rd birthday of Eric, our ever sophisticated but sometimes naughty and crazy doctor in the making. Eric and I went to the same institution from grade school all the way thru college though our friendship only began in high school. He can be considered as one of your uptown kids--classy, refined, and with superior taste in everything. But I'll totally be lying to you if I deny that he is at the same time bonkers. He has his cute craziness. Eric is currently studying to become a doctor in Ateneo Med.

Eight of us had a wonderful dinner at Cafe Juanita in Pasig. It wasn't a full cast but we were a happy little bunch. It's been over a month since we last saw each other so everyone had their stories to tell. And most of them are hilarious.

spring rolls

Add caption

crispy spring rolls

We dined over a a feast of spring rolls, Hainanese chicken rice, lengua (pig's tongue, bagoong (shrimp paste) rice, and a very sinful crispy pata (pig's thigh). The cuisine is mainly traditional Filipino as is the decor in the restaurant. Everywhere you look there's a mish mash of antique ornaments, artwork, artifacts, and china that create a very romantic ambiance.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ERIC!!!

That's a Mere $23

2012-01-29T14:37:00.001+08:00

Not bad I must say for something I could buy for tens of thousands of dollars and a cardiac arrest else where. C'mon, it's just for novelty.

City Hunter Starring Lee Min Ho

2012-01-28T13:50:00.001+08:00

It's very rare that I get really interested in a series aired on prime time television. If I'm not in bed catching up on my sleep during that time, I'm on my computer surfing the net. The television's on just so I won't feel alone in the wee hours of the night. But I saw this new Korean series City hunter starring Korean actor Lee Min Ho in one of the local channels.

Lee Min Ho plays the character of Lee Yoon-seong (or Johnny Lee if you prefer) in this drama, a skilled assassin trained to kill and seeks to avenge his father's death. The action story seems interesting, the lead star is totally handsome, and most of all the wardrobe is exquisite.

Like most Korean TV series, the essential elements are there: the handsome pop star/actor who seems to model in every scene, the too sweet too cute and clueless leading lady, and the chummy chummy romantic scenes that make the hair at the back of your neck stand up. But it's an action drama which I really like (surprisingly). And Lee Min Ho seems extra gorgeous in his perfect bling perm do and drool worthy outfits.

How the hell can Koreans look this cool nonchalantly?

Lee Yoon-seong is always dressed chic and sharp, often with tailored pieces that translates the hunter look. According to the stylist, the wardrobe reflects the character's complexity and probably mysteriousness. Not very trendy but more sartorial.

I am totally digging on the series 70% for the clothes, 20% for Lee Min Ho, and 10% for the story. The problem is it's aired very late at night. By that time I'm preparing myself for sleep so if anyone knows where I can get a full copy of the series (in Korean with English subs please), please do holler at me.

Wearing Andre

2012-01-26T21:22:00.001+08:00

Tommy Hilfiger Andre

Some of Fall 2012

2012-01-24T21:06:00.001+08:00

some of the looks I liked from the menswear shows

Gucci, Jil Sander, Z Zegna, Ports, Kris van Assche, Dries van Noten, Valentino, Acne

Follow my Pinterest!

Credits: GQ.com

Youth is not Forever

2012-01-23T13:38:00.001+08:00

I've been pondering on a bit harsh but totally true comment I received from a colleague a few weeks ago. Work has made me older. It was a cold stab on my heart when I heard it. Worse, I look at myself in the mirror and there's no way I could deny it. No, I don't see unwanted lines or streaks of white hair but the studded shirts have been replaced by dress shirts, the trendy accessories by ties, and the cool haircut by a neatly combed do. Add to this the puffy cheeks caused by snacks munched in the office.

I miss the days I can wear a hat and the people around me won't make a big fuss about it. Oh those days...

I try my best to keep the youth in me. Except during business Mondays when we are expected to come in corporate attire, I wear fun and colorful socks. Occasionally I throw on my mohair sweater or my red pants. And casual Fridays are meant for dressing up like a college student again while I can still defy age.

So guys, dress well and have fun with clothes. You're not getting any younger.

PS: That's a clip on earring. I didn't pierce my ear.

Spending the Day Spending the Cash

2012-01-22T23:20:00.002+08:00

Today was a free day for me, one of those rare days that I really treasure since I started working. So I tried my luck with Mac and went out hunting for sale items. We went to Makati and combed through SM, Glorieta and Greenbelt. The area has all the stores you'll need from department stores to high street brands to diffusion lines to Muji to local designer stores to luxury brands-- it's a perfect one-stop-shop. Good thing the clearance sale are still ongoing in most stores and pieces in my size are still in stock... except for the shoes. The shoes are always a problem.

By the way, see that huge timepiece on my right wrist? Yes, I bought the Tommy Hilfiger Andre I blogged about here. It feels so good to buy something so precious out of your own hard earned money.

Now, it's pass 11pm here and the Chinese New Year special is airing on TV. My feet are tired and my eyes are heavy so I'm gonna be a good kid and climb to bed now. I'll share my loot some other time. Good night.

The Artisan's Colors

2012-01-21T13:05:00.002+08:00

The Artisan Clothing

Prada's Pocket Fillers

2012-01-18T21:38:00.004+08:00

leather flower with a napkin pocket square and a pen

Fashion accessories are very similar to home decor in interior design. Most of them are frivolous and of no practical use but are totally necessary for aesthetic purposes. A brooch is like a painting on a wall, it breaks the flatness of a plain gray suit. A stick pin is like a vase of flowers, it calls the attention of wandering eyes. And a pocket square is like a bust placed on an empty shelf, it makes use of an otherwise empty space. Whether it's an accent or a subtle almost incognito detail, an accessory makes an outfit more interesting.

Perhaps you'll get my point if you take Prada Fall 2012 as an example... a very good example.

crown and sword stick pins

football and pistol stickpins with a card case used as a pocket square

Aren't they so fine?

A flower bud tucked in with a gray pocket square. Love!

Credits: The Dandy Project

Hand Carried

2012-01-17T20:47:00.000+08:00

follow me on Pinterest

Burberry Prorsum AW2012

2012-01-16T22:32:00.000+08:00

Burberry Prorsum AW2012

Quite evidently the duck, the owl, and the cat were the adorable attractions of the Burberry Prorsum show last Saturday. It was a collection composed of simple pieces made special by their details. It comes as no surprise as Burberry is a conservative brand constantly pushed to the boundaries of sartorial conservatism with intelligent play in colors, graphics, leather goods, and umbrella handles. That I really don't mind. Christopher Bailey had me at those studded portfolios. And if that isn't enough, there's always the wide-eyed cat on the gray dress shirt.

Credits: GQ.com

The New Messenger Bag

2012-01-15T13:37:00.001+08:00

holiday present from Mac

Tommy Hilfiger Andre

2012-01-14T00:17:00.001+08:00

Tommy Hilfiger Andre gents watch

WISHLISTING!

Round Round Round

2012-01-11T22:53:00.000+08:00

Yet again, the awesome Lee Oliveira caught the fine and dandy during the first day of Pitti Uomo. As much as I find brilliant the pleasant combination of gingham and chalk stripes and the cool sport coat, I was primarily drawn to these men's round framed glasses.

I'm not a fan of those frames. I prefer my glasses big and boxy so my face would look small and my cheeks slightly sunken. Round frames either make me look old or alien-like. It seems my cheeks become puffy and my face more oval. And my nose appears bigger than it actually is. Perhaps it's all mental. The thing is I don't have the confidence to where them. My sole pair of round glasses are spectacles given to me as a gift. I wear them when geek chic is my peg for the day but I have to take them off every once in a while.

For me, wearing round frames requires a certain kind of radness (which I doubt I possess). Those guys obviously have it in them. I'm lost for words to explain what it actually is but it's there in the photo. The glasses make them look interesting. Stylish without being pretentious. It eliminates the whole Anna Wintour character to the dark shades movement and makes it more of a gentleman thing... a Pitti Uomo thing.

Should I bite it?

We will see. After publishing this post, I shall begin the debate in my head weather I should go on and try those Pitti glasses.

Credits: Lee Oliveira

Prints and Patterns

2012-01-08T23:25:00.001+08:00

So here's something kinda new in my blog. It's my pins of the week post where I'll share to you my favorites from my Pinterest which I pinned during the week. I'll try as much to come up with a theme so the pins won't be just some random photos I got from the web. It's gonna be a recurring thing which hopefully would help me maintain activity in this blog (like a weekly homework :D).

This one's about prints and patterns. They are slowly growing in me. I should have loved colors and patterns before. I've been missing out on a lot! You gotta appreciate my noticeable improvement from all my black outfits from the past.

The Right Planner

2012-01-08T22:35:00.000+08:00

Muji 2012 A6 schedule note

For some, surely any simple planner will do. For others, it's a hunt. I know I'm not alone in the endeavor of meticulously finding the right one as if the year won't be running properly without it. It was easy before when I had the appetite to drink a dozen or so frappes to get that yearly coveted Starbucks planner but with more important things to spend my money on and a slower metabolism, the craze just doesn't bite me anymore.

I'm searching for something simple, light, and would easily fit any bag (or would be decent to be carried around by hand). I don't like bulky ones that take up so much space in my purse. And I don't really have much need for all those unnecessary doodle pages and discount coupons. I want something stylish but not pretentious. And there should be enough space on each date for me to write my agenda on.

The Muji A6 schedule note in chocolate brown cloth cover best fits my criteria. I love every bit of minimalism in it from the cover to the inside to the size. It is gentlemanly (stylish without being pretentious). And I was lucky enough to get it at a discounted price, far far far more affordable than Starbucks.

It was a hard choice between Muji, teNeues and Moleskine.

Doran Magneto 2012 planner from teNeues

TeNeues' Doran Magneto planner is decorated with 8 of Ella Doran's beautiful designs. Ella is an award-winning designer based in the UK. She designs patterns mostly for home furnishings. This diary tickled the frustrated interior designer in me.

Moleskine daily diary/planner

And of course, there were the Moleskine diaries, the ever minimalist notebooks for the thinkers and the artists. And that's exactly what keeps me from buying Moleskine products. They are much too associated with the van Goghs and the Picassos and the Hemingways that I know I will find myself pretentious if I should ever buy one for myself.

So I settled for the Muji scheduler and I'm happy with it. And hopefully, with a good planner in my hand, 2012 will be rolling ecstatically well.

Something Fun

2012-01-05T19:53:00.000+08:00

Welcome 2012 in chic and fabulous style.

Pinned and Loved

2012-01-03T22:33:00.000+08:00

Despite being away from blogging for some time, I didn't cease seeking fashion inspiration online. Pinterest allowed me to conveniently consolidate my personal fashion musings in one pinboard. As much as possible, I tried pinning straight from the source and avoided repinning from other users; not that it makes any difference. Above are some of my favorite pins for 2011.

As you can see, my interest in color is growing. Now this is a good sign. And it seems my preference is beginning to move from androgynous avant-garde to a more gentlemanly style. But I try to keep things young and fun, hence the prints and the color blast.

If you have the time, please do check out my Pinterest and pin with me. :)

*click photo to view sources

Hello 2012!

2012-01-01T23:42:00.000+08:00

Good bye 2011! You've been a truly wonderful and memorable year for me. You brought a lot of great blessings, turning points, and important lessons. But like fashion trends, years come and go and now it's time to welcome the new year.

Hello 2012!

And as the annual tradition goes, I shall tell you, my dear readers, my new year's resolution. But before that, let's do a recap on the resolutions I set at the beginning of the year that was.

Save money.-Partly accomplished. I did shop less and bought things of greater value but still, I mainly shopped at Zara and other fast fashion brands.
Engage my interest. -Not accomplished. :( I even lost time for this blog. :(
Buy more colored clothes. -Accomplished!!! Now I have more pink, yellow, blue, and green pieces in my wardrobe. I even have a shirt with swallow prints.
Lessen smoking. -Accomplished!
Invest on quality accessories. -But I hardly bought accessories last year.
Be a better friend. -I need to work more on this.
Be a better partner. -Accomplished according to Mac.
Make my life more exciting. -Well, 2011 was an exciting year sooooo.... Accomplished!

Now, for 2012, I'll be retaining my first resolution last year, that is to buy less and buy better. It made me feel good about the things I purchased so yes, it stays on my list. As well as the other resolutions I failed to achieve. But for this year, my main resolution which I would try my best to work on would be to give more. To give more to my family, my friends, my partner, my community, and my God. One thing I learned this holiday season was it feels very good to give from the heart. I think it's the vitamins for the soul. So let's give more this 2012.

Happy happy new year!

PS: I'm sorry for neglecting the blog. Hopefully, my blogging wheel rolls again this January. Hit me hard if it doesn't.

You Know What We Did Last Halloween?

2011-11-13T20:48:00.001+08:00

These are a few shots of Halloween 2 weeks ago. Spent it with my closest friends at G's house (as usual). In the photo above (from right): Nathan came as a hippie?, Joaquin as a pirate, Benedict as Dracula, Eric as a slutty housewife trying to seduce the hunk gardener, and me, I came as Nathan. But on the last minute I tried to be Evelyn Salt.

It was a happy night and a night of a first experience for the group. We went to a gay bar together for the first time. Before it was just me, Benedict, and Joby. It was shocking for some (like Ms. G who was trembling during the first hour) but mostly it was fun and hilarious especially when the drag queens came on stage. The place was far from the stereotypical gay bar where men promiscuously wrap their selves around each other. It was all clean fun and I hope we'll do it again soon.