strong, cold winds and sudden climate changes that leave chaos behind

for the cold, -ber months by crysta17 featuring 3.1 Phillip Lim dresses

September, for the Philippines, spells cold weather. Winds, in the early morning and in the early to late evening, have become cold recently. And at times like these, I find myself in the coats, jackets and sweaters section of thrift and boutiques. Perhaps it's my mammalian instincts telling me to prepare for the onslaught of cold -ber months' winds.

Typhoon Ondoy struck some areas of the National Capital Region and its neighboring provinces hard up north (Luzon). He came by late last week---and if I'm not mistaken it was a Saturday---and left behind heavily flooded streets where only rooftops and the second or third floors up of establishments could only be seen. As the water slowly subsides, the streets, establishments and residences are revealed to be covered in mud and in complete disorder. Cagayan de Oro experienced the same thing last December and early January this year. I have yet to extend help. :)

let's talk music: Muse - Starlight

A break from the usual...let's talk music for lack of a good fashion-related post. I haven't taken any good photos recently. I rarely wear anything aside from the university (school) uniform these days.

 My life

You electrify my life

Let's conspire to re-ignite

All the souls that would die just to feel alive

In here is my current favorite song from Muse, Starlight. After hearing Adam Lambert's acoustic version of it on Good Morning America's (GMA) summer concert series, I just had to check the original with Youtube. I found it equally delighting as Adam's. The keyboards just stand out so well at some parts---the way it does with the Fray, Coldplay and Keane's music.

Hopefully good photos would come up tomorrow and the next day. I'm off to nearby Lestonnac Retreat House for a two day-one night senior year retreat with some classmates.

still camera shy

Old Navy, Phils. old cinema graphic shirt from startrends; reconstructed Chippie shorts; Guess by Marciano pumps; vintage belt; random three-layered necklace; small cross earrings, Broadway Gems

In a random fit of creativity...or insanity, I reconstructed a number of my old jeans into shorts and tattered cropped jeans last Sunday. I have to say I had so much fun with the shears and the needle and thread. The shorts and cropped pants are so apt for the tropical weather my place is known for that I think it's about time I ditch the jeans, pants rather, for them.

Breaks my heart how my one and only, favorite Guess pumps are falling apart. I'll be looking for a pair of booties or pumps tomorrow.

I'll be experimenting with denims and bleach next. Kudos to the bathroom. Haha.

that dress from so long ago

I'm almost through cleaning my closet. And with my ever growing dress collection, I think I'm going to need a separate rack. But if I were to get my closet redone bigger and better, I wouldn't mind. That way there'd be more space for the flats, pumps and other footwear. I figure I'll be through cleaning the closet of stand-still clothing articles by tomorrow.

I've been itching to do some thrift shopping (ukay-ukay) since a week ago. I might as well get the courage to do the deed myself to scratch the itch. I prefer to go thrift shopping (ukay-ukay) with friends during the day but I don't mind checking the thrift stalls in Divisoria on my own on late Friday and Saturday afternoons and evenings.

Speaking of thrift shopping, I passed by Applemint Apparel, my current favorite thrift store, earlier today and they were closed. I was on my way to the music school where I currently am learning the piano and the art of classical singing. On random weekdays, I would find them open but really now...Friday and they're closed at past 4 in the afternoon?! Ever I catch them open tomorrow, I'll drop by and see what they have.

Z.ro Collection, dress; Xhilaration, flats; Ydafu, bag; earrings bought from a classmate; from SM Department Store,sunglasses

....and featuring my little brother ahead of me, Nico.

These photos were taken by my father at the airport. I found them absolutely awesome and decided to post 'em even though they were taken a couple months ago.

The dress has been sitting on my closet, gathering dust for years until I recently wore them one February night while frolicking in Cebu with the 3rd year and 4th year SpEd student-teachers from the university. My mother bought it for me on the first family trip out of the country when I was in fifth grade. It works well as a mini now. Good thing I didn't throw it away.

The countdown 'til my birthday is still ongoing and I now officially have 6 days left 'til I get another year older. Apart from moving my savings from the university financial cooperative to a bank, I think that personal holiday merits a trip down to the thrift stores (including Applemint Apparel) for anything vintage. I really should go do something to celebrate the special day (to myself) by doing some shopping. Hopefully school work does not keep me in school much that day. I guess my plan to ditch school for the last time will have to take the backseat, never to be taken into the front seat ever again.

I'm writing this entry on a laptop that's running low on battery. I guess I had better go and take a little nap before doing a mini-marathon on the remaining episodes I have yet to watch of Gossip Girl season 2.

of whites and others

Minimalist White by crysta17 featuring James Perse

There are days when I don't feel like doing anything and this is one of them. I have loads of things to do but I'm slacking off. School work is stressing me out.

The teacher didn't hold us long in the classroom earlier this morning and I had enough time to squeeze in some chores and blogging.

Countdown 'til my birthday is still ongoing. In just 8 days, I'll be on to my 22nd day of living. I still have no idea how best to celebrate that day. I'm definitely not going anywhere as there is school to tend to. I do want to ditch school that day and wish to celebrate it elsewhere. Aww...

I just received the dress I ordered and I liked it! The bottom is sheer lace so there's a need to put something under it. Tried the white stockings but they make the whole thing (including me) look weird. I'll stick with anything black---leggings or tights. I think it'll go well with the black lacy, flower-patterned  (I think they were lilies) Topshop leggings I found online.

how do i define me...? fashion-wise

Honestly, I have no idea how to define my identity fashion-wise just yet. I'm enamored by both the contemporary and the vintage. But I think that time will come when I'll indefinitely stay vintage. I get the feeling my fascination with the vintage will overpower my love for the contemporary...or not.

The birthday countdown has officially begun! I'll be a year older in only 9 days!

As a pre-birthday gift, I spotted this in one of my Multiply contacts' sites, Viva Vintage.

(photo from Viva Vintage)

I thought it cute and just had to grab it before anyone else could.

Locally, Viva Vintage is one good source for anything vintage and fab. They're an online store which makes shopping easy when you hardly have time to go down to the thrift stores or malls given a hectic daily schedule.

I found another dress I'd like to have from one other local-based online store I stumbled upon and liked, UkayManila, and I'm considering getting it to jump start my vintage clothing and apparels collection. Perhaps I can get it on or the day before my birthday.

Online shopping helps a lot when I'm stressed out from school work because fabulous finds are just a click away. But nothing still beats traditional shopping, particularly thrift shopping. I'm thinking of hitting thrift shops and ukayans during the weekend. I seriously need a break. Innumerable school work has just begun to rain cats and dogs on me.

I have to say my mother was right. I am in need of another closet. That or simply a dress rack. I wonder if they have anything affordable in stores here.

i spy with my little eye...Katy Perry in vintage and rocking it.

 (photos from: Celebutopia, Teen Vogue and Santa Barbara)

Katy Perry's fashion sense---most of the time---is just as good as her hits. I like it when she dons vintage footwear, dresses, tops and skirts as the pictures above. She rocks in anything vintage.

I'm currently hooked with Katy's "Waking Up in Vegas" and "Hot n Cold." They're...er...addicting ear-candies. I might just pick up a copy of her album from the local record stores.

first post hurrah!

Rue21, graphic shirt; Street Legal, leggings; thrifted, scarf; SM Department Store CdeO, dangling cross and heart earrings; random layered necklace; random gold sandals

It's almost 3 in the morning and I'm still awake. All thanks to the second cup of coffee I downed earlier. Insomnia, here I come. (I've been having quite a lengthy string of sleepless nights recently.)

I had my father's help with the pictures while we were sipping coffee and snacking at the cafe of the new Polymedic Plaza---it's the newest and biggest hospital in the city. He hardly leaves home without his trusty Canon EOS 40D. I was in luck. Though I know I could've asked for better pictures by closing in on every article I have on. Well, there's always next time.

Hurrah for my first post and for getting a start on my own fashion and lifestyle+personal blog! I've been thinking about this for a couple months or so now. I finally have one. Yey! :D I may need help with the title, though. I think it's lame. Very lame. I do like the subtitle. Feel free to suggest a fitting title.

Now I need to get sleeping. Although today has been declared a national holiday---it's Ka Erdy's burial---the 'rents, little brother and visiting uncle are hoping to go around the city later.