Hysteria Lane

Incorporated a play on colors and textures for Saturday's casual outfit at the mall. My outfit reminds me of s'mores and yes, the colors pretty much gave it away. Make that candy-sprinkled s'mores with my rhinestone encrusted hot pink chiffon wedges.

I thought it was high time to wear these wedges out after months of sitting idly in my shoe cabinet. I like the sudden touch of hot pink to liven up the earth tones of my outfit. I wore a white ruffled chiffon cropped top embellished with rhinestones tucked underneath my brown suede shorts. The top came straight from the mail and I couldn't be any happier considering I didn't have an outfit planned for the day. Here are some raw photos I deliberately left edited for clearer shots of the colors. Thanks Ela for taking my photos!

Brown suede shorts from Topshop | White ruffled cropped top bought online | Hot pink Wisteria-inspired wedges from Janilyn | Watch from Technomarine | Louis Vuitton neverfull 

I cannot not talk about my shoes :) (I swear they're not that bright as they appear on photos) The release of the Topshop Wisteria wedges left me heartbroken when they got sold out even before I got to pool my then-college allowance. I have, since then, kept my options open, madly hitting virtual malls in search for replicas (for a lack of better term). When I stumbled upon this pair, it instantly hit all the impulse buttons in my body! It's one of those gotta-have-you moments I caved in once again.

Two things I love : rhinestones and chiffon. This pair from Janilyn highly resembles the Wisteria 2 Diamante wedges as seen from the photo above. 

I spent my Saturday in Alabang with my sisters, aunt and grandmama. We had lunch at Fish & Co. to take a breather from all the meat we've been eating at home. My sisters ordered the regular fish and chips with lemon butter sauce while I had the baked seafood rice. I just love anything cheese!

I sadly have molted my bookworm past and it's been more than a year since I last held a book. This book is a must-have for stylistas and fashion-savvy girls! It challenged me to be more creative in dressing up. The illustrations are too cute for life! Come take a peek at some of my favorite pages.

This book claims to be the ultimate guide in crafting your own personal style :) It won't disappoint, believe me it's worth every penny!

I finally got to enliven this entry after laying dormant in my drafts for more than a day. I felt so uninspired to write and couldn't bear to publish a half-baked, substandard post. Looks like Brandon's charm failed to deliver  its unwavering appeal to me this time. If you regularly tune in to the evening news, you probably heard of petty crimes left and right, innocent lives being claimed by the most atrocious unimaginable ways, girls being robbed of not only material things, but also of their innocence. This is the part where I let out a sigh of disappointment; the world, our world isn't getting any safer. 

If it hasn't reached your radar yet, one student from my beloved UPLB was held at gunpoint, abducted, raped robbed of her innocence, shot and her body dumped in a canal off campus. The entire UPLB campus and the immediate community mourned with her family. This incident shook the very tranquil community of UPLB, my UPLB. Hats off to the local government for the immediate capture of those monsters responsible for this heinous crime. Although these monsters (yes, I refuse to call them people. Just the thought of them makes me gag) are now under the custody of police, I am finding it very hard to trust security guards and tricycle drivers everywhere. 

And justice for all. Let's all join in prayers for her soul and for the recovery of the people she left behind. Keep safe everyone! And please someone tell me where I can get myself some pepper spray?  

I Heart Matilda

 

I’m starting to invest in office-appropriate separates that do not look too corporate and can still be worn on casual occasions. My pursuit for office-appropriate trendy clothes led me to IHEARTMATILDA , thanks to my sister Isa. Here's to resurgence of sartorial fulfillment whilst staying within the bounds of corporate-casual chic! 

Fancy collars are all the rage for a few months now.  I’m not one to shop for a certain trend (I shop only according to what I find interesting) which explains why I’m usually a bit behind trend, take color blocking for example – I have yet to do a post on that. When my sister chanced upon the IHEARTMATILDA website, I immediately checked out the available items and ordered away! I wore this outfit last Sunday to church then off to some errands which explains why I look haggard. Not to mention the occasional drizzling on a sunny day (hello frizzy hair!). Can the weather be any more unpredictable?

Top and skirt from Matilda | Purple wedges from Janilyn | Heart-shaped purse from Zoo shop | Key connector ring from a random kiosk in ATC | Plastic brocade bangle borrowed from Isa (from Rosanna Aranaz)

The owner is particularly kind and sweet. I easily swoon over such sellers, making me an easy target for sales-talks. When I finally received my invoice, the seller's name rang a bell. I knew iiiit! It’s Jessica Gallegos from 5 and Up and Johnson’s Pure Essentials fame! Remember her? If you’re a Candy/MEG girl like I was, you probably have seen her in ads alongside Cazh Collings. They were the Pure Essentials bffs back in 2002! So anyway, it wasn’t only until I got my invoice that I was able to confirm it was her. Kilig. She’s byfar, the friendliest and sweetest seller I’ve ever exchanged SMS’s with J  I’m definitely ordering again next time! If you haven’t heard of the store yet, I suggest you visit their facebook page as their site is currently under maintenance. 

I’ve been stocking up on midi skirts so I can finally give my pair of abused and overused Sevens a well-deserved rest. Common as they are, I never thought twice after seeing this skirt; I was smitten by the electric-pleated, turquoise chiffon fabric. Keeping this skirt company in the Sale Album is this adorable chiffon swing collared top (which I initially wanted in mustard but stocks were out!). Together, they make a classy and well put-together look that could take you from day and night dressing. J’adore! 

These wedges remind me so much of my good friend Katrina’s senior prom gown! [Hi Prom Queen, I miss you :D Please don’t strangle me for mentioning this! ] I love the contrast of purple and turquoise :) reminds me of Gucci S/S '11! Yes, 'cause nobody does color blocking better than Gucci. Touché! As for the accessories, my sister lent me this melon brocade bangle, fresh from Rosanna Aranaz' jetset style package! Look out beloooww! :) Seriously loving the colorful purse <3

I recently squelched my wilting Twitter plant with brain waves after sporadic dry periods. My heart literally skipped a beat when I saw Brandon's tweet on my feed right after I tweeted! At least man lang dito ay naging magkatabi kami :p   

It’s not every day we’re both up and online right on the dot! As superficial and corny as it is, I felt the need to capture this moment! Thank you cyberspace for momentarily bridging the gap known as time zones, spatial disparity and mere reality :) Ahh what I would do to be that person next to you.. 

Okay, okay I'm gonna stop myself before I start professing my undying love for Brandon Boyd. Believe me, you wouldn't want to get me started! Apologies for boring you out kids! 'Til next  

Out from under

The day when the corset was an old fashion clothing article worn during the Elizabethan times has met its demise. Women of the 21^st century have successfully broken down the barriers and took fashion to a whole new perspective. Fashion trends have grown more lenient and seem to heed not to any concrete rule. Nowadays, an article of clothing can be utilized in a number of ways: worn backwards, inside out, upside down, or what-have-you. I’m telling you, a skirt is not just a skirt; it can also be worn as a strapless top, cape top or even a dress.

The key to get away with wearing inner wear as outer wear is balance. Since a corset is already a statement in its lonesome, it is usually worn with trousers or harem pants to juxtapose its sexiness. A well fitted blazer can be the secret arsenal to take this outfit from day to night. You might want to stay away from black laces with hot pink trimmings if you intend to use is as an outer wear, unless it’s a bachelorette party you’re attending, just a piece of advice J But really, who am I to say? 

Charlotte Russe corset top | D.I.Y skirt | Juicy Couture houndstooth purse borrowed from Isa

I’ve jumped into the corset top + harem pants bandwagon before, as seen from this entry so I tried something new for Friday night's outfit. I altered the look a tad bit to make it suitable for day wear. I just love the lace and button trimmings of this corset so I went all the way down girly boulevard and paired it with a skirt.

To stick to my black and white color palette, I wore this pair of brogues I bought for my sisters. Heehee, perks of sharing the same shoe size! I love how the shoes break the feminine tone of the outfit to achieve balance.  

Apart from zebra stripes and polka dots, another black and white print I’m digging is houndstooth! I call it the classiest prints ever, agree?  Apart from corset tops, I’m also digging bustier dresses. Excuse my code switching, I’ve been searching for a concrete differentiation between the two but I guess they can be interchangeable after all.

My growing collection of corset tops. Corset tops would also make a good substitute for bras under sheer tops. 

UP FOR GRABS! Sadly, I have to let go of this piece. 

You’re looking at a BRAND NEW WITH TAG corset top from Glitterati originally priced at Php 1,250. I bought this summer of last year and only got to wear it for a photo since it barely fits me. If you’re a US 4 (XS-S) this will fit you best! Material is cotton twill which stretches a little. If you’re interested or you know someone who is, leave a comment below this post or send me an email, the floor is all yours! I’m selling this beauty for only Php 500. It looks exactly like the one from Topshop S/S ’09 with sturdier zipper in front (aesthetics only, zip closure at the back). Available for local buyers only. 


Cheers! 

Green and bare it

Some people grin and bear it, others smile and do it.

We all meander through the daily hustle and bustle of life in however way we wish to. Joining the working class didn't make life any easier for me, except for the fact that I am slowly gaining independence and financial freedom. All those time sitting in rush hour traffic made me miss my 15-year run as a student. Gone are the days when thesis was my biggest problem and clothing options were endless. Graduating from college meant fleeing my comfort zone; no more gasoline allowance from the daddy, no more free pass from doing household chores when swamped with school work and no more incentive shopping after a certain achievement. As bittersweet as it sounds I've learned to love this new chapter and is surprisingly enjoying every second of it. We can grin and bear it, or just smile and do it ;)

I took geek chic into a whole new level, complete with the bun, stained lips, socks and satchel. The onset of the typhoon made shooting outdoors impermissible and these photos were shot in my brother's bedroom. Thanks to Jose and Ela for taking my outfit photos for today! This dress is my new favorite recent-acquisition from Forever 21. I wasn't supposed to buy anything but the color, fabric and cut of this dress pretty much called for it! It looks all too sweet but wait till you see the back.

Green and bare it!

I just adore any article of clothing -- be it top or dress, with cut-out detail at the back! I like the subtle sexiness it exudes.

Dress and glasses from Forever 21 | Leopard satchel from Impulse Co. | Studded heeled oxfords from tOnic | Gray socks from Peacocks London | Crystal fringe necklace bought from the U.S.

I recently learned of this new photography app on the iPad and I've been hooked since this morning! Thank you Danielle Wassmer and Erickson Javier for the tip :) I unconsciously skipped lunch because I kept on tinkering from morning until late afternoon. I think I like it better than Instagram. You can choose your own combination of frames and effects and it can conveniently export your photos on flickr after editing! Ahh blogging made easy. The first two photos look as if I'm part of the Promises, Promises (Incubus) music video.

Thanks for checking in :) Keep safe everyone!

Preppy Royalty

In between shirt jacks and brand shirts, we can wear anything else within the bounds of decency in the office. I don’t remember dabbling into the preppy side of fashion yet so I took a chance on my office outfit yesterday.  

Cardigan from Forever 21 | Scarf from Peacocks London | Body con skirt from Cotton On

I revived this old pink button down polo and turned it into an improvised pussybow top by incorporating a polka dot chiffon scarf. The combination of pinkish blush tones and midnight blue + white polka dots is just adorable! Polished the look with the quintessential sweater for that final preppy touch. Nope, I wasn't wearing tights, I don't know how on earth my legs looked toasted in these photos. 

I did a little wordplay on Nirvana’s song Pennyroyal Tea, hence the title. Thank God it's Friday!

Black Heart Inertia

Pulled by a false inertia
Pushed out by circumstance

Walking alone tonight 'cause I've only got room for two
Me and my burdened black heart
It's all we know how to do

Sexy white shirt | Topshop heart print bodycon skirt | Janilyn wedges | Longchamp Long-handle Le Pliage | Anagon chain fringe necklace | Christian Dior sunglasses

It wasn't particularly sunny yesterday but a huge freakin' zit, sitting pretty right smack in middle of my right cheek, coerced me to put on sunnies. Malling [for me] is tantamount to a day's workout so comfort is on top priority. I whipped out my overused Sexy white shirt which I scored from one of the Rockwell bazaars last year and paired it with my favorite bodycon skirt from Topshop. Bodycon skirts can effortlessly dress up a plain outfit. I threw in my favorite chain fringe necklace I got from Anagon which instantly stripped the outfit off its boring element and made a huge difference overall!

I absolutely adore how Instagram can conveniently make your photos look tumblr-ready in a jiffy. I took this photo of my youngest sister Ela while waiting for our lunch at Via Mare. Now that's comfort food at its finest! 

I went strolling with Isa shortly before dinner, as the parents went to SM and the kids (Jose and Ela) went to Power Mac. I'm still a sucker for red velvet cupcakes and the ones from House of Silvanas didn't disappoint. 

It's about time they put up a new Milk Tea hub in Glorietta! Gong Cha recently opened in Glorietta, and I must say, it's really good! No wonder an awful lot of people is still on Milk Tea frenzy!

This necklace literally stopped me in my tracks and in less than a minute,I found myself ransacking the accessory section of Forever21 in search for this piece. How stellar! In true Ana fashion, I wouldn't dare splurge on accessories unless it's the fleur de lis necklace from Tiffany's we're talking about, then I can probably make an exception given I've procured enough funds for it. But after seeing how big of a difference accessorizing can do on any outfit, I gave it a go! It's gold plated, star-clad and fringed, how can you go wrong? 

I once again contradicted myself and joined in the geeky bandwagon. Nothing against the fad but it just doesn't suit my face until one night, I randomly slipped on my friend Ninay's prescription glasses and bam! It doesn't look that bad at all, or so I think? My sister Ela has been asking me to buy her a pair of geeky glasses for the loooongest time but as common as they are, I've never had the chance to buy one for her until I saw a pair in Forever 21.

Forever21 truly outdid itself with the addition of the cosmetics section. They have the cutest stuff from polka dot lint roller to heart printed shower caps to glittered nail files to jewel encrusted cosmetic brushes. You know me, I have a soft spot for anything sequined, glittered, bejeweled and gold! It's rather impossible to go out of the store empty handed. I took my sisters on a little shopping spree so we're all equally happy.. and the Best Big Sister award goes to... haha!

Birthday shoes, anyone? Scouring for birthday presents as early as now. 

Time flies, the Holidays are tiptoeing nearer! Took a photo with the polar bear while waiting for valet.

I send my warmest thanks to each and every one who's constantly visiting and leaving comments on my blog :) I've had quite a number of blogging attempts before but kept them all private and were strictly for my viewing pleasure. I have the tendency to be really passionate about writing so I made a blog to keep tabs of how I am doing on the writing department. About the same time last year, I took the audacious move to put up a blog which sifts not its readers. I knew, since then, making my blog available to anyone who wishes to read its content would mean subjecting it to further scrutiny. So from all the four chambers of my heart, thank YOU for taking the time to visit my blog, more so for leaving a comment :) each and every single comment is highly appreciated. To this day, I still shake my head in disbelief that Lissa Kahayon and Kookie Buhain once dropped by and left comments. Surreal, really.

My love was recently spotted in NYC :) Leaving you a photo of Brandon he tweeted a few weeks back, to cap off my Instagram heavy camera roll.