fools' garden

(photos courtesy of Jan Michelle)

This was the time for a good bottle of sweet, strawberry red wine (shared between me, Candice and JM), a can of beer (I missed it. Kind of.), one huge pizza, cake (I'd been craving over and over for this), and friends and fun. Basically a Halloween-themed double birthday bash for Yoojin and Candice whose birthdays had just passed. Celebrated during Candice's day.

Since it was Halloween-themed, costumes were to be hand. It's my first time donning one, too. I didn't have a very colorful childhood with trick or treating and dressing up during Halloween but I was happy to have the time to dress up on this one all-girls' gathering. Ended up going as a garden nymph(-o) of some sort. A running joke between us girls. The wreath took me a few minutes of talking to make the day before using craft wires and a bunch of flowers surprisingly made of crepe paper. And if you're wondering about the crowns, all four of us---JM, Yoojin, Candice and me---had them bought from Hannah's all for the party. They were fun to wear around as much as my floral wreath.

Probably one of the funnest days I'd had since graduating from college. Shoots were mandatory, of course hence all these.

More randomness? I kind of love the photos of us fooling around. Me and my YM-mate, Candice and of course, Yoojin who's about to depart soon to work in Korea. It was fun we'd had this. And here's to having more fun, girls!

Hmn...right now? I'm going back to rereading Harry Potter's 7th book. I'm an HP junkie and the next movie's coming on the 19th! Or 20th, RP time. Totally Ron Weasley-biased. He's a favorite. It's a rather lazy Sunday today.

dress, Rampage thrifted; floral wreath, DIY; random tights; filigree cuff, Forever21; wedges, eightdaysaweek c/o multiply

by default

Probably my default I-want-to-go-out look. It was raining hard and long this afternoon and I loved such weather. I used to not to but these days, I'm loving them. Gives me the excuse to wear a lot of thermals like this Mary Kate and Ashley one indoors.

Not the rain-friendliest outfit I could come up with but this was more for indoors than outdoors during the rain. Perhaps outdoor outfit once the rain comes to a full stop? The rainy season is definitely in.

Finished work earlier this time so I had more to waste on the piano, styling and shooting and the likes.

Mary Kate and Ashley gifted thermal; thrifted, DIY jean cut-offs; thrifted blazer; thrifted silk scarf; straw Fedora,

rainy day in

(my photos)

In my 23 years on Earth, I've never really learned to use the mascara. I'm getting the hang of it now and I'm loving how it highlights the eyes. I know. I fail, right?

The drapey brown dress is one of my favorite finds from the weekendly night market and it's quite the bargain, too. I love the way it kind of drapes at the back and the shoulders. I'll probably have a friend get the details on the dress soon. I might have to wear this dress out every so often and wear it to death. Definitely a current favorite. Everything here is thrifted minus the cuff, bangles and rings.

Was supposed to leave for the dentist in the more casual tights and shorts until I got rained in. Turns out the dentist was also at a meeting hence I didn't get to go. I stayed in and watched the raw for episode 1 of Nagareboshi instead. Ueto Aya and Yutaka Takenouchi are ba~na~nas! I'm definitely loving Nagareboshi over Q10 but not more than Keizoku 2 (SPEC). Jdoramas this season are basically amazing and hopefully subs come out for Nagareboshi and SPEC. I'd be damn happy.

dress, thrifted; laced up boots, thrifted; chain belt, thrifted; cuff, forever21; bangles and rings, random stores; necklace, souvenir shop via Eco Village, Malasag

boredom induces...

(my photos)
vintage slip dress; vintage blazer; What a Girl Wants buckled pumps; random rings and bangles; Rayban wayfarers; Eiffel tower necklace, local store

Boredom got to me and I'd ended up shooting like usual. I'm too camera happy for my own good and I don't even think I'm that photogenic enough. Long legs, sure, we'd got that covered. Everything else, I might not even pass as a model.

The vintage slip I'm wearing is an impulsive thrift shop purchase. I love it's velvety feel but it's really, really short on me. It's fine, though. I like my stuff short most of the time.

I might've collected as much accessories as I have through to this near end of the year but I'm looking to add more. The local shop where I buy my accessories is kind of awesome. Aizi Lim. It's near my place so I can just crash it whenever I felt like buying any.

The buckled pumps sure is overused. Beaten to the point of...hmn...it can still be used either way.

talking of rainy season appropriateness

Right now, all I ever dream about are hooded rain coats or parkas and jackets. When it's the rainy season, they're the things I can't live without seeing I don't really bring umbrellas with me. The folding umbrellas pretty easily get destroyed in a year or even less.

Thermals are the best things around in cold weather, too. It's going to be one rainy season from this month on to January or February next year. I suppose it's the time to bank on all things comfortable for the cold.

Pilgrim Parka, all saints; thermal, freepeople; denim shorts, siwy; tights, modcloth; boots, kurtgeiger.com

I'm beginning to see the necessity of the rain- and post-rain appropriate ones. They're best off with thigh highs either way. I don't have a lot of skirts to begin with but I rather fancy the idea of having one of these tough utility mini skirts sans the army green color.

These days, I'm so much into the bigger all-purpose messenger bags. They're the best things for overnights and the likes. You might've seen my post on a similar bag, it's the one bag that's taken a lot of beating. I happen to love it a lot considering I'd got it at an estimated 4-5 USD from my favorite local thrift store (220 Php). I'm still looking for more big bags.

skirt, rue21; tee shirt, Alexander Wang; over the knee sock, warehouse.co.uk; lace up rain boots, freepeople; leather navajo crossbody bag, warehouse.co.uk

Meanwhile, I'm in the process of acquiring stuff for treasurehaunt. I've actually already gotten a couple of things for it. S'pose you should watch out for the next pieces coming out in a week. I've a few interesting rain/cold weather appropriate ones up including the most beautiful white bohemian-ish top with the prettiest crochet details on the sleeves, the tie and the collar area. I've also found one good suede eyelet long-sleeved shirt to pair with anything edgy in the wardrobe like black lingerie. I'm looking forward to add more lace by next week so hmn...looks like this batch is one thing to look out for.

a rather rainy night out with the girls

(my photos)
distressed skinny jeans, thrifed; buckled platforms, what a girl wants (WAGW); straw fedora from the Ben Thanh market in Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam; random rings and bracelets; random oversized white shirt

This is rather a different take on what I'd worn out to a night out at the weekendly flea market with some of my housemates. My aunt and two girls and a boy who happens to live in the same house with me anyway.

Didn't get anything from the flea market but a dress that's cut high in front and goes lower on the back. I'll wear it out sometime as it's the loosest dress I could find there. Really right for the weather we have here, too.

Rained at the flea market but at least I was wearing the jeans with my favorite thrifted laced up ankle boots and I'd also had my trusty (and the prettiest) white jacket from Aeropostale around my waist to shield myself from the rain. It was the rain-friendliest dress-up I'd done this week.

I didn't get to go out much this week hence this is the only outfit photos I could come up with. I'll most likely take photos next time on the streets given than most my clothes are street style worthy ones...I think?

Staples

denim vest, Old Navy; denim shorts, gifted; tee, thrifted Theory; suede bag with studs and chain details, (favorite local) thrift store; flats, gifted Roxy; random accessories; wayfarers, Raybans

My staples on a regular hot day out would always include a vest. It's the one thing I have in abundance in my closet, I suppose. Outerwear like vests and some lightweight jackets. They're usually the easiest to pull out and style especially when you're in a hurry or you're merely having a regular day out with friends and such.

It is eternally summer here so there's not much options on what to wear. I'm trying to do my best searching for cool casual wear, though. I'm currently loving on anything LnA, Kain and T by Alexander Wang. I love how they're so apt for the weather/climate in this part of the world. I bet they'd be great to take with me on that trip to Bangkok with dad, an aunt and her neice who's a good friend come December!

rainy day out

sweater, Mango via Mango Outlet; shorts, cut-off vintage/thrifted; opaque tights, local department store; random rings; random cross necklace

It rained hard outside, I couldn't leave the house for Friday's usual piano lessons. The upside is that it was cold enough to don the oversized sweater I'd bought from the local Mango Outlet two days from my birthday. I love weather like this. I could only wish it continues being this cold.

mixed berry yogurt ice cream

(photos c/o Candice via my cam)

99 girl shirt, j crew tissue tee, xhilaration skinny jeans, 8daysaweek flower-print wedges, random rings and bangles, converse cap, thrifted vintage scarf as belt

Went out for ice cream today and ended with mixed berry yogurt ice cream over at Missy Bon Bon. I think I might have to carry on wearing sky high heels. It was amazing bringing these things out. There weren't a lot of mishaps with them. I think I can manage walking in heels regularly as long as they aren't as pointy and thin as stilettos---I still want to walk (and maybe run).

My friend (and ice cream date), Candice and I were talking about how the city's becoming more and more a dangerous place right now, I thought the massive heels would scare people with ill-intentions away.

day in, day out

(photos courtesy of JM and Gino)

thrifted lace cover up, Levis cutoffs, wifebeater, random rings and bangles, Forever21 cuff, thrifted boots, straw fedora from Vietnam

Headed to Silver Rain right after lunch at Yellow Cab, Ketkai. I think I ate quite a lot given it was pizza. Margaritas were all around at our room at the KTV bar. Shooting followed a little later with JM and Giraldyne. Best day I've had so far. Doing more shoots in the future so do stay tuned! ...or something like it, anyway.

fringe obsessions

(levis cut-offs, DIY; fringe top/vest via Vintage Sisters @ Multiply)

I never really got over my fringe obsession. This top from Forever21 ordered online is also soon to come to me in perhaps two months' time? Yep, another one of them fringed tops.

What I love about this is the material. I didn't go wrong choosing this top/vest, I suppose. Perhaps it's a top-vest hybrid? I'm not sure what to call it. It's pretty cool, though. It'd work for any costume party with the Wild, Wild West theme, too. I'll wear it out sometime, though.

Craving for other things other than fringes these days. The weather has become colder hence the craving for oversized sweaters. Topshop seems to have a lot of them.

under the velvet blanket of stars

oversized tee, thrifted; random jewelery

Worn out to dinner with the family and close family friends last night. It was pretty rad dining out under the stars before the rain started.

lazy Friday night

(my photos)
shorts, gifted from aunt; t-shirt, thrifted; random rings and bracelets

Don't I look stressed? Been working on articles and studying for the reviews. I haven't finished work. Looking to finish them this weekend.

Probably my current favorite shirt. Found it at a thrift store for 50 Php. Seems like someone played with the collar and cut it low. Lovely top it is, though.

Lazy Friday night. Treated myself to night cafe shopping and watching earlier. Got a few additions to the growing wardrobe. The flowy brown pants are going to be a favorite, I predict. The knit dressy top and the lace and cotton slipdress are just lovely as well. Certainly did not overspend but it was a good night for shopping so... Oh and there were a few really good knits out there. Wish I had more money then.

no drama, no need for a show

shirt, shorts and shoes, thrifted

Worn out to piano lessons tonight in which I got late. More or less 5-10 minutes which isn't at all good. I should go in earlier next week and succeeding weeks after next.

Thrifted the shirt about a couple weeks ago. I only got to wear it out tonight. Packed it with me to Saigon last week but I never took it out. I love the fringe details at the bottom and the shirt's triangular shape around that area. Probably the best shirt I have in my closet right next to the airy ones. One thing I love about it, though, is that it's so cowgirl-y and so hippie.

I've been a deadbeat blogger these days because after the Saigon adventure, I'd been staying in majority of the week except for when I'd go to the mall with the family or to piano lessons on Fridays. Saturdays are for the board exam reviews along with some Sundays. I so badly want to get out of the whole Saturday-Sunday-school-home routine. On the other hand, I'm always on I'm on the Verge of Something Wonderful, posting on what inspire me daily. Or at least I attempt to post daily anyway.

My usual routine these days is work on writing tasks late at night, sleep 'til late in the morning, read a few pages of reviewers and back again. Dull? Yea, you said it.

commando

(my dad's photos)

pocket tee, shorts and oxford flats, thrifted; bag and hat, gifted; wayfarers, Rayban knockoffs

Dropped by the Cu Chi tunnels on our second to the last day at Saigon, Ho Chi Minh. Most of us thought the Viets were pretty smart. They were able to create such intricate tunnel networks spanning 200 meters long and wide. The Cu Chi tunnels are a must-see if ever you're in Saigon, Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam.

Funny thing about being in the Viet, I never got to eat the famed pho. Maybe next time I go backpacking there. They do have incredible stores out there. Most things they sell are overruns, especially at the Lucky Plaza which I've never been to and the Saigon Square. The Saigon Square is a must go to shopping place. Definitely would love to go back there.

paradise city

(my photos)

thrifted shirt, DIY-ed into a midriff; DIY-ed shorts; random jewellery

Rearranging a small portion of my room, I'd found out one space is good for outfit photo taking. It's extremely useful for taking photos of the items for treasurehaunt.

The shirt is originally a longer one until I'd chopped off a good part of the bottom of it and the collar. I ended up turning it into another midriff. The scissors is becoming my close friend in doing things like these. I'm thinking of turning a few shirts into tanks next time with the bff, scissors. I love how this shirt makes reference to that Guns'n'Roses song. It's the closest thing to a vintage band t-shirt I could get. Lucky thrifting is lucky thrifting.

New items will be uploaded tonight at treasurehaunt. Watch out for them.