Corporate Appropriate.

It’s the first time someone has officially hired me to personally style/shop for her! I wanna personally thank my beautiful friend Kryz Uy for sharing some tips.

I  met Janelle a year ago, she modeled for a lingerie fashion show I was styling. That’s part of the reason I was so excited to do this job cause it didn’t really require much to make her look beautiful. :)

What is this for? She’s going to Singapore and she needs chic pieces that are also appropriate for the office. Biggest challenge was the weather in Singapore. I was told it was blazing! So I had to keep it light. But I am the mother of layering!!! Feel ko lagi winter sa Pilipinas. 

When shopping for yourself it’s always helpful to have a peg. To set your focus on. To avoid the—-oh my god this is cute imma buy it even if I won’t need it—dilemma. This will save you time and money!

Think about your priorities. Would you base it on comfort? Aesthetic? Trendy-ness? Quality? Brand? or Price? Rank your garment priorities! 

For Janelle its basically the comfort and appropriateness of the outfits. 

Here’s what I was going for based from her priorities. I needed to assemble 7 outfits for her. This would be my mood board. 

1. Knee length skirts are the perfect balance of sexy and appropriate. Plus it would make any outfit look girly!(Photo credit)

2. Wide legged pants. To make you look extra taller. In my opinion, not all body types can pull this off. This would look best on slender women to give you a bit of lower volume .

3. Slouchy, comfy blazers. Look for light fabrics. Not the ones with lining preferably if you’re worried about climate.

4. Prep up your attire by adding a ruffled top with a body con skirt.

5. One pieces. Either look for one with collars or pockets. These are for the more casual days. You can dress em up for the weekend or add heels and a blazer for the office!

6. For me, belts are of 100% for accessory basis only. Uhuh. You shouldn’t use your belt to hold up your pants or whatever. YES OF COURSE I KNOW THAT’S WHAT THEY WERE MADE FOR. But! Your clothes should already have a good fit on you. Belts are just to singe waists to give emphasis and to look more polished and put together.

7. Stacked bracelets. Pearls are good for the office or evening looks. May I quote Laureen Uy, “If you feel is your outfit is too simple, just stack/pile accessories on. Works everytime.” 

8. Girly chiffon tops. Because I have tons of it and it’s a trick I use to look feminine when Im in the office.

9. Have you been living at the bottom of the sea? If yes, detachable collars (like the one from Miu Miu above) is fucking awesome. Wear a simple shirt, attach this on and you completely look like you know what you’re doing in life! Trust me.

Here are some outfit shots I did with Janelle when we did a fitting. & hey she’s 25 years old she looks 16! I wanted to pin a ribbon on her hair and say xoxo.

Don’t mind ze slippers! hehe. :)

Blackberry photo journal (March 6-13)

I’m having fun taking photos with my blackberry recently. Will make this a weekly thing & hey I’m having a giveaway soon. Yep, for food! I hope you guys win it or if not, come by the restaurant. It really is my favorite.

Pale face pale face paleeeee.

Before anything, have you been to the new Yahoo! installment? It’s called Yahoo! She. Real women, real talk. I had the honor of being one of the “Young Achievers” of whom they interviewed. Along with bloggersPatricia Prieto, Tippy Sy, Kaye Morales designer for Schizo. Anyway this was just the first episode of it. I can’t wait to see my awkward interview. Thank you Yahoo! Ph, Seph Bareto and his team& Clare Lapuz for making me look presentable and Bin Ubaldo of Bring Rings for my accessories!

To watch the video go to www.ph.she.yahoo.com :)

I have been in the kitchen (no 9gag puns pls) all week! Me, a busy little teen who could only cook fried egg or instant packed ramen and microwave left overs have been obsessed with cooking lately! The other night I was cooking at 2am, my dad got really annoyed. I make packed lunch for my boyfriend or I’d visit him in school to eat what I made at home.

Why the sudden interest? I just resigned from my office job a week ago and I have still been stressed out. Then I discovered MAANGCHI!

She’s this Korean woman who lives in New York and does the simplest, yummiest Korean food! Sometimes other Asian dishes but mostly Korean.

I have been so exposed to Korean culture at work and school. A lot of my friends are Koreans. The best part about hanging out and being around them is lunch time. I get to sample a bit of their stuff of which I fell in love with since I naturally like spicy food. Try Maangchi’s recipes. Its amazing how all the ingredients are already in my pantry/fridge. Plus they’re healthy. I didn’t notice dropping 5lbs this week. I didnt even notice most of my meals didn’t have meat in ‘em. Yay :)

Rolled veggie egg with spam and brown rice.

The red sauce on top is called dochujang. It’s their red pepper paste. My favorite essential in Korean cooking. Its not that spicy but sweet, smokey and cheap! 50php will last you a week or 2 of dochujang.

The other day I was sad cause I couldnt fit lunch with mom and dad in my schedule cause I had to fabric source then go straight to meet with a client. So mom got me this amazing open burrito with mint tea from Faburrito at the Columns, Makati. 5 STARS!

Cream dory pesto cream pasta I made for ze boyfriend :)

Had an awesome thai lunch one hot sunny day at Sen Lek. Their Thai Milk tea was the bomb! Php 40 :P

View from the Grand Towers condominium in Taft.

Designing and making this beautiful champagne gown for my beautiful muslim debutante client:) The skirt was so big and grand that I had to move from my office to a different room jus to be able to assemble it!

Finishing this hot dress for my friend Isabele for her graduation party this week! Eep deadlines! Haha. I bet she’d look gorgeous in it! All sequins with sheer sleeves.

Love y’all.

xx

McQueen.

School drool.

How my last week has been: Mostly occupied with school. The dreaded midterms week. Luckily 1 class I have didn’t hail one but a bulk on our Finals (boo). Surprisingly, school is the last place I take stress from. Ironically, it sort of chills me out. I feel so relaxed in school, I have fun. It literally is my haven. From the hustling with work, deadlines and heightened expectations, school is where I can just be myself, talk to my insanely funny friends and do what I love doing. A bit of a refresh button to get artistic juices flowing again which are drained from most of the media stuff I do. 

Would have alot of shots in my car. I found this great spot to place my camera and cam whore sooooo… Hello!

Visited my grandfather’s grave one afternoon. Lola was over. Bad thing to bring Maxine (our bratty shih tzu) She hates cats like a boss and needs to be carried since she just got a a hair cut/spa (WTF..) Told you, brat. 

Ms. Amina is one of the most informative teacher I’ve had. Kind of cool. Amount of knowledge I learned in 1 meeting was the equivalent of half the term with our previous teacher. Yaaaaaay, knowledge. Haha.

Me & Rafa’s table. Hahahahahahahaha. Junk food binge!

Bag of the week. Ugh I love you so much, you hold all the stuff that I have and more! Thanks to Leatrice for this really cute bag!

My becky lovers Nicole & Rafa :) Missing Vince who was so busy preparing for his grad show. (below) Inna!! 

Follow Inna’s blog: http://thelittlebigspender.blogspot.com/

Follow Rafa’s blog: http://barefootprincecharming.blogspot.com/

Classmates’ shoes.

By the way let me welcome my new followers. Hello! Welcome! May this blog always entertain you.

xx

McQueen

Behind the Seams: SoFA graduation fashion show

This is the second graduation show of my school SoFA. I’ve watched the first one in Philippine Fashion Week this was not any less exciting since my friends are graduating! Also, some alumnis and outstanding students will also show their pieces for the contests that they’ve won over the past year. I just have to say I’m so proud of you all!! So many talented people in our school and you guys really are the future of our Fashion Industry! 

I skipped going to the 30 seconds to Mars concert to see this. I know I would be so tired and I had to wake up early again the next day. So I gave my tickets away. Pinagpalit ko si Jared Leto sainyo kaya dapat maganda talaga show na to!

This post is the behind the scenes since I was juggling heads for this evening. Originally my task was just to be backstage to help style/dress models and lessen the chaos but then I was also photographing for Ms. Marina Benipayo’s column for Inquirer and was asked by Ms. Amina Aranaz-Alunan to voice over the event. So, here I was again multi tasking.

Early day hitting up Rockwell to get caffeine and off the the Loft of Manansala. I was asked so many times what my lipstick was. People guess Jungle Red by Mac or even YSL’s expensive line of red rouged lipsticks but hey mine was Ever Bilena :) Less than a hundred pesos, if I remembered correctly. Filipino products ftw!

I was checking if Happy Lemon was open in the Archaeology section of Powerplant but nada. Sucks how Starbucks banned people from smoking but hey, rules are rules. So as I was gonna walk in my 5 inch heels to the smoking area I remembered how Sango has milk tea. (It’s located in the row of Starbucks)

& yay! Sango did have milk tea (Php 60.00 large) + smoking area and wifi! Found a chill spot. That has always been the problem for me and my boyfriend when he visits me in Rockwell if I have work. Starbucks you have met your match. :D

The loft was at the 38th floor and the view was spectacular. I’m in love with cities. If I had to choose between a house on the beach or a penthouse, I’d choose the later. I like hustle and bustles and energy. I grew up in Makati. Around this area actually. Made me miss it (but Im in Makati 80% of my time in a week haha) South is still home though. I guess my heart can belong in two places at the same time.

View of the bridge of Edsa, Pasig river & Mandaluyong. You can see the Mellow 94.7 station from here.

I saw this Jennifer Aniston movie. It was about this guy who speaks in a camp for people who had someone they love die. He’s also an author of this book about moving on. I really forgot the title, I tried googling it but let me know if you know:)

He took the group in the middle of the street in the city and asked them what they hear or see. They said noise, car horns, angry people, etc. Then he made them walk all the way up to the top of a building and saw a scenery like this. He asked them again and they said: Peace. He then told them “We will all have bad times in our life but with a few effort of climbing, you’ll find peace.”

I live through that quote. It’s why I like rooftops. 

Smoking buddies. Fashion designer Gabbie Sarenas and The Little Big Spender, Inna Santiago. 

Fashion designer Noelle Llave’s shoes, I loveee. She refused to take a photo! But hey, she’s featured on Designer Spotlight in Stylebible.ph so check her out and click here. 

SoFA teacher and all around multimedia master, Fold Canela. (I know you’re gonna hate this photo! Haha pero keri lang candid)

Models whom I hate to stand right next to! Haha.

Our Fashion Illustration professor and well known designer, Danilo Franco. Sketching everywhere!! I wish I had his talent!

(below) Zarina Agduma’s shoes <3

(above) Hi Ann! Missed you soooo. 

SHOE LUST BACKSTAGE! I was so tempted to take them home! Shoes courtesy of Wade & Janylin.

Racks of their babies. They were so beautiful! I know y’all worked so hard on these!

(above) Pristine de Guzman. Our top notcher for every term, fresh from Berlin (she represented the Philippines for Triumph’s inspirational awards) & did I mention she’s just 17 years old? So proud of you Pristine!! Sana I could’ve took a better photo of you!

(below) Last minute fittings

(above) Naloka ako, napunit dress ni Vince! Pero keri naman ni Jennifer (model who’s also my former office mate) Gow lang ng gow!

(above) She was the model na nakasabay ko sa elevator and she was eating ice cream. Tapos nag laho lang bigla sa katawan parang walang nangyari.

(below) Time for some technical rehearsals!

(below) SoFA co-founder and director Ms. Amina Aranaz-Alunan briefing everyone before doors open & Fashion designer/legend Sir. Gerry Katigbak (Who was our boss for the day. He directed the fashion show. So nice to work with him!)

The Blackberry corner: 

Blackberry launched its own version of the iPad: BlackBerry Playbook. Really cool!

Also the winners of the SoFA x BlackBerry design competition got to go home with their own BlackBerry Torch. How cool is that?? Congrats Dan & Cham!

(below) Quick dry runs of the models & collections.

(below) Check out Pristine de Guzman’s winning piece for Triumph in Berlin!

Sorry I wasn’t taking down notes. Were these Kirby’s pieces above? If so, GONDO!

(below) Personally I love how Gabbie Sarenas’ pieces are so wearable, light & feminine just like her! 

(below) MY FAVORITE PIECE OFF HER COLLECTION!

(below) Some pieces from Vince Tolentino

(Below) Make up room. Sorry i had to crowd all around and take everyones candid photos! I knew everyone was busy. Make up by Make up Forever.

(Above) One of my closest friends, fashion designer Vince Tolentino getting all glammed up.

(below) Yes we had a little girl model for Gabbie Sarenas’ collection. She was soo cute & my good friend Ela Meinecke who modeled for Blackberry.

(a) Parang galit si Marchie. Haha!

(b) During the show saw Phoemela Barranda, Preview team, Rajo Laurel and so much more. Was too busy to take photos! ;(

(a) Phoemela talking to Sir. Gerry Katigbak. Why is she so skinny!! <3

Fashion Designers Danilo Franco, Aan Pineda & Richard Papa with supermodel Marina Benipayo.

(a) The arbitrary outfit shot. Haggard kung haggard! I was so busy didn’t have time to take a photo of myself so I looked around and got this from Cielo Baraan. Thank you! If you took my photo please send it to marita.galvez@yahoo.com :)

Another photo by Tippy Sy <3 Thanks!!

Thrifted leather jacket, PRP dress, Charles & Keith bag, Gold Dot shoes

Left early around 8pm! It was raining hard again. Surprisingly it wasn’t traffic heading to South. 

Oo kailangan diyan ang placing ng kamay ko. Hahah. Compare my going home photo from the morning photo. Haggardo.

Had so much fun! Tiring but worth it! Thank you so much to everyone who helped out. Congrats to all the graduates. 

xx
McQueen 

Walk towards East.

Drove all the way to Eastwood today for brunch at Ramen Bar with Mom, dad, kuya & Arveen. It was brief since my schedule was pretty tight and I had to run to school amongst other places.

I love my hair today. I wish I can just wake up in the morning and have that kind of curls! Cause my hair is long it takes me about 20-30 minutes to curl it with a flat iron. But hey, worth it! :)

“Out across cities I see buildings turn into piles and watch the world in wonder, as mountains turn into tiles and trees loosing their leaves and their faces becoming tired i wish i could discover something that doesn’t expire come stumble me.” Lights, River.

We had the most amazing brunch! I think I consumed so much ramen our tummies are all bloated. I should have photographed before eating! Haha.

Shoes from Asian Vogue, American flag sequined bag from Accesorize, Shirt from Artwork, Dress used as skirt from Folded & Hung