That White Top

A white top is so basic.  There is suppose to be no excuse not having one in your closet. Ironically though, finding a perfect one is an ordeal.  Retail shops do not readily offer a perfect white top (or probably its just me who do not seem to fit in a perfect top).  So when I found a white top at Mango, I  grabbed one in a jiff (could have bought two but prevented myself from doing so for practical purposes).  

I love this top. It has sheer fabric in front and a jersey cotton at the back. So comfy.  Since I bought this, it has been a fave. Paired this with my shorts in all colors, leggings, jeans and will soon be paired with my office wear.

Top: Mango / Shorts: Mango / Belt: SM Accessories / Shoes: Primadonna

Have you seen your perfect white top.

TNT!

The Piece that Saved the Day

I stood as one of the godmothers for a friend's son.  Since it was held out of town, I was in a dilemma what to wear as I might over dress for a laid back set-up.  So I opted to wear a basic black trouser pants and flats. I just made "bawi" with a beaded top.  

Could have been better with heeled shoes to look less casual but since I would be toting a baby around, flats are always ideal. 

Top: F21 / Trouser: Bazaar find / Shoes: Tory Burch / Bag: Prada / Sunnies: Michael Kors

Cover-Up

The reunions and gatherings this Season are tests to your fashion sense.  With all the social media available to record and make your event somehow a public consumption, there is a pressure to look decent at least.  Unfortunately, it is more challenging for those "figuratively" challenged.  Thank god for those cover ups. They work to literally cover what needs to be covered.

A lined blazer would have done the same trick but I am trying to avoid anything that would remind me of work while I enjoy the few remaining days of my vacation.  So I opted for unstructured cover-up in sheer fabric, perfect for that casual but mod look.

While dark colors would have worked wonders to make me look smaller, I dressed up in red to stay attuned with the spirit of Christmas.

Added some gold accent to draw the attention away from the not so flattering body part. :)

Top/Trousers/Accessories: Bazaar finds / Shoes: Zara / Bag: Prada

Another fashion dilemma solved.

TNT!

Sheer Madness

Another party to attend. Time to dress up a notch higher than the usual shorts and casual top.  

I like the sheer tops that you see off the rack in almost all retail stores for quite some time now.  They are just pretty and very feminine.  They are sure winners for any occasion.  Whether you pair one with shorts, trousers or denim, with the right shoes and accessories, you are good to go.

I have always been in love with any color paired with black, especially white (or off white).  You will never go wrong with this classic color combi.

I paired the denim with heeled shoes to add more height and to balance off a heavy top. :)

Top: F21 / Pants: Bazaar find / Shoes: Aldo

How about you? What is your latest sheer loot?

TNT!

Dress Up for the Occasion

Lately, I have been wearing clothes in dark hues to make me look smaller.  But dark colors kinda rub some gloominess which is not fitting for today's occasion _ my wedding anniversary. So I opted for an outfit in bright colors. 

Top: Pink Manila / Pants: Betty / Shoes: Naturezza / Bag: YSL

May the positivity of the colors convert to a more blissful years of married life together. :) 

TNT!

No Fuss Dressing and Some Tutorial

Since I am still on leave, I get to enjoy the luxury of going out everyday to complete my Christmas shopping.  Going out everyday needs dressing up everyday.  While I can live by wearing shorts, I am not much of a shirt person for obvious reason.  Shirts tend to cling to your body.  Unfortunately, I don't have the body type.  Instead, I go for loose tops to hide what needs to be hidden.

Love this top. It basically sums up my mental state when I purchased this.

This pair of shoes add some drama to an otherwise boring outfit.

Top : WAGW / Shorts : Bazaar find / Shoes : Primadonna / Bag : YSL / Sunnies : Gucci

Noticed the little volume on my hair? I found this hair puff in one of the stalls in Rockwell Bazaar, the 1721 Hair Accessories. It comes in 2 sizes.

How to use: Put a desired volume of your hair up.

Insert the hair puff under. I used a small puff here.

Secure it with a hair pin or a small hair clamp.

Not so obvious from this angle, but it added volume to my flat hair. No need for teasing.

I bought other hair accessories too to create a bun on the hair. You can check the net for some tutorials (there are a lot).  Are we not glad for these accessories?  They afford help in creating the updos which before could be done only in salons.  Hope to do the tutorial on the donut bun soon.

TNT!

British Invasion

While I always imposed upon my daughter my sense of fashion, hers gets to rub on me at times.  Of recent, she has been a One Direction convert.  Hence, her love for anything British.  She has been nagging me to buy her a shirt with the London flag.  Surprisingly, a lot of stalls in bazaars sell these shirts.   There is even one from the kids section of Zara when I last visited their Glorietta Branch.  I do not know if the popularity of the One D has something to do with this.  

I bought even one for myself. Syempre hindi papahuli si Mommy.

They say if you can't beat them, join them!

Even a baby store is in trend.  Bought this at Mothercare.

On me: Top: Bazaar find / Pants: Travel find / Shoes: Naturezza 

On my daughter: Bazaar find / Pants: Kids of Bayo / Shoes: Primadonna

Whether you are a directioner or not, wont hurt to embrace this trend. Your thoughts? :)

Channeling my frustration

It's a season where reunions are scheduled left and right.  There is a pressure to look your best or at least an improved version of what you were the last time time they saw you.  You need to leave a good mark to avoid being bad mouthed about (paranoid ang peg).

The malls are offering a wide selection of ensemble for the season.  The only problem apart from financial is if you could fit in to those clothes which seemed to have been tailored fit for a size 0.  Have you ever been frustrated to fit clothes which looked so good in mannequin but they looked like a joke on you? A LOT OF TIMES, YES!!!!!

One of the styles that have been a craze is floral pants with a top in bold color to match.  This is especially nice if you are skinny enough to be mistaken as a flower vase impersonator.  Since my daughter has the body type, I dressed her up to my fashion's content.  I'm glad she shares my fashion sense. :)

Top: Red Head / Pants: Betty / Bag: Ichigo / Shoes: Melissa / Accessories: SM

Hopefully, I'll be fit to be in trend soon before the season ends. TNT!

Fiercer Than Ever (translation - mas makapal mukha ko ngayon :))

It has been a long time since I did an outfit post for reasons known to those who may have seen me on the way.  It was just so unsightly.  Actually, to be conservative about it, I think I will need a year or so to do some worthy outfit post again with my ideal weight.

But I just missed blogging. So pardon my indiscretion as I tried to blog about my outfit today with a body masked with inches upon inches of fats. This may serve as a journal of my supposed transition from a size toot toot to a size 8. And I may just offer some reprieve for those looking for inspiration but couldn't find one from those fashion bloggers who seemed to get an inspiration from the geometric beauty of a broomstick.

Warning: this is not for skinny girls.

Thank God for those loose-but-not-lousy looking tops! They do some trick to hide those bulges.

Testing the old fashion trick of showing off what can be shown off.  At least I still have body parts which have not been invaded yet by fats_ my legs.

Love the long back. It provides some illusion of length.

Eyesore? I think I should start my photoshop 101 to do some electronic surgery. What do you think?

TNT!

Top: Pink Manila / Shorts: Bazaar find / Shoes: Schu / Bag: YSL / Sunnies: Gucci

My Daughter's Shoes May Be Telling Me Something. . .

My daughter has for quite some time had loathe color pink already, which I took as a sign of a rousing adolescent life.  Her favorite colors became more intense _ red, purple, blue, orange.  Since she is my first born, I could not help but deny that she may not actually be my baby anymore.  So what a clinging mom would do, I would still shop for dress (which would pass for a Sunday dress), ruffled skirts (or tutu), leggings in yummy colors with ballet shoes to match.   You wouldn't even find more than 2 pairs of jeans in her wardrobe.

Recently, she has been insistent on filling her wardrobe with jeans.  Lately, she wouldn't stop pestering me about buying her sneakers.  While she had few pairs of sneakers before, the colors would still be on girly shades of pink or fuschcia with varying designs ( blinking lights, glitter, etc).  So it came as a  shock when she asked me to buy her a converse sneakers in BLACK! Yes, in BLACK! My feminine sense of fashion couldn't get through her, so she prevailed.

I grew up in a generation when parent's fashion sense was imposed upon children until they were old enough to buy their own.  So this is quite new to me.  What's even more shocking is the sense of fashion my daughter is now geared towards.  Oh my, could I still deny that she is no longer a baby?! Probably, not! Along with her change of fashion sense is her often, if not always, display of drift to control her parents to give in to her.  I always find myself in argument with her to the point of exhaustion.  Looks like everyday is a power struggle day.  Now, more than ever, I feel the need to be always on my toes, never to be left unguarded  with my parental authority or I will be devoured live.  

The shoes may be saying something else apart from her changing sense of fashion.  My daughter may actually be entering into a phase of adolescent milestone.  While she will forever be my baby, I guess it would not hurt to start buying books on how to deal with teenagers. Any book you can suggest? 

On a different note, I was so glad my daughter didn't mind me buying the same for her brother.  So, took advantage and bought my son the same pair.  

I should buy a pair soon for me.  What do they say? If you can't beat them, join them!

Love for Matching Clothes

Its been quite a while since my last entry.  I have been busy figuring out the solutions to never ending hormonal issues which proved to have none at all.  Decided to embrace it for three months or so and focus on some things I used to love doing ___ blogging.

I had occasion previously to post in my blog my love for matching clothes for the family.  To cater to this fixation, I had ventured on a retail business of matching clothes for mom and daughter.  Unfortunately, the business could not be sustained on a sideline basis.  Hope to resume in the near future expanding it to include father and son.  

Meanwhile, I have developed a friendship with a seamstress who gives in to my fetish for matching clothes.  But since made-to-order matching clothes do not afford a practical choice, the retail market is always an option. I have accumulated pictures of my family in matching clothes scored from local stores.  Because it is an effort, physically and financially, to look for one, every matching clothes spotted is considered a jackpot.

Who would expect to find matching clothes for mom and daughter at Kids of Bayo?

  

Got these matching unisex shirt from Zara kids.

(Shorts: Bazaar finds)

I was beyond ecstatic to score this matching board shorts at Spin.  Glad DH lost weight to fit in the biggest size at Spin.

More of these matching outfits soon. 

In the Navy

I have been loving the color yellow lately, perfect for the soaring heat of summer.  Its Friday and time to dress down. I wore my fave white pants (the only one actually), with light linen material, and a blue striped cotton top.  To add some professional look to this so casual ensemble, I put on a yellow blazer.  

While I looked like I was going on a yacht cruise, it went well for an office setting.

Pardon the display of the same bag all over again, I am just so lazy to change.  That is nice with a white bag, it goes well with all colors.

(Blazer: SM / Shirt: Zara / Trousers: Travel finds / Shoes: Tory Burch / Bag: Prada)

TNT!

The B/Y

A dress in block color paired with a matching block colored shoes can pass for a color blocking.  Confusing? As long as two colors look good together, you are good to go.  At any rate, combining primary colors of yellow and blue will always give you a safe color combo.

And when the heat of summer seems unbearable, light material and cool colored dress can provide some relief.

(Dress and Accessories: SM / Shoes: Ghills Bazaar / Bag: My current fave Prada)

Taking advantage of the few days that I can still wear my clothes and heeled shoes. . .

TNT!

The B/R

Another classic color combo that has likewise passed the test of time is the red-black scheme.  I guess anything paired with black is classic.

When the day seemed to be slow moving (aka tinatamad), color red is said to be most engaging.  Its a symbol of high energy even to the point of aggression, which I needed to get through the day.

This is another version of my favorite peter pan collar.  

I did not use any accessory here to emphasize the simplicity of the blouse.

(Top: Ghills Bazaar / Skirt: SM / Shoes: Aldo / Bag: Prada)

TNT!

The B/W

The most classic color scheme of all --- black and white.  It never goes out of fashion and surely suits one's every style.   For days when your fashion sense seems to escape you, stick to something classic.

My virginal look (nye!).  Whenever I wear this, I am reminded of my first communion. :)

(Dress: Zara Dubai / Shoes: Aldo / Bag: LV)

TNT!

On With the Next Challenge

It is confirmed, I am seven weeks and one day today.

People around me have asked how come I do not look as ecstatic as I was during my first and second pregnancies.  Do not get me wrong but I really feel so blessed and thankful for having been given a chance to be a mom again to another bundle of joy.  It is no doubt that my life revolves around my kids and this joy will not be an exception.  I just could not express this inner bliss.  If there is a postpartum depression, I surmise there is likewise a condition known as pre-partum, which hopefully is shortlived.  I just could not put a high-spirit-face.  It is probably being overtaken by the fear of going through the pain of cs again (ohh the degree of which is still fresh in my mind), the anticipation of the inevitable physical changes, the sad fact that I could not cover my white hair for the next nine months or so, the forethought of what-if another placenta previa again, or the complications of pregnancy at my age.  But do not get me wrong, I am no doubt happy to be expecting again.

My DH and DD are teasing me that the real reason for the gloominess is the anticipation of the inescapable fact that I will grow big and ugly (stated as a matter-of-fact), which would prevent me from continuing on with my blog.  I would have wanted to post pictures of me during my previous pregnancy just to prove a point but this may cut short your interest to read on at this very moment.  Believe me, whether I was carrying a girl or a boy, I was never a radiant preggy. :(

Selfish as it sounds, it may be one of the reasons indeed.  When I belatedly found reprieve in blogging, the thought of cutting it short is appalling.  I am quite sure nobody would want to follow a blog with nauseating pictures.  So I have resolved to continue blogging and to take pictures of me only in those rare moments when I can still sightly display myself with my fashionable contribution.  But when even the rarest moment would escape me, I would just inspire you with beautiful people and things around me.  First, I have to overcome this sluggishness or feeling that I could not even do the bare minimum except office work which I am compelled to.  Hay. . . challenges . . . challenges. . .  

Sorry, this post is so long but it might be worth sharing what my DH did -- in an attempt to empathize with me and in anticipation of the hardship the next nine months will bring.  He gave me something that he knew would give me an instant gratification. . .

I wanted to own a white bag for the longest time.  However, owing to the fact that I do not have the skill to take care of my bags the way they should be taken cared of, I always deferred.  But when I saw this bag, there was an instant connection.  Gladly, my DH willingly gave in.

Meet my new baby. . .

Yay! Another reason to do an outfit post.  Thanks DH.

TNT!

Chronicle of a Working Mom (Summer colors in the office)

It is quite obvious from my previous posts that I have been loving the color blue not only for its aesthetic value but because of the comfort it provides (at least the eyes) from the excruciating heat of summer.  I think sporting summer colors are not just limited for students relishing the summer vacation or for people enjoying the outdoors.  Even office people can adopt a summery effect in their office attire provided the  professionalism look is still there.

This blue blazer has been with me for few months already but for lack of a nice bottom to pair it with, it got parked in the closet.  Glad I chanced upon this skirt when killing time at the mall.  What more could be cooler than pairing blue with color white.  They are just perfect for the summer.

I got here an extra with me who was dashing in his superman costume.

(Inner Top, Shoes and Accessories: Ghills Bazaar / Blazer: Alexane by SM / Skirt: Forever 21)

What is your office summer wear version?

TNT!

The Peter Pan Collar

The peter pan collar is having its share in the retail spaces.  Because it has garnered some popularity, you can even buy detachable peter pan collars for use in any of your tops.  Some are made of leather/rette or embellished with sequins to convert your simple top to a sure glam.

While I believe the peter pan collar is named not after the the Peter Pan, the animated Disney movie, I think it derives some inspiration from it. I can't help but feel peter pan collars' association with something fun, girly, young and innocent.

I do not know if I did some justification to my intro but at least I feel young and less serious in this top.

(Top: Ghills Bazaar / Skirt: SM Depart Store / Shoes: Aldo)

More of these peter pan collars soon.

TNT!

Shoes Can Make That Difference

This is my first day without my binder (for health reason).  While it is kinda liberating, it triggers some bouts of insecurity.  Hopefully, I will start to embrace the changes in me real soon.

Meantime, I resorted to the reprieve of wearing a loose top.  To lessen the lousy effect, I paired it with hot pink heeled shoes to at least impress a well-put-together-look.  I believe it did some wonders. What do you think?

 Accessories surely contribute as well to project a well-thought-of-outfit.

(Top, Shoes and Accessories: Ghills Bazaar / Jeans: TRF by Zara / Sunnies: Gucci)

TNT!