This one's for Arnie

Back when we were still office mates at DY&R, Arnie and I would often talk about our passions: Advertising, Pop Culture and Shopping. Since we were working in an Advertising Agency, we tried to avoid "talking shop" during our leisure time. So what else would we talk about?

Shopping, of course.

Arnie and I both enjoy looking for new things and great buys. We both enjoy bargain hunting, and find that the "hunt" is one of the most exciting parts of the exercise. When I was still in HKG, I'd often SMS her whenever each time a fabulous find comes my way. Like this, this and this

In one of our many conversations about shopping and bargain hunting, we talked about putting up a website that would feature chic finds at cheap prices. We'd brainstorm on the different contents of the website, how we'd maintain it, the different features and where to get materials. In our heads, we knew what we wanted our website to look like, unfortunately, we didn't know HTML that time. (Blogging and Multiply weren't that big yet back then.)

Eventually, we both left DY&R and our website was left behind. Although whenever we'd see each other - whether in MNL, HKG or at the airport en route to a Northwest flight - we'd talk about the website and how we still look forward to putting it up and seeing it on the web.

The reason I'm remembering this now is because of an incident this afternoon. After our D' Frendz Christmas get together, the group went to Gateway and did a bit of Christmas gift shopping. (Yes, it never ends.) While in Bayo, I saw this particular garment that reminded me of a similar garment in a high-end fashion website.

Two similar items with two very different price points - this was one of the sections that our website was supposed to have.

When I got home, I immediately opened Markbook, worked on these two images on photoshop and came up with this:



This could've very well be one of the pages of our website. And knowing our expertise in finding high-end looks at low-end prices, I'm sure Arnie and I won't run out of materials for a section like this.

I miss collaborating with Arnie, who's now in NYC taking up fashion at FIT. Hey Arnie, when will you be back in Manila? With that degree under your belt, let's continue collaborating and brainstorming. Who knows? We might make good with that vision of becoming this country's Proenza Schouler? Harhar.