LFLTAT: Sorbet Says...

My fascination with deep, saturated hues is no secret. In fact, I've written a lot about jewel tones and citrus hues, and how they can really add pop to an outfit.

Once in a while, I'd like to take a break from all those hot colors and go for something completely opposite. And dropping by The Landmark yielded this Look For Less Than A Thousand which comes in refreshing sorbet colors.

This pretty pleated dress reminds me of a Mango dress from last season. That one was two-toned, while this one comes in a very refreshing grapefruit color. It's pleated all over, which gives it a very light and airy feeling.

The dress came with a lemonade colored belt which draws the eye to the waist.

To complete the look, a pair of orange sorbet colored flats. This flowy dress + flat shoe combo makes it feel very 1950s.

This entire look cost about P700, thanks to the shoe sale. The dress was cheap as it is, and finding a cheap pair of shoes to match was truly, truly refreshing.

LFLTAT: Hiss-terical

This weekend, there was a 3-Day sale at SM Cubao. And as any avid shopper will tell you, SM Department Store is a treasure trove to treats when they're on sale.

I dropped by SM Cubao after lunch, and I had 2 treats. First, I saw my cousin who I haven't seen in almost 20 years. It was such a pleasant surprise to see Ate Mayette and Auntie Coring. We had the requisite hugging and picture taking (inside SM Department Store!) and played catch up even if we only had a few minutes.

The time they saw me, I was actually checking out this interesting piece of clothing. It was a pair of python print leggings. A few months back, this hiss-inducing was all the rage in the U.S. In fact, there were a lot of fast fashion brands who rode on the snake skin trend, and here's one example:



Using this as a peg, I grabbed the python print leggings and made it part of the Look For Less That A Thousand that I found that day.



The main piece, of course, is the python print leggings. It's a bit edgy, but it fits the current trend of printed bottoms. While the print du jour are florals, (I can hear Mark saying: "Florals, for spring. Groundbreaking.") this is a more unconventional choice. The color of the print is black, white, gray and beige, which tones it down considerably. And since it's on sale, this pair was a steal at P275.00



To make it feel more casual and less party, I chose a black top that isn't as form fitting or slinky as the leggings. And it brought me to this oversized black polo. It's long and loose, which provides ample coverage. Also, keeping the top loose makes the whole look more carefree and less slinky. Let's leave that combo for the clubs.



The black polo shirt was P229.75, so when you put these together, you have an on-trend look for only P504.75!

You just gotta love SM Department Store.

Look like a million for less than a thousand

A few years ago, my friend Alfie asked me if I could help her find an outfit that was more in line with her ADB surroundings. She needed something that was more classy corporate without looking too stuffy. More importantly, she needed something that would cost P1,000 or less.

"No problem," I said.

Being an avid comparison shopper, and having the patience to pore through bazaars and shopping haunts, I know for a fact that you can put together a full outfit for less than a thousand bucks. And the great thing is, this P1,000 outfit looks way, way more expensive than that. It's all a matter of finding the right material and design - one that looks classy and classic. Then look for interesting colors and prints, and you've got that million dollar look.

My visit to Robinson's Galleria and Landmark last Sunday proves this point. Both places were on sale, so it was a perfect place to hunt for that P1,000 or less outfit.

And here's what I was able to come up with. A classic, casual outfit with some quirky twists.



The carrot pants with accompanying belt was from Penshoppe. It was on sale at P349.00. The cut and color are both on-trend and versatile, so it was well worth the price. The top was from Landmark, and it's a sheer shirt with a button front, and the color combination is khaki and black, which matches the pants perfectly.



If you look closely, the shirt has a cute cat print. And this little number is just P229.75.



To complete the look, take these versatile black ballerina flats that are in patent and adorned with a gold ribbon. It's the classic shoe made more visually interesting. A steal at P379.75.



So, all in all, this outfit will just set you back P958.50. And if you have a budget of P1,000, you still have P41.50 left. That's enough to get you a Jollibee 39ers, or a medium Zagu.



But wait, that's not all! (That's the home TV shopping in me talking.) If you want something more colorful and screams summer, then the malls also have something for you. For less than a thousand, of course.

Presenting the refreshing summer pair at a refreshing summer price.



This top is an export overrun, and according to the tag, it's from Gap. It's a cotton jersey shirt with a lace detail on top, and the body itself has a pinkish-orange watercolor stripe. When I asked how much it was, I had to ask her again because I wasn't sure if I heard the price right. It was P165.00!



In keeping with the summer theme, this top is best paired with these coral colored trousers from Folded and Hung. They were on-sale at Galleria, and the awesome thing was, their sale items had an additional 30% off. Because of that, this pair of pants cost only P210.00. Yes Virginia, THESE PANTS ARE JUST P210.00!!!



That means this ensemble is just P375.00 in total. You can buy two of these and still have money left over for a meal at Yellow Cab Pizza!

Looking for deals and looking expensive isn't that hard to do in Manila. All you need to do is search, and you'll find hundreds of options. And it'll only cost you a few hundred bucks.