Double Denim week: Life is Pleating

This has got to be the fastest and easiest Stella buy in my history of Stella buying.

The moment my eyes locked in and saw this denim ensemble from afar, my fashion instincts kicked in and propelled me to the rack to snag these:

It's a beautifully pleated denim coords. The top is a sleeveless, pleated blouse made of dark denim. And it has cute ribbon details in front. The skirt is made of the same denim and the same pleating style. These 2 pieces complement each other so, so, SO perfectly.

Yes, this double denim look gives me life!

Double Denim week: Turn it up

This blog is a witness to this observation: Stella is such an underrated fashion brand.

I've been buying Stella for more than a decade, and I've been consistently amazed with the type of clothes they churn out. Of course, there are some misses, but mostly they've been hits.

Riding on the denim trend, they have a lot of very nice denim pieces on their racks today. And this double denim ensemble caught my eye instantaneously.

It's a skirt and top combination. The top is cute because it's designed like an inverted denim jean. The skirt is made from the same material, but it has this turned up detail that gives it an edge.

I'm excited to see Ate turn up in this denim ensemble.

Picture Pair-fect

I've been eyeing this cropped denim top from the Stella brand at Robinsons Department Store, but they don't have Ate's size. I've been looking for it at their Galleria, Magnolia and Ermita branch, but to no avail.

So, I asked Mark to check if they have it in RGS, the place to be. Here's the picture I sent him.

Then, a few days, he sent me this picture:

Woohoo! They have it!

But what's more amusing is the fact that our photos look alike, considering we shot it in different places and different times.

Yes, pairs do think - and take photos - alike.

One shoe, two ways: Mary me

Since Ate Bullet is always on the look out for cool Mary Janes, this pair caught my eye.

Spotted it during my weekend mall run. This pretty patent Mary Janes in a rich, oxblood hue is such a stunner. From the material to the style to the straps, it's definitely a statement shoe.

Styling a pair like this is easy. So easy, here are 2 examples of how to rock it.

WAY # 1: Short order

To highlight the shoe, you can wear shorts to maximise its exposure. But not just any pair of shorts, but these shorts with an interesting pleated overlay from Incerun. Then, a knit top from Plains & Prints that echoes the colour of the shoe.

WAY # 2: Khaki classics

The colour khaki is also a good way to make the shoe stand out. So, got this khaki pair of trousers from Incerun, and the front pleats give it an oomph. The top is from a collab at Robinsons Department Store (more on that later) which has a touch of red that matches the shoe.

This shoe is truly a shoo-in for best sheo.

Styled with Mousse

Not hair mousse, though.

It's all about Mocha Mousse this year.

Was digging through "the stash" during the Christmas break, and found this uber fashionable combo that has Mocha Mousse as the main colour.

The dress is from Stella, and this dress is almost a decade old. But look at how chic and classic this design is. Then, the gold accessory is from Forever 21, also almost a decade old.

True style is really timeless.

Putting the "fab" in "fabric"

Textured fabrics never fail to catch my attention. Whether it's a patch, a weave or a embossed detail, little grace notes like these really elevate a fabric.

Just like this one.

It grabbed me by the collar and let me to it the moment I saw it from afar. The fabric looks so luxe and rich, thanks to all the details it had.

The fabric was from a Stella full skirt. It''s so gorgeous! Since the fabric is already a showstopper, the design of the skirt is very simple and classic.

Because there's a lot going on with the skirt, the top had to be simple, but with a twist. This Kashieca blouse was just that. It's a knit blouse with speckles of gold that are so subtle, but they shimmer when the light hits it.

This is yet another fab holiday outfit idea.

Sheer up

Sheer blouses aren't a new thing. In fact, we see iterations of this fashion piece ever year.

But this one from Kashieca caught my eye the moment I spotted it from outside the store.

The cut of this sheer top is quite masculine. It actually reminds me of a barong. Then, there are 2 elements that make it feminine: 1.) the sheer, organza material, and 2.) the lace camisole underneath. Yup, the lace inner blouse is part of the package.

Because of its masculine vibe, a pair of tailored bottoms would be a good match for this. Enter this pair of wide-legged jeans with panels on the side. This is from Stella at Robinsons Department Store.

This combination takes 2 fashion staples and ups the ante with little details here and there.

Color Story: I live for Olive

Most people find the colour Olive drab.

In fact, someone once told me that the colour reminds her of chicken poop.

Personally, though, Olive is a hue that I find elegant yet casual. While it's often seen in uniforms, Olive - in the right material and style - can be very stylish.

An example of Olive done elegant is this lace fabric.

The patterns are big and bold, yet refined and delicate. It's a very eye-catching fabric that's from a classic dress from Stella.

The colour, the lace and the cut - they all work together to create this one-of-a-kind dress. 

That's one of the many examples of how Olive is done right. 

Stella Sustains. Again.

Here’s the other ensemble that I got Ate Bullet from Stella’s sustainable fashion collection.

These are separates. There’s the peplum top and a pair of culottes. They’re Bosch made of a mishmash of different flour sacks with complementary colours. This makes the ensemble look very unified.

Well-sustained, Stella.

Stella Sustains

Just like many good brands, Stella constantly finds ways to sustain my interest and gives me more reasons to appreciate this brand even more.

It's been almost a decade since I discovered this in-house fashion brand of Robinsons Department Store. Back then, their designs have caught my eye. The designer of this brand has a good eye for fabrics, prints and details - elements that define a good piece of clothing.

Through the years, they've constantly innovated their designs. They've even upped their fashion ante by featuring collaborations with indie brands like KT Creations and Mode De Vie. 

Now, they've introduced another relevant and fashionable concept - Sustainable Fashion.

Recently, they launched a collection of clothes that use flour sacks - or katsa - as material for their clothing. They took sacks from their own brand (URC is part of the Gokongwei group, just like RDS), as well as other competing flour brands. This added colour and variety to the desings.

The collection was made-up of dresses, pants and blouses, each having its own character because of the varied materials used.

From the collection, there were 3 items that ended up in my basked, and in Ate Bullet's closet.  There was a peplum top, culottes, and this tiered summer dress.

Sustainable fashion is so on-trend!

Make mine Magenta

It's no surprise that fashion brands are suddenly bringing out their best magenta outfits. After all, Viva Magenta is Pantone's Colour of the Year for 2023.

Because the family wants to welcome the new year wearing this coming year's colour, it was off to the mall to find outfits for Mom. Luckily, there were 2 outfits that fit the bill.

Outfit # 1 is from Stella at Robinsons Department Store. 

It's a loose cotton jersey shirt and pants combo that's as comfortable as it is colourful.

Outfit # 2 is a combination from 2 shops.

The Susan Graver top is made of jersey and has a mock turtle neck and extended sleeves. The pair of jeans is from The Landmark.

Okay, Pantone! We're ready for 2023!

Pant-tastic Week 2.0 - Day 2: Caped crusader

While jeans are usually seen as casual, the colour and cut of this week's featured denim pant makes it look more polished.

And it can also look like an equally polished outfit, especially with the right top. Just like this:

This caped blouse from Stella looks very chic and elegant. The shape and teal hue makes it look more dressy, and elevates the overall feel of the pant. This is something that can transition from work to a dressy night out.

From yesterday's classic look, this one is a bit more elevated. And it's achieved by a simple switch of a blouse.

And that very versatile pant, of course.

Crazy Eights

That would definitely be a good way to describe this 8.8 sale, particularly on Lazada.

Went back to my cart, particularly the items from the Stella line at Robinsons Department Store to see if they're discounted. The shocking result:

The items are just P88! 

Yes, they're P88!!!

Gosh, to think that when they went on sale for P111, I thought that was already a steal. But this!!!

Crazy! But in a very good way.

Eleventh Heaven

It was early this year when I first saw this dress from Stella on the Lazada website.

As I've said multiple times on this blog, the Stella brand in Robinsons Department Store is one of the most fashionable and underrated department store brands. Their designs, fabrics and details are really top notch. In fact, I've been a fan since 2014.

And this yellow dress with a side drape was no exception. 

From the first time my eyes were caught by the dress, it went automatically into my cart. Back then, it was P899.75, which is still pretty cheap considering the design and fabric. But somehow, I'd always forget to check out and buy it.

Then, a few weeks ago, they brought down the price by P100. That time, I decided to finally buy it - because of the discount. But for some reason, I wasn't able to.

Last Thursday - 11.11 - I finally realized the reason why I kept on missing the opportunity to buy it the past months. It was because of this.

Yes! That dress which was originally P899.75 was just P111.00 during the 11.11 sale!

That was the impetus for me to finally get the dress out of the cart and finally buy it!

Oh the pleasant - and affordable - surprises that 11.11 brings!

Color Story: The non-color edition

There was once a debate whether black should be counted as a color. So was gray. And white.

Some people thought that these hues weren't colors, but the absence of colors.

But hey, if they're in the 64-box of Crayola, then they're colors in my book.

And black and gray is the inspiration for this ensemble.

The gray top is from Uniqlo's T-shirt collection. It's such a classic cut that goes with everything.

But in this ensemble, I've paired it with a belted, paper bag skirt with an asymmetric slit and pockets. It's from Stella and it's mind-bogglingly chic!

This might be a black and gray ensemble, but it's coloring me happy.

Matchy-matchy x Color Story: Marooned!

Some fashion pundits will say that it's not chic to wear the same color from head-to-toe. Some others say that fashion rules were made to be broken. But I say, there are times where you can have a compromise and meet in the middle.

I'm known to suggest some matchy-matchy ensembles to my sisters and friends. Just like this snakeskin ensemble from 2013. This is an example of matching prints.

Sometimes, I also match colors, especially when it's a deep, bold color that really catches the eye.

For instance, this maroon dress with a pleated detail has always caught my eye. It's from Stella, Robinson's Department Store's house brand, which has a lot of beautifully tailored dresses.

A few days after I saw it, this pair of velvet, maroon heels presented itself at SM Department Store. It has the same, rich shade as the dress.

The result, a beautifully matchy-matchy cocktail ensemble! And while the color may be monochromatic, the skin that shows (both arms and legs) break the color and give the eye some breathing space.

It's an ensemble that's a match with Ate Bullet's personality.

Even more Florties

Looks like the Florties trend will be staying for quite a while. As the days progress, more and more fast fashion brands are introducing the floral print in forties silhouettes.

Today's Florties find is courtesy of Stella - one of the house brands of Robinson's Department Store. It's the brand I was raving about before.

Actually, it's not just a find. They're finds! Two dresses, in fact.

The first one is a red dress with a gray floral print. The silhouette screams "Mad Men," and that means it's chic and classy!

The dress has a nice back detail. It plunges, which is a good counterpoint to the conservative front.

The other one is a green dress with the same silhouette.

I like the interplay of colors in this one.

More Florties fashions, more opportunities for the Ates to rock the trend!

Stellar Stella

While SM Department Store (or now known as The SM Store) is a treasure trove of fashionable finds, I could always count on Robinson's Department Store to yield some hidden gems. One of those gems is in the Ladies Wear Department under the name "Stella." It's their house brand for working women. 

The first time I saw the dresses hanging from "Stella" racks, I was impressed by the materials and designs. They were very fashionable, on-trend and cool. This made me wonder if it got its name from another fashionable, on-trend and cool Stella - Stella McCartney.

Since I've discovered the brand, I've been snapping items for my sister's closet. These were pieces that were unlike anything she has in her dress collection, which is great. Among the lot - which is literally a lot - here are the top 5 finds that I snagged from Stella.

1. A black and cream floral jacquard dress. The pattern is embossed, which gives the dress this elegant texture. With such an elaborate material, the dress was cut simply, which was very appropriate.

2. A black rosette dress. This one combines several trends in one dress. It has a sheer yoke, a rosette skirt, an exposed zipper, and all made with power knit.

3. A black ponte dress. This is a good example of a classic LBD with a twist. The material is heavily textured, giving it a distinct sheen. It also has an exposed zipper, which breaks the solid color at the back.

4. A black draped dress. The shape of this one is already worth the price of admission. It has this easy and effortless feel to it. But it doesn't stop there. It has a teal inset on the shoulder for a visual pop.

5. A fuchsia petal dress. Here's a dress that's business on top. party at the bottom. The classic boatneck gives it a classic look, but the swishy petal hem says high fashion.