Black by Joona W.

For Finnish drummer Joona, the best things in life are in black, white, and gray.

Leather jacket, €255, Horace; striped shirt, €129, Hugo Boss; jeans, $325, Dior Homme; 4. leather gloves, Adam

Coated jeans, J. Lindeberg; boots, Vagabond; jacket, G-Star; leather bag, HE by Mango

Jacket, jeans, and accessories, H&M; shirt, Number (N)ine; sweater, Fred Perry; boots, Vagabond

Jacket, Adam; shirt, Hugo Boss; cardigan, Tiger of Sweden; coated jeans, Rick Owens Drkshdw

Trench coat and trousers, Turo Red Label; shoes, O.I.S; hat, J&J

Leather jacket, H&M; shirt, XDYE

In this rare instance, Joona wears red.

Jeans, Dior Homme; shirt, Adam; waistcoat, Turo

Somersault

Apologies for the long delay in posts, and again, for just posting pics of bed-cast clothes. This is what I wore to last night's event, a collaboration between Miadore jewelry by Yekky Balingit, photographer Seven Barretto, and the design alliance Fadal Manila. Plus a book that I picked up at the bookstore before going to the venue.




Unveiled were 14 canvases that bore photos of Miadore necklaces worn with the creations of the Fadal designers. (More on the event on my Benetton blog.)




Now that I think of it, I wore the same lacey-y shirt and skinny jeans with another Bosquejo necklace on the first day of Philippine Fashion Week last May. (Time does fly!)

The Bosquejo necklace I wore was new, not even available on my website. Part of the reason I've been so busy. But hopefully, I can take a much needed break real soon... But back to the clothes: don't you think the silver-edged buttons match my Hardware necklace so well?




What I also love are the paisley print blazers by Levenson Rodriguez, which go well with Yekky's shimmery brooches. I wonder when I can have a jacket made... (*hint, hint*)






But now for the title of my post, taken from the book I just bought: Somersault by Kenzaburo Oe. Because this is precisely what I need these days: a total change, a flipping of priorities, the lifting of feet from familiar ground.




Yes, changes are abound, which I shall be telling you about soon enough. For now, it is time to sleep, and of course, to dream!




Blazer, Fred Perry; Kenneth Cole shirt and Dior Homme jeans: both thrifted; belt, Nautica; necklace, Bosquejo; briefcase, Bally

Some ad campaigns: Fall 2009

Z Zegna







Miharayasuhiro

Moncler

Uniqlo



Raf Simons



Fred Perry x Raf Simons

Kenzo

Calvin Klein

Marc Jacobs

Casual preppy with Fred Perry

I still remember fitting this Fred Perry blazer months ago. I couldn't forget its fit and the way it felt. I must have spent half an hour inside the dressing room just standing, then sitting, then standing again with the piece on. I couldn't take it off! It was the price though, that discouraged me.




Fast forward to last week, when I found the same blazer in the same size (probably the exact same jacket) hanging on the sale rack. I didn't hesitate.





Even though contrast piping is no longer the "in" thing, it still looked pretty to me. The blazer belongs to Fred Perry's Japanese collection, hence the slimmer fit. It hugs the body in a way that forms a more flattering silhouette.




Here is the lining. Yes, that's also a Fred Perry polo shirt I'm wearing inside, also from the Japan collection, but from the current season.




Paired the duo with slim carrot jeans from Topman. I used the black shirt and the navy jacket to tone down the relatively bright color of the pants. Would have topped off the look with boots, but I don't have a pair that is slim enough. So I settled for strappy sandals.




At first glance, there seems to be the same piping on the Fred Perry polo shirt, but look: a double collar! Like the unexpected sale, it is the little surprises that bring a smile on my face.


Polo shirt and blazer, Fred Perry; jeans, Topman; belt, A.P.C.; Kickers sandals: thrifted

Photos by Patricia Suzara

Replacing my white leather sneakers

No, this is not an ad for detergent. These are my new and gleaming Fred Perry sneakers (model B2024, can't find them on the site) right beside my shy, gap-toothed, and well-beloved leather Chucks (not sure if they're actually Chuck Taylors, but that sounds better than Converses).

Okay, I'm not going to stop myself from saying this: if The Velveteen Rabbit were a fashion story, the tattered doll would be sneakers, specifically, Chucks. Who doesn't love them till their eyes pop out and they give in at the stitches?




Honestly, before breaking these Fred Perrys in, they look haughty to me. Even if the leather is beautifully distressed and the soles are thicker and more durable, the fact of being spotless warrants no warm affection. (Well maybe just a little.) Of course, I will love them as any other, but not before a proper leavetaking...




I have even patched the canvas lining at the inner heel. Sure this pair has its limitations, like smooth leather that only creases awkwardly, and soles that easily give up on me. (They are now stitched to the base, but unfortunately I think that made them more susceptible to getting squishy when it rains.) Of course, I will still be wearing them, after a little soap and mild washing, and only for the most casual of days — and when I can be more confident than usual of the weather.




No face-off here, just a little sentimentality where it is due. After years, and only with these leather sneakers, does filling new shoes feel like moving on, moving further from where an old pair has been able to take me.

Making a kimono work

Not to mention wearing it at work. I think it was inevitable that I couldn't sustain a "blazer week" of cameos for this blog, what with the unpredictable weather. I only had the idea of five days of jackets since it was raining a lot last week.

And then the sun decided to come out, singing.




So did my neglected white leather Fred Perry sneakers, which are starting to look like their Converse predecessors. Whatever happened to my embroidered Guccis, I wonder.




You must think my sweat is already dripping in buckets. It was high noon but I didn't flinch. I didn't have to.




Look at the wonderful zigzag and floral pattern of this kimono, even the matt texture. Wore a white polo shirt underneath so the pattern wouldn't be lost. Though I have worn this black on black, and the effect is still something else.





My new trusty friend you have already met. What I didn't tell you in my last post was that I had just bought this Bally brief on the same day since it was on sale from the label's Spring 2011 collection. What can I say? I love the lock, the durable handle, the soft calfskin leather, the fact that it sort of collapses when there's not much inside.

That has always been my idea of the perfect bag: soft leather, expandable yet durable enought to carry my laptop, some books, and my usual things. This Bally brief might just be it.




As the sun came out, so did my black roots. I must admit, I've been getting used to myself as a(n) (ash) blonde. Not just in terms of my "coloring" and matching how I look with my clothes, but also, with my attitude. Haha. It has been easier to be irreverent (though I don't really need help) when I'm not taken as seriously. For me, that is half the fun.




The brief is wider than my Cambridge satchel, but slim enough to look subtle. Though of course, the soft leather doesn't look nice when it's lumpy.




I'll be back to show you even more weather-friendly kimonos. Happy Sunday!


Polo shirt, Zara; jeans, Calvin Klein Jeans; leather sneakers, Fred Perry; briefcase, Bally; kimono, thrifted

Photos by Patricia Suzara

Revisiting a summer palette

At about the same time last year, I introduced a gym locker concept, where I posted images of my clothes and stuff just before I left them for the treadmill, weights, and machines.

Though that concept didn't extend to more than two posts, I am back with last year's color combination of yellow, green, and red — albeit all jumbled up. The fatigue pants give way to a suede shoulder bag, the red in the leather to an envelope portfolio, and the yellow in the tee transfers to painter's jeans.




This Easter weekend I hope to tidy up my shelves, perhaps stumble on books I bought years ago but haven't touched. Looking at this most recent set of acquisitions, you wouldn't know which ones I got from the second-hand bookstore (except of course the short stories by Naguib Mahfouz).

As both my bags and painter's pants above were thrifted, so were Martha Quest by Doris Lessing, Teach Us to Outgrow Our Madness by Kenzaburo Oe, and Too Far Afield by Günter Grass.




You see, one can find treasure anywhere, be they in different colors or from different cultures.

Happy reading and shopping!