Well, technically, it’s not something totally new.

You see, as part of The Coca-Cola 100 Years Project, 12 fashion bloggers were chosen to participate as fashion correspondents in the Coca-Cola Big Youth Blowout to be held at Trinoma on January 28, 2012. I’m one of them (long story, or maybe not).  Out of these 12, 1 male and 1 female fashion blogger with the highest votes will walk the runway on that day, for the Coke-Bench fashion show. How do you vote?

1) Tweet “I vote for @rstylista to walk the runway this Saturday at the Coca-Cola Big Youth Blowout! @Coke_PH #CokeBenchFashionShow”.
2) Follow @Coke_PH to make those votes count.

Voting is up to January 25. 11:59pm. Yes it’s only one day of voting because everyone has a sense of humor!

I have no real aspirations of modeling and I do it for the kicks (there was Ferretti and House of Vanita thing that’s uber top secret *cough cough* because of what I was or was not wearing).  However, if I did end up on the runway again for some reason, I can’t promise you regal and inspirational.

I’d probably be like this flower arrangement.

Except now I have half my head shaved.  I’m not sure if I qualify as 1 male and 1 female because now I look like this:

Is the image of this boyish girl applying pink lipstick confusing you in any way? Good!

So if you want a bad-ass post-apocalyptic look on a summer-themed show or you have a sense of humor, then you’ll probably end up voting for @rstylista.

This post was brought to you by Snickers and Starbucks overdose lalala

New ways of shopping you ought to try

The new improved Multiply. I used to lurk around my favorite Multiply shops during my web designer days since I was always in front of the computer then.  Now they’ve really changed leaps and bounds and shopping is so much easier.  I hate going to malls anyway (except that now I have to since I get styling gigs regularly and you have to physically be in the stores for pullouts and such).

AVA.ph is the Philippine’s first members-exclusive flash sales sites.  Flash sales are a win-win situation.  Lately they’ve started including beauty products, not just fashion.  I bought a total of three pairs of shoes from them, from their Melissa and Tonic sales.  I’m contemplating on getting Phaidon books, too.

Top 3 establishments you ought to visit

Fab salon. My favorite so far is the one in Valero beside Pancake House, but there’s also one in Newport Mall and another in Glorietta 5. Consult with hair genius Lourd Ramos, who gives helpful, personal suggestions and fabulous cuts and styling.  I also like their nail polish collection in the Valero branch and the staff is great.

Browhaus (Greenbelt 5).  I probably would never have visited this place if I didn’t have a gift certificate. I thought they might be ridiculously expensive.  Well they are, but now I can see why.  Thanks to ARC, I was able to try their Browgraphy and I loved it.  I’m definitely going back for their expert knowledge in eyebrow shaping.  I hope they’d have a friendlier and more helpful staff, though.  I was the only customer at that time, so maybe they weren’t used to someone interrupting their quiet schedule of doing nothing (I know I’d be miffed if it were me haha). Kira and I asked if we could take pictures, but they refused. That was free marketing they turned down, but what the heck.  Kira and I secretly took photos anyway, because I’m really iffy about eyebrow services and I wanted to blog about the experience no matter how it would turn out.  I like the person who did my brows, though I’ve forgotten her name now.  She shaved off more than what I was used to but it allowed for a more defined arch that I’ve been trying to follow ever since. (Photo by Kira Ramirez)

Art of Scent (Newport Mall). Aptly named, as they really take the search for your perfect scent seriously.  It’s the first concept fragrance store around here. And let me tell you, for a girl who doesn’t take to perfume especially, I was able to find a scent that I really liked just by the way they categorized things.  Picking a signature scent really does have something to do with your personality and it’s different for everyone. I also like that the attendants don’t push you to buy their latest or most expensive, or chase you with testers.  Instead, the store had trays that classified the scents as Woody, Floral, Fresh and Oriental so that you get a basic idea of what you might like based on their notes and other ingredients.  It really helps identifying what you like!  A great way to get acquainted with new perfume.

Shampoo of the Year

I thought it would be Watsons’ Pure Beauty line, and believe me, I was raving about that shampoo and conditioner.  Then I discovered TIGI Bedhead’s Epic Volume and I fell head over heels in love despite the price tag (P1800/bottle!) that I’ve sworn to replace my bottle once I finish it.  I was reluctant to try Epic Volume because on its own, my hair already has epic volume, but I do tend to overdose with conditioner when I try to tame it.  This shampoo and conditioner make my curls sleeker but it doesn’t kill the volume.  It makes my hair super soft and smell candy-sweet.  I find it comparable to Kerastase in terms of quality and price.  So if you have curly hair and want shiny, bouncy curls that are soft to touch, I highly recommend TIGI Bedhead’s Epic Volume.  I bring it with me whenever I have my hair washed at salons and I make them use this. In fact, it’s the only shampoo I keep in my bag in case I go home to my parents’ unexpectedly (which was much more often during the last two months due to the holidays and preparations for my brother’s wedding).

(Obviously taken before my half-head shave)

What you should bring to the beach apart from the obvious

Beach Hut Max 100 SPF.  It might not be that obvious to bring 100 SPF if you like tanning as much as the next non-Pinay!  7 days in Boracay can really burn your skin.  I hardly reapplied but I didn’t get scaly skin and sunburn this time with this in tow. So I suppose it has great moisturizing properties aside from its sun protection.

adidas ClimaCool. I discovered this by accident.  I had little clean laundry left while I was packing for Boracay, and I realized I had a lot of unopened stuff from adidas.  So I threw that in my luggage.  Thank goodness because ClimaCool wear is the most practical sort of clothes you can bring to the beach.  They simply don’t absorb moisture and they don’t stink the way regular fabrics do when dampened with salt water.  I reused my ClimaCool plenty of times I wasn’t in my bikini–saved me luggage space and I didn’t have to literally hang dirty laundry outside our room to let the sun dry them up before repacking them. They’re very easy to clean and quick to dry.

Urban Decay primer potion.  I hardly ever used this, but I found a handy use for them at the beach.  Since I don’t have smudge or waterproof eyebrow pencils, and I hate going anywhere without my eyebrows drawn in, (yes, even at the beach) I tried swiping them on before the eyebrow makeup.  They work.  I went underwater and they didn’t budge.  Just don’t go rubbing them off with skin contact.

Jenova/Triple Pinky. I swear by this lip and cheek tint.  Even after swimming, the tint doesn’t just go away.  It’s comparable to Smashbox’s O-glow, except it’s cheaper.  And if you’re like me and your skin tends to look gray and lifeless after sun and saltwater exposure, this is a invaluable.

Best lingerie

House of Vanita. Not really new.  I was one of the blogger models for them back in 2010.  But they deserve a mention because since then, I haven’t found a bra that fits me better than the one I got from them.  It’s really a shame they don’t have other stores/outlets other than their showroom in Citibank Tower, Paseo (Makati).  I’d hoard their stocks if they did, even if they are a bit more expensive than the usual (then again, expensive for me just means anything more costly than cheapo but ever reliable and hip Bench).

Top moisturizers to try

Human Nature’s Royal Jelly and Aloe Vera Night Moisturizer. If you’ve read my review some time ago, you’ll know how much I raved about this product.  It’s cheap, effective, organic and local.  It does feel heavy at first application, but just wait for it to get absorbed.  It’s an all-time favorite as it makes my skin soft and supple when I wake up in the morning.

Mosbeau Placenta White All-in-One Facial Cream. I didn’t really expect anything from this at first, but it totally surprised me.  It’s light like a water-based moisturizer but moisturizes excellently and it’s multi-purpose.  I use it for day and night.  A makeup artist once commented how well-moisturized the sides of my nose were and that surprised me because that’s usually the driest part of my face apart from the sides of my lips.  This was the moisturizer I used just before that.  So far, it’s also the only moisturizer that has been managing this weird drying around my lips (I should really check with the dermatologist about this).

Most underrated mascara

The Face Shop’s Freshian Volumizing Mascara (01 Curling).  I think I’m the only person or blogger who loves this mascara, as I never read anything about it elsewhere.  It was my first, and though I’ve tried others that are more expensive and raved about, I still come back to this.  It thickens and curls my lashes easily and it’s just as hassle-free to wash off.  A friend says this makes her raccoon-eyed at the end of the day.  Thankfully, I’m not given to raccoon eyes despite my oily lids–then again, I find that the smudged liner/mascara look suits me, so I don’t care either way.

Must-try local organic brands

Leyende. It was love at first sight with Leyende–they have the best packaging in the local beauty industry, in my opinion.  I love their minimalist look, excellent typography  and clever names for the products.  I’m also a fan of the cloth bag that’s made from recycled car seat covers that sometimes comes with your purchases.  Leyende has also recently launched their Real Benefits campaign.  Watch the video here.  Leyende truly is beauty with a heart!  I know among local organic brands they’re a bit more expensive in comparison–but they’re totally worth it.  And I must say, I LOVE the scents of their products.  I recommend: Face Canvas, and La Dolce Muscovado Natural Sugar Exfoliant.

All Organics. I think this brand is not as popular as it should be.  I love their toner and my mom swears by the Rose Hip cream.

I buy most of my organic products from Sesou, including these two.  They have stalls in Glorietta, ATC and Trinoma, but I usually drop by the Glorietta branch on the ground floor across the exit/entrance to Landmark.

Best makeup discoveries

The Face Shop’s Phytogenic Infinite Makeup Base. I’m in a mild panic whenever I find myself without this. Again, I made an accidental discovery when I ran out of SPF at my parents’ home and found a small sample of this, quite forgetten in my makeup kit.  It had SPF 15 so I decided to smear it on.  I was surprised at how it made my skin look much better.  I thought maybe it was just my imagination or I was having a good skin day.  But after continuous usage, I’ve been stopped a total of 4 times (yes, I counted) during different conversations only to be asked why my skin was looking flawless.  Of course it’s not–but if this makeup base can give that illusion, how can I, in vain conscience, not keep it up?  I never even believed in makeup base before this as I used to consider it an unnecessary step for girls like me.

Jane Iredale. Up until last year, I’ve always used liquid foundation.  It wasn’t until Prestige’s Wet/Dry foundation and then later, Jane Iredale that I’ve completely switched to powder foundation.  At least for the time being.  I like the combination of this light mineral foundation with the Phytogenic makeup base from The Face Shop.  It works for me so I’m sticking to it.  Plus, Jane Iredale is touted the makeup you can sleep in–it’s that light and fresh on your skin that it supposedly doesn’t do any harm to leave it on.

Favorite fashion stops

Oxygen. Hands down my favorite stop for local RTW. I hate to describe it as edgy, hip and cool, but that’s exactly what it is.  I shop both the women’s and men’s aisles–androgynous style at its best!  You can layer it in different ways, too.  Oxygen is my GAP.  I wear it every week, and sometimes, everyday.

Bosquejo Bazaar. I always seem to be wearing Bosquejo. My favorite is his hardware accessories collection, made from different sorts of knickknacks that you usually see everyday but would never have thought of using as materials for a necklace or bracelet.  Another is his Sacre collection, since I’m a sucker for old things.  If you want something different that stands out, definitely check El Bosquejo.

Freeway. They’ve been a favorite of mine since they started the National Artist series.  For me, this is the best take on the patriotic fashion trend that started a few years ago.  It’s not so in-your-face or literal like the Philippine map and flag prints because they feature classic Filipino art/literature.  My favorites being the Ang Kiukok and Ramon Valera collections.  Now they’re featuring Manansala.

Fab flats

Yosi Samra. I used to believe that once you slip on those high heels, you ought to standy by them the whole day, no compromises. Still, if you just can’t, then it’s a good idea to always have a back up in your bag in the form of foldable flats.  I haven’t been using them as they ought to be (you know, as a back up) but as my actual footwear for the whole day.  In the case of Yosi Samra, the first time I slipped them on, they were so comfortable and lightweight, I ended up wearing them everyday for a whole week.  And I was walking across uneven pavements the whole time!  I was surprised that the stitches didn’t give up–they’re that durable.  And if they endured my feet and the way I walk, that’s really something.

Melissa. They may not be the most comfortable shoes if you go for their most stylish styles, but you’ve gotta admit they really stand out.  I’m totally in love with my Joy Maskrey pair–and they’re comfy enough if you know the right socks to use them with.

Shoelogy.  I got my favorite zebra flats from them, and they’re the comfiest pair ever!  I don’t always feel the comfiest with flats, so I get really picky with them.  I’m sad they haven’t restocked this style because I wanted to buy another pair as mine is pretty worn out.  Plus, I really like their zebra print in Oh well.

Favorite fashion designers

Noel Crisostomo.  He’s one of the best designers around here, one of the few who’s got impeccable taste.  He’s got real class, he’s down-to-earth and really talented.  My favorites are his art deco-inspired designs.  I wore one of his creations to the First Philippine Fashion Ball.  He’s also is one of our go-to designers for KC Concepcion.

Eric delos Santos.  He can do classy and downright sexy.  But most of all, I love it when he does flowy.  He’s one of my favorite designers last year, though I haven’t been able to work with him as much as I wanted to.  I was able to do some pull-outs from him, though, and he’s always very friendly and warm.  I’ve yet to meet him in person, though, haha!  We normally just communicate through text.

Favorite style team

The dynamic duo, make-up artist Rae Venturanza and photographer Noel Salazar.  If you’re looking for a team to work with you on your pre-nup, pre-debut or your wedding, I highly recommend these two.  I’ve worked with them on several projects.  They’re also a couple, getting married this November 2012.

Photoshoot for Jenica’s pre-debut

Macky Angeles or Hair x Makattak. Last month, I had part of my hair shaved off, and I think it’s the best style decision I ever made.  I love my hair!  So if you’re up for a unique style or cut, give Macky a call.

Even Grimace seems to love it.

So what do I have in store for you?

The Carrot (P950)

At first glance, I wondered what The Carrot was.  To me, it looked more like a cute fish.  See, that yellow eyelet looks like a fish eye and the pink zipper looks like a fish’s mouth.  It’s a pencil case that’s roomy but compact.  Of course being Crumpler, it looks simple but the nylon casing and stitching is sturdy.  The material is even waterproof.  I especially like that the zipper twists around, making it look like a cute fish opening its mouth when you zip it down.  Well, I stuffed the fish with some items from my desktop.  (Yes, I just bought Grandma’s Secret Spot Remover, and I’m excited to use it!).  You can pretty much use The Carrot for other things, too, like storing your watercolor brushes or even make-up items like lipstick and make-up brushes.  I like having a lot of cases inside my bag because I have a lot of junk in it. I keep everything separated in pouches and cases, because bag organizers don’t work for me.

The Noose (P850)

Funny name, yeah?  But it does look like its name!  The Noose is a camera strap for your wrist.  It works well with my Canon 30D, which is a heavy D-SLR model.  But since it IS heavy, I don’t recommend letting it hang about your wrist for so long (or even your neck) if you have the same model.  As you can see, the strap is pretty thick and it’s very well-cushioned.  It can adjust to any wrist size.  What I usually do with my camera strap is that I wrap it around my wrist so I have no fear of it dropping.  At least now this is an actual wrist strap.  Like I said, I don’t really let my camera hang from my wrist, but I always tie it to my wrist so that it’s secure.

The Limpet (P750)

I like having different luggage tags for all my travel bags and styling suitcases.  Do you know that particular luggage tag which had these words like “Put it back it’s mine” etc.?  They were pretty cool, but they were so popular that lots of people had them!  Doesn’t make sense anymore to have a luggage tag which you might confuse  for yours when it’s actually someone else’s.  That’s what I appreciate about The Limpet, because I haven’t seen it elsewhere yet.  It stands out, so you have an easier time locating your luggage.  And it’s not flimsy, either–the ID tag is sturdy and well-protected.

I’m giving these 3 away–The Carrot, The Noose and The Limpet, to one winner each.  That means yes, 3 winners.  So how do you join?

1) Follow @rstylista in Twitter OR in Google Friend Connect.
2) Tweet or post in Facebook “Join The Reluctant Stylista’s Crumpler Giveaway: http://reluctantstylista.com/article/the-reluctant-stylistas-crumpler-giveaway” and provide me with the link of your tweet/post via the comments space below.
3) Tell me which prize you want to win (pick one) and why via the comments space below.

I can only choose winners from the Philippines or people with a Philippine address.  Only one entry per person (for all prizes)! Winners will be chosen via Random.org.  Giveaway will end on January 4, 2011 at 11pm.  Obviously, entries failing to comply with all 3 steps and meeting the deadline are disqualified.

Good luck and Merry Christmas to all!

The Carrot, The Limpet, and The Noose by Crumpler are available at Crumpler Bonifacio High Street, Crumpler SM Megamall, and Crumpler Trinoma.

But I just received word that the sale has been extended up to December 23! Woohoo!

Looky looky what I scored.  I’m such a fan of Melissa’s, so I couldn’t resist:

Melissa x Vivienne Westwood Lady Dragon heels (at 50% off on AVA)

I wasn’t actually planning on buying this at all, but when I saw it in person, wow!  It looked so much better than the photo.  I knew immediately I’d go home with it.  There were no second thoughts about it.  It kinda reminds me of my Malibu Barbie’s shoes though, haha!  I wore them to the last Bloggers United bazaar.

And then, I was planning on getting the Alexander Herchcovitch Troupe Wedge in black, but I wanted to get it one size higher after fitting my regular size 7.  Unfortunately, there weren’t any stocks for a size 8 left.  That brought me back to a pair of Joy Maskrey–another shoe that was way better than it looked in photos and which I lusted for after first sight.  I hesitated at first because it had Swarovski in it–I just know I’m going to lose them!  I’m not very delicate with shoes.  I tend to rough them up a lot.  But finally, vanity won over.  When I couldn’t get the Alexander wedge, I went back to my first choice.  I’ve worn this almost everyday for the past 2 weeks.  No regrets.

Joy Maskrey Oxfords. This is originally P10,950 but it’s now selling for P3285 in AVA.  That’s frickin’ 70% OFF!

I’ve always ALWAYS loved Melissa shoes, but I find them a bit expensive.  That’s why I definitely couldn’t pass up this sale!  I’ve limited myself to two pairs, though…but if I had a bigger budget this Christmas, I’d buy at least 4 pairs.  I wish they featured some of the other styles, too, but anyway, with the deals I got, I’m not complaining.

So it might come as a surprise to others when I said I wanted to shave it.

My brother’s wedding is over and done with–he didn’t have a punk for a maid-of-honor.  I haven’t told anyone in the family yet what I did, but I want to surprise them when I come home this weekend.  Unless of course, they’ll wind up here (90% chance) and check out the preview of my new ‘do.

Taken hours before I left for Macky’s place. The “Before” photo:

On twitter: “Goodbye Gryffindor hair! Hello Alice Dellal”

Frothing with excitement on Twitter!

I set up an appointment with Macky last weekend and decided on having my cut last night.  Macky Angeles used to cut hair in B-side, but now she only takes appointments (until further notice, I guess?) either in Taft or her apartment in Anonas. Do you know that Sykes ad all over Ayala and sometimes along Edsa?  I often pass by the one at the walkway between Greenbelt and Landmark.  Anyway, that’s Macky, shaving off some brave soul’s hair.

Prior to my visit, I already sent her pegs.  I wanted something like Alice Dellal’s.  And I figure I still have so much hair that if I need to cover the shaved part, I can.  Lion’s mane nga eh.  Anwyay, it’s sort of a compromise, since originally I wanted something like Anya Ayoung-chee’s hair, but my friend Nayna (who was there to witness the whole thing) talked me out of it.  Nayna, despite her own undercut, didn’t want me shaving my hair because we’ve had mutual hair envy since grade 3.  I wanted to have straight, thin, soft hair like hers and she wanted curly-voluminous-instant-party hair like mine.  (I remember asking her back then what she did to make her hair so soft and she said it was baby oil.  I tried doing that I only ended up looking homeless).

Some pegs:

model Alice Dellal

(Okay, I’m kidding. I didn’t send a photo of Delirium to Macky. But I just realized, after 2+ years of planning to go as her on Halloween, I can actually pull it off now if I wanted to)!

I was giddy with excitement when we were about to start. But half the people in the room that night weren’t sold.  I got asked if my curls were natural.  Yes, they are.  Was the shine natural?  I didn’t even know I have shiny hair, so I suppose yes.  (Thank you Bedhead TIGI)! “Sayang naman!” I was again told, but by now I was so stoked and completely unmoved from my decision that I didn’t even notice Macky already clipping a handful of my hair that was maybe about 7-8 inches long.  I just saw Nayna cringing and turning away.

I kept standing up from my seat every now and then to check the progress in the mirror.  The first time I did, I exclaimed “SHIT!”  Everyone looked up in alarm, thinking I hated it.  Just the opposite.  I couldn’t believe how much I loved this new hair that I wish I had done it sooner!  It’s so badass! <3  Even the other half that didn’t want me shaving my hair had to concede.  My jawline, which I never liked because I think it’s too strong, looked way better with cropped hair.  Which made me wonder what it would look like with everything else shaved off.  Heh.  I guess I’m at that point in my life where I feel so secure about who I am and how I look that I didn’t mind going through a drastic change.  Even if it didn’t turn out the way I wanted it to, I just know I would still find a way to make it work.

It’s so weird, I thought I’d feel more emotional about losing quite a chunk of my hair.  But I’m not.  I was just thinking “Man, this must be so easy to shampoo!”

Before this, I practically never changed my hairstyle since I believed with my wavy-curly hair, I was limited to layers, some fringes every now and then.  I tried going for a Halle Berry look back in 2002 but everyone else thought I was channeling Aiza Seguerra instead. I promise, this is no Aiza anymore!  The above photos are just a preview.  I’ll have to take more decent photos of the “After” look to show y’all.

So first, the good news. There are loads of freebies and great stuff at Bloggers United 2, but The Reluctant Stylista booth will also have its own giveaway.

1) We’ll give special gifts for every P500 purchase.

2) All buyers will automatically qualify for our raffle. We’ll give away 2 Benefit Crystal Lip glosses, 2 pairs of Eyelash Diva natural black with glue and 1 Jenova triple pinky (lip+cheek tint that lasts a loooong while, even after being underwater! I tested it out in Boracay).

3) As a special treat to my readers, I’ll be giving away products from Dove, Pure Beauty, H Bella, Elizabeth Arden, Skin Food, Cosmo Skin, Obagi, Watson’s, Belo and more!  No purchase needed!  All you have to do is drop by my booth, say the secret password and then you draw lots for your prize. Don’t worry, none of the rolled up pieces of paper there will say anything like Thank You for Trying, that just sucks and I hate that so you won’t get that from me.

The password: “I love Reluctant Stylista”

The cheesier the password, the better, eh?  At least it should be easy enough to remember for everyone.  It’ll only be until all my stuff are given away, so you better be there early!

And of course, I’m having a SALE on bath and beauty products, exclusive at the Bloggers United bazaar!  Check these out:

Benefit Ultra Shine Crystal Gloss for P500. Original market price is P800.

Bathina for P1500. Original selling price: P1980

Bella Bamba 3D blush for P1400 from P1800.

Benefit Dandelion blush for P1400. Original selling price: P1800.

Erase paste for P900. Original selling price: P1300

Feeling cheeky set for P1000. Original selling price: P1400.

Rush hour for P800. Original selling price: P1200.

Elf products for as LOW AS P88! And this is not the Elf you see in SM Department store that was manufactured in the Philippines.

Some clothes by Pia Gladys Perey:

Another dress from Zara:

I hope that got you guys excited!  See you there!

There are a flurry of entries waiting to be written, but this just had to be the first one out.  You see, I’m participating in Bloggers United 2 this year on December 3, 2011–and I want to invite YOU guys!  And I know it’s super late, but if the first 20 guys who can manage to do this by November 29 10pm can get into Bloggers United 2 for FREE:

+ Follow Multiply on Twitter and like on Facebook

+ Follow Bloggers United on Twitter and like on Facebook

Note (December 1): Sorry guys! Submission for the free passes is already CLOSED!

What: Bloggers United 2
When: December 3, 2011 / 11AM-10PM
Where: Treston College (Bonifacio Global City, Taguig, near Market Market)

And I can tell you this much–I’m excited to be part of this year’s Bloggers United because I’ve seen how overwhelmingly successful the previous bazaar was.  What’s not to like about it? It’s like raiding your favorite fashion bloggers’ closets, plus you get to meet them in person, and you help out with charity!  Part of the proceeds go to GMA Kapuso Foundation.

Drop by and say hi, okay?

What to expect from my end?  Well I’ll be sharing a booth with Lauren Dado of I am Bourgeois.  And as you can expect, of course I’ll be selling clothes from my stylist’s closet–meaning I’ll be selling plenty of items that I’ve only used once in shoots.  And since I don’t recycle (except maybe for accessories), I don’t use them again.   With me will be my team from Style Alliance, a group of fellow stylists with whom I share a pool of resources–we swap accessories, clothes and pull-outs, so this will be like raiding our collective closet!  Expect some local designer clothes and brands like Forever 21, Zara, Marks & Spencer and more.

And, surprise surprise–I’ll be selling some beauty products and make-up as well. I’ll be writing more about that in detail, but expect these at our booth: Benefit, Anna Sui, Tokidoki, EOS, Katy Perry OPI shatter, Surlmalbu (green tea skincare from Japan) and the fabulous fabulous mother of all falsies, the Eyelash Diva.

Best of all, I’m giving away freebies for every P500 purchase. Though actually, any purchase from The Reluctant Stylista/Style Alliance makes you eligible for my raffle, where I’m giving away 2 Benefit crystal lip glosses, 2 pairs of Eyelash Diva natural black with glue and 1 Jenova triple pinky (lip+cheek tint that stays on even when you’re at the beach or underwater! I swear by it!).

Location Details:

Treston International College
University Parkway District, 32nd Street corner C-5 Road
Bonifacio Global City, Taguig, Metro Manila Phillipines

Here were some of my recommendations in case you’ve missed them:

My current obsession: high-cut basketball-inspired sneakers (most of these shoes are from adidas Originals)
Comfy brights
adidas Originals ST : why I want to undergo a style change (these are their latest)

Win the Window promo is from October 14-November 15.

Here’s what happened behind the unveiling of the collection, in photos.  I was really honored to be one of the few who were invited to attend, as this is one of the rare blogger/fashionista events that had a small crowd…and as I was to find out later on, we also had very personalized press kits to take home (no wonder there were only few of us!).  But what I was quick to notice, was that every single one of the guests there looked to be the quintessential Oxygen customer.  Everyone had different styles, of course, but there was a pretty similar vibe in manner, dress and taste.

Oxygen cupcakes! How awesome is that?

Sheer olive top: Simply Felice / Red skirt: Ensembles / Bowtie: YRYS / Zebra wedge platform shoes: F-Stop

The preview was held at their Trinoma branch.  I’ve often heard other people say that whenever they look for something they liked on a blogger wearing Oxygen, they can’t seem to find it!  Well, stocks sell fast, and I must say the best-stocked Oxygen store is in Trinoma.  Glorietta has a small collection and store in comparison, so if you want to really grab those outfits, head to Trinoma! (Even for me, it’s far, but it’s totally worth it.)

New blogger friends! Here with Miko Carreon.

…now with Gerd Perez (who’s taking up Multimedia Arts, the same course I had!)

Denims for summer! I like how Oxygen treated their denim this season.

I will definitely buy this. It’s cool that Oxygen finally injected some color into their wardrobe, but they still retained their distinct style. LOVE!

With the graphic tee, featuring fashion designer/illustrator Marcela Gutierrez’s artwork. I got to take home this fabulous tee!

Another thing I love about Oxygen. They are so layerable! It’s a breeze to mix and match and any piece can still look awesome on its own.

And I totally dig their menswear. I often shop at both sides of the store whenever I’m in Oxygen. Androgyny FTW!

Look at all these different denim washes. I just know I need them in my wardrobe:

How many times have I heard people say they can’t imagine me wearing jeans?  I actually wear them pretty often. Definitely more often than skirts and dresses and even tights (which I think I’m often photographed in). I wear them when I have to commute or work and walk around a lot.

Smallest size of pants in Oxygen for girls are 26, though. I have the curse/blessing of having a small waist and a big booty so pants-shopping is often a problem for me.  In Oxygen, size 26 varies–some couldn’t get past my hips and others were loose at the waist.  But with some luck, you might find your favorite pair here like I did.

Black tights and 5-inch zebra wedge platforms combo

I had a little chitchat with Oxygen’s brand director, Jeff Bascon.  I confessed that I had become an Oxygen fan only after their fairly recent style revamp.  I feel that now, they’re more focused on the kind of clothes they want to market and what type of people they cater to.  Oxygen was pretty okay before, but how did it really stand out from other retail brands like Human, Bench and Penshoppe?  Now I can honestly say that in terms of style, Oxygen is hands down my favorite local RTW.

And my favorite part…Oxygen had personalized gifts for all of us!  When I opened the box they gave me, I noticed this paper doll that looked like me.  I thought it was coincidence, until everyone started opening theirs!  Even Daryl Chang’s paper doll had her exact hairstyle.  Had I decided to go for that undercut a few days before this invite, it might not have looked like me, haha!

Don’t worry, we weren’t all in our skivvies, of course there were some cut out clothes that came with our paperdolls as well (check out Gerd’s–he was the only one who dressed his up for these snaps).

I forgot the paper dolls’ illustrator, but I think her first name is Soleil?  Can someone verify this for me? She’s super talented, and I love how Oxygen really put thought into our gifts. They’re one-of-a-kind!  Thanks again Oxygen, for the awesome clothes you make and for this unforgettable private party. Cheers!

I don’t care that I don’t play basketball.  I just decided that I like how it looks.

Luckily, I found out there are actually sneakers designed to look like basketball shoes for posers like me.

The adidas Mid Forum Casual for women is made “just for fun”, made after the original Forum basketball shoes.  These are more relaxed and casual, having cotton twill uppers and even the design is more playful than seriously sporty.  I like the candy pink accent and the polka-dot design.  Here’s another version of it with more of a color pop:

Hmm, I think I prefer this color, as I already have so many neutrals in my closet like gray, nude, black and white.  This is why I like color on my shoes.

I like this Top Ten Hi Sleek, too.  I seem to like the designs that were patterned after the old silhouettes.  This one was inspired by their iconic late 70s basketball shoes’ silhouette.

adidas Midiru Court. This actually reminds me of little boy sneakers in the 80s for some reason.  It has that distinct retro look.

You could either hate it or love it.  It’s a design that I think caters only to a few, but in my case, I love it.  It looks like space boots cartoon characters would wear (as I have no idea what real space boots look like, but it has that sci-fi feel to it).  I think Astroboy would wear it if he could change shoes.  According to adidas, adidas Hikelander is a modern take on a classic 90s urban boot and was inspired by the latest trends in Japan.  Huh.  Maybe that’s why I was thinking of Astroboy.

adidas NEO QT Hoops Mid Satin. It’s a little bit too purple, but the satin textile will probably look great on an otherwise casual jeans and tee combination.

adidas Honey Hook. It doesn’t look as bulky as my desired basketball-inspired look, but the color is awesome!  Again, it’s 80s-inspired with vulcanized rubber outsoles and the hook lacing looks really cool.  I’ve never had anything that had hook lacing except for ice skates I rent at SM.

Now, the question is, are these available locally?  I certainly hope so and I’ll find out pretty soon.  Will update you on that!