A certain shade of green

The tunic is the undisputed hero in summer dressing with its versatility stretching as a stand-alone piece or as a beach cover up. It is also your saving grace in a highly bipolar weather -- with its light fabric apt for a warm weather, and its coverage that makes it equally fitting for cooler weather.

One of the best features of tunics, is they come in different levels of intricate detailing -- from jewel embellishments to elaborate details. A surprising element that contributed to the rise of tunics, is crochet. Crochet is not always synonymous to frighteningly tacky, especially when it complements a bare article of clothing. Quite frankly, it's the crochet detailing that drew me to this piece, or the fact that I mistook it for an intricately-crafted lace. Tunics come in awkward lengths which may not work in my favor. To work through this flaw, tunics are ideally worn over tights or short-shorts.

I wore my old pair of crochet culottes with tulle overlay and made minor adjustments to turn it into the perfect crochet trim shorts to wear underneath. (and by minor adjustments, I meant 4 safety pins to tuck the tulle inside the lining). 

I have to say, regardless of sucky lighting conditions, the tunic shines through. Let me take you a few months back for when I was lusting/dayrdreaming/obsessing over this piece. This tunic became an instant addition to my wishlist the moment I saw it on Sabo Skirt. I also came across this photo of my favorite K-dash doll Kourtney, rocking the white version which only intensified my desire to own this piece. 

Photo from: Daily Mail UK

I was slated to purchase the mint version from Sabo Skirt because it looks more divine and this color is elusive in the local market. Due to the long priority list of items I want to order form Sabo Skirt, (and its steep price tag of AUD 58 certainly didn't help) they ran out of stocks before I can even save up for it. Frankly, it's a lot more than what I can dole out for a piece of top. 

Exhibit A. Runaway Tunic AUD $58 from Sabo Skirt

My obsession with Australian brands doesn't stop with Roxy and Sabo Skirt. Its resemblance with UK high street fashion, close proximity to the Philippines and chic summer vibe make it extra appealing. Shipments arrive relatively faster too and takes only half the time for goods from North America to arrive. Hah! Beat that!

After an intensive hunt, I pooled a list of all Australian online brands of the same style genre as Sabo Skirt. Doppelgängers of this highly-coveted tunic turned up in my search too.  Apparently, this design is not a Sabo Skirt exclusive.

Exhibit B. Crochet daisy top which retails for AUD $58 from Xenia 

Exhibit C. Janine crochet top which retails for AUD $59 from PepperMayo

I discovered PepperMayo while I was browsing through Sabo Skirt tweets. Their website has an ongoing, massive sale and on the very first page lies THIS perfect tunic. I was 48hrs late from purchasing this at a dirt-cheap price of AUD $20 after further reductions, but AUD $25 isn't too bad at all if you ask me. Yes, Bergdorf Princess, I think I'd like to have my 'bargain queen' tiara back thank you very much! Just my luck, I didn't have to go through hell of choosing between the white or mint because the white isn't part of the sale selection. Happy to say I found yet another cheaper alternative for one highly-coveted item and saved a total of AUD 33 (Approx. Php 1,400).

So now let's talk about my latest discovery. Ready for another fashion obsessive post? Well, ready or not, here it is!

When I was browsing through PepperMayo's products, I couldn't quite comprehend if I was a) ecstatic with their familiar feminist designs, or b) utterly disappointed in Sabo Skirt because now they don't seem as original as they tout to be. About half the designs in PepperMayo can be seen in Sabo Skirt's collections, only they have slightly different prints for the designs in question. 

To make the most of the cost of shipping and to hush the pain of having to wait for a package, I usually order no less than 2 items. I ordered a bandage crop top in pink and the mint tunic. Read all about my verdict below:

Design: The originality of their designs raises few questions on my part. There's no denying the strong resemblance with Sabo Skirt from playsuits, to bottoms, to dresses. The prints seem generic too but of course, I only have Sabo Skirt to compare with because they have always been transparent with their hand-painted prints.

The tunic is obviously outsourced as backed by the ubiquity of the item (as seen on at least 3 Australian online stores). Unfortunately for me, I found the crop top I bought from another Australian brand, which partly concludes that they do not have a lot of exclusive, original designs to offer.

BUT make no mistake about it, they have a wide selection of not just garments and shoes, but also accessories and cosmetics. Needless to say, they offer the convenience of a one-stop-shop without compromising style. They carry menswear too!

Quality: The tunic is made from quality cotton fabric and the crochet detail is also made of thick crochet threads. The crop top is made of thick elastic fabric (Think Herve!) with hidden zip at the back - looks good if you ask me.

Price: Their price premium is more expensive, with an average of AUD 50 per regular-priced item. Their sale selection is also relatively expensive, with discounts of only 20-40% off. Prepare to splurge (on an average--) AUD 35 per sale item, which is more expensive than a Sabo Skirt sale item.

Packaging: If like me you get giddy at the sight of cute packaging, then Peppermayo will not disappoint. The clothes are packed in a recyclable drawstring bag and the best part is- the clothes are not creased and neatly folded! Brownie points! Okay I have to say, Sabo Skirt failed me in this criterion.

Shipping: Shipping is, well yes, more expensive than Sabo Skirt at AUD $14 per package. What I really dislike about their shipping method is, at AUD $14, the customer is unable to track the item. This I will never understand because most Australian online stores use AUS Post which ships in conjunction with the local postage system, in our case PhilPost. Sabo Skirt charges AUD $10 per international package and the customer can track the item AS soon as it has been cleared by customs.

Customer service: Impeccable!

Verdict: 3.5 out of 5 stars

Ta-ta bitches!

A

The back up bridesmaid

There is no such thing as witnessing too many milestones, all in less than 12 hours. I had a wonderful opportunity to witness a wedding, a 50th birthday *surprise* party, a sweet sixteen and still push for a 'girls night out' in its most literal sense. I obviously hyperextended my energy.

I was a mere spectator at my boss' wedding, and a tad overdress at that! But I must say I blended in pretty well with the motif and was jokingly referred to as a back-up bridesmaid. You can't expect anything less from someone notoriously overdressed on a regular basis so I took it to the max with this sleek number.

Miss Selfridge maxi dress | Stradivarius t-strap sandals | YSL Le Sixieme chain purse

Very-millenium prom is how I like to call dresses of such silhouette. It's flowy yet snug in all the right places. The very simple design makes the sweeping back cut out detail all the more interesting. And this is my attempt to try new things:

1. I opted for a simple up-do (thanks to my sister and her donut bun maker)

2. I wore a plain and simple dress

Both of which I rarely do/practice since I'm always going for the kill. Just like how I always say it: go for the kill, go for the jugular! 

I can't apologize for boring you with my blog entries, which appear to be the extended versions of oh-I-love-this-dress-read-all-about-it-in-3-paragraphs-full and while I have not steered my blog in a completely new direction, I think I'm lowering my anchor here for a while. 

Don't mind if I do. 

Golden. Cupcakes fit for a 50th birthday party.

I had 5 cupcakes too many.

Crop it like it's haute!

Exploiting the season while midriffs are still basking in its skin-is-in moment. Crop tops sure came a long way since the Spice Girls glory days circa 1990 and now they come in all form of shapes and sizes - ruffled, bandeaus, bustier cut, etc. - to suit any body type.

I've had my eyes on the cross over bustier style since Balenciaga gave birth to it and as far as "inspired pieces" go, I think Sabo Skirt was the first to commercially mass produce this design. It's one of those pieces tucked in the priority section of my closet for half a year now but couldn't muster the courage to wear them out since it is particularly tricky to find the perfect undergarment for this. 

Blazers are not strictly for 9-5 dressing and soon you'll be rocking them from 5-9, too! The short suit trend (co-ordinates) came sweeping the runways faster before you can say 'Androgynous'. The key to sartorial perfection is choosing the right silhouette for your body. My wide, manly shoulders turned out to be an excuse to wear oversized blazers (okay, I'm down to size 4, straddling between Small and Medium and Medium is obviously big on me boohoo). The bottom is the tricky part because they ran out of sizes and I had to settle for a size 4 (small) but turns out, it falls perfectly on my 'true' waist and it doesn't pose a serious risk to my recently-yanked-out-and-still-recovering belly button piercing. 

Neo Mex shorts, blazer, Link Top, waterfalls necklace all from Sabo Skirt | Yves Saint Laurent Le Sixieme chain bag | Stradivarius studded t-strap sandals

Ta-da! Don't be intimidated. While a short suit looks effortlessly formal (read: Power Dressing) by default, how you style it will ultimately set you apart from the next girl.

• Printed Matter - Plain blazers are timeless but printed ones can be recycled just as much. Printed coordinates can be worn together or recycled with other articles of clothing when worn as separates! Printed shorts can be worn with chiffon blouses and the printed blazer can go with dresses or plain bottoms. 
• Inner wear as outer wear - What you wear inside your blazer makes a world of difference. High waist bottoms and cropped-anything are match made in sartorial heaven. If you've been itching to wear crop tops but you're a little uncomfortable showing too much skin, this is the perfect outfit to wear it with! Besides, I don't think this trend was made for a real, serious, 9-5 business setting anyway (it is office inspired--at the very least). It's about crossing over some pieces of your office wardrobe to your Socials wardrobe. 
• And this is the part where I interrupt to reiterate the importance of balance in dressing. It is okay to show some skin. The blazer balances everything out. 
• The perfect shoes - Strappy sandals are the perfect choice for casual power dressing. It makes the short suit a little less formal and more relaxed. I went with a teal-colored footwear to complement the prints of my outfit.
• Ana on chains - If eyebrows can make or break your make-up, accessories are equally powerful to do the same. I went with a silver tone waterfall necklace as the statement piece (which doubles as a cover up to my chest area). Brilliant, huh?

Kisses,
A

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24 candles and them some

Topshop sleeveless flower flippy dress | Michael Kors Gwen cage booties | Overused Balenciaga City

The year of the snake has been far too kind. Spent my 24th exactly how it should be: one major recoup weekend. Bracing myself with the opening of school this week!

24 shots

• I have a tendency to blank out when asked about celebrity crushes. I will most likely answer Brandon Boyd by impulse. Still true. 
• My advocacy? Social graces. Bring them, know them by heart. What's yours?
• Classic (as in black and white) movies have a calming effect on me. You can find me holed in my room, with pin lights on and Grace Kelly on the screen.
• I watch beauty pageants for the slip ups. Oops. 
• The Kardashians is my ultimate guilty pleasure, hence the never ending references.
• One of these days I'm getting a belly button ring. 
• One of these days I'll probably get kicked out of the house for getting a belly button ring.
• I am madly obsessed with Topshop and Sabo Skirt. Once you shop, you can't stop! And yes I made that one up. 
• I easily feel socially-saturated so I unplug myself from the internet every so often..for a couple of days..save for work/school related matters.
• I cannot sleep at night without my trusty airline eye mask. I have to constantly remind my dad to spare me the eye masks when he goes on trips. See, business class eye masks are the works! 
• It's 2013 and I still cannot get over Brooke and Lucas. That chemistry! Fuel and fire. *Sighs* 
• I easily get carried away with on-screen lovers and would fervently wish their romance would extend off-screen. Hello Leighton Meester and Chace Crawford! WAKE. UP. 
• Living life vicariously through Carrie Bradshaw..in SATC not in the Diaries. 
• When stuck in a rut, I run a few episodes of 16 and Pregnant as a constant reminder of how blessed I am no matter the circumstances. And no, I don't mean to berate these kids. In fact I admire the strength.
• I shop like how an anaconda eats. 
• I have a mental list of outfits planned.
• Ask me a question and I will answer back with a question. Read: Don't we all? Aren't we all? -- somehow I manage to make it coherent. 
• Any top or dress with a cut-out design will end up in my closet. Within reason of course. There's just something so exciting about cut outs. 
• Im a sartorial extremist - either I'm all dolled up or totally dulled-out. There are nice outfits that deserve to be complemented with make up, then there are outshits to go with bare-face days. 
• Kamille Villamor is my bestfriend and I'd like to keep her forever. Girl knows me too well! 
• I'm so boring I can't make this reach 24! Adios!

Welcome to the Jungle

You can have everything you want but you better not take it from me -- just not at the same time. Shame I'm vandalizing Axl's writing. This is a highly unflattering photo taken last Tuesday, because a Balenciaga calls for maxi skirts, loose tops and unkempt hair. The works.

Where we're going, we don't need roads

Business up front, party in the back!

A taboo, infamous quotation reference to such an exquisite statement almost defies its very purpose. Who doesn’t love a good surprise? For that special day Thursday the 25^th , I threw in a little surprise number in the form of this sweet tea-length dress to celebrate a family friend’s 18^th coming out birthday party, which is the major surprise overall.

I’d say nobody does cutouts better than Topshop, until my recent Miss Selfridge discovery almost derailed my apparent idolatry over this brand. It is probably more fitting to say nobody does cutouts better than [insert list of Brands under] Arcadia group. HAHA. Sir Philip Green, would it be too much to wish you were my godfather?!

In the end, almost all concepts fall victim to the theory of reflexivity. Just like how technology is the greatest threat to technology, at the end of the day,Topshop’s biggest competition is, well, Topshop. (I swear quoting yourself kickstarts a cringefest!) The design team behind my number one retail of choice almost ripped Kate Moss’ design for Topshop some three Spring collections ago. Kate Moss’ design incarnation came with the best feature you could possibly add to give this innocent piece a kick—a sweeping back cut out the size of Texas.

So don’t be fooled, the most innocent of fronts could just literally be a front and clearly this isn’t only applicable to human behavior. I could always start professing my undying love for cut outs and back-baring, Pneumonia-inducing statement dresses, but I betcha already read through that more than once.

Who wore it best part deux, if I may. Just kidding! I managed to unearth these photos from Georgina Wilson’s Instagram, with Anne Curtis wearing the exact dress some fashion eons ago.

She's totally beachin'

The sweltering heat makes everything ten times more difficult, even dressing up. I always try to conceptualise an outfit around a particular theme and do what it takes to look the part. My taste is also well-defined, I will never settle for anything less than how I picture the entire outfit to look like. The key is to incorporate old pieces and trust me, your closet is a treasure trove of past season's junk that can be reconstructed. 

When it comes to beach dressing, the challenge is to bisect the points of comfort, style and functionality. Heavy fabrics should never see the light of day and so do bold colors, but says who, right? Perks of living in the 21st century, we get to exercise freedom! For my beach wear, I built the outfits around the swimsuits. 

Exhibit A: Saint Tropez street style. As much as I hate paisley (Per Elle Wood's mantra: Nobody looks good in paisley), this Princeton Slider Bikini from Roxy, has a hint of paisley at first glance. But if you examine closely, it's more hibiscus layered with another printed fabric. The contrast of teal against coral makes accessorizing easier and the collective effect of clashing prints swayed the entire look into a complete bohemian vibe. 

I threw on a plum colored lace kaftan as a makeshift swimsuit coverup. It served me well as an after-sun bathing dressy tunic that took me from the beach to brunch-ready. When travelling light, it's best to consider the functionality of every article of clothing if you want to maximize your baggage allowance. I opted for a more covered-up tunic (never mind the dense lace fabric) as opposed to lightweight sheers because I want something dressy enough to be paraded around even off-shore. It almost neutralized the busy prints I have on with the tribal printed Cotton On scarf, floral purse, bangles and rainbow flip flops. 

Exhibit B. Baywatch Betty. Say 'Baywatch' and bright reds and high cuts instantly come to mind. I chose this red bodycon tank dress to go over my geometric bandeau bikini from Roxy. The black and white geometric print looks great when it peeks through the exaggerated wide armholes. 

The straps are left hanging to prevent overlapping tan lines and to bring out the geometric print of the bandeau by accentuating it with a red necklace. 

Of course I brought with me my cut out clothes AKA the clothes I-cannot-get-away-with-on-a-normal-day for my nightlife/party outfits. Give the night time sea breeze to cool you down for ten minutes before you come into terms with the actual night time humidity. I cannot express my desire to wear this top but doing so could be lethal as my parents would never approve of the little coverage this top offers. So after 9874692 years it finally made its debut in Boracay. HAHA. This beauty is rather tricky to style given its length and coverage; it almost slips as an exception to my ultimate rule in balance. 

Topshop zip back cut out top | Topshop pansy print scallop hem shorts 

I would normally resort to jeans, but skin is in. 

Retro Revival

Trousers with billowy legs that conceal the crotch, making 'em look like an actual maxi skirt? I'M SOLD. Bolder choices could be made fashion wise but I think I deserve snaps for being a sartorial daredevil - I entertain new ideas. What I wear on days I write about on my blog is exactly how I would want to look on any given day (with an exception to my post-gym, errand-running disheveled look). I do not (and will never) limit my fashion exposure before the camera lens. If you think you can look like a certain way before a camera, try exposing it for the outside world to see. I hate cringing for other people. Being a true fashion saavy goes beyond creativity, guts would come in handy too. Duck, honey..!!

Before Tony Manero signals to have his trousers back, I actually think this is the best ensemble I have put together in so long. I would always reiterate the importance of balance when dressing, take it as a cardinal fashion rule. Hence something bottom-heavy will pair well with slimmer silhouette, in my case this zip front bustier in green to complement the garden print bottom. (Although I've been itching to try the palazzo pants/wide leg trousers and sheer long-sleeves polo combination.) It's too divine i can't even--

It's such a cliche but Topshop's designs are the commercial counterpart of my personal style. (Swak na swak sa taste ko!) The backless detail of the corset is just absolutely stunning. Also I can't seem to get over my obsession for this garden print fabric. I first saw it on their summer maxis but for some reason the cut of the dress is not exactly flattering. The trousers are more versatile anyway.

Clad in head-to-foot Topshop's past season treasures because I'm always a bit behind trend. It's fun. 

It ain't easy, livin' like a gypsy

The boho trend is all about throwing in aztec prints, flowy skirts, eclectic accessories and a whole lotta hippie attitude! The less put together, the better; some elements are meant to clash anyway. It's a fusion of eastern flair (think ethnic prints, beads, embroidered pieces, etc.) and contemporary western elements , and don't you even think about muting either one of them. It's all about making a loud, bright statement. 

A few months back (okay, more like a quarter of a year's-time back) my Mom celebrated her 45th birthday Mediterranean style. It was a jewel-toned kind of night which called for my fail-safe gypsy ensemble and nothing screams gypsy than my tribal corset and fuchsia maxi skirt combo. The bold pattern of the corset makes accessorising easy peasy. Hence, the neon orange tribal necklace with spikes, gold and aqua bangles from H&M and the purple and gold bangles from my friend Kams. Wide metal cuffs are quintessential to the gypsy outfit so I threw in my favorite (and only) gold cuff from Looking for Lola. Tip #1: there's no such thing as going overboard, extravagance is part if the boho-gypsy language so pile on those bangles! 

I finally finally FINALLY found the perfect excuse to wear my chain headpiece after months of trying it on and secretly wishing I can incorporate it to my everyday casual wear. It added the final Mediterranean touch and worked well with the other accessories I have on. Nicole Ritchie you little trendsetter yooooou!! 

photos from Google

And yes, I welcome any trend that calls for unkempt beach waves.