Cherie

Our Korean Pre Wedding / Prenup Photoshoot

2016-06-26T17:54:00.001+08:00

For starters, yay I'm back to blogging! I know that I haven't posted in a very long time and while I was in hiatus, I got engaged to the love of my life. One of the first things we did to celebrate our engagement was to have our pre wedding / prenup photoshoot in South Korea. Why in Korea you say? Just look at this pre wedding pictures!

(All pictures taken from hellomuse.com)

Aren't they gorgeous? I first stumbled upon Korean pre wedding photoshoots by perusing Hello Muse (hellomuse.com), a website dedicated to pre wedding shoots. As soon as I saw the photos, I knew that I wanted to have a Korean style pre wedding shoot. If you would ask my fiance, he prefers the American or Filipino style prenup shoots which are more casual. But I convinced him that a Korean style pre wedding shoot is a nod to their tradition (he is Korean) and it's something that our parents would like to see. To be honest, I was excited to wear multiple wedding dresses and see my fiance in a tux.

I had my fiance call a multitude of pre wedding photo studios and we settled with CN Studio in Gangnam. I love how their sample photos look so romantic and pristine. Plus, the price is also something that's affordable for us as we are trying to save as much as money as we can for the wedding.

(Here's a screenshot of their website)

A sample picture by the studio ( look at those gowns! swoon..)

(Photos from cnstudio.co.kr)

Unfortunately, their studio is not open on my fiance's off day from work so we had to look for another studio. In the end, we had our photo shoot done by Nine Studio, also located in Gangnam. I've heard that most wedding photo studios are located in the ritzy area of Gangnam (cue gangnam style song by PSY)

(Here's a screenshot of their website)

Their storefront with big picture windows.

The makeup room where they doll up the Bride and Groom to be.

(All photos from ninestudio.co.kr)

For the pre wedding photo shoot by Nine Studio, the inclusions are the rental of two wedding gowns and two tuxes, makeup, accessories and shoes, a 20 page photo album and a big frame of our chosen picture. All we had to do on the day itself was to show up. For the shoot, i bought my own wedding gown that I specifically purchased for the shoot but they didn't let me wear it. I'm sure they would let me wear it if I insisted enough but my Korean is not so well enough to translate. I also learned that we had to pay for a lady assistant to guide me. At first I was wondering why would I need an assistant but it became apparent enough on the shoot itself. We also had to pay extra if we wanted a copy of all the pictures on the day of the photo shoot and being the control freak that I am, I volunteered to pay for that.

So that's part 1 of our Korean Pre Wedding / Prenup Photo shoot experience. On the next part, I'll share some behind the scenes on the day of the photo shoot and some pictures as well. Thanks for reading!

Coffee date with Cole Vintage Bag

2014-09-14T18:42:00.001+08:00

( Mint dress, Jill Stuart Shoes, Hermes clic clac bangle, Cole Vintage bag)

I've always been a supporter of Filipino brands and Cole Vintage is no exception. I love their fashionable frocks and shoes and I would browse their selections whenever I'm at The Ramp. So when they offered me one of their bags, how could I say no? Soft and easy to wear, it's the perfect everyday bag. Not to mention stylish. I took it out on a coffee date with the boyfriend and I love how it matches nicely with my Jill Stuart espadrille pumps. You can find them online via their facebook page and instagram as well.

Thanks for reading and have a great week ahead!

Review: Su:m37 Time Energy Skin Resetting Toner and Emulsion

2014-06-04T19:07:00.005+08:00

Nowadays, I have been searching for skin care that is organic and all natural. My skin is easily irritated and I've learned that some additives in our skin care can cause redness and blemishes. A quick search and I chanced upon Su:m37, a luxury Korean skincare line which specializes in fermentation and all natural ingredients.

Su:m37 products are also free from artificial fragrances, colors and synthetic preservatives which makes it very suitable for sensitive skin. According to the SU:M37 website , it emphasizes on beautiful waiting, as fermentation takes time and the energy of various plants collected can be concentrated.

I got the SU:M37 Time Energy Skin Resetting line and it is described as "naturally fermented cosmetics which recovers the exhausted skin by normalizing the disturbed rhythm of the skin by using the fermented material, which has the vitality of life from long waiting". Whew, that's a mouthful isn't it? I have read from another beauty blog that time energy skin resetting is perfect for those with acne, oily skin and blemishes as it normalizes the function of the skin. I am 30, and though the time of my life where I had breakouts are long gone, I still get some acne from time to time especially around that time of the month.

As you can see, the bottles are half full as I'd like to test them for a long time to see the effects on my skin.

Su:m37 Skin Resetting Refining Toner

Description:

Effectively removes the dead skin and helps skin to be flexible and helps the rhythm of skin to be normal

Review:

This toner is watery and is easily absorbed by the skin. A few pats on the face will leave skin moisturized and refreshed. I love that there's no stickiness at all. It also has afresh citrus smell that is very pleasant. For me, smell of skincare aids in the "feel good" feeling and the all natural fragrance provides added aromatherapy.

Su:m37 Time Energy Skin Resetting Softening Emulsion

Description:

Balances oil and moisture on your skin and maintains skin more softly and smoothly

Review:

This goes on smoothly and is easily absorbed. Two things that I require most in my moisturizer. Needless to say, I love it! It's a very lightweight moisturizer and again, leaves no sticky feeling behind. When I wear this, I don't feel like there's a layer sitting on my face but rather, my face is soft and smooth.

Verdict:

After using these two for straight two weeks, I have noticed a significant improvement on the appearance of my skin. It's very smooth and calm, almost like a baby. Which I think is on point with the goal of this line, skin that is reset to its best state. I do get breakouts especially when my period is near but I find that when I use these two, blemishes easily heal and disappear. The Su:m37 skin reset line would be perfect for those with acne and other blemishes as it balances the oil in the skin. It's a keeper for me and I would definitely repurchase when I run out.

Thanks for reading and have a great day ahead!

Flounce skirt kind of day with stylenanda top

2014-04-12T11:09:00.000+08:00

( stylenanda top, zara skirt, zac posen bag)

I've been seeing flounce skirts around since last year and have bought a few ever since. I just love how pretty the shape is, fitted but with a lovely flare at the bottom. This one from zara is a cute shade of pink and perfect for spring season, even if spring in my country is non existent. Paired with this stylenanda loose lace top, this outfit was the perfect sunday lunch date outfit with the boyfie.

Thanks for reading and have a great weekend!

Changing Seasons

2013-12-02T11:34:00.001+08:00

( Zara dress, Blazer from Yesstyle.com, Rusty Lopes espadrilles)

Whenever fall season rolls around, I do get envious when pretty much everyone in the Northern hemisphere dons on sweater and boots. My favorite online stores change their merchandise whenever October has come and I can only gaze wistfully at faux fur jackets (never to real fur!). I live in the tropics and the temperature stays the same all year round ( we do get cold winds by december and january ) but I have decided this year to add some elements to make my wardrobe "transition" from summer to fall. This cotton dress from Zara is as summery as it can be but I found that adding a blazer to the mix can make the outfit appropriate for cold weather, or in my case, cold winds at the most.

An interesting thing happened while shooting these pictures. The dog came trotting to us and wagging her tail all the way. She is a friendly little thing and as you can see, even tried to kiss me. As much as I'd love to take her home, I guess she belonged to the farm beside the road and I wouldn't want to be charged with dog kidnapping.

Thanks for reading and have a good day!

The History of Whoo Gongjinhyang luxury mi powder compact review

2013-11-21T19:26:00.000+08:00

I have a thing for beautifully packaged cosmetics and most korean cosmetics have artfully designed packaging that is so elegant you'll feel like a queen when you swipe it on. Take a look at this compact by the history of whoo, so beautiful isnt it? Let's see if it performs beautifully as it looks.

A little bit of background: The history of whoo is a luxury korean skincare brand under LG. According to the history of whoo's website "traditional korean royal culture is revived with modern science to create the most precious aesthetic beauty". This Gonjhinyang line is the whoo's "basic skincare line that contains wild ginseng cordyceps sinensis and 'gongjhinbidan' a secret royal court heavenly beauty formula presented exclusively to the emperor and empress". If you wanna feel like an empress, then this skincare brand is for you!

Packaging:

The box packaging is an elegant yellow with gold embossed lettering. The compact itself is a gilded gold color. It looks heavy but it's definitely not. I'm thinking this is the perfect accessory to whip out during parties and date for that touch up. Not pictured is a velvet pouch that you slid the compact into to protect it from scratches. It's my first time to encounter a pouch to protect a compact but with something as beautiful as this, it definitely needs some lovin'. If that's not luxury then I don't know what is.

Upon opening the compact, you can see the same embossed design on the outside printed on the compact. I have the shade number 1 which is a pink beige color. This compact also has spf 30 protection PA++ which I think is a wonderful added feature since I live in a tropical country. No more separate touch up sunblock application!

Texture:

Very soft, almost velvet like.

Color:

The shade number 1 has a pink beige color and is perfect for those with pink undertones. It has a slight shimmer when heavily swiped but when it's on the face, the shimmer is not so noticeable but gives a slight glow.

Longevity:

It lasts some 4-5 hours on my skin before touching up. On colder climates, it might probably last the whole day. It doesn't look patchy when some oil has appeared on the face and in my opinion, looks better when it wears off a little.

Coverage:

light but I find that it smooths pores and doesn't look stark white. It might be a tad pink but once it's been on the face, it blends beautifully in the skin

To conclude, let's see the Pros and Cons:

Pros:

elegant casing

functional cosmetic ( with spf 30 sunblock)

powder gives a healthy glow to the skin

Cons:

expensive ( at koreadepart, the refill alone is 40 dollars)

too delicate for everyday use (unless you use the velvet pouch provided)

Personally, I would buy this for the packaging alone ( i know, i'm a sucker for pretty designs) but for the price, it performs beautifully. If you're in the market for a high end powder compact, give this a try. Thanks for reading and have a good day ahead!

Travel Tales: Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam

2013-10-30T10:34:00.000+08:00

Travelling to Vietnam has really surprised me, visually, gastronomically and emotionally. At first, I really didn't know what to expect but Ho Chi Min City or formerly, Saigon, has really charmed me. Admittedly, the feel of the city is unlike the vibe of Manila but it helped us feel immediately at home.

This is the view from our hotel room and we counted ourselves lucky to have scored a room that has an amazing view of this rotunda of General Tran Nguyen Han. Our hotel is just beside the famous Ben Thanh market and just in case you are curious, the hotel is called Silverland Central.

The famous vietnamese Pho which I think I have eaten everyday. There are different kinds of Pho and this one is of the seafood kind. I also tried the different kinds of Pho at Ben Thanh market and everything is absolutely delicious. I must say, the food in Vietnam is excellent, be it from the street vendors selling Banh Mi or the chic restaurant Cuc Gach Dang (which we dined in our last night and learned that Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt has once eaten there.

This is the first stop of our city tour, the Thien Hau Temple. I love how serene and meditative it is.

The Reunification Palace, formerly known as the Independence Palace, is one of the most visited sites in Saigon. Everything in the palace is frozen in time as nothing has been changed since the Fall of Saigon in 1975. For a history buff like me, I was excited to go in.

Our knowledgeable tour guide briefing us before going in.

And of course, the outfit of the day shot. Saigon has tropical weather and it was sweltering at March when we were there.

The war remnants museum is a must see stop of the city tour. There are a lot of graphic images which would reduce a person to tears and tales of suffering. The experience in the museum is very moving, if only to remind us that this kind of war should never happen again.

The notre dame cathedral in Saigon. Vietnam was colonized by the French and as such, remnants of French influence and architecture can be seen around the city.

This was not part of the city tour but I highly recommend going to this place. The Saigon Bitexco Financial tower is the highest building in the city and has an observation deck. Go when the sun is about to set to see the whole city transform from day to night. Very romantic!

The bar on the observation deck. Prices are quite reasonable and the view is just amazing.

Ho Chi Minh is a warm, vibrating city. Full of culture, delicious food and historic tourist spots, it is a must see in every world traveler's list. I've been lucky to share this experience with good friends and the memories are something I would cherish. If you're gonna ask me if I will go back, definitely yes because mainly of the food. I wish you've enjoyed my photos and have a good week ahead!

All about beauty: O Hui CC Cream review

2013-07-08T14:45:00.000+08:00

I'm a big fan of BB creams. I swear they have changed how my skin looks and it was an incredible alternative to heavy foundations. So when CC cream came out, I wasted no time in finding one as they say it is a refined version of BB cream.

Don't you just love the delicate pink packaging of this Ohui CC cream? I think one of the reasons I bought this particular CC cream is its packaging ( i love everything pastels!) and I really hoped that the cosmetic performs beautifully as its packaging. As you can see, they have defined CC as color control and has an added benefit of SPF 28. A little background on Ohui: it is a luxury korean cosmetic brand under LG. The Ohui philosophy is "when science and nature meet".

The packaging is something that I have never seen before and just adds to the excitement in trying the product. You gently press on the white part and it pumps the product up to the surface. Surprisingly, it's very easy to control the product dispensed and if you ever pump too much, you can just pop the lid back on top without touching the cream and leave it there for future use.

According to the product description, the CC cream changes color to match the skin tone. It contains microcapsules containing pigments that break upon spreading. As you can see, there are noticeable pigments of yellow and beige on the cream as I swiped it on my hand. It's a nifty invention by showing us how color is such an important part of the cc cream.

To see better, I have also swiped it around the container to see the myriad of colors in the cc cream. Can you see pink, beige and yellow?

To compare on how it fares well against the BB cream ( I used one from Ohui as well), I swiped the creams at the back of my hand. In my opinion, CC cream blends beautifully on the skin as the BB cream can be a stark white color. So it does the job of color correcting the skin! The biggest improvement that I can infer is that CC creams don't have the gray undertones that most BB creams have.

As to texture, it glides smoothly on the face and gives off a calm glow on the skin bordering on matte ( as compared to the dewy effect BB creams impart). It also covers blemishes nicely and lasts a good 4-5 hours before touch up. Perhaps the only thing I didn't like about this is the shade can be a bit yellow and I have fair skin with pink undertones. I hope in the future they can create more shades like BB creams as "one shade match all" doesn't really work on most people.

In conclusion, cc creams seem to be a cross between bb creams and foundation. It gives a nice coverage while still having that lightweight feeling that bb creams have. If you absolutely hate the gray undertones of bb creams, then I say definitely go for this.

Where to buy:

I bought mine at en.koreadepart.com for 30 usd.

Thanks for reading and have a nice week ahead!

Catching up to Summer

2013-06-17T11:47:00.001+08:00

( dress from SM, mendrez wedges, charles and keith bag)

Whenever I know we'll be going to spend a day in this place, I couldn't resist dressing up and take pictures. The hotel has a santorini like vibe and the sight of blue seas, breezy winds and white and blue architecture never fails to make me happy. Of course, I do try to dress in a nautical theme and this striped dress that is hanging in my closet seems to be the perfect outfit to complement this beautiful place.

Minty Green

2013-06-03T09:23:00.000+08:00

(thrifted dress, parisian shoes)

Sometimes, life happens.. Which may explain my long absence from my blog. I promised myself to post regularly this time, as the dearth of blog posts also means that I haven't been interacting with my precious camera lately and I have totally missed the spontaneous road trips I take for my blog. And, not to mention, dressing up.

Have a lovely weekend ahead lovelies.

Orchidea

2013-04-07T17:19:00.000+08:00

(dress from SM dept store, Tory Burch bag, Aldo pumps, Louis Vuitton bangle)

Who knew yellow and pink could make a pretty color combination? I've had this floral dress for a while now but I've always reserved it for the weekends. At first, I was stumped on how to make this work appropriate as I debated on wearing beige or black shoes but I found that following the main colors of the dress can make for a matchy effect. I unearthed a forgotten box of yellow pumps and grabbed my yellow Tory Burch bag and in no time, I was out the door. You see I'm not a girl who likes to match things (color of bag should also be the color of shoes) but once in a while, it makes for a refreshing change of wardrobe mixing.

Thanks for reading and have a wonderful week ahead!

Midi skirt on Valentine's day

2013-02-14T17:02:00.003+08:00

Being petite, I avoid midi skirts like the plague. They stop midway between the knees and ankle and they would require a pretty high heel to balance things out. But when I saw this ASOS midi skirt on sale, I couldn't resist buying it.

Michael Kors Sunglasses

ASOS skirt, Banana Republic top

bejewelled clutch from Landmark

Sam Edelman heels

The print is just the perfect contrast to the black and surprisingly, midi skirts are comfortable and modest! A tip on wearing midi skirts: make sure the fit is just right, it will make a big difference on how the whole outfit looks. Admittedly, I ordered mine a tad too big as I had relied on the size chart and I have realized now my correct size.

Happy Valentine's Day everyone! How I wish I could celebrate with my bf (he's currently in korea) but I guess a skype date will do as well. Wishing you a lovely day to celebrate with your loved ones and most of all, yourself.

Review: Etude House Nymph Aura Volumer Baby Glow Mist

2013-01-28T16:19:00.001+08:00

Lately, I've been noticing how k pop girls have this dewy complexion that I absolutely covet. It just radiates glow and health! I have tried the Nymph Aura Volumer at the store and it made me sad how I can not wear that in the hot and humid environment where I live due to its sticky nature. Until this product came along.

According to Etude House, this product is a makeup glow mist that instantly boost dewy glow and hydration with just one refreshing spritz. If you're curious about the ingredients, take a peek at the picture below.

The baby glow mist has a very fine spritz. No need to pat it with your fingers as it spreads quite evenly on the face. Just make sure that you close your eyes while using this product. It also has a very floral fragrance upon spritzing but it quickly dissipates.

At first, I didn't have high expectations of the product since the original nymph aura volumer is sticky to touch. I keep expecting how this mist is gonna turn greasy. But it settles quite nicely and the feeling is hydrating.

I did my usual makeup base routine of cc cream + cream blush then topped it off with translucent loose powder then used the the baby glow mist on my face. I didn't do any retouching on the photo so you can see the effect better:

I love how my complexion looks dewy without feeling oily! The baby glow mist gave a natural sheen on the face and acted as a highlighter on the angles of the face. I have this habit of over powdering my face and I can instantly correct it with a spritz or two of this mist. It didn't feel greasy at all even if I wore it for 8 hours.

Tips:

1. Don't overdo the mist. Try to spritz one pump per side of the face then go up from there if you still need an added glow.

2. Use the product as a setting mist. Use the product after applying all the base makeup so you can still have coverage on the face.

3. Try to spray the baby glow mist on the bridge of the nose and cheekbones. Light naturally hits these areas on our face and the sheen from the product acts as a highlighter.

Will I repurchase? Definitely. I just hope they don't take it off the shelves as Etude introduces new products quite quickly. As for the cost, I bought this at the Etude House store in SM Baguio and costs about 545 php for an 80 ml bottle.

Thanks for reading and I hope you enjoyed my first beauty post!

Accidental match: Jellybean blazer and wedges

2013-01-14T18:26:00.001+08:00

Jellybean Blazer

jellybean shoes

green tea dress from the ramp

Sometimes in life, there are cute surprises. I've made it a habit to check Jellybean every time I see their stores and have made purchases habitually. But what I realized, as I was dressing this outfit, is how the florals in my blazer and shoes matched! It was a funny coincidence as I have purchased the shoes earlier than the blazer but it was nonetheless perfect for the floral trend appearing nowadays.

Wishing everyone a wonderful start of the year!

Off to a wedding: Caleruega and Tagaytay Highlands

2012-12-20T18:34:00.000+08:00

Ahh destination weddings.. Just those two words are enough to ignite the wanderlust in me. So when a close childhood friend invited me to her wedding in Tagaytay, I just couldn't say no. First, there's nothing more romantic seeing two people very much in love tie the knot and second, I have vague memories of Tagaytay as I have only been there two times in my life and the third, is my boyfriend's first time to experience a Filipino wedding.

The wedding invitation said formal and I was in an absolute ditz on what to wear ( choosing what to wear to a wedding is always tricky isn't it?). It was an afternoon wedding with a dinner reception so I decided to wear something mid length. I had a dress custom made inspired by this lovely creation by Ulyanna Sergeenko ( link here ) and it originally had a strapless bustier but I didn't want to worry about being self conscious. In the end, I decided to pair the skirt with a modest lace top.

Charles and Keith orange heels

Of course, we couldn't leave Tagaytay without seeing the world famous Taal Volcano. We stopped for a coffee break at Starbucks not knowing that there's an excellent view right there. We experimented using a fisheye lens and it's perfect for getting a really wide view ( plus, you can take self pictures as a couple and the background will be included too!)

A tip for those going to Caleruega: you have to enter Evercrest to get to the church, go straight until you see a road going to the right and from there , a 5 to 10 minute drive going downhill. The road is not so good and it will hinder you from going fast. Also, it helps to be early as parking can be difficult. I've heard that the entrance to the church grounds is a bit of a climb but if you're a wedding guest, you can use the small gate at the side of the church.

Sorry for the long post. I hope everyone is enjoying the upcoming holidays. May you have a happy and delightful holidays wherever you are in the world. Cheers!

Chiffon and Lilac Lace

2012-11-20T17:16:00.000+08:00

( blazer from causeway bay, dress by nine, charles & keith bag, parisian shoes )

Who doesn't love a good form fitting blazer? It goes perfectly with dresses, shorts, jeans and can be dressed either up or down. Talk about being the most versatile item in the closet. But living in the tropics also mean hot and humid weather and sometimes wearing a blazer isn't an option. So when I saw these chiffon sleeve blazer from my recent trip to hong kong, I immediately knew it was perfect it as it doesn't feel stuffy at all and I went home satisfied even though it was the only clothing I bought on the trip.

Have a great week and thanks for reading!

See you at www.dressupcherie.com!

2012-11-10T11:30:00.000+08:00

( blanc et noir dress, so fab heels )

Hello! It's been so long since I posted that if cobwebs can grow into blogs, mine would have a fair share. I guess the reason I've been on a hiatus is that I was confused on what direction my blog is heading. Over the past few months, I've been inspired by newly discovered blogs and at one time, I tried to emulate their concepts but it just felt that I was being a copycat. I've come to the conclusion that being yourself is the only thing that matters especially when putting yourself out there for everyone to see. So for a fresh start, I've changed the layout and the name of my blog. I've also moved to the domain dressupcherie.com and if you're more familiar with my blogspot address, paradeofdresses.blogspot.com, don't worry it redirects to my new site name. I've also added a section for beauty as I've become somewhat of a beauty junkie this past few months as well. So I hope to see you around and if truth be told, getting back to blogging takes some time getting used to.

Have a great weekend!

Flora Love

2012-08-27T17:58:00.000+08:00

(Never been kissed dress, YSL tributes, ring fr Panopio jewelry)

Time flies so fast when you're having fun as they usually say. So fast that I just realized that it was one month and a half since my last post! My long distance boyfriend had suddenly visited me earlier than expected and between work and getting to know each other again (i have to admit, long distance and being beside each other everyday is an altogether different experience) that there was almost no time for blogging. But I digress, there's always time for blogging right? *wink*. Then a sudden idea popped into my head, turn the bf into a photographer! Between giggles and pointing out my best angles, we came out with decent photos and I think he kind of did a pretty good job. Loving this low back dress I got from Never been Kissed and the floral print got me inspired to whip out my floral headband as well. Here's hoping I can get back to a more regular blogging schedule!

Thanks for reading and have a great weekend!

Little Blue Rabbit

2012-07-09T15:47:00.000+08:00

( Dress from Korea (by.JOON) , Vivienne Westwood for Melissa sandals, YSL ring, Liz Claiborne bag)

I hardly dress with matching colors from head to toe but today I was in the mood to wear some blue all over. When I first saw this dress, I totally fell in love with its cute little rabbit and pony prints. I'm just glad that the color is a navy blue to tone down the cutesy factor. I paired it with this Vivienne Westwood for Melissa sandals which has to be the most unique pair of shoes I own! It never fails to amaze people as it looks like I'm balancing blue balls on my feet. Unfortunately, the thatch of forest we photographed in has a softer earth than I had imagined and these poor shoes got themselves muddied. Oh well, nothing like a good cleaning can fix. On the other hand, I've been taking my photos early in the morning lately due to everyday rains at dusk and what a difference early morning light can do! As much as I love the warm glow of a sunset, there's also something unique in the cool cast of early light.

Thanks for reading as always and have a great week ahead!

Telephone Booth

2012-07-01T17:32:00.000+08:00

( Folded and Hung dress, YSL tribtoo pumps, Panopio jewelry tourmaline earrings)

Taking a break from all the pinks I've worn on every blog post this year, which is something that I've realized just a few days ago! So here's a look that's not so dainty and a little bit more grown up which reminds me of a conversation I had with my cousin. We were shopping one weekend and she remarked that she wanted to overhaul her wardrobe to become more grown up and age appropriate. It led me to think that my own closet has a juvenile appeal since it has a lot of pinks, pastels, ruffles and other girly accoutrements. But then part of growing up is having confidence in yourself and really caring less about what others think. So for now, I'll keep my closet the way it is and after all, fashion comes in phases, who knows, a year or two from now, a closet overhaul is what I'll need.

Thanks for reading and have a great weekend as always!

Purple Peplum

2012-06-24T16:20:00.002+08:00

( Folded and Hung skirt, Native shoes, Dooney and Bourke Bag)

The peplum trend is a trend that I'm in love right now. I think it's very flattering, gives emphasis to the waist and has a vintage ladylike feel since it references the fashion of the 50's. We had some time to spare before going back home so we took photos at Camp John Hay which I think is one the best preserved places in Baguio ( much of the city is so urban, it's losing its natural feel but i'll save the ranting later). I paired it with this Native sneakers since I had to run business errands that day and I can't stop raving about these shoes. I used to be averse to sneakers but these pair are the softest and I have been wearing them almost everyday. It just goes to say that in fashion, one should never say never.

Thanks for reading and apologies for the haggard look i'm sporting here. I forgot how much stressful driving up to Baguio can be :D

Hot Pink

2012-06-10T13:36:00.000+08:00

( Folded and Hung dress, Parisian shoes, hat from SM dept store, twozero necklace)

I've been posting blog entries rather sporadically these days and I really apologize for that. I've been tangled up lately in product development for the food company I work in leaving no time for outfit shots. But I really miss blogging and I just decided to delegate things a bit for one morning and hie off to my secret place to take pictures. I feel like it's been eons ago since my last post that I felt so awkward doing poses the day we shot this and ended up shooting like 50 shots of the same pose. Anyway, I found this dress on sale and what a hot pink it was. I read somewhere that color can influence our emotions and this shade of pink just screams power and femininity, in which, come to think of it, is not a bad thing to feel at work isn't it?

Thanks for reading and have a great weekend as always!

Bows and Frills

2012-05-22T18:30:00.000+08:00

( top and shorts from bangkok, louis vuitton inclusion bracelet, vivienne westwood for melissa platforms)

I didn't really notice I was wearing bows literally from head to toe until I was editing the pictures. Bows for me are the easiest way to add a touch of femininity in any outfit and sometimes, the more the better isn't it? As terrific as summer can be, there is a limited choice in what to wear ( or just choosing the sheerest item i have) and the change in season has been such a welcome relief giving way to much more sartorial choices.

Thanks for reading and have a good day!

Islands Banca Cruises Cebu

2012-05-10T16:39:00.000+08:00

Hi everyone! It's another beach themed post for now and this is one of the highlights of our 9 day trip back in January with my family. I've always wanted to experience island hopping with Islands Banca Cruises and what better way to experience than with family?

Unfortunately, the day was overcast and a little bit rainy but that didn't dampen our excitement. To give you an idea what the boat looks like, it's white and orange with all this comfy bean bags! Such a perfect way to relax while cruising the seas of cebu and bohol.

Me having first dibs on aforementioned bean bags.

Our itinerary was the Gilutungan Marine Sanctuary - Pandanon Island route and first off on our list is snorkeling at the marine sanctuary. Here I am with my three sisters ( w/ my sis's bf) and here we are with our goofy snorkeling poses. I love that the boat has a convenient trapdoor where one can easily descend.

Our steward guided us through the waters and brought some bread for the fish feeding activities. It was awesome seeing all the colorful fish swim beside us. This humongous jellyfish was such a pretty violet color and has no stingers so we got to touch it.

As we were snorkeling around, we suddenly heard or rather, felt a booming vibration. It sounded far away and not a cause of concern but our steward related to us that the boom was caused by dynamite fishing. It was disturbing to hear that these practices still exist...

After snorkeling, we set off again to have lunch at the Cao-uy floating restaurants since we ate our packed lunches for breakfast (everyone was so hungry!). Lunch was a delicious affair and most memorable for me was the scallops simply grilled with butter. Isn't it amazing how swimming around make us ravenously hungry afterwards?

ASOS swimsuit, Hat from SM

On the way to Pandanon islands, which is technically part of Bohol, I got to catch up with my sisters. This is my sister Beth and the crew actually thought we were twins!

And finally our last destination is Pandanon island with its immaculate white sands. We got to try kayaking around the island since it was rather shallow ( and a good thing!). The crew actually steered the boat a few meters from the island and from there you can walk the whole way to the island!

Everyone agreed with me that this was actually one of the best things that we've done over the course of our trip. We went back to our hotel tired but happy and we will always remember Cebu with Islands Banca Cruises. And oh, did I tell you that there were masseuse on board? Definitely the best activity that my mom and dad experienced that day.

Thank you for reading as always and hopefully I can get back to a more regular blogging schedule and doing outfit shots. Have a great day!

Nautical Blues

2012-04-22T11:40:00.000+08:00

( Cococabana maillot, Nine West bag, Mango cuff, rusty lopez sandals)

"Whenever I'm alone with you, you make me feel like I am whole again"

Well Adele might have intended to sing the song in reference to a love one, but for me, it best describes how I felt about the sea, sand and surf. Working throughout the long holiday holy week, I admit that I felt a bit envious of everyone's vacation pictures and when I finally got some time off from my business, there is nothing more I'd like to go than the beach. After all, all work and no play makes Jane, or rather Cherie, a very dull girl indeed. I love the fact that this particular place is just a two hours drive from where I live and one of the most beautiful places I've been in a while. I probably spent the whole time thinking what a perfect place to have a wedding which is some crazy thought or something.

Hope you're having a great weekend everyone and thanks for reading!