Thrifted bag 3

Denim Gap tote to lug books and magazines, and maybe sometimes my laptop. Good with khaki.

Blue and white polka dots

Patterns like polka dots are best concealed or toned down with outerwear like a jacket or a blazer, but the heat in Manila just doesn't allow that.

Since the sun is so perky, why not play along with it?

Shirt, Topman; jeans, Gap; leather belt from an Italian market; topsiders, thrifted; pendant from Florence; watch, Omega Seamaster

La Folie Douce

So while I'm filling in my runway show backlog, here's another one of my cameos.

Just to introduce a work in progress: my new street style blog La Folie Douce. Yeah, my mug will welcome you there too.

A closer look at the pattern of the shirt and jacket: a tessalated pattern that looks like houndstooth over an ethnic design called batik, like the fabric designs found in other parts of Southeast Asia.



What I like about it is the combination of geometric and organic patterns.

'Batik' printed shirt from Davao (Aldivinco); jacket, Sisley; pants, Zara; yellow belt, Renato Balestra; thrifted tote, Gap; heirloom watch, Omega Seamaster; lace-ups, Marlboro Classics

Band-aids, Ballys, Belgian chocolate, and mochi

I swear, this post is not sponsored by Golden Spoon. It just so happened that I had a craving earlier today for something cold, sweet, and "somehow" light. What I got was a mix of Belgian chocolate yogurt with cookies and cream and mochi rice cakes as toppings.




I know. It's a weird combination, unlike my previous berry-themed dessert. What I loved about this is that I had three different textures.




Smooth and creamy, crunchy and crumbling, powdered and sticky. See?




Also had a varied mix of textures in what I wore: soft knit cotton pullover, somewhat thick cotton-polyester shirt worn as a jacket, denim, and leather. Rolled the sleeves for more structure and since the underside was a shade lighter. The band-aids I needed to safeguard the skin around my ankles while breaking in these Ballys, since I really do not like wearing even hidden socks.




I only now notice that someone else was having fun behind me (You think that's why he was fixing himself in the very first pic?).




Each to his own. This is the country's central business district. Comfort food patches stress like a band-aid.


Striped pullover, Gap; Esprit shirt and Structure belt, thrifted; skinny jeans, Two Percent; loafers, Bally

Photos by Patricia Suzara

In retrospect

Wore this outfit last March 2009, and decided to revive it today, but in a different way.




What one year does, indeed. While I was looking for my first job years ago, I hated ties and felt they were too cumbersome for everyday wear. Blame this blog and more than a little boredom I guess.

Now, I would have rolled my pants up to my knees just for you to notice my argyle socks!




I think this must have also been the last time I wore these leather hybrid lace-ups. Notice that this is the same window backdrop in my last post.

Sheer sweater, Zara; shirt, Gap; jeans, Two Percent; shoes, Giordano Concepts; tie, thrifted




I'm still going through the recent Milan and Paris shows. Reviews soon. Besides reminiscing on the good old days of cameo picture-taking, I also sort of miss Tim Blanks's commentary. He disappeared when men.style.com became gq.com. Now the reviews are cheeky, and I suppose targeted at a younger audience with less cultural memory.

Amazingly, I find that looking at the shows in between my other activities clears my mind. Even if fashion history and reference-making are more complicated and cross-hatched than simple plaid.


Cardigan and tie: both thrifted; shirt, Gap; jeans, Bossini; shoes, Giordano Concepts

Photos by Patricia Suzara

Random ribbed shirt idea

Bought a new Belkin case for my iPod 3GS. Doesn't it look nifty? I like the feel of it. If only ribbed shirts also had such patterns, and not just boring stripes.


White tee, cK Calvin Klein; sheer sweater, Zara; jeans, Gap; espadrilles from Davao

Bag denim on denim

Instead of wearing the usual denim shirt on jeans, I opted for the simple white shirt, but accessorized it with a denim tote and plaid scarf. The key is to wear different shades and textures of blue. The necklace is my male pearl substitute, since I wore this outfit to a premiere of Coco avant Chanel.


Shirt, Zara; jeans, Levi's; scarf, vintage; necklace, Qeelin; thrifted tote, Gap

Blue and yellow redux

I think what I wore today is a more successful attempt at the color combination (see attempt #1: Blue, yellow, and a dash of bravery).

I have retained the espadrilles, but have matched them with more summery items (yes, a rainless November day in Manila is as good as summer for some), such as the pinstriped, striped short-sleeved shirt and the adjustable baggy pants.

The good thing about this outfit? Except for two things, all of it is thrifted. The downside? It would have been nice to have had Trish take my photo in the sun (come back from your leave! :P).


Marks & Spencer shirt, Izzue jeans, Liz Sport belt, Gap tote: all thrifted; sheer striped pullover, Zara; espadrilles from Davao

New hair

I know I've been neglecting this page for the past few weeks, but no more! Chopping off the bad days and looking forward to a fresh start. (Not to mention forehead oil control.)


Nylon jacket, Izzue; shirt, G200; jeans, Gap; belt with hammered metal buckle and tie: both thrifted

Night in navy blue

Remember the blue Japanese kimono robe I wore with a tank top and sheer sweater last June? Well this is the November outfit version — more suitable for the slight chill in the breeze.




This time I wore the robe loosely tied.


Robe, Dunhill shirt, and tie: all thrifted; jeans, Gap; belt from a market in Milan; nylon sneakers, Acne x Tretorn; vintage watch, Omega Seamaster

Photographs by Patricia Suzara

The navy blue striped jumper

Or pullover, whichever you prefer. Bought it two weeks ago while waiting for medical results during my time of both physical and existential malaise.




It gave me comfort since it was raining that Saturday afternoon and I needed something warm and dark-colored for protection and a little bit of security. Didn't even take it off after fitting: just packed the polo shirt I was wearing in the paper bag.




Also comes in handy as a make-do scarf. If only sweaters, scarves, and jackets can be depended on for assurance for those times that love comes like a sickness that inevitably renders us naked.


Pullover and jeans: both Gap; short-sleeved shirt, Ben Sherman; belt, Brave Beltworks; Young Camel satchel, printed Converse sneakers, wool tie, and red portfolio: all thrifted

Photos by Patricia Suzara

White contrast collar

Good morning! Just wanted you to know that I'm still alive and that I'm preparing my first long post in quite a while.

New York fashion week has just started, but I promise that I'll soon catch up with my even longer runway review backlog.

In the meantime, this is what I wore last Wednesday. Didn't want to wear a tie, not even a necklace, so I instead opted for a white contrast collar, which gives just the right accent for an outfit. Additionally, I have used it as a way to reconcile, along with my gray cardigan and brown leather articles, the colors blue and black, which are not the most agreeable of companions.


Shirt, Gap; jeans, Two Percent; gray cardigan, Structure belt, and Next laceups: all thrifted

Of blazers, bazaars, and weddings

After almost a month of blogging hibernation (save for 3 posts), I am back. Can't say though (even if I yearned for it so much) that things are back to "normal". This pic was taken late October I think, when I had no time for a haircut and again turned to my trusty beanie to look decent.




By about the middle of last month I was able to produce this much for my Bosquejo jewelry line. Bought the screen divider at the mall to serve as general display. The heavy iron candelabra I found at Bangkal, the go-to in Makati for vintage furniture, was used to showcase pieces from my six collections.




Part of the reason I got the candelabra was its weight. It is sturdy enough to serve as a bag rack.




As I was making jewelry, my older brother was preparing for his wedding. Here is the back view of the suit jacket I wore to the event. I think the tailor did a good job of fusing my specific requests: two back vents, narrow shawl collar, and cropped length.




Here it is worn: me goofing around with my cousin, Kara. Will need to rummage through Facebook albums to look for other angles of the suit. Good thing I found a nice patterned baby pink silk tie to go with the theme of the entourage. Tied properly at half Windsor to match the wing tip collar of my shirt.




October was indeed exhausting. I've yet to get used to more than four hours of sleep. Though of course everything was worth it.


5cm Bomber jacket, thrifted; pullover, Zara; jeans, Gap; laceups, Marlboro Classics

Outfit photos by Patricia Suzara




Didn't sell as much as expected, but was able to hand out a lot of calling cards, which were designed by my official photographer, Trish. What is written below the logo? Wearing only this.




Trish also designed my equally nifty website, using photos by Ricky Villabona. The front page features the Djinn collection, made mostly with onyx and chain links.




And finally, here are my necklace tags, with some prices struck out to mark discounted amounts. I must say, the name Bosquejo looks good in multiples. It's nice to think these tags will be taken home with objects I have lovingly created with my own hands.