Complementary polka dots

I had already decided the night before that this Saturday would be another day for shorts. (I had cut down another pair of jeans the night before.) My mind made up, I went out of the shower to discover the sky dark and glowering. Hence the sweater.

Though the shorts came from a pair of baggy pants, I think the stiff and untailored effect goes well with a fit shirt. The tie as belt was likewise an afterthought - a way to make another rainy day a little bit happier.


Polka dot shirt, Topman; polka dot tie and tote, thrifted; jeans now denim shorts, Guess; sweater, Sisley; leather sneakers, Converse; gold watch, Omega Seamaster

Drawstring pants for summer

As I was saying, I was glad to see drawstring pants worn with shirts tucked in for Richard Chai's previous Spring 2009 collection, as belts can sometimes be cumbersome. In my case, there is really nothing like soft, baggy pants to start getting used to the sudden change in season in Manila.

The button-down sweater, of course, is just a precaution for airconditioned offices and establishments. Otherwise, they are best left tied to your messenger's shoulder strap.

Sweater, Muji; shirt, Old Navy; leather sneakers, Converse; pants, Marks & Spencer; watch, Omega Seamaster

Gone thrifting

My shopping principle has always been to only to buy things I particularly like because there's something special about them. Each item has to be like that. I trust that pieces loved in their own way can come together to form remarkable outfits.

I'm willing to spend a little more for such items, but if I really have to buy basics, I turn to thrift stores. As I have mentioned before, my trips to such shops began with the need to expand my office wardrobe.

But this time, thrift shopping has also provided me an opportunity to tread on relatively new territory. After stocking on skinny, horizontal tipped, and colorfully patterned ties in silk, wool, and cotton, finally, I find vests, a navy jacket, and yes, my very own cutaway.

I found most of these from a store that ships from Japan, so that even if there are no big-name labels, there is impeccable Japanese tailoring.

I suspect these vests were made by the same tailor. Now I have to decide if I want to send the navy one on the right to a tailor here so that the satin back can be replaced or if I want to keep the wear to let the piece have that lived-in character.

I love the cut of this pinstriped navy jacket. It is slim and the sleeves come right before my wrist.

If you remember the day I wore my tux jacket with drawstring pants, I was wishing for a cutaway jacket to make the outfit better. Well, here it is. The fit is likewise perfect. I am excited about all the combinations, both casual and spiffy, I can create from this formal piece.

Now it begins. These gold and bronze leaves baptize my wardrobe with its first brooches.

So here is the happy camper in the store where I bought most of the ties (not the jackets). In total I spent PhP1,700 (US$36).

I am still ticklish from the anticipation. Sending the clothes to the drycleaner right after I post this.


Elmo tee from Greenhills; open bonnet hat, 5cm; micro houndstoot pants, Custom Made; filigree belt, Brave Beltworks; leather sneakers; Converse; PVC bag; 5cm; gold watch, Omega Seamaster

It's time

In the humid, tropical Philippines, the warmest season does not forgive the usual layering of temperate countries; this can be done only with the thinnest materials.

The alternatives for style involve exploring cut, fabric, proportion, silhouette, and - you guessed it - accessories.



Gold-plated automatic watch, Omega Seamaster; pocket watch from a Beijing antique market worn as a pendant (using a stainless steel ball chain necklace); pocket watch chain used as a bracelet

At the underpass at the intersection of Ayala Avenue and Rufino Street, and then at Ayala Avenue

Shirt, Chevignon; semi-stretch trousers, Y-3; thrifted gold sneakers, Adidas; socks, Tommy Hilfiger; gray PVC belt (not seen), Izzue

Street photos by Paolo Joseph Lising

Details from this weekend

Rogan Lips and Hips tangerine print shirt I bought in 2005. Not only the image of the woman comes straight out of celluloid, but also the fabric, which reminds me of TV static.

Shirt, Rogan; jeans, Sisley; sneakers, Gola; vintage gold watch, Omega Seamaster; backpack, Jansport; gold pendant from Florence



For Sunday, I removed the crucifix from the necklace and tangeld it with two other neckalces.

Mental note to self: dress more my age - while keeping in mind the weather - even during weekends.

Ribbed shirt, Marks & Spencer; two woden necklaces from Mindanao

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

Black and gold

Something for the somber yet glorious week.

Striped tee with side vents, APC; micro houndstooth semi-stretch pants, Custom Made; leather filigree belt, Brave Beltworks; thrifted gold sneakers, Adidas; nylon messenger, Tumi; watch, Omega Seamaster; card holder used as a wallet, Marlboro Classics; leatherette coin purse, gift; tumbler, Starbucks

Bosquejo Bauble: Amulet medallions

This would probably be the last piece in Bosquejo Bauble's first series of accessories. Next, I hope to dabble with a mix of other unconventional materials. Something from the hardware store, perhaps? Pearls and precious stones? Buttons? The list doesn't end.

I paired this necklace with a wooden mask pendant from Camiguin. I think the combination does well to complement the neutral palette. The vest also came from my last thrift shop trip.

Tee, Armani Exchange; pants, Y-3; vest and Gucci leather sneakers: both thrifted; wooden necklace from Camiguin; amulet necklace, DIY; tiger's eye bracelet, 168; Omega Seamaster watch, heirloom

Double time

There are days when all I want to be dressed in are neutrals — like ambiguous grays, boring beiges, and conservative browns. Not so much that I feel lazy to dress up, but just that I am not compelled to stand out.



Of course, that doesn't prevent me from sneaking in a few personal touches to an outfit. Like this striped fabric belt, which goes with the subtle striped pattern of my polo shirt.

I like the fact that the fabric belt is a little too long, so that I was able to reinsert it into a belt loop (just under my arm). It is not clear here, but I have also adjusted the ring buckle so that it is not positioned at the center, but is visible in the short belt segment exposed (just on the right side) where I have tucked in my shirt.



I have seen metal watches with alternating silver and gold links for the straps. I thought before that this was brilliant, since these could be matched to both black- and brown-based outfits. I took this a little further and just wore a silver and gold watch together, with a tiger's eye bracelet in between.

My friend and colleague was joking, "Oh so that's why you were late!" I say that's why I'm not bored by my seemingly plain outfit.


Polo shirt, Crocodile; jeans, Jil Sander; laceups and fabric belt: both thrifted; leather messenger, from an artisan in Beijing; watches: Tissot and Omega Seamaster; bracelet from 168, Divisoria

Photos by Patricia Suzara

Thrift shoe Shangri-La in Pasig

Yes, this is how the first shoe rack I saw beckoned. Like a prophet with a life-changing revelation.

I think out of experience, one develops a way of taking a quick glance at a thrift shop and deciding if it's worth visiting. One good sign is a well stocked rack. The first things you notice about this one — besides the boots — are the navy blue boat shoes.



Though no pair fit me, these chukka boots more than eased the pain. (Pardon the pictures for this post. This pair is actually more tan than olive.) I immediately took a liking to its handmade quality.

First time I saw chukkas I fell for the combination of rough stitching and aproned "skirts". I like the fettuccini laces on this pair. Too bad the one on the left seems to have been shortened.



The suede needs to be cleaned. But I think the chips in the sole and the weathered parts add to the folk feel of this type of footwear.



Another interesting detail: rusty metal fasteners.



I also found these very soft laceups (more mahogany than clayish brown) after the chukkas. In contrast to the boots above, this is a finely constructed pair.



Just look at the stitching. I also appreciate the thin soles. I wonder how the color will turn out once cleaned.



Even with just these two pairs, I could have gone home uncontestably happy. Here I am at Shangri-La Mall after the trip to Pasig City, already wearing the laceups instead of the shoes I left the house with.


Tee, People are People; jeans, Bench; belt, Brave Beltworks; laceups, thrifted; PVC bag, 5cm; gold watch, Omega Seamaster



But then fate interferred and brought me these tasseled loafers in the last store I stopped by.

The design is simple and clean. Was surprised to see tassel fastenings that looked like staple gun bullets, but eventually they won me over.



What is it about good slip-ons and their back stitching?



Here is Onin Lorente of Style Anywhere, who took my picture and accompanied me around the unfamiliar city.



And here I am with my camera print tee, a witness to the unfailing power of thrift shopping.

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 greening of spring

If I have seemed withdrawn the past few days, or even weeks, it's because of the many things happening in various fields. Like shoots and seedlings, they have been unstoppable.

Right now, besides transferring files from an old to a new laptop, I'm preparing documents for an impending trip — one that a month ago I never would have expected. I am uploading images of necklaces I have just sold. I am once again reading literature. I suppose it comes with the new season: undeniable change.




Like florals suddenly popping out on the street.

I have always had a long list of plans; only now do they, one by one, fill out with sap with the hope of future blossoms.


Jacket, Springfield; floral shirt, Diesel; pants, Zara; belt, Brave Beltworks; laceups, Marlboro Classics; forest green skinny tie, thrifted; gold watch, Omega Seamaster

Hips and lips

That's what's written in fine tangerine letters on this shirt I bought way back in 2005, even before I started writing for fashion magazines. I loved the print, and the fabric, which looks like TV static.

Tee, Rogan; cargo pants, Izzue; thrifted sneakers, 5cm; gold watch, Omega Seamaster

Accessories set against the green

Testing out the smallest of my safety pin brooches, together with a new tiger's eye necklace of varying colors.


Tee, & by Dolce & Gabbana; cargo pants, Izzue; tasseled loafers, thrifted; PVC bag, 5cm; necklace from Divisoria; brooch, DIY; gold plated watch, Omega Seamaster; steel watch, Tissot; tiger's eye bracelet (worn between) from Avenida

Photo by Anton Javier

The bare bones of it

Rainy weather means it's time to bring out my jackets. This fatigue item with a ribbed collar was one of the first jackets I bought when I started working. Wearing it now as a cape, since even though it's raining, it can also be a bit humid.




Thought of writing about these Temple bags now available on Gilt, not only because they match my outfit, but because of the amazing story behind them. They look military-themed not by accident. World War II backpacks have been repurposed into duffels, while the war duffels themselves have been turned into medicine bags. (Remember how Martin Margiela made jackets and trousers from military satchels.)

The medicine bag above is also made of saddle leather and brass. Lined in natural canvas.




Ok, for the love of anything sacred I really do not know how to pose for these cameos. People have told me before that I should exert more effort, but really, I would rather indulge in facialympics than repeat my unfortunate attempts at posing, which I really shouldn't be reminding you. Maybe more inspiring settings will bring out the model in me. (Yes, those are bones of hands, not leaves on my Energie shirt.)




The U-zip duffle bag (top) uses antique nickel hardware, hopefully not picked out from spoils of war. Lined in gray chambray. The weekend duffle below uses repurposed Mule Belts as shoulder straps.




No, I didn't just witness somebody streak. Just remembered that in a few days I would be marking three years in my current job. There is already that uneasy feeling that I should be moving along now. A change of industry? Definitely a change of scene! And somewhere without a dress code, where I can report to work wearing this and being able to explore more modes of expression.




Work has felt much like this laptop bag: stern and military-grade. Though things are flexible because of its waxwear canvas, appearances stick and so does boredom. Of course I have nothing against reliability. My style after all, is based mostly on preppy.




I just need to be able to let out my crazy more often, more vivaciously, without need for editing (which is my job).


Shirt, Energie; jacket, Springfield; jeans, Bench; belt, Brave Beltworks; laceups, Marlboro Classics; Young Camel satchel, thrifted; gold watch, vintage Omega Seamster; vine and tiger's eye bracelets from Divisoria

Photos by Patricia Suzara