W.I.M.B, YOU ASK?

In my last trip to Vancouver, I had the pleasure of meeting Aina Kawamoto of What's In My Bag; a blog for us curious girls and boys who like looking into other people's everyday necessities and how they organize them in their bags. I love this blog, and am definitely excited to now be a part of it!

Here is the finished product! We definitely know more about a person when we see the contents of their bags, here are a few (more) things about me: I like film (still learning), but for my trip I decided to bring the auto and toy cameras so it's quick, easy, and light on the baggage, especially cause I walk around a lot. Another is that I always bring more than one lip colour. Though I usually collect MAC lipsticks, I'm currently trying out Revlon's dupe for Clinique's Chubby Stick. Since I usually carry a roomy bag, I like to keep the little stuff in pouches. It's my attempt to stay organized.

You can view more bags here. I personally can't get enough. Looking at the the other bags in WIMB, I realized that I need a little notebook/planner in my bag as I always find myself shuffling for a piece of scrap paper or back or receipts to write or draw on!

Thank you Aina for making my stuff look more organized than it actually is! 

Love lots, black soul x

MY FIRST FEATURE: YSTYLE!

I've had the great honour of being featured in the YStyle section in one of our national papers, The Philippine Star for the 16th of August (you can read it here). It's my first one ever, and I am very excited about it! Thank you so much to Raymond, Cai, and Cholo- for easing my shyness and making the experience fun as it was. You guys are awesome!!

Truth be told, I don't have many designer pieces, I have a select few. All of which have been carefully chosen, used, and abused accordingly. I am hoping one day to have a narrowed down closet of my favourite things and be more sure of my style. Every year, I find myself that tiny bit closer to that goal. Well, maybe except for shoes. I will always need more shoes and will never think I have enough.

Sharing outfit photos and a few of my favourite things photographed by the wonderful Cholo Dela Vega--

(1) Outfit: Mens Tee: Acne / Denim Shirt: H&M / Denim Jeans: Acne Mens / Silver Heels: Zara / Watch: Locman

(2) Outfit: Reconstructed Top DIY: Thrifted / Skirt: American Apparel / Pants: Comme des Garçons BLACK / Monk Strap Shoes: Balenciaga

(3) Outfit: Dress: T by Alexander Wang / Sneakers: Comme des Garçons PLAY X Converse / Watch: Locman

(4) Scents: Jo Malone Lime Basil & Mandarin Parfum / Monocle X CdG Hinoki Parfum / Penhaligon's Quercus Parfum / Santa Maria Novella Wax Tablets (I hang in my closets) / Astier de Vilatte Mantes La Jolie Candle / Monocle X CDG Hinoki Candle

(5) My first fashion books from ages ago / Olympus Superzoom 800 / Pentax K1000

(6) A few favourite lipsticks from MAC: Rebel, Russian Red, Up The Amp, Lady Danger, Heroine, Ruby Woo

(7) A few favourite necklaces gifted and cherished

(8) BTS photo with Cholo, Cai, and BL whilst fixing my stuff :) 

(9) Snapshot of the day's paper! 

Love lots, black soul xx 

OTHER SIDE

I forgot how to wear skinny jeans. I realized the other day how I had a greater difficulty styling skinny jeans than any other bottom I had in my closet. Curious case-- I believe I have become far too comfortable in my long shorts, trousers, joggers and mens jeans. When I first wore skinny jeans, I hoarded them in different prints and shades of blue, and said to myself that I would never wear any other cut of pants ever. It's funny to be on the other side and laugh at that memory. A few years later, I now enjoy a wider range of bottoms, including my drop crotch shorts which some may address as diaper pants, harem pants, blah blah blah. I love them, and I want more!

Shooting at the supermarket was quite a bit of fun. They are quite strict about it here so we were little rebels doing our own thing. Thank you Jowell for another set of great photos!

 

 

 

Reconstructed Sleeveless Shirt: H&M / Pinstripe Shorts: Comme des Garçons BLACK / Brogues: Kurt Geiger / Leather Backpack: Vintage Prada 

Love lots, black soul xx

FAKE SPORTY

Got lucky with timing and FINALLY met up with photographer friend Jowell Mariano after ages of talking about doing a project such as this. We tried to fit in a couple looks seeing as I am hard to get a hold of, and here is the first of the set. He is more known for his wedding photography, but heck I think he knows a thing or two about fashion photography, don't you think?

Though I really wish I was more adept at sports, I'm not, and this outfit has got to be the closest I'll ever get to it. It will have to do for now.

Hat: NastyGal / Top: Sune / Lounge Pants: Uniqlo / Shoes: Joe Fresh / Leather Backpack: Vintage Prada / Watch: Nixon

Love lots, black soul xx

RECURRENCE

We all know how history likes to repeat itself; often in subtle, déjà vu style, and other times it comes back with a bang. Anything in history could recur in global, political or social issues and trends, in art, in design, in fashion, in music and the list goes on.

Enter crop tops. Actually, enter Gwen Stefani, Gwen Stefani, Gwen Stefani, All Saints, and of course some Sporty Spice. It is safe to say the flab showing trend gave birth in the 90s, and that girls of the 90s knew how to do some serious crunches. No, not bitter, just jealous. 

We've been seeing crop tops for a while now (as I remember they used to be called midriffs, hanging tops, or baby tees). They come in all different shapes, colours, and lengths that although aim to expose some skin, can be worn and manipulated to look very very different from each other. In the 90s, ladies wore them with low waist pants to show off some of those lower abdominal muscles. Today, though still worn with low waist bottoms, it is more commonly worn with higher waisted pants, shorts, or skirts. I mean it looks nice, and it's far more convenient than tucking longer tops in. No need to struggle when visiting the bathroom or make adjustments if you are reaching for something (ladies who tuck, you know what I mean). Ergo, crop tops prove to be quite convenient. The only thing is, it is a greater challenge to remind oneself to work out even just a little bit. Luckily, the high waisted bottoms help covering majority of the flabs. On a side note, I find they are very useful for layering too.

Here I'm trying out the sports bra as a crop top. It's a two-in-one thing, ultra comfort, no fuss. Not to mention, I am very much loving these skirt pants.

Mesh Cardigan: Vintage / Sports Bra: Karma / Skirt Pants: Uniqlo

Photos by Karyn Ong  

HOMAGE TO GASTOWN

Gastown. I used to go every weekday morning for school for a year. I didn’t know how much I missed it! In my last trip to Vancouver, I think I must have spent the most time in Gastown of all the other places I went to visit. It can’t be helped, the old downtown is vibrant with old-but-new energy, supporting fresh local art and businesses in interior design, fashion retail, hair services, coffee, food, drinks, while encased by the gorgeous historic architecture that’s been maintained from the 1960s.

To pay my own little respect for Gastown, here’s the second and last look Llana photographed for me. I miss Vancity already.

 

 

Crop Knit: Vintage / Sunnies & chain lanyard: H&M / Gingham Flannel: MUJI / Black Skirt: Y-3 / Fishnet Socks: American Apparel / Sandal Boots: ASOS 

Photos by Llana Ledesma

OLD FASHIONED LESSONS

Some film photos of the outfit I wore this to the Les Misérables Broadway tour.

 

 

 

Coat (borrowed from gf Kiks): two-one-two / Dress (worn as top): ZOO shop / Jeans: Mens Acne Studios / Spike Lace Heels: ZARA / Clear sunnies + lanyard: H&M 

Photos by Eddie Lee