The future of Y-3 and Jean Paul Gaultier

Too early for skirts I guess.

Meet my brother

Or me in my first pair of fashion glasses, suspenders, and trilby, which is a bit too small, but hey, all the large sizes fit like that. If only there were bigger ones. A specialty store for the cranially gifted, perhaps?

Shirt, Abercrombie & Fitch; pants, Y-3; thrifted woven laceups, Bally; trilby, Zara; glasses and suspenders, SM Department Store; stainless steel watch, Tissot

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

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

The day in detail

Some days go slow, some days pass in an unrecognizable and undifferentiated blur. They start in a rush.




Like in George Seferis's poem "Epiphany", many times all we have are the details.

Here is a cross-section of what I wore today:
Tee, Penguin; trousers, Y-3; tasseled moccasins and scarf: both thirsted; PVC bag, 5cm.




The moccasins I thrifted months before. I think they go well worn sockless and with the buttoned hem of the pants.

Here I am standing on the pavement in front of our house. The office day just ended.




Even when we are already sleeping, nothing stops. The history of the day moves right beneath our eyelids. We are still traveling, archiving, our memory picking out the details. Tidying the shelves as we tidy our cabinets so we can decide what to wear the next day.

Cameo at Philippine Fashion Week

Found myself tagged in Facebook. Good that this surfaced, since I wasn't able to document most of my outfits during Philippine Fashion Week. I think I was wearing the amulet medallion necklace that I made.

To my left were stylist Sidney Yap and fashion design students (and sisters) Boop and Kimi Yap.


Navy jacket, thrifted; tee, Izzue; pants, Y-3; leather sneakers, Converse; red faux leather briefcase, Tyler

Photo by Abby Posadas

Signal to change

I don't know why I didn't see the signs. When I was in high school, I spent nights without sleep creating costume and production design for the theater. Now I find myself burning the midnight oil beading items similarly sourced from Divisoria, but now as accessories.




Was supposed to wait till I finished a male version of this necklace before posting it on this page, but what the heck. Am still waiting for the perfect strand of suede for the red stones. This one is named Sofia, for my friend and now official cameo photographer.

Necklace made from different varieties of agate, carnelian, tiger's eye, smoky quartz, cat's eye, onyx, and red jasper




The change I am talking about of course relates to careers. After spending so much time creating new tangible things, I now wonder why I never started doing that in the first place.




As you can see, I am wearing a sheer cardigan. And yes, I intentionally wear see-through things it when I bore you about my personal revelations.

How could I have missed it! Change is demanded soon...


Sheer cardigan, Izzue plaid shirt, striped tie, and woven Bally laceups: all thrifted; trousers, Y-3; necklace, a combination of the different colors of tiger's eye

Photos by Patricia Sophia Suzara

Ghost stories

What makes The Sixth Sense so riveting is that the story is only fully understood at the end, when the death of Bruce Willis's character explains the seemingly insignificant parts of the plot.

It is no longer fun though, when you discover a story involving yourself. In my case involving door locks that suddenly do not function, the inexplicable smell of smoke in a bathroom, eerie sounds, and a general sense of weight in rooms. These only made sense when a neighbor confirmed similar things, and surprisingly, even sightings. The said building is not far from the place where this picture was taken, for those who can recognize it.


5cm bomber and laceups, thrifted; tee, Original Penguin; trousers, Y-3; belt from an Italian market

A bright, sunny day

Went to see Cecille yesterday in the suburbs. She will be leaving very soon for the states.




So we took the opportunity not only to share a meal with her family, but also to snap some pics in a nearby construction area.




Forgive the hair, the dust, and the unfriendly weather.




I know. I'm rarely away from the smog, noise, and stress of Manila.




This is Cecille, in her second appearance on this page. I'm telling you, it was her idea (or Patricia's?) to tempt death by playing amongst heavy machinery.






On the leftmost is Claire, my boss from London. Besides being a seasoned journalist from the Financial Times, she has also done some wicked photography. She took the first and last pictures in this post. In the middle is Patricia, in her debut appearance on this blog. I owe a lot to her for patiently taking my cameos. The same goes for Cecille.




As I have just turned another page, it is time for Cecille to move on. Talking with Claire, I am reminded that there are many more places to go to and lots more things to do.

I am always convinced that people keep on changing, just as fast as events take us on detours. But some things stay the same — like sun, friendship, and fun.


Tee, French Connectionl pants, Y-3; laceups, thrifted; filigree belt (barely seen), Brave Beltworks; stone and string necklace, vintage; watch, vintage Omega Seamaster

Pictures by Patricia Suzara, Claire Barron, and Miguel Paolo Celestial