New In: Fascinating New Things

I am always so awkward when it comes to receiving gifts (yes, it is a thing of mine since I was young as I was taught not to rely on freebies). However, I think it comes along with the perks of being a fashion and lifestyle blogger to try out new products and so far, here are my favorite ones...

Faerie's Wheel

Life is magical. I say that wholeheartedly because despite the many problems we encounter or how "bad" and miserable our day is, at the end of the day, there is always something we find that we can smile about and that is exactly what makes it magical. When we were young, we were told fairy tales and when we got older, the real world had a funny way of catching up with us which made us doubt them but I think that the main reason they continue to exist (or were written in the first place), is because something magical is here and exists that inspired them...And magic can be found in stolen moments. This is exactly what this outfit is all about: enchantment. I had the dreamiest time shooting this outfit which was in every way magical as I was draped in layers and layers of soft chiffon that swayed and moved with me and the wind on the breezy Saturday afternoon that I wore it. Since I was in every way in my own element and revelry, the setting provided to be perfection as I had a Ferris Wheel or as I refer to it, a faerie's wheel, in the background fully complimenting the ensemble.

Neutral Territory

I had quite a week and I mean that in a "I-am-majorly-in-shock-and-awe" with how much has transpired. Some good things and some not so good happened but ultimately when you want a life that is very quiet and not so up and down like a Richter Magnitude Scale, these highs and lows are exasperating. I've never been a labile girl and I am not up for emotional roller coasters, even if the sparks tend to become attracted to me like a magnet, making life a never-ending saga. So, where to begin? When life starts to resemble a television drama with the plot line of Days of Our Lives or  The Bold and The Beautiful, that's not usually a good thing and you have to let go. Don't get me wrong, these shows are fun for entertainment value but not so much when you become part of the cast and it's playing out in your own life. The past week covers the full spectrum and I prefer not to go into the details but I am quite proud of myself for still standing. The secret to that is this: when life tends to become too overwhelming, it is wise to retreat to a neutral territory and that's what I did and perhaps my subconscious was affecting my decision making that it manifested in the clothes I picked out. 

Fine China

Everyone always mistakes me for being either Japanese or Korean...save for some of my Chinese friends who actually assume I am Chinese and think I went to an all-girls Chinese school. I didn't and  don't consider myself Chinese even if my paternal grandmother migrated from China and my dad is practically 50% Chinese, which makes me about 35%. I take up after my father in the looks department so I understand why this is a common assumption and some readers do comment that I actually look more Chinese than Domz who is actually 50% and I have to remind them, Dominique is a cross-breed and her German features are much more prominent in the looks department. As for me, I'm all Asian and apparently did not inherit any Spanish trait from my mother's side in the physical department...not that I am complaining... since I love how I look. (And yes, it is http://www.mealready.com)

A Beautiful Goodbye: Buen Viaje, Enzo!

If there is one redeeming trait that I would be proud to have (although as self-deprecating as I am, I do know I actually do possess quite a lot of redeeming traits... haha, sorry!)- it would be that I am immensely dedicated to my family because at the end of the day, I do truly believe in the saying that at the end of the day, everyone can leave and betray you but family never will. I choose my friends carefully because with this aspect, I do get to make a choice. But I was born and grew up with my family and my dedication to them is unlimited. Of course, this also applies to new additions to my family such as in-laws who I love equally as well and this pertains to the extreme love I have for my FOSSIL, Dominique Tiu who I actually also consider as part of my family too, to provide an example. I have said that I am quite the introvert and I like my circle of friends small as my propensity to be by myself overtakes my ability to rub elbows with people. I find the idea of having to socialize absolutely draining and prefer to give my undivided attention to a few people rather than a tidbit of attention to a lot. This personality trait that I have had since I was quite young makes me fiercely loyal and when I do decided to consider someone as part of my core group: I go all out and sometimes, even out of the way when needed. Looking back at the past, friendships and boyfriends have come and gone but the essential members of my core group remain the same for over a decade and it almost always revolved around me and my brother. I am only a year older but he is by far, so many years wiser and more mature than I am. He is just so naturally protective of me. However, in 5 days, he embarks on a new journey to Spain and this gave me and Dominique the perfect occasion to celebrate him. He will be away for a good 2-3 years and that is quite some time and I don't really quite know how to deal with that yet. But before the emotional stuff, let us first focus on the fun ones and this came in the form of a chance to celebrate him and our experiences with him last July 23, 2014 over at Speakeasy Bar at the Ground Floor of Alphaland in Makati. It was a night to remember!!!

Tropical Punch

I am yearning for the sunny days that are now replaced by heavy rains and thunder booms and what better way to express my eternal love for summer than in what I am wearing? I did exactly just that and wore this pair of palm tree printed trousers which is my own little way of protest in praise of the sun. Of course...it rained but not even that can dampen my spirits which I have to say have been exuberant. I guess having a great support system in the form of a stable relationship with my family and a very select few friends empowers one to survive the rainstorms of life. And, while there is a possibility that there will be people who exist solely to rain on your parade, it's nice to know that the shelter that people who genuinely care for you and love you will provide will leave you damage-free and able to weather any storm.

Proud Soul

The past week has been all kinds of topsy-turvy but I am not complaining as I do believe and see that I am very blessed to be safe and in a good place compared to other people. I find nagging, complaining and whining are to no avail and do not help at all when it comes to fixing things so consider me in a very good place...and I would rather not be anywhere else. I have been on this new sense of calm recently that nothing seems to faze me... not even a 4-hour black-out in this outfit in an enclosed space won't bring my spirits down. In all ways, this sweater weather outfit and a midi skirt from the lovely clothing brand I Love NL Clothing was perfect and would have been appropriate- if the situation was one where electricity was existent- and it is something that conveys a strong message. The text of the sweater reads: PROUD SOUL...and in light of my disposition lately, I have to say, I deserve to wear this...FINALLY.

Tribe Vibe

I love pink and if you have not heard yet- to quote Aerosmith's song Pink, "Pink is my favorite crayon" and this could not be illustrated any more than in this outfit where I am in an aztec/ tribal printed coordinates which if you remember, I wore but in a different print in a previous post which you can view HERE. I styled it differently this time and opted for woven multi-color heels and a simpler necklace rather than the chartreuse statement necklace and the sky-high fierce shoes I wore the first style of the outfit from. It was probably my last ditch effort to still feel summer as this outfit is best worn to beat the heat but as recent events (Please pray for my country, the Philippines as we recover from Typhoon Glenda) and time has proven, the monsoon season is officially here and it came in with quite a bang, and I do not mean that in a good way. Anyway, it will take another six months of waiting till sunlight and summer, but that's the thing about seasons that is constant: they change. I do hope you enjoyed the look!

Kings And Queens

Jarod Kintz once said, “Love is like a chess match, where the queen wins the game and the king just sort of stands around," and I apologize to anyone who might take offense but this quotation makes sense to me... no, I am not some bitter, cynical person who just recently decided to be a founder of her own anti-men's club. I am actually quite the exact opposite... however, you have to admit, when it comes to certain things, a girl has got to take control...and relationships, you see, are one of them... in my opinion.  I do not know if you have noticed but recently my life has made quite an enchanted turn and I am absolutely loving it. I am all about two things when it comes to fashion recently: neutral and pastels, and I think the backdrop of a black and white human-sized chess board was the perfect backdrop for my lavender cropped top and white midi-skirt. I do hope you enjoy this outfit as much a I did wearing it and of course taking photos of it- I felt like my own version of Alice in Wonderland and I have to say, a break from the mundane hum-drum reality of everyday life is always a welcome escape. "You play, you win, you play, you lose. You play. It’s the playing that’s irresistible. Dicing from one year to the next with the things you love, what you risk reveals what you value.” 

Hair Mane-tenance: Macadamia Natural Oil

Ivana Trump once said, "Gorgeous hair is the best revenge," and despite everything I have learned about coping and dealing with things, I cannot help but agree with the ex-Mrs. Trump's statement. Think about it. Whenever women undergo a major life changing experience (ie. the breakdown of a relationship), the first thing they always tend to change is their hair style. It is has been a long standing question that I am sure bothered even the most brilliant of psychologists but this has been something that is such a natural phenomenon that survived from generation to generation. Even one of the key players in fashion, Coco Chanel, has been known to have said, "A woman who cuts her hair is about to change her life," and I guess when someone as  iconic and influential as she is is quoted to having said that, it would be hard to contradict. However, time and a roster of bad hair cuts and experimentation brought about by emotional experiences have taught me not to make such major changes and so I resolved that whenever I am feeling down, it would be a better alternative to treat my hair for treatment and to revitalize it. I mean, why change something that's already good, right? The best decision is instead to nourish and improve it. 

First Impressions

Say what you want to say about first impressions... but at the end of the day, we all have to admit it: (even if we don't want to) they matter. Recent studies show that it only takes up to 8 seconds to make a first impression!(And that's not really a long time) So to sum it up, basically, we are given only one shot to show our best foot forward, so let’s make it perfect! How would that be possible?--- you might ask me. And my answer is to begin with the basics: what I do is I make it vital to put my best face forward and I don't know about you but I do so with Maybelline Clear Smooth BB Cream which gives me instant skin perfection, the perfect first step for the perfect first impression! It is all I need to cover imperfections and brighten my complexion for a radiant and healthy glow!

Melodies and Desires

Here I am wearing a Spanish Rose outfit as it was the styling that was fitting for this romantic lace dress that I got from the collection of e-foxcity.com. The dress was in every aspect romantic and had such ornate and delicate pieces and so I decided to go along this passionate route and play every part of a senyorita. This outfit is built on the idea of seductive Latin-Spanish references. I decided to use red accents to make the look more passionate and enticing. This is a different take on another Spanish Rose outfit I wore for Valentine's this year but I am happy to have been able to get a new chance to style something so different with a similar vibe. The good thing is that my entire ensemble was just perfect to shoot amidst the backdrop of columns and marble poles. It had a very classic, vintage and elegant vibe and that definitely went well with my outfit. I look at the photos and just go, "Wow!" because I was so in awe on how perfect the entire outfit played out. The photos were unbelievably amazing and I loved every bit of how this turned out. Isn't this outfit post just absolutely like a scene from a dream? By the way, this outfit is especially for my brother Enzo, who leaves for Barcelona soon!

The Sweetest Thing

I have so many things to rave about this photo and this outfit. First off is how absolutely perfect the background is- the woodsy accents and the chopped up logs seem like an idyllic setting for a fairytale and in more ways than one, as I was discussing with Celyn, the vibrant backdrop almost feels like a cabin in the woods... like the one Hansel and Gretel found sans the candy covered walls...don't worry about the candy though... there will be more time for that later. Right now, can we just focus on the fact that my pastel blue and chartreuse outfit turned out to be the absolute perfect combination which made me feel like a princess in my own way and in my own fairytale. Things don't always begin with "Once upon a time..." and certainly they don't end with "Happily ever after..." and I am fine with that. If that isn't possible then perhaps dressing up like it was is the next best thing and that is exactly what I did. What did I feel when I wore this outfit: Enchanted. And sometimes, even that has got to be enough.

Come and See Me at the SuperSale Bazaar Mid-Year Sale 2014

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Can’t figure out what to wear? Does your wardrobe need major editing? 

If you answered yes to both of these, you should not miss out 

on SuperSale’s biggest mid-year sale!

You may be living in a tropical country but that doesn’t mean that you can’t go on board the four-season trend. The SuperSale team have gathered only the best brands ready to showcase their fall collection – Celline, Moonshine, MOD, Soak Swimwear, Vanilla Breeze Clothing, Tonic, Elin, Fashionability – to name a few.

Also, be a bag designer for a day as the team has launched Design Ur Bag Studio, 

a pocket event exclusive at the SuperSale bazaar. You can design and personalize your bag – choose the design, colors and put your monogram or initials all for a reasonable price!

Mark your calendars, invite your friends and head on to SuperSale Bazaar’s Mid-Year Sale, happening on July 18-20 at the World Trade Center from  Friday-Sunday, 11am-10pm.

Post on Instagram and Tweet your favorite looks and pieces to win prizes and 

don’t forget to tell us which tastemakers and bloggers are topping your best-dressed list! 

Try to get a snapshot with them during the 3-day fete. Don’t forget to follow us @supersalebazaar and use the hashtags #supersalebazaar and #designurbagstudio. Tons of prizes await!

*You may purchase tickets at the registration during the event.

*For inquiries, e-mail us at supersalebazaar@yahoo.com or contact us at +63917-8013772.

*Visit www.supersalebazaar.com and http://www.facebook.com/supersalebazaar for more details and follow us on Twitter and Instagram @supersalebazaar

Leather on Leather

A lot of people say that leather on leather is a fashion faux pas but as time and trends prove: in fashion, nothing is permanent- there are no rules and if there are, they are meant to be broken. Leather is one Autumn/Winter runway trend we cannot get enough of so it was bound to happen that double leather has appeared on fashion runways starting Fall 2013 and it is definitely carrying on to 2014 trends for the season. I never quite saw myself wearing double leather since it seemed to be too dominatrix, but, oh well, this isn't exactly the first time I am recanting my thoughts and words. Finding myself in a situation where I was donned in all leather proved that when it comes to style, one really can "never say never." The unpredictability of it all, I have to admit is what kind of excites me. What was a bigger shocker was that I actually had fun wearing this outfit and I didn't- in any way- feel constrained or bound which is what body hugging clothes usually do. Also, I was quite happy wearing this ensemble and finishing it off with a British graffiti themed spiked heels since I felt like I was going back to my rocker/ biker chic roots. I felt amazing and very ZZ Top meets AC/DC in this look and it's been awhile since I've dressed up in this style. I felt like I was back... ready to rock on!

A Night In Skin City

I rarely go out at night since I think I am way past that stage in my life. More so, when I do go out at night, I make sure that I don't do it on the weekend (Fridays and/or Saturdays) as I always referred to the Weekend Warriors crowd as bridge and tunnel people... not that I have anything against that... but you have to agree with me here, it can get pretty crowded. So, I broke these two rules for one night only- to attend the Preview Ball which had quite an interesting theme: SKIN. At first, I was absolutely clueless on how to figure out working with that theme in less than 7 days at that. Then with the help of my amazing staff also known as my dream team, I was able to come up with two outfits: one long one in black mesh, which was predominantly sheer and covered only the right places and then a nude one: which consisted of a corset (if you would call it that) and a half covered-half sheer skirt. I was not given consent to wear the first outfit so it helps a lot to always have a back-up outfit which I have to thank my neurosis and my P.A. Celyn for since it always helps to be prepared. I kept everything else simple... it was nude on nude on nude... and as it turns out I made the right outfit choice (along with matte gold smokey eyes and an amazing up-do Amazona style)... I wouldn't dare wear anything as barely there as this but again, its good to break your rules sometimes...as the night ended, it was a great one night only spent in SKIN CITY.

Bohemian Rhapsody

This has to be a rather refreshing look from my usual neutral toned and structured outfits but there is something about bohemian fashion that has appealed to me recently.  My natural predisposition sometimes prevents me from being a person who is laid back and happy-go-lucky and somehow that reflects in the clothes I wear. However, there is something about the color and the shape of this dress that is just so refreshing to me. I am glad to be able to wear something very light and comfortable which was what the outfit really was all about. I guess I am trying to relish the few sunny days as summer is coming to a close. I hope you enjoy this "new look" as much as I enjoyed wearing it.

I don't know about you...But I'm feeling red, white and blue

Okay, so I am not really American nor have I spent a significant amount of time in the United States but I do know a lot of Americans (my eldest sister included), and I have profound respect for the country. So in the spirit of being one with everyone, allow me to post my own version of an outfit in the country's colors: Red, White and Blue. I don't know about you, but I have always loved the color combination and wear it quite frequently even if it's not necessarily the 4th of July. If you know me well, you will find out that I have got this new found obsession with things that are nautical. No, I have not taken up sailing or boating at all, but my love for all things sailor-themed has a lot to do with the fact that I realized that my initials: JL (which is the name most people refer to me when they want to get my attention) is actually when creatively put together resembles that of an anchor. It started with that then I guess everything else followed through. This outfit, however was pre-planned to pay tribute to July 4 since I love celebrations and more so, celebrations of independence.

Cherry Blossoms

 

There is nothing more beautiful than a windy afternoon spent outdoors. Unfortunately, my insomnia and nocturnal sleeping habits usually get in the way of getting to spend the day out and about. However, thankfully, my personal assistant, Celyn, has been urging me to sleep early and wake up earlier so I can enjoy the sun and the bright and shiny days ahead. So far, it has been one of the things most beneficial to me. I love the sun and I love landscapes and now, I get to enjoy these things because finally someone is motivating me (and literally dragging me out of my four poster canopy bed) not to waste the day. We need people in our lives who do these, especially if one has become too accustomed to an unhealthy routine. I am lucky to have been able to find someone like this through Celyn. And since the day was enjoyed outdoors, I decided to dress up in floral prints- a far style from the more neutral and structured pieces I have been sporting in most of my recent blog posts. I guess the sunny disposition (despite the fact that it is raining quite hard so I reckon it's all in the way you see things,) has enabled me to see and want to live life and color again. This doesn't mean I am going to let go of my pastels and neutrals though... not yet...not ever. I have never been a flower child and perhaps wearing a floral crown around my head is the closest I can get to being that. I am not one of those people who trade my tiara and bling for flower crowns and soil. However, the bright side of being in fashion is that you can stretch your limits and not set boundaries... I get to enjoy experimenting and trying out styles that are "not me." And then people regard that as a welcome change and a refreshing look... at the same time, all I'm doing is having some fun...

Sweater Weather

It's officially SWEATER WEATHER and while I have claimed that put me in a cold place and I am not a happy trooper but seasons come and go and the silver lining is that I am finally able to wear all my knits which have been in storage for quite some time now...I've no control over the climate and weather but I do have control on how to dress for it and this outfit is something I would call a "transitional outfit" as it is a balance and union of two seasons: the knit sweater signifying my welcoming of the rainy/ monsoon season and the pencil skirt with a very high slit as the somewhat summer vibe of the outfit. What can I do? I am not ready to give up the sun yet. I do have to give myself props since this is one of the most comfortable outfits I have ever worn and add to that the fact that I was carrying a very small bag (a rare thing that happens) and kitten heels which are flats + heels combined, which for me is kind of the best of both worlds combined.