Sheer stripes and spectator shoes

A sheer sweater is one of the ways to layer in warmer countries, even in summer.

Blue horizontal over blue vertical stripes.

Sheer sweater, Zara; shirt, Gap; skinny jeans, 5cm; spectator shoes, Giordano Concepts; silk tie, thrifted



The clerk at Giordano Concepts says the pair is part leather, part kesh - whatever that is. Point is, though it's not my ideal spectator pair, it's as comfortable as sneakers.

Street photos by Patricia Suzara

Black and white and sheer

The shirt is actually navy blue and light gray, usually worn with a white tee underneath, but I wore it as is yesterday. It was thrifted.

The sheer joy of it

"Only photograph what you love," the mom of a friend told Tim Walker. I stumbled on this quote in a special edition of L'Uomo Vogue. This must be true for any artist to continue and thrive being one. And for this case, also for bloggers: only post what you love.

What is a man?

With so many things to feature and discuss, it's easy to go crazy and even publish up to 10 posts a day. But then again, love cannot be hurried.

A man is comfortable being alone. Loves being alone, actually. He sleeps.

I know I have been rambling for so many months now, and am grateful to find out that some of you do read my thoughts and not just peruse the pictures. Truth be told, I love complexity and approach things from different angles. (That's why I ramble!)

Or he stands watch. He interrupts trouble. This is the state policeman. This is the poet. Men, both of them.

Have you noticed, perhaps, this blog's banner? It's not a picture from a magazine or an art gallery. It's actually the floor of a jeepney (a public mode of transportation in the Philippines), with three layers of paint scraped, peeled, and scratched in every possible way. Sometimes I think like that.

A man loves driving alone most of all.

Then patterns appear. Even if they come in weird shapes, they can be deciphered in repetition.

Style — a man has that. No matter how eccentric that style is, it is uncontrived. It's a set of rules.

Things become transparent — sheer — and joy increases because you can see every shape and also the entire pattern.

Sheer shirt, tie, and shoes: all thrifted; jeans, Neil Barrett; belt, APC; watch, Tissot. Photos by Patricia Suzara


A man watches. Sometimes he goes and sits at an auction knowing he won't spend a dime, witnessing the temptation and the maneuvering of others. Sometimes he stands on the street corner watching stuff...

No one taught him this — to be quiet, to cipher, to watch. In this way, in these moments, the man is like a zoo animal: both captive and free. You cannot take your eyes off a man when he is like that. You shouldn't. The hell if you know what he is thinking, who he is, or what he will do next.

'What is a man?' by Tom Chiarella, Esquire magazine

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

Lace dress for Halloween

It's amazing how things come full circle. I remember wearing this thrifted lace dress as a scarf for a goth Halloween ball last year, and a picture of that outfit, which was primarily composed of thrifted items, was part of my very first cameo post on this blog.

Now I am wearing the skirt on top of a shirt and have instead worn a cardigan as my scarf.




I like the way the lace is only obvious at the sleeves and over my bum, and the way it is cut — which makes me think more of pirates than drag queens.




I suppose this is the casual variation of my goth outfit, even if I am actually wearing the lace dress.

See, it can't be that hard.


Tee, cK by Calvin Klein; jeans, Two Percent; sheer double-breasted cardigan worn as a scarf, Zara; filigree belt, Brave Beltworks; agnès b riding boots and lace dress: both thrifted; necklace, Qeelin

On the wings of Dior Homme

Naboonies mentioned it first on his blog, Dunia Fashion, way back in July: the sheer structured jackets at the Dior Homme Spring 2010 show may remind one of the Barong Tagalog, the national costume/uniform of men in the Philippines.

But while the comparison may come to mind, it is the elaboration of ideas throughout Kris Van Assche's collection that brings the concept to its metamorphosis and ushers it into another form.




I have chosen images of moths to juxtapose with runway photos to highlight not just the translucence of the fabric, but also the direct and subtle layers that resemble wings.

The black and white shirt on the left shows the transition from sheer to solid black, with the front part revealing a white layer underneath. The effect is intriguing and sophisticated.

The jacket on the right, on the other hand, is a wonderful trick on the eye, like X-ray vision showing the skeleton of clothing. This piece is probably the best I’ve seen in the all the collections I have dared to review. The reason: the delightful contrast combination of strict form with light, flowing fabric. Of course, to state the obvious and echo Scott Schuman’s observation: just imagine how sheer jackets like this can add life to your outfits.




The vest (left) has been so radically transformed that you almost miss the fact that it is one. Looks as if segments from fabric patterns have been stitched together — which only heightens the finished/unfinished effect. Is that a translucent parka over the jacket on the right?




What movement! The non-sheer jacket appears to be almost as pliable as the low v-neck underneath. And the wonderfully skinny belts!




The v-neck, now in a different material: what an amazing variation on the shawl collar. And the cut from the shoulder to where the sleeves should have been gives the piece solid bearing. Now it looks more like a jacket than a shirt.

The good thing about the items here is that they look as good layered or unlayered. I'd say the top on the right is perfect for a hot, tropical night.




Notice the cummerbund waist of the trousers? The fit of the outfit is both relaxed and athletic.




I love the placket of the sleeveless shirt. It almost looks part of the pared down jacket (is it called something else?). The one on the right, meanwhile, is double-layered and separates into flaps.




The collection's biker jacket has been made in an equally fluid fabric. Can the jacket on the right, with its giant lapels making it look oddly similar to the jacket beside it, be considered black-tie?




Interestingly, the combination of the sleeveless shawl-collared jacket and similarly sheer parka on the right looks like an outdoor robe. At first the length of the parka at the back looks awkward, but I can imagine that the way it moves — not very different from the coat on the left — gives it an exotic, eastern appeal. Interesting also how the two diagonal bands on the collar of the shirt on the left makes the placket look like a tie.




I imagine that the gray jacket comes in one piece. The flaps looks almost like ruffles. The appropriated cummerbund goes well with the jacket. Did you notice the collar of the shirt underneath? Like the doorways of the Alhambra.




Rendered casual, contemporary, and opaque.




Just imagine a sheer coat on top of these: they woul be perfect office wear for the tropics and the East. The sleeveless jackets remind me of sails.




More of the moth wing vests.




This version with black shoulders and a zipper looks stylishly street, especially with the trainers and trousers like sweats.




Variation in black and white.




Sleeveless jackets and vests for a city safari.






Can't seem to put my finger on it. What do these "sleeves" remind you of? Is it something Arabic? Or more Star Trek?




In opaque fabric, these pieces still manage to appear exotic.




And here come the schoolboys with their long sheer cardigans and deliciously loose shirts and cummerbund trousers. And have I failed to mention the collection's angular club collar?




The garb of OPEC leaders according to Arthur C. Clarke.




Look how the tuxedo's shawl collar narrows to a steep V.




Kris Van Assche looks to the East, and with his innovations and fresh outlook, ushers us into the future.

Sheer on sheer, back to back

Say hello to my sister's puppy, Panda (don't ask). He's half Japanese Spitz and half Shih Tzu. Trying to wrestle free from my grasp, only to approach me later and bite at my shoelaces and my jeans (when I'm wearing slippers, my toes!).




Though my cK Calvin Klein tee is not in black and white, it is in white and stripes. Reversible from a roundneck to a v-neck, with the white layer made of cotton pique that is only a little sheer and the semi-transparent striped one, if I'm not mistaken, in Tencel (made from "fiber obtained from wood pulp using recyclable solvents": so my dictionary says).

But whatever fabrics the tee is made of, it is a fashion breakthrough for me since I swore before that I would never wear clothing that is dual-purpose or two-in-one (well, I swore before Junya Watanabe came out with his Spring 2009 collection), like shirts with built-in cardigans and the rest of its ilk. But of course the sheerness of it got me. A major weakness.

Till my next animal post! (My sister also has a rabbit at home, but I don't think it's a muggle.)

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

Sheer and prints shopping Sunday

Tracy set another thrift shopping trip to Pasig. Unfortunately, nobody else confirmed. But Tracy was kind enough to accompany me to go through the stores again. Unfortunately or fortunately, we decided to meet at Shangri-La Mall, where Homme et Femme was located.

I took a peek, and of course told myself it won't go beyond that. This ikat print tee by Dries Van Noten, from his Spring 2010 collection, was hard to let go. I like how the printing mimics woven fabric.




Letting caution go, I asked the sales assistants if their satellite on-sale shop was still open. It was, and this is what I got next: Maison Martin Margiela cotton and wool trousers that appears to be woven. I like the texture, and the fit! I couldn't remember though from which collection or year this was form as I was informed that they were selling not just last season's items.




Besides my purchases, I also liked these Liberty ties embellished with brass (?) beads.




Very nice and also quite expensive. Ideas for my accessories line!




So returning to my agenda that afternoon, Tracy and I finally went thrift shopping. This was the first piece that grabbed my interest: a cotton-polyester mix shirt that is good for cooler weather, or worn as a shirt jacket.




Besides the fabric, the arm pocket also got me.




Next was this funny print worn backwards.




I see birds, horses, revolvers, keys, helicopters, leaves, rabbits, guitars… What a strange and endearing mix!




And this, this is what got me all excited. The fabric of this shirt looks thick, sack-like. But, if you knew me, you'd know what I would reveal next.




You guessed it. The "model of prudence" is sheer.




After toying a bit with the images of this post, I came up with these four outfits.




Which one do you like best?




Depends on you if you want the tee worn over or under.




But in this case, there is only one way to wear this shirt — reversed.