Seeing through a sheer black cardigan

I must say, this initial affection for sheer layering is now becoming addictive. Not only is airconditioning deemed unnecessary, the way the material mixes with the color underneath offers unique texture that simple seasonal layering cannot provide.

I was a little apprehensive with the size of the cardigan but thought it logical that such thin material shouldn't be worn close to the body. Good thing then that I was able to dig out these pleated trousers I mostly wore in the nineties.

Sheer cardigan, Zara; ribbed shirt; Old Navy; pleated trousers, G200; tie, thrifted; leather sneakers, Converse

Weekly inspiration: Coats and cardigans

Things get a bit strange and sometimes overwrought, during these weeks of transitioning from summer to fall.

Linus is snapped here during a sunny day in Paris, with his Lanvin coat, which looks almost as light as a windbreaker. Though I thought I loved his hair best, I changed my mind. I like the fragility of his necklace.

Shoes, Hudson; pants; Raf Simons; tee; Alexander McQueen; bag, Balenciaga; sunglasses, Ray Ban




Greg from Reykjavík combines a traditionally patterned cardigan with what looks like a giant money-print tee. With the hat and the casual jeans, the total look is nordic hillbilly.




Finally there's Wiktor from Copenhagen, whose outfit just escapes description or category. Like an awkward Macaulay Culkin who's finally discovered he loved fashion, so made a mad dash to all the things he could grab in the closets of his mother, father, older sister and brother, not to mention his spinster aunt.

But it miraculously makes sense — the old necklace and the leopard print shorts with the preppy shirt, tee, and coat. Though the top and bottom parts of this picture seem to belong to two different people, the fact that they are both Wiktor makes him an amazing individual.

Happy weekend!

In retrospect

Wore this outfit last March 2009, and decided to revive it today, but in a different way.




What one year does, indeed. While I was looking for my first job years ago, I hated ties and felt they were too cumbersome for everyday wear. Blame this blog and more than a little boredom I guess.

Now, I would have rolled my pants up to my knees just for you to notice my argyle socks!




I think this must have also been the last time I wore these leather hybrid lace-ups. Notice that this is the same window backdrop in my last post.

Sheer sweater, Zara; shirt, Gap; jeans, Two Percent; shoes, Giordano Concepts; tie, thrifted




I'm still going through the recent Milan and Paris shows. Reviews soon. Besides reminiscing on the good old days of cameo picture-taking, I also sort of miss Tim Blanks's commentary. He disappeared when men.style.com became gq.com. Now the reviews are cheeky, and I suppose targeted at a younger audience with less cultural memory.

Amazingly, I find that looking at the shows in between my other activities clears my mind. Even if fashion history and reference-making are more complicated and cross-hatched than simple plaid.


Cardigan and tie: both thrifted; shirt, Gap; jeans, Bossini; shoes, Giordano Concepts

Photos by Patricia Suzara

El Bosquejo turns two today

I have been reminding myself of the date since last month, but things always have a way of squeezing in. Like the jackets, cardigans, and sweaters in my untidy clothes rack, it may take more time for me than just a single blog post to take a look at the things that have transpired and changed on this page since the last blog anniversary. Surely the days have been more packed than my suffocating cabinet.




So now I'm thinking of dedicating a month (July 22-August 22) to celebrate. Beginning tomorrow with … guess what? (No, I'm not going to take my shirt off, though it has been suggested…) Aside from that, I am thinking of creating posts using different media and maybe, who knows, hold blog giveaways based on El Bosquejo trivia (Girls and boys, is there anything at all that you covet from my wardrobe? If not, let me hunt something for you…)

As of this moment, all I have are big hugs and thanks. Sorry for my half-heavy eyelids. Tomorrow, let's bring out the balloons!

My latest fix: Gray multi-patterned cardigan

Before I tell you about the Benetton shoot at the Industria studio at Washington Street, I'll tell you about what I did after that.

Friday afternoon, Jamie and I rode the subway to Soho, where I was overjoyed to see the Rogan shop, which had great cardigans on sale. But alas, none were calling out my name. Would have wanted to scout the area — not to mention watch the stylish people — for other favorites such as John Varvatos, Jack Spade, etc., but with the limited time at hand, I agreed to immediately proceed to Broadway's Topman, H&M, J. Crew, and Forever 21 for Jamie.

This Topman cardigan is what I ended up with. The store had lots of blazers I coveted, but none fit well (when they fit the shoulders, they were too long or I couldn't close the buttons…). Was also disappointed when my size was out for H&M's seersucker jackets. Not that I didn't totally love what I got. With more and more threads of my "houndstooth" Sisley jacket going loose, this was a timely purchase. Notice how it camouflages against my sheets? Maybe I'll find a shirt with a similar pattern to go wit it.

(Oh, it was also my first time to enter a Victoria's Secret store. As I waited for Jamie, I remembered getting lost in rack upon rack of lingerie as a kid waiting for my mom.)

Three thrifted cardigans, a wool jacket, and a fleece coat

So after having my fill of ties and vests and chancing upon a cutaway and a well-cut jacket, I return to the Japanese goods thrift store to gorge my appetite on cardigans, in the process finding an unexpected coat and jacket.

The cardigans I found seem meant for me: either sheer and made from very light fabrics or deliciously patterned and thick.



This first piece is both sheer and ribbed. The emblem on the left chest reveals it is a country golf club cardigan.



I love the embroidered pattern of this next one and also its length.



Nevermind that it's a woman's cardigan. Just look at those mother of pearl buttons.



I think this wool jacket would better fit once I remove the shoulder pads. Maybe also a little bit of tailoring would finish the trick.



I may also want to remove the top two buttons to make it more masculine.



The buttons, apparently, bear United States of America emblems.



This light gray cardigan, also ribbed, I primarily got for the color.



It would be perfect to top off dark colored outfits, or even light neutrals.



Keeping the last cardigan on, I tried this fleece-lined winter jacket.



I know it seems impractical, but I am sure I will have use of this coat some time in the future.



I just couldn't let it go, especially seeing how good it matched my ensemble. Not least the fact that it suits me.



Here it is once again. And here ends another fulfilling trip to the thrift shop.

Which piece do you like the most?


Black tee, Sisley; skinny jeans, Two Percent; thrifted boots, Timberland

Photographs by Cecilia Aycocho

Wearing nothing but two vests and a cardigan

This is my latest effort in finding a solution for layering in tropical Manila. The base of my top is a sheer double-breasted cardigan, which is a bit big and long. So what I did was to pair the buttons with the wrong buttonholes. The effect not only shortens the piece but also gives the impression of having more than two layers.

Since the collar of the sheer cardigan is quite low, I wore a thick vest, without buttons, on top of it, using two safety pins as fastening. Then finally on top is another vest to give the entire look more polish.

This top set is not at all warm. I may even need an actual jacket when it rains hard.


Sheer cardigan, Zara; buttonless vest, Dean & Trent; five-buttoned vest, thrifted; skinny jean, Two Percent; plastic necklace, Queelin

Red-lettered thrift Saturday

The day started ash gray, with the morning more dazzling because of the drizzle.



That's why I took advantage of uncertain weather and paired my lightly ashy cardigan with a thrifted pair of shorts that are almost sheer, slightly gauzy, with veins of silver in the thread. (Bought it together with my other gray items on an equally somber day.) And since they didn't have any pockets, I just inserted my white handkerchief in my cardigan, much like a jacket's pocket square.



Though the sun didn't come out, the cloudy day didn't stop me from claiming these magnificent maroon loafers I blogged about the other day. Just look at the details: the panels, the braided leather, the animal skin effect, and even the gold sphinx emblem.



On impulse, I wore this braided bracelet on my ankle.



Here is the pair's label. Anybody heard of it?



Even if I didn't get the other pairs I wanted, I did surface this elementary school red envelope portfolio from a pile of bags.



It's made of some kind of plastic, lined with leather. The label reads François Marot Paris, with a dog at the center of the logo.



Lastly, I took with me this small shoulder bag with compartments you wouldn't think would fit in such a quaint article. Label reads Romantique.



Open it and it shows slots for cards, pens, and papers. It has three more accordioned sections (below), one closed with a zipper. I also liked the gold details, and of course, the texture and the smell of genuine leather. Looks durable, and can even fit my Canon G10 and a Starbucks tumbler. What else can you ask for?



What a way to spend the day. The umbrella above and the shoes and portfolio were not the only things red. Met another stylish girl at the bookstore wearing a flaming jacket. And she was not the only one I met yesterday with red lips.

A year hence

Turning 29 next week. Instead of waiting for 30, I will begin with what I should have been doing years ago. (Better late than never ever!)




In about a year, I will be putting an end to this blog. No, I won't be erasing it. Perhaps, I will still be posting every now and then (rarer even than the last few months') — but definitely not in the same way.




I know I've been whining for so long, dragging my indecision on what I really want to do with my life. Well now I am fully resolved. And what I have decided on will take most of my time and all of my concentration.




From street protests (long story) to street photo shoots, I turn to the city with a different kind of involvement. I can no longer speak in the same way.




So wish me luck (this is, after all, supposed to be a lucky charm)!




Let this second shot of these trainers serve as closing parenthesis. Promise I won't be mentioning this again. Before anyone knows it (including myself), I would be shedding old skin. Hopefully we will meet again.


Tee, G200; sheer oversized cardigan, Zara; jeans, Two Percent; skinny belt, A.P.C.; trainers, Helmut Lang; necklace from Divisoria with pendant from Quiapo

Knit picking

Let me just tell you how crazy last night was. To put the long story short: I left my laptop in a cab the other night, another passenger got it but asked for ransom, I refused and called the police for a sting operation. It was successful but the whole event seemed too complicated to leave me unscathed: my energy was zapped.

This was what I was wearing yesterday morning, all peaceful and serene, before the whole thing transpired.



Finally, I have been able to wear my largest safety pin as a brooch. Come to think of it, the size, bulk, and fit of this knit cardigan almost make it look like a jacket.



Here is the pattern up close. Initially, I have been wary of using the gigantic safety pin because of the holes it would leave in clothes — a problem big knits do not have.


Knit cardigan, Izzue shirt, silk tie, Two Percent jeans: all thrifted; leather sneakers, Converse; safety pin from Divisoria

Pictures by Patricia Suzara