Bermuda Triangle

No, this isn’t about things disappearing into thin air. It’s actually about finding things.

Back in the 80s, everyone knew what “Bermuda Shorts” were. They were the uniform of the preppy set. The length was somewhere in the middle of knickerbockers and roller girl shorts. They had a safari-vibe to them, especially when they were in neutral hues. Just this:

They’re very easy to wear and also very easy to style. The vibe changes with the simple switch of a top, And instead of 2 top options, we have 3!

The first is a Simply Vera Vera Wang Top that I snagged at Surplus Shop. It has a comfy and loose silhouette that looks great when tucked-in the short. It has a bright salmon colout that makes the outfit pop.

For something more muted and classic, the same top is available in a gray hue. This is an example of how a slight colour change transforms the vibe of the outfit.

The 3rd option is an homage to the safari roots of the shorts. This time, it’s paired with a plain, white tee from Elizabeth and James for Kohl’s. The yellow scarf, also from the same brand, gives it a much needed splash of brightness.

With this pair of very classic shorts, it’s so easy to triangulate a perfect outfit.

Ageless Style

While looking at all the fashionable people dressed to the nines for the 2021 MET Gala, one fashion maven caught - well, more of grabbed with force by 2 hands - my attention.

That, of course, if the supremely elegant and ageless Vera Wang.

I’ve been a huge fan of her fashion and person for decades. From watching her fashion shows online to buying Vera Wang clothing when I was living in HKG. From trooping to Kohl’s when I was I. The US to browse and buy her Simply Vera collection, to scouring my local haunts for overruns of her items.

Yes, i’m That’s kind of fan.

And seeing her and her super chic ensemble at the MET Gala wasn’t surprising at all.

What’s surprising is the fact that she’s 72-years old.

Yes! She’s!72!Years!Old!

How’s that for the epitome of “Style is Ageless.”

I like it Vera much...

One of the shops I enjoy visiting in the U.S. is Kohl’s. There used to be one near Biboy’s house in Alpharetta, but that closed down, and that’s a bummer. When we were in the US last 2018, we were only able to go to 1 Kohl’s store in GA.

When Ate Lissa told me there was a Kohl;s near their house, I immediately checked out their website to see if there’s anything interesting that I can ask her to buy and for the parents to bring home to MNL.

Luckily, there was. And with the arrival of the parents, this beauty from the Simply Vera Vera Wang collection also landed in Manila.

It’s a checkered jumpsuit with a ribbon detail in front. Jumpsuits are very in these days, and so is plaid. So this piece of clothing combines these 2 trends in 1.

Another detail I like is the mustard stripe that goes from the top to the bottom. Details like this is what adds fashion to otherwise everyday wear.

I’m sure Ate will Ike this Vera very much.

Rawr!

The proliferation of snakeskin prints is quite understandable since it is the year of the Water Snake. But another animal print that I've been seeing a lot lately is leopard print.

I've been seeing it in bags, smoking shoes, accessories, and of course, in apparel. Some of them are realistic, some are stylized, and some are very graphic.

Personally, I think the graphic ones are more visually appealing. That's why I put together this outfit that has the leopard print as the focus.

I found these Simply Vera leopard print pants at Surplus Shop. The starkness of the print and the black and gray combination make it look very chic.

Since the bottom is busy, I've kept the top clean and plain - but still with some sass. That's where this loose jersey t-shirt came in. The silhouette is very relaxed and easy, and the fabric is easy on the body.

What makes it cooler is the fact that is has a high-low hemline. It's a shirt in front, and a dress at the back. Nifty!

When put together, this ensemble has a relaxed casualness to it, but still keeping its wild side.

Vera much a lady

A few weeks ago, I saw this on the Simply Vera by Vera Wang site. It stood out among the lot of dresses on display, mainly because it had a beautiful print, classic construction, and very lady-like length.

A few weeks after, here it is!

The dress definitely doesn't disappoint. (Aye! An alliteration!) It's as nice in person as it is on the website. Everything about it is exquisite, especially the pintucked details near the shoulder. The belt is a nice touch because it whittles the waist nicely.

To up the lady-like ante, a black cardigan over the dress is just what you need. Add a pair of ballet flats and a classic black bag and you've got a modern day Audrey Hepburn.

I'm sure the ladies in the family will really rock this look.

Vera much

When I passed through Surplus Shop at SM Makati, I saw a couple of  pants on one of the racks. They were these cotton twill pants with a skinny silhouette.

After looking at them closely, I thought to myself: "Didn't I see these on the Kohl's website?"

And when I turned it over to see the brand, my hunch was confirmed.

They were Simply Vera cotton twill pants.

This brand is back in the haunts. And it's back with so, so much more.

Very Vera 2

Whenever Mark and I attend weddings, he usually asks me about how I found the particulars. Like the overall organization of the event, the flowers, food and all those little bits that people often comment about.

During Bea and Turda's wedding, he asked me about the cake, and Bea's wedding dress.



With regards to Bea's wedding dress, I told him that it was very elegant, and subdued in its elegance. Except for the belt, there was no trace of beadwork on the entire gown. It relied on its soft pleats and detailed skirt for drama.

Then, I told him that the aesthetic of the gown looked very Vera Wang, and that it was probably brought in from the U.S., and likely bought at David's Bridal.

On our way out of the ballroom, one of the coordinators was carrying a David's Bridal garment bag, so, check on one observation. And a few days ago, Bea emailed me and said that it was indeed a Vera Wang. Two out of two! Woot!

You can never really go wrong with a Vera Wang. (And you can ask my sisters who have a couple of Vera Wang dresses in their closets.)

Vera Modern

For as long as I remember, Vera Wang was all about grace and femininity. Her designs are very classic and lady-like. Her clothes were all about luxurious fabrics like silk, chiffon and jacquard. Then she adds tasteful embellishments like beadwork, metal or paillettes. In short, something Jackie O would usually wear.

While browsing through her website, I was pleasantly surprised to see her Spring/Summer 2012 collection. From the first piece to the last, it felt like I was looking at someone else's website and not Vera's. The reason? Everything looked so modern and a bit space-agey.



Her cuts are now more experimental. The fabrics are a bit more abstract. The details are more cutting edge. And the tailoring is a bit more sharp. It's actually a nice departure from her signature look, but I'm on the fence whether I prefer this direction or her usual "classic chic."

I guess I'm just an old-fashioned kind of guy.

Haven't I seen you before?

While I was browsing through Bluefly in search of interesting jeans, I spotted something in the "best sellers" section that sent me deja vu-ing. They featured a green dress by Vera Wang and it was supposedly flying off the on-line racks. This was the dress:


A few seconds after I clicked the "enlarge image" button, I remembered why the dress was so familiar. It was this dress:



Yup, it's the same Vera Wang dress I bought on sale in Hong Kong last January. I was able to buy it sans the velvet ribbon belt, but that's really a non-issue since velvet trims are uber cheap at Carolina's and it won't be difficult buying a yard, or three.

The great thing is, Bluefly prides itself of selling designer clothes at rock bottom prices. I checked the price of this dress on the website, and I compared it with how much I bought the dress here for. And what was the price difference? I got the same dress for only 5% of the price they're selling it for.

Yup, bargains abound in Hong Kong. You just have to look for them.