Smart Casual vs. Semi-formal

This article is dedicated to my two batch mates who have asked me to write an article to elaborate on smart casual and semi-formal attire. 

EASY PEASY LEMON SQUEEZY:

1) CASUAL: 

           your everyday outfit consisting of shorts, t-shirts, flats or sneakers

2) SMART CASUAL: 

           your everyday outfit, ONLY DRESSIER and more put-together

3) SEMI-FORMAL:

           think cocktail dresses, heels, and jewelry 

4) FORMAL: 

           long gowns, and that va-va-voom factor 

For those who have trouble in dressing up for parties with a specific dress code, this one's for you! All you need is pretty much in your closet already. It's just a matter of knowing how to mix and match accordingly. 

THE BLACK CAMISOLE

Switch your denim shorts for pleated ones to look more presentable in a get-together or dinner party.

THE WHITE TOP

Take your white top to the next level by wearing the hot-right-now culottes! This will still go well with stark white sandals. 

THE LITTLE BLACK DRESS

The smart casual outfit is kept simple with pointy flats and simple jewelry. Vamp up the clinical outfit and transform it into a semi-formal one by changing accessories. It's all in the details! Studded flats and chain necklaces give a more vivacious vibe, which will really stand out among a party crowd.

THE PENCIL SKIRT

The best smart casual outfit is a top and skirt combo. To look less "ninang", be daring and go for a skirt with a slit! If you don't want to pile on accessories, metallic flats will go a long way.

Layering also works for semi-formal attires, if you haven't got a cocktail dress in your closet.

Flowy top + pencil skirt + blazer = BOOM PANES

Blazers and pumps definitely make any outfit more formal.

Still feeling lost? Here are some examples if you need a shopping guide. 

SMART CASUAL BOTTOMS

Tapered pants, skater skirt, origami skirt, pencil skirt

SMART CASUAL TOPS

These babies will never fail you, when matched with the right bottoms!

Beaded knits, beaded sheer tops, flowy camisoles, kimono jackets

SEMI-FORMAL

Mid-length hemlines are safe. When wearing shorter hemlines, keep it classy with rich details or rich fabrics. If you would want to go for floor length dresses or skirts, keep it simple; lest you want to look TOO overdressed. 

Tulle, draping, pleats, ruffles, and anything sparkly will make your outfit extraordinary.

Main Image: Henrick Sorensen / Iconica

Three Things: Find Out What Anna Wintour has for Breakfast

       

   

VOGUE'S Youtube channel recently released this new video series entitled 73 Questions. It gives a peek into the lives of celebrities as they answer questions that prove that they are human just like us. My favorite is Anna Wintour's video! It's so amazing how she really knows herself. Watch Blake Lively and Reese Witherspoon's videos too!!!

With Helena Bonham Carter as the fairy godmother, and Cate Blanchett as the step mother, who can say no to this movie??? Can't wait to watch this. 

Capes

Capes have emerged to be one of the trending silhouettes for the past few seasons. And I think that Burberry's customized capes are really versatile! I love how the colors are muted and mixed with tan and black. 

Main Image: Monica Schipper / FilmMagic

Bleached

Here's a late outfit post from last weekend! 

           I remember Leandra Medine saying that style should be exercised once in a while. Defining what our style really is only comes after countless trials and experiments. We will find the clothing we're most comfortable in after trying everything and anything under the sun. And so the next time you want to try something different, go for it! Dress for yourself and no one else. 

Main Image: Victor Boyko / WireImage

Three things: Jeans and French attitude (care of Marion Cotillard)

                  

         

This is a new segment in my blog wherein I share with you my sartorial curiosities and findings! I'll try to do this every other day, so watch out!!! Hopefully, you will get to know my fashion aesthetic more through these tidbits. 

Camille Rowe teaches us a lesson: 

              Watch French model as she humorously tells us what her mother tongue is all about. 

Marion Cotillard: Snapshot in LA:

The epitome of Dior. 

Say buh-bye to skinny jeans as Refinery 29 shows you how to work the "New Normal".

It's all about mom jeans. 

Main Image: Pascal Le Secretain / WireImage 

Lazy Sunday

Hello! It's time for another outfit post! I'll be writing more fashion articles soon (I promise).

I tend to wear black, white, gold, and red lipstick. But on days when I feel relaxed and laid-back, I pull the reins on those luxe details and settle for an insouciant look. When choosing chill outfits, I go for relaxed silhouettes, with a masculine or an edgy factor. I love my boyfriend jeans, and this new faded blue jacket that I picked up the other week. It perfectly hangs over my shoulders and the dolman sleeves are just right. This is definitely the perfect weekend go-to! 

Insouciant Parisian vibe + Masculine vibe = My Sunday look

Main  Image: George Marks / Retrofile RF

Butas ang tshirt ko

                               

                          

Hello! I haven't been blogging for a while because I've been soooooo busy for school. As in BOOM PANES level na nakakaloka. Anyways, I just wanted to share with you my outfit for today! I purchased the top from Baguio and the jeans are the ones I recently posted (the ones I DIY-ed). It's my first time to try shirts with a lot of holes, and I can't wait to experiment with more styles! 

(P.S. I had to buy this top cuz it reminded me so much of Comme des Garcons)

Main Image: Antonio de Mraes Barros Filho / WireImage

Design Throwback 1: HANNIBAL

      

      Two summers ago, I would design a collection for every movie that inspired me. 

      I've always loved suspense thrillers, especially those extremely weird ones that just leave you thinking about it for the entire day. Jaw-dropping. Mysterious. Surreal. Raw. These are just a few of the many adjectives to describe The Silence of The Lambs. This is definitely one of the movies that have affected me in more ways than one. Though some may find this film to be totally disturbing, I find that the gore and psychological twists are true to life. One must see beyond the glorified bloodshed to understand its true meaning. In my opinion, I think that one message of the film would be that HUMAN NATURE HAS IMPERFECTIONS. We feel. We believe. But sometimes, we sublimate these feelings and beliefs in different ways---ways that a "normal human" would deem unacceptable. But it leaves us with this question... What IS normal? And who defines this?  

     My mixed emotions and my boggled mind moved me to conjure up a few designs for this mini collection entitled, well, HANNIBAL.  Hopefully, I did the movie justice and represented the emotions concretely. And if I didn't, well.... let's leave it to Dr. Lecter to decide. 

Hannibal Lecter: "Well, Clarice - have the lambs stopped screaming?"

Every psychopath has his story. But what I find endearing in Hannibal is his heart and his intellect. 

There was this one scene that was distinctly disturbing, that it ended up being my main inspiration for the collection. "Bowels in or bowels out?"
If you're up for it, here's a link to the short scene in the movie.

Baguio photo diary

      Cold weather definitely calls for layers (duh). And whenever my family and I travel to places wherein a sleeveless top is definitely deemed silly, I happily pull out my jackets, pants, and a whole lotta hand-me-down Polos. Ilustrado hat not required.

Day 1: 

I always make sure that I wear comfortable clothes in long road trips. I opted for a white cottton v-neck, cropped jeans, black oxfords, and my trusty denim jacket that I've had since the year 300 B.C.  

What's Baguio without strawberries? That ain't Baguio at all.

Creme Brulee Latte all day everyday

Day 2: 

I ALWAYS wear this Polo button down whenever we go to Baguio. It's warm, cozy, crisp, and boyish. Just the way I like it. And hey, it screams country club. Hahaha! I felt like a soldier in my army green cargo pants and combat boots. My black hat also makes its debut here in my blog. According to the lady in Minesview, (as I handed her my hat and changed into my Igorot costume), "Sige sa akin muna ang hat mo. Para kang Ilustrado."

Bow down to the head of the tribe. 

Beautiful October foliage!

Hazelnut Latte is just as delicious as the Creme Brulee one.

(I would just like to thank Mr. Caffeine for helping me with my dreaded book report which I have been working on this whole sembreak week.)

Day 3:

Another Polo day! It's not really visible in this photo, but it's pin-striped in blue. Wore it with my DIY bleached and distressed jeans, which I was able to snag from my mom a few years back. The jeans were as raw as hell, and so it it took forever to get it to look this way.

Pag may tiyaga, may nilaga.

My version of a cuddle buddy. 

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Main Image: Alexander W Helin / Moment Select.