My last cameo as a brunette

Philippine Fashion Week just concluded with one of its best shows in many seasons: a highly dramatic post-humous exhibition from the house of Louie Mamengo. But before I tell about more work by local designers, and show you more cameos of myself as a blonde, here is a last look at what I looked like just a few days ago.




Here is the back of the kimono I wore last Tuesday. It was part of a stash of kimonos and obis that I repurposed to wrap boxes for my Bosquejo necklaces. There are also black pieces that I have likewise kept for personal use.




What I did was tie the lower corners around my waist and then roll excess fabric thus: not very different from how one wears Thai farmer's pants. The sleeves I wrapped and rolled around my arms. Nifty, eh? Here is the kimono worn at original length.





The best things about this kimono are its pattern and semi-sheer fabric: just right for the weather. Do I really look that different with black hair? Sometimes I still get shocked when I look at the mirror: is that really me? A version of? Is that the same thing this innocent bystander is wondering about?




My "rope tie" also came from a kimono. I think I also like this top-heavy silhouette.




This last photo is for a friend who insists that my profile is a better angle. He likewise mourns my new hair color, which you will see more of, and get used to by and by.


Kimono, kimono belt used as tie, Kickers sandals, and nylon tote: all thrifted; jeans, Two Percent; belt (not seen), A.P.C.; tee, United Colors of Benetton

Photos by Vince Flores

Saturday starts my week

So it is Saturday again. To some, it is a chance to stretch out across the seemingly unlimited number of hours to relax, to recharge, to reboot.To plunge into the possibilities of leisure the weekend presents. But for me, the real work just begins.




And I'm not talking about my freelance duties. Rather, the opposite.

If this kimono seems familiar, that's because I wore it before against white, where the pattern was more decipherable. In this version, it becomes all about the texture.






Saturday is for reading and writing, stretching out the silence of two days to drown out an entire week.





It gets so involving that by the end of Sunday, I feel I've worked for another five days. But more rewarding. How about you, how do you spend your weekend?


Short-sleeved shirt, G200; kimono and Dior Homme jeans: both thrifted; belt, Izzue; sneakers, Helmut Lang

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