Bosquejo Bauble: Amulet necklace 2

Here's another one. Apologies for the blurry photograph. Have to rush to the shows.

Completed this outfit with a black and white patterned scarf.


Tee, British India; Izzue jeans and cotton tie: both thrifted; filigree belt, Brave Beltworks; leather sneakers, Converse; necklace, DIY

Street photo by Patricia Suzara

Bosquejo Bauble: Amulet necklace

This necklace is part of what I wore today. I have been talking about men's accessories for quite some time. So this is my first DIY attempt to bring together my thoughts on the matter.

My first idea is to use amulets commonly sold in Manila for good luck or to bring specific fortunes to those who wield them. The amulets, or anting-anting in the vernacular, come in a mix of sacred and profane iconography typical of the country's folk Christianity.

I have opted to get rid of all religious and superstitious associations in order to focus on the design.


CX Prêt-à-porter shirt, wool tie, Structure leather belt: all thrifted; jeans, Calvin Klein Jeans; pullover, French Connection; laceups, Marlboro Classics; bag, Tyler; necklace, DIY

Though some may argue that the first necklace looks too feminine, it may either be that there are still some chinks in the design, or that it may only be a matter of interpretation. Nevertheless, I have created this second version that I expressly intend for use by women. My sister has already asked for it.

Hopefully, I'll be able to create more necklaces to expound on this first idea, before I move on to the next.


Bought the amulets from Quiapo

Chains that tickle

Even if the day was mostly downcast, here's some color amid the gray and black. Bought the shirt from yesterday's bazaar shopping at Greenhills.

A friend once said that I never really was a teenager; that I was already old even during those years. Well, that doesn't stop me from wearing Elmo on my shirt.

And hanging something in front of his nose.

Tee, from Greenhills; nylon jacket, Izzue; thrifted jeans, Two Percent; skinny leather belt, APC; leather sneakers, Helmut Lang; black plastic necklace, Qeelin; stainless steel necklaces, 168; handkerchief, local department store

AnOther Man: Extreme dreams

'Extreme Dreams', AnOther Man Fall 2007
Photography by Mark Segal, Styling by Alister Mackie
Scanned by Ed @ Modelhommes, from The Fashion Spot

Big, wind-swept knits against a vast sandy desert.


Douglas and Nico wear felt caps by Lanvin;
oversized wool jumpers by John Galliano Homme; trousers and shoes by Prada

This could be the moon or an abandoned planet.

Douglas wears silver jumper (worn around neck) and oversized cable knit jumper by Dolce & Gabbana;
chevron print trousers by Burberry Prorsum

Or the dominion of Cain, together with all the banished.


Douglas wears hooded fur coat by Prada; sheerling cropped bodysuit by Kim Jones;
shirt by Burberry Prorsum

Nico wears fur tunic by Prada

Warriors without their adversaries.

Nico wears fur jacket by Fendi; knitted trousers by Miu Miu;
leather gloves by Raf Simons; silver neck plate from Pebble

Douglas wears zipped jumper and oversized jumper by Vivienne Westwood Man;
wool trousers and patent leather shoes by Prada

Predators without their prey.

Nico wears fur lined kimono by John Galliano Homme; silver neck plates from Pebble

Nico wears felt hat by Lanvin; jumper (worn around shoulders) by Prada; knitted bodysuit ny Miharayasuhiro;
leather gloves by Raf Simons; patent leather shoes by Prada

Douglas wears short sleeve jumper; stirruped trousers and degredée shoes by Prada;
smoked quartz crystal necklace from Pebble

This is the moment right before we wake up,
when the light flashes and everything and everyone else disappears.

My latest fix: Black open bonnet

Open bonnet hat, 5cm; striped tee, Izzue; skinny jeans, Two Percent; skinny leather belt, APC; plastic necklace, Qeelin; plastic ring, Saizen (Daiso)

GQ Style: Poseidon

The god of the sea rises. He is mortal.


'Poseidon', GQ Style 6 Spring Summer 2008
Photography by Nathaniel Goldberg. Styling by David Bradshaw
Model: Patrick Petitjean at Success

For quite some time now, androgyny has been the new plaything of menswear. Though much of it has drawn inspiration from 80s Japanese designers, a significant force that drives "androgyny" are simply cross-dressers.


Cotton t-shirt, Gap Red; bead necklace, stylist's own

On the other side of the coin is raw masculinity.

Print shirt, print shorts, sandals: all Gucci

So strong that it can be expressed even with shin-length kaftans (of course, not to exclude skirts!).

Silk kaftan, Lanvin; plaited leather cuff, Burberry

But this attribute, I'm afraid, cannot simply be worn or assimilated.

Nylon shorts, Raf Simons; glass bead necklace, Pebble

You simply have it - like igneous, which has no layers - or you don't.

Towelling top, Bottega Veneta; swimming trunks, American Apparel

This kind of appeal is its own skin - evident from a man, whether he has a three-piece suit or just swimming briefs.

Vogue Italia editor Franca Sozzani once stated, on the topic of dressing men and as part of the reason she wanted to take over L'Uomo Vogue: "...we had seen too much of the intimacy of men. Men had been stripped down too much!"

This may be true, and many men may still smart from the embarrassment of such exposure.


T-shirt, top (worn on head): both Rick Owens; paisley swimming briefs, Etro; plaited leather cuff, Burberry

But beauty will always have its own dignity, male or female, no matter who the perceived audience, and no matter how many layers of clothing expose or conceal it.


Hand-dyed kaftan, Tween

Stripping down, covering up: they are part of the motions of the seasons.

Vest, black swimming briefs, printed swimming briefs (worn beneath): all Dolce & Gabbana; top (worn on head), Rick Owens; sandals, Balenciaga; plaited leather cuff, Burberry

Masculinity can stand on its own, stays the same covered with leaves and fruit, or simply bare.


Swimming trunks, American Apparel; goggles (on trunks), from a selection, Thom Browne

Strong, because behind it is identity that bears its own confidence, can do without necklaces and headpieces.

Jersey top, Rick Owens

Or whatever accouterments meant merely to be worn, not grafted like second skin.

Wrestling leotard, from a selection, Calvin Klein; top (worn on head), Rick Owens; leather sandals, Balenciaga; leather cuff, Hugo Boss

Neck pieces

I bumped into her a few weeks back. Only now have I realized what her blouse reminds me of.



Like the geometrically designed windows that crown the Chrysler building, the black string work creates interesting detail, which also functionally bunches up the fabric to let it fall in folds.



Ancient wisdom knew such embellishment serves to emphasize one's face.



A point well considered by this young, modern man.

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

Somersault

Apologies for the long delay in posts, and again, for just posting pics of bed-cast clothes. This is what I wore to last night's event, a collaboration between Miadore jewelry by Yekky Balingit, photographer Seven Barretto, and the design alliance Fadal Manila. Plus a book that I picked up at the bookstore before going to the venue.




Unveiled were 14 canvases that bore photos of Miadore necklaces worn with the creations of the Fadal designers. (More on the event on my Benetton blog.)




Now that I think of it, I wore the same lacey-y shirt and skinny jeans with another Bosquejo necklace on the first day of Philippine Fashion Week last May. (Time does fly!)

The Bosquejo necklace I wore was new, not even available on my website. Part of the reason I've been so busy. But hopefully, I can take a much needed break real soon... But back to the clothes: don't you think the silver-edged buttons match my Hardware necklace so well?




What I also love are the paisley print blazers by Levenson Rodriguez, which go well with Yekky's shimmery brooches. I wonder when I can have a jacket made... (*hint, hint*)






But now for the title of my post, taken from the book I just bought: Somersault by Kenzaburo Oe. Because this is precisely what I need these days: a total change, a flipping of priorities, the lifting of feet from familiar ground.




Yes, changes are abound, which I shall be telling you about soon enough. For now, it is time to sleep, and of course, to dream!




Blazer, Fred Perry; Kenneth Cole shirt and Dior Homme jeans: both thrifted; belt, Nautica; necklace, Bosquejo; briefcase, Bally