Street fix: Lord Fauntleroy in denim and DMs

Robby is the head designer for casual label Folded & Hung.

Street fix: The mix

At first glance you barely notice the outfit of Maverick, a student who lined up to watch the shows at Philippine Fashion Week Holiday 2009. His style is so unassuming that, if one is not careful, he would be forgotten in the sea of fashion victims.

Fortunately, he knows how to mix patterns (marbled and checkered), match colors (silver sneakers with gray bonnet), and use key and accent pieces (his green backpack). Everything works: while his black jacket ties everything down, the gold detailing of his bag does the opposite. And to top it all off, Maverick tells me both his bag and shorts were thrifted!

The measure of true style is how one is comfortable in one's own clothes, as if they were skin. That way, separate items are almost indecipherable in the happy mix.

Street fix: Andre Chang

Andre Chang is a designer from Manila. He often stands out in shows and events with his ensembles, which cover a wide range of styles. Many times, he personalizes what is in trend with his own flourishes.

Street fix: Argyle sweater

Too bad the colors are not clear. The pattern comes in dark brown, red, and sky blue. Unexpectedly, the mix cannot do without the cap.

Photo taken along Buendia Avenue, Makati

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

Summer palette: Yellow, green, red

I was so inspired by the outfit of a girl I photographed yesterday for my street style blog, La Folie Douce, that I replicated her color palette for my own outfit today. Very apt indeed for the increasingly warm and humid days of a ripening summer in the tropics.

Yellow v-neck tee, French Connection; fatigue cargo pants, Izzue; leather filigree belt, Brave Beltworks; sandals, Marlboro Classic; nylon messenger bag, Tumi; gold-plated automatic watch (not seen); Omega Seamaster


So this post introduces my gym locker snaps, which, together with my bed spread posts, comprise my "outfit" entries on days when I have no photographer (still have to get a tripod) or when I am just plain lazy. (Blame the heat.)

Black for Manila bloggers and designers

Nino of Style Anywhere

Designer and blogger Don Protasio

Street fix: Band jacket goes preppy

What first caught my attention were Kyle's glasses, then his hair. Then as I was about to take his picture, he unrolled his jacket, which brought character to his outfit.

He was with Megan. Together, they made an adorable couple.

Street fix: Man's best friend, Washington Street

Am referring to both the dog and the tote.

How long, how long, before I move to New York?

Street fix: Layers and stripes

Jujiin Samonte and Shahani Gania tell me their stripe and monochrome partnership was not planned. Coincidence like one of those things.

Front row simplicity: Yellow and fatigues

The cuffed hem and loafers top it off nicely.

Street fix: Whyred denim shirt

Street fix: Playing with colors

One cannot really have enough of colors, especially if you are bored of tired old denim and bland chinos. It may take a certain level of commitment, though, since once you have gone technicolor mad, there is really no turning back.

Denim on Denim + Black Benedictine

Long after my first attempt at wearing denim on denim, I have finally found a suitable shirt for pairing.

Come to think of it, my penchant for denim-on-denim is in line with my taste for monochrome. Denim-on-denim being its most casual form.




I have accessoried this shirt by Topman with five steel beads hanging on the thinnest of necklaces. Don't want to interfere that much with strong and simple design.




The buttons are meant to resemble mother-of-pearl, much whiter than my coffee-stained not-so-pearly whites.

Shirt, Topman; jeans, Lee; filigree belt, Brave Beltworks; nylon sneakers, Tretorn x Acne; necklace, DIY




Days after, I wore this new necklace from my Sacre line of Bosquejo accessories. Named it Benedictine after the saint on the pendant.




Wore denim again, this time in black. Paired the Sacre necklace with another from the Djinn line, all in black.




I like how this one turned out looking like a striped shirt, with the colors of Charlie Brown's outfit.




Lee shirt and Izzue jeans: both thrifted; necklaces, Bosquejo; skinny belt, APC




I made this necklace thinking that this would first and foremost be masculine. And it is.




But that hasn't stopped my sister from wearing it. She appears today on my streetstyle blog, La Folie Douce, where you can see the rest of her outfit.


Cameos by Patricia Suzara

Street fix: Silver fox, Narita, Tokyo

When I was about to board my plane from Narita back to Manila, I saw this gentleman waiting patiently in line. His cardigan looked like silver lamé, but I'm sure it was made of a hi-tech fabric. It had yellowish or gold rhinestones as appliqués in front! (Anybody recognize it?) His sneakers were two-toned: white and, you guessed it, silver.

Even if I'm a sucker for monochrome, at first sight, I was overwhelmed by his outfit, and wasn't sure if it bordered on bad terse. But upon closer inspection, I loved not just the predominance of the color, but also his mix of sheen and texture. Also, he was able to use all the neutral hues: black, white, gray, and beige in one smooth and thought-provoking ensemble.

When I finally took my seat, I wanted to give myself a kick for not being brave enough to approach him for a proper picture.

Fashion transformation: Maverick Lacson

I took this first photograph two years ago, also on Philippine Fashion Week and posted it on La Folie Douce, my streetstyle blog.( Yes, I've picked up more Photoshop skills since then, though not enough still.)




Almost forgot about Maverick until a few weeks back, when he had his hair dyed and came up with this shot. He still loves his checks, but he no longer needs to wear a beanie, what with his new crown.

Street fix: How to wear red jeans

No, this doesn't involve sitting on dirty escalators. Compared to white jeans, I think it's even harder to wear red trousers since they grab people's attention by the horns.

While other people just pair them with a white or other neutral-colored shirt, this bloke has bravely — yet also quite sensibly — tamed the wild color by topping it with a sobering dose of dark blue. Instead of clashing, the two colors come in equilibrium.

Equally important to his outfit is the matching of his brown cap with his beige sneakers, which helps him avoid looking like a two-tone flag. That or your other choice of slashing your pants.

Kudos goes to Fred.

Style stalking + Jil Sander + Comme des Garçons

While scouring the stalls and racks at Divisoria and Greenhills for possible components of men's accessories, I stumble upon two surprises that make me wonder how ideas get around or are not actually as original as we think.

This seasoned gentleman, who I sat in front of during public transport, immediately evoked Jil Sander's Fall 2008 collection.




See how uncanny the similarities?




Only used my iPhone, which produced — after Photoshop — Rembrandtesque lighting. Allowed me to pretend I was only texting...




Now although the second gentleman I spotted didn't immediately remind me of any runway outfit, joining these two ensembles from Comme des Garçons's Fall 2009 show should do the job.




Of course, eyes were turning in his wake, intent for the kill.

Street fix: Paulo Castro

First time I met Paulo was in high school. As early as then, he was already moonwalking on the theater stage and belting the King of Pop's most popular tunes.

The red jacket is close enough. The gloves shiny not from sequins but from studs. But of course nothing beats personally appropriated style.

Paulo is both stylist and accessories designer. Watch out for the Jujiin-Paulo duo.

Street fix: Jujiin Samonte

I've written about Jujiin a long time ago, in a post entitled Trashy pop chic.

In this incarnation, he his not wearing heels or even fluorescent leggings, but even if he dons a pleated skirt and a women's Comme des Garçons top, I think his high-cut boots and his Martin Margiela L'incognito sun visors provide counterpoints masculine enough to render his entire outfit androgynous.

Jujiin, together with Andre Chang, provide strong references for stylish gender-bending in Manila.