Some more stylish surprises

During my last few visits to HKG, my trips to the Lane Crawford store were in vain. Last June, I went to the sale and found out that most of the stuff weren't spectacular enough to be spent on, or not inexpensive enough to get it on an impulse. That pegs my last successful visit to Lane Crawford to last year, where I bought those nice Chloe shoes.

But this time, it was different. With a few hours to spare, I swung by the store, not expecting to find anything worthwhile. But as these trips go, a few surprises were waiting.

Like this Proenza Schouler dress. It's a great color blocked dress made of heavy silk. It's so heavy, in fact, that the dress can be shaped, even without a person in it.



It also has a pleated ribbon detail that travels across the bodice, which gives a nice touch to the solid color of the dress.



From the same "design family" is this top, also from Proenza Schouler. It's made of silk and chiffon, with a pleated bottom, and in colors as rich as the details on the garment.



It combines that ubiquitous bustier style that's a staple in all Proenza Schouler clothes, and it has the same ribbon that's found in the other dress. The material of the pleated ribbon is a lighter material which makes if flowy.



Another nice surprise was this Marchesa printed chiffon dress. It's a short dress with billowy sleeves and a solid colored belt that anchors the dress.



Around the neck, it has a jeweled detail that makes the dress go from day to night. These details are very, very Marchesa.



Thank goodness I decided to drop by Lane Crawford, even for an hour. I didn't expect to find anything, but I'm surprised at what I found.

A stylish surprise

On my way out of the house yesterday, the guard handed over a heavy-ish white envelope and said that it was for me.



It was a DHL package from - surprise, surprise - my favorite magazine, InStyle. This September, they're celebrating their 15th anniversary, so everyone in magazine made sure that this issue would be spectacular. The great thing about it is, September is also the biggest month for all fashion magazines in the US, so InStyle had two reasons to really pull out all the stops and make this issue a collector's item.



First thing I noticed was the masthead. I saw this magazine this weekend at GrEat in HKG, and the masthead was the signature InStyle red color. But the issue they sent me had a silver foil masthead, had silver sparkles all around, and had the photo of Jennifer Lopez laminated. This made the entire cover shimmer and sparkle, perfect for an anniversary issue like this.



Another thing that pleasantly surprised me was on the feedback page.



I'm on InStyle!

Yup, that little photo is me and the little blurb was about me. It started with this blog entry I wrote about my 10th year of being an InStyle reader. Someone from their NY office picked it up, emailed me to ask if I'd mind being quoted in one of their future issues, and here it is! The fact that it was on their 15th anniversary issue is a an added thrill to the already thrilling fact that I got my issue from the very people who worked on the magazine. (With a handwritten note to boot!)



Congratulations, InStyle, for 15 years of stylish, relevant, entertaining and intelligent reading. You really put a new and fresh spin on style, and that's why I'm looking forward to the next 15 years of reading InStyle.

Where have all the 70s gone?

To say it was a "lightning visit" would be an understatement. Although it wouldn't be my shortest trip abroad. That honor is reserved for the "fly-out-attend-the-meeting-and-fly-back-a-few-hours-after" fiasco. But that's not what I'm writing about.

On my super-short trip to HKG, I had a chance to drop by Harbour City and check out H&M and Zara. Maybe it's the recession, but the prices aren't super-slashed this season. Last year, around this time, most of the sale items at H&M would be 70% off. I checked their store yesterday, and most of the stuff were only 50% off. If they were nice stuff, I'd understand that they wouldn't want to slash the prices too much. But these items were basics - with some even at the bottom of the fashion food chain - so they should practically be giving them away. (That's what they did last year.) Maybe they're just trying to meet their bottom-line. So every little item counts.

I miss those old sales. Hope they find their way back to HKG soon.

Economy and Society

On the flight to HKG, I was seated at the front area of the Economy Class cabin. Across the aisle, I noticed that the lady sitting there looked very familiar. And after seeing her entourage of 5 gregarious little boys, my hunch was confirmed.

She's a famous HKG socialite who happens to be Filipina. I've seen her in a number of magazine covers, but I must say that she's much more radiant in person. She has that movie star/model aura, but without the attitude. Throughout the flight, her demeanor was very pleasant and gracious, and you wouldn't think that she's part of one of the richest families in HKG.

Which probably begs the question, why isn't she in Business class?

As a friend once told me, the real, old rich are people who don't really pay attention to the part of the plane their sitting in or who shares their space. They live, act and behave like everyone else, and it just so happens that their wealth is equivalent to "everyone else's" combined. They don't like being the center of attention, or pushing people around, or brandishing their status for everyone to see. Those qualities are reserved for the "noveau riche."

Actually, this isn't the first time I was in the same plane (and in the same economy class cabin) with the rich and famous. In one CX flight, I was sitting in the same row as a Zobel, a real Zobel. I've shared a flight with a Tantoco family as well, and they, too, were very low key.

It makes me admire how they were brought up by their families. They must've been taught at a very young age that just because you have money, you should treat everyone like your paid servant. And having been on flights with the "noveaus" who order flight attendants around like they were waitresses, these people should learn a thing or two from the "real" rich.

Meanwhile, in Sesame Street's parallel universe...

There's Tickle me Emo from Depressame Street.



Where can we get this toy? I'm sure the kids of today will definitely like it! Beats Tickle Me Elmo, anytime.

Making the Grade

When I'm asked what the most challenging part of being a professor is, my immediate (albeit boring) answer is:

"Computing for grades."

After all, Mass Communication graduates aren't known for their proficiency in Mathematics. (Unlike some Economics and IDP graduates I know.) Thankfully, my basic knowledge of Math, and my penchant for computing things in my head, comes in very handy - especially at a time like this.

Yup, it's midterm grading season. I've got 24 students done, 28 more to go!

Ho Ho Ho Joe!

While Mark and I haven't seen G.I. Joe yet, I'm getting my Joe fix from watching this H-I-L-A-R-I-O-U-S music video.



I hope the movie is this good!

Hung Over

The Zara sale is done. Topshop and Topman have concluded their sales. Mango and Promod are wrapping up. But just as you thought it was safe to go back to the malls, another sale comes along.



Actually, Folded and Hung's end of season sale started early August. Honestly, I never bothered to check out the store because I'm not a fan of F&H's aesthetic. They had a lot of nice clothes a few years back, but lately, their selection has been bordering on blah.

This weekend, though, I wandered inside and found a couple of really good deals. They had a P300 rack, and it had boyfriend-cut jeans in a worn-out denim fabric, a jeweled tunic in jersey, a lace dress with interesting construction, and capris that are almost-but-not-quite-dhoti. The combination of the design and the price immediately put them in the "you've-got-to-be-insane-not-to-buy-it" category. So I did.

I won't be a convert to F&H anytime soon, though. Their regular items are still a bit blah in my book. But thanks to this sale, they won me over, if only for a day or two.

B(u)y a Mile(y)

Miley Cyrus is one of the new hypenates in Hollywood. She's already known as a "singer-teen icon-Disney's queen-tween's best friend", and just recently, she's adding "-designer" to her resume.

It turns out that she recently teamed up with Max Azria (yes, the guy from BCBG, Max & Cleo, and Herve Leger lines) to come up with a capsule collection at Walmart. I browsed through their website and saw a lot of "teen" stuff. They're not bad, and the price points are very attractive. No wonder most of it is sold out on-line.



And how did I find out about this capsule collection? It turns out that the shirts on the website are also available at "The Haunt." In fact, I was able to buy 3 out of the 4 "out of stock" shirts.

Thank goodness for Miley Cyrus and her designing instincts. The shirts are nice, the fabric is one of those soft, tissue-cotton materials, and the print has that nice and vintage vibe. And I thought the price in the US was cheap (US$10 per shirt), so imagine my delight when I found out that the local price is way cheaper.

Double thank goodness that the capsule collection is made in the Philippines. And triple thank goodness for places like "The Haunt."

High Fidelity

It started out as a brainstorming lunch for Grace's Dad's 80th birthday, and ended up as a conversation about old songs that defined his generation. I couldn't get past the thought that "Dandansoy" was part of his list of favorites.

Because Grace's Dad's name is Fidel, I suddenly remembered this popular song from the 80s. Once again, youtube came to the rescue because it turns out they had a video of their song in their archives.



"High Fidelity" always brings back lots of memories of my childhood. In particular, it reminds me of that time when I was a little boy and we'd spend summer in Bicol. They would play this song a lot on the radio while we'd be hanging out in the tent at night with my parents, siblings, titos and titas, and our cousins. They were such great memories, that it's no wonder why I still get a high whenever I hear this.

Pretty Smart

When I saw her photo a few days ago, it confirmed a hunch I've had the past few months. I've met our candidate to this year's Miss Universe. And it wasn't a recent event. It was a few years back, when she was still a college student in Assumption.

It happened when DY&R was still in Ortigas and I was still a CD there. She, along with her groupmates, interviewed me about advertising trends. If I'm not mistaken, she's a Mass Comm student, so this was for one of her subjects.

After introducing herself and hearing the surname "Manalo", it struck me how she looked like Katherine Manalo. Like her sister, she was very eloquent and very well mannered. Her questions and follow-up questions were all well-thought of and smart. And even if she was wearing her Assumption uniform that time, you could tell how elegant she was.

And if she was already elegant and eloquent a few years ago, then it must've grown exponentially over the years. That said, I think our country has a very good chance in this year's competition.

Full Circle

Twenty-three years ago, my siblings and I boarded our old, yellow Toyota Liftback and went around EDSA to welcome President Cory as she took her place in Philippine history.

Today, my friends and I stood in the middle of Ayala Avenue to say goodbye to Tita Cory.



Thank goodness Lyli asked me to join them in the middle of the street. I was just about ready to watch the proceedings from a distance at the Enterprise building. The energy in Ayala Avenue was different. There were so many people waiting to say their last goodbye.







There were strange and questionable occurrences. Among them, a band playing the Ayala Malls theme song (how's that for blatant promotion), and a guy attributing the presence of Assumption students to the fact that Cory used to study at St. Scholastica's College. Plus, there were unabashed displays of politicking which made me even more sure not to vote for the pedicab guy. But aside from that, it was a farewell that was fitting for a woman like Cory.



Tita Cory has gone full circle. And I feel fortunate to have witnessed her as she did.

*Thanks to Beth and Mother Lyli for the pictures

More Mango

Nope, this isn't another post about Mango, the clothing store. Although I must say that their current collection of accessories is very, very nice. In fact, I found a few pieces of layered necklaces that aren't just nice, but cheap, too.

It's about another Mango that I've been obsessing over the past few months.



Eversince our first foray into Red Mango a few months ago, it has become a weekly habit for Mark & myself. Actually, liking Red Mango isn't such a stretch for me since I really like yoghurt. Unlike other frozen yoghurt brands, Red Mango isn't too sour, which makes eating it really feel like eating a lighter version of ice cream. And when it's topped with Blueberry and Peaches - divine!

I hope they open a Red Mango branch in Makati soon. After all, the timing for it is ripe. If they do, I think we'll have another favorite hangout, aside from Tsoko Nut.

Cory's Era of Unity

While waiting for my class to end and Nath's class to start, we started talking about Cory's passing. Cory was a former student of St. Scholastica's College, so it was easy to feel the sadness around the campus. Yellow ribbons were strewn everywhere, and there was an early morning mass said for her soul.

One thing that struck me about what Nath said was this: parts of our era - Cory included - are slowly ending.

We were children of the 80s. Eventhough we were too young to understand what People Power was or the impact of Ninoy's assasination, we were there when it happened. So this entire experience, along with Cory, was part of our life and our lifeblood. It was something we shared with a whole generation, and I feel so blessed and fortunate to be part of something as life-changing as this.

Not surprisingly, our conversation steered towards the songs of that era. And this one, "Handog ng Pilipino sa Mundo", really captured the sentiments of that time. After People Power, people were even more proud to be Filipinos. I remember that in one of the Academy Award shows, Jane Fonda even greeted the Filipinos by holding up the Laban sign and sent out a message to "the People Power of the Philippines."



While watching this video again, all I can think of was: "Gosh! We were part of that." Our old house in Morato was near Channels 2 and 7, so when the entire People Power revolution was happening, we were right in the middle of it. My siblings and I would stand around Mario's to see what was happening during the day, and at night, we'd sleep in the sala because Lolo was afraid that we'd be hit by stray bullets should an encounter ensue.

Mom - being the gracious hostess that she usually is - would even prepare sandwiches and give them to the people who were there, participating in this revolution. Somehow, that image is seared in my mind - Mom carrying a silver tray full of sandwiches wrapped in white sandwich bags, and we'd help her distribute it. Aside from the return of democracy and the banishing of a dictator, that was what People Power - and Cory - meant to me: Unity.

She was the glue that bonded people together, and for a moment, people forgot their differences, social classes, political leanings, and just worked together for one common goal. And as Cory passes away, that's my only wish and prayer for her. That the Filipino people - as a whole and as a country - remember and continue to fight for what Cory stood for.

Unity.

Something to Choo on

This coming November, I can imagine the throngs of wild women who'll line up outside the H&M stores in HKG and Tokyo for these: When I first read about this collaboration, I thought "this is a recipe for trouble." It reminded me of that Anya Hindmarch "I'm not a plastic bag" scenario in HKG when people were lining up 2 days before the actual launch. Since H&M mass produces, I won't expect a situation as crazy as that. But I will expect the same kind of crowd that Ate Bullet and I encountered last year when we were in HKG for the Comme de Garcons-H&M collection. And given how nice the shoes are in the collection, it's easy to imagine the panic that will ensue once their stores open and ladies start getting (or grabbing) these. Question is: Shall I find myself in HKG in November and experience deja vu? Or Maybe I should just ask my friends in Europe to buy Jimmy Choo's instead of braving the usually-crazy-crowd in Asia. That's another thought I would definitely chew on.

Neutral Territory

Seems like I'm entering a khaki phase. And I say this judging by the pieces that have caught my eye recently.




Whilst these skirts come from the same color family, they're each very distinct - which is the reason they appealed to me a lot. This first one is a skirt that falls a bit above the knee. It's got a tulip feel to it, but it isn't too exaggerated and will still flatter the wearer - regardless of height and body type. True to my thematic nature, I got a camel colored belt to put a bit of color.



Here's one that is actually an "old" skirt. It's been on the rack of Crossings for quite some time, but it was only recently that I realized that - as DVF would say - "there's a lot of good design in that." The front is structured: cummerbund-style waist, some folds to give it volume - things that'll make it attractive as it comes towards you.



After the wearer passes you by, you'll see some details at the back as well. There's a big ribbon, which adds to its feminity, and there's an extra strip of fabric where the slit is. Clever!



Finally, this Calvin Klein skirt that was at the haunt. It's pleated, albeit quite randomly, and that gives it interesting volume. For added detail, it has a black gross grain ribbon, which is a nice touch. Overall, this skirt is so Audrey Hepburn. All you need is a black turtleneck and flats, and you're chic to go.



There were a lot more khaki skirts floating around in the market, but these three would definitely top the list. And on the subject of tops, skirts like these just beg for a simple and detailed top. It's quite difficult to describe, but I'll know it when I see it.

Vintage TV

Over merienda, my friends and I started talking about "the good 'ole TV shows" of the 80s. One conclusion we reached -- they don't make 'em like they used to. Back then when there weren't too many special effects and visual trickery, you really have to rely on a great story and a wonderful narrative.

Among the shows I miss watching are Sigmund and the Seamonsters:



Isis, who's obviously patterned after Diana Prince and Wonder Woman. Dig the look.



And Shazam!



I wish there was a cable channel that showed re-runs of great shows all day long. If there was one, I'd probably just spend the entire day at home watching these shows. After all, they don't make 'em like they used to.

The devil is back

Thanks to Mark and his iPod, I was able to watch "The Devil Wears Prada" again. And again. And again.

The more I watch it, the more I find the performances of Meryll Streep and Stanley Tucci brilliant! The scene where Nigel tells Andie about his move to James Holt's company - when he loses it momentarily and shrieks in delight - phenomenal! And Miranda was stunning in the whole film.

And of course, the dialogues. It's the way advertising should be written - crisp, clever and straight to the point.

Watching this film again makes me want to buy the original DVD, if only to catch deleted scenes, like this.



"That's all."

Long live Levi's!

I am SO GLAD I bought this pair of Levi's Red Tab jeans last week. They're so comfortable, the fit is perfect, and they feel so broken in, I could wear them forever! At least my Abercrombie and Energie jeans can take a rest.



And if you take into consideration the fact that I've been wearing them non-stop since I bought them, "forever" might not be too far fetched. Hope these jeans live long enough for that.

Sassy!

This week was a good one at "The Haunt." There were a lot of new arrivals, a number of unbelievable finds, including these 2 beauties.





I've read about Sass and Bide a number of times already, and how Australians swear by this brand. Since my travels haven't brought me to Oz, and they aren't available in HKG, I haven't really seen this brand - and its products - up close. Now that I have, I understand why Aussies swear by these jeans.

The fabric, the fit, the composition of the denim - they're all designed to flatter. While examining these jeans, I knew that they'd make the wearer look and feel taller, slimmer and sassier. Too bad they don't make denim for men, I'm sure they'd do a great job with that. (But the Levi's jeans I bought recently makes up for that.)

This is the second denim brand from Australia that I'm into. The first one was Industrie, which Rustans used to carry but now discontinued. With all the new foreign brands coming in to Manila, maybe a Sass and Bide store is in the offing. Now that - and H&M of course - would be worth waiting for.

I can Lee

Thanks to a dream I had last night, I suddenly had a renewed interest on Coco Lee. She was one of the big Asian singing stars in the early 2000s, and got a lot of exposure in America for singing songs from the movie "Runaway Bride" and one from "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon." But I remember her from this really fun and easy-to-follow pop ditty.



When I was in HKG two weeks ago, I saw a magazine with her on the cover. If I knew I'd have this Coco phase, I would've gotten it.

Schwiiiing...

Wednesday already? Where did the rest of the week go? At the rate these days are swinging by, the next thing we know, it'll be Christmas!

The funniest movie scene of all time after time!

I've seen a lot of comedy films and no scene is as knee-slapping-big-guffawing-genuinely-hilarious as this scene. It's from my favorite comedy film of all time, "Romy and Michelle's High School Reunion."



Even though I've seen this scene a gazillion times, I still laugh out loud every time I view it. The choreography, the music, the absurdity -- all these contribute to why this segment is hilarious. But more than that, it's the earnest-ness of the performance of Lisa, Mira and Allan that made this scene a winner.

Really, I'll continue to adore this scene even if time after time after time passes by.

Shopping under Surveillance

On my way to get a ride home, I passed through (the new, improved, and surprisingly nice) Ali Mall, and eventually dropped by the Plains & Prints branch there. The branch manager (who usually attends to me when I'm there) had a short and interesting conversation:

BM: Hi sir. Ito po yung new arrivals namin.
ME: Thanks. (starts looking around)
BM: Ang tagal niyo na ding hindi nadaan dito, sir.
ME: Yeah. Medyo busy kasi with work.
BM: Malapit ba sa Gateway ang office niyo? Kasi madalas daw kayo nakakadaan sa branch namin doon. Nandoon nga daw kayo kahapon, eh.

Gosh! I suddenly felt like Cubao was one huge "Big Brother house" and everyone's under surveillance. Hahaha.

Once on this Island

Presenting the song that's been playing in my head the past few days.



Oh yeah. I'll rely on this song. Uh-uh-uh-uh.

Thinking Thematic

It was the first thing that Sir Conrad taught me when he took me under his wing as a copywriter trainee.

"Think Thematic."

That meant always looking at the big picture. If it was an advertising idea, the idea itself should be big enough so it could be translated to all forms of media: TV, radio, print, BTL. If it's an idea for a promo, it should be thematic and fit in with the overall concept of the brand and product. And so on and so forth.

My other Creative Directors taught me the same thing but called it different names. Sir Conrad called it "thematic." Lola O called it "an idea with legs." Even if people call it different things, I'd still call the concept "brilliant."

That lesson continues to be one of the most valuable things someone has taught me about advertising. But it's also a lesson that I've taken with me outside of advertising.

Now, it's customary for me to think thematic. Like whenever I'd organize a wedding, the first thing I'd think of is the theme or the big idea. The test whether it is a big idea is if it can be translated to an invitation, centerpiece, the apparel, and the cake. Same thing with birthday parties. And Christmas parties.

Heck, I've even integrated the "Thematic way" into shopping. The reason I take time to shop sometimes (attention Mark) is that I always think of the big idea. Whenever I see one article, my mind immediately tries to figure out what goes with it. Like whenever I see a trouser-cut jean at Mango, automatically, I'd think of two tops that should go with it. (One to dress it up, another to dress it down.) Plus, my mind starts to visualize shoes, a belt and accessories with it. Plus, there's the thought of pairing that new thing with stuff my sisters already have.

Actually, that's the reason why I always end up buying a number of things at once. There should always be a "theme" around the outfit. Sometimes I even get very, very particular that I already have the style, color - sometimes even the print - in mind whenever I see an item. That's when the perfectionist in me comes out. Even if I have to spend hours and go through different malls finding that item, I would.

Even this blog had a theme when it was created. Things that confuse me. And life as one big confusion.

Gosh. I can go on with this for hours. I never thought that advertising has such a profound impact on my life.

I'm glad that I stumbled into this industry.

Sometimes it's good to be a worm.

Rarely do I shop during the first day of a sale. The only time I do that is when it's a one-day sale, or when it's Plains and Prints going on sale. (You can't dilly-dally on a Plains and Prints sale.) The reasons are simple. One, prices of sale items freefall during the final days of a sale, and two, there are usually enough stocks to go around, so there's really no need to rush.

Last week, I received an invite to the Private sale of the RSS group. That meant Topman, Topshop and Dorothy Perkins at prices that will make people teary-eyed. Eventhough I had an invite, the thought of going didn't really cross my mind. But when Dorothy Perkins was beside the bank where my transaction was to be made, "what the heck," was the thought that crossed my mind.

Admittedly, there were a lot of things that caught my eye. Among them were a series of belted tunics. "Series" because they were of the same fabric, the same family of jewel tones, and same elastic patent belts. After checking out the price, I nearly dropped the merchandise. Cheap and cheerful, as Princess Shashie would say. There was a watercolor-print dress - even more cheap and cheerful. And a rubber-looking denim from Topshop.

There were still a number of these items on the rack, so conventional wisdom would say: just come back for it after a few days. This was wisdom I'd often follow, and the next scene would've been me putting the items down and walking away.

But since I was there anyway, and since I was there anyway, I decided not to wait until the last day and purchase them on the spot. Happy camper smile and the usual spring-in-my-step followed soon after.

Today, Dorothy Perkins was once again along the way. Swung by to check out the sale racks, and voila! All the jewel colored tunics were gone. No more watercolor print dresses. Jeans were likewise a thing of the past. The racks and racks of clothes were wiped out in a matter of days.

Thank goodness I listened to "unconventional wisdom" this weekend. I would've missed out on a lot of good stuff if I did.

It still racks!

Mark and I had lunch at Racks today, and as I told him, it's the first time I'm eating at Racks after 5 years or so.

And I must say, it's still as gooooooooood as it was years ago. The Hickory Smoked Chicken is still flavorful and the meat practically falls off the bone when you slice it. The barbecue sauce is still perfect - a bit sweet and savory, with that pronounced smokey flavor. Paired with corn bread, mashed potato, baked beans and some of Mark's mac and cheese, it was the perfect lunch.

After this, i'm sure i'll be Rack-ing some more.

You've got a point(er)

This was bound to happen.

After discovering "The Oinker Sisters" over the net, it immediately reminded me of the real singing trio these characters were based on: "The Pointer Sisters."

They were like "Destiny's Child" of the 80s. Sassy singers with wicked moves. They churned out hit after hit after hit. And yes, you couldn't go to a party or a disco without hearing their songs. Their popularity reached Manila shores, and I'm sure everyone remembers these songs:

"I'm so excited." Embarrassing as it may sound, we danced to this song at some party somewhere. (It was probably one of those family reunions in Bicol.)



As the title aptly encouraged everyone, "Jump" made everyone rise from their seats and jump.



Finally, my favorite Pointer Sisters song, "Neutron Dance." I like how it's pop with a bit of electronica like Herbie Hancock.



Looking at videos like these really drive a point. They don't make artists and music like these anymore.

Quote for the day

While browsing at Bayo, I saw this graceful old lady go inside the dressing room with a bunch of clothes on her arms. After a few minutes, she steps out of the dressing room and calls out to the sales girl:

LADY: "Miss, meron ba kayong mas malaking size ng blouse na 'to. Mukha kasi akong Santa Patron ng mga suman."

Yes, that quote made my day.

Walk this way...

All my friends know that I'm a huge Sesame Street fan. And each time they play the Sesame Street DVD at home for Javier, it automatically transports me back to my childhood back in Tomas Morato.

I've lost count of how many favorite Sesame Street songs I have. Among them are Bert's "Doin' the pigeon", "How do you get from here to there","Some/None" which features Guy Smiley, the "Grover & George" song, and of course, the "Walk" song by - get this - The Oinker Sisters.



It also has an all-star cast. Try and spot Rosie O' Donnel, Marissa Tomei, John Goodman, Kevin Kline, and Cheech from Cheech and Chong.

While looking for the video on youtube, I discovered that there was a new version of the song, also performed by a trio of girls. They're no other than...

Destiny's Child!



Looks like this walk has gone a long way. And no matter how many times I walk... walk... I don't think I'll ever get tired of it.

Here's an issue to watch out for

If you think "The Devil Wears Prada" was fun, wait until the real thing comes along.



The trailer alone was a joy to watch. And it makes me want to fast forward to fall so they can finally show this documentary. I do hope they show it here in Manila. Someone bring this film here, please!

My favorite lines from the trailer:
- "This type seems so large, and pretentious. Looks like it's for blind people."
- "September is the January of fashion!" (How true!)

Get this issue out. Quick!

A moment for Michael

Since he passed away this Friday, there's a question that everyone has been asking everyone else. And that is: "What's your favorite Michael Jackson song?"

While watching Unang Hirit this morning, this was they're question for the day. A lot of people answered "Black and White" because of its message of equality.

Personally, my favorite MJ song is "Man in the Mirror." What I like about it is the simple message of "change starts with yourself." Really, that's what we all need to make things better and make this country great. Begin the change within yourself.

This is a great version of that song. I swear, a gospel choir really adds the "chill down the spine factor" to any song. (Just like when Mariah sang "Fly like a bird.")



Here's to the gloved one!

Eat's perfect

While the shopping might not have been stellar as I expected it to be, (thank goodness for the long, burgundy Episode evening dress) the food more than made up for it. I spent 4 days checking out the places I used to frequent, and the meals I missed.

On my menu:

1. Triple-O's Veggie Burger
2. Cafe de Coral's Lok Bo Fan
3. Tuna Puff pastry at Pies & Tarts
4. Prawn Noodles at the Prawn Noodle Shop
5. Fish Siu Mai at Prince Edward Station
6. Vita Lemon Tea (lots of it)
7. McDonald's double strawberry sundae (Mr. Yang, please bring this in)
8. Chicken egglets (or Kai Tan Tsai, methinks)
9. Raisin and Nut chocolate slab

Food, and shopping, really make for a perfect break.

Loot at that

Three days into my HKG trip, and I still didn't go on a mindless shopping spree at H&M. I think I deserve a medal for that. Or at least a commendation. Harhar.

As I mentioned earlier, the stuff on sale at H&M aren't that spectacular. Was hoping that the accessory section would yield irresistible deals, but all I got were a few cocktail rings. As I told my friend, maybe I should give it a few more weeks. After that, maybe I can come back and do some real shopping. By that time, H&M would've been on sale for a month, while Zara would be on its 3rd week or so. Now that would be shopping bliss.

Not to say that I didn't buy anything on this trip. It would be a complete waste if I didn't. As expected, trips to my usual haunts yielded a lot of great loot. Trouser style jeans, loose tops, vests, magazines, books, and some other what nots.

But my pick of the loot lot would be these:



Yup, Gladiator sandals. According to InStyle, they're not going out of fashion just yet. And these designs have a little something extra compared to the usual ones we see back home.

Then there's this little piece of black cloth. Initially, I didn't know what it was. Then the sales girl, someone who I know, explained to me what it was.



She unfolded it to reveal this.



Yes, it's a bigger triangle. But beyond that, it's a really nice and chic draped top. She even demonstrated how to wear it so that I wouldn't have difficulty explaning to my sisters. It's hard to appreciate it right now, but maybe I'll take a snap of Ate once she wears it.

Thank goodness for these, my trip wasn't entirely in vain.

Charlie's Angel is now an angel

Goodbye, Farrah. Now you'll get to see Bosley up there.

Hoard Shorts

First of all, Zara in HKG isn't on sale yet. (Hit snooze button now.) I can imagine the number of people hoarding Zara stuff in Manila as of this moment.

Thankfully, they are:



Yup, H&M is on sale, and the usual melee of people are there. It was hard to move around since there were soooo many people grabbing soooo many things. It was madness!

I was thinking of buying accessories for a change. But a lot of the designs I wanted weren't on sale. The dresses were ok, but they were stuff that my sisters already had a lot in their closets.

So does that mean I went home empty handed? Not really. I dropped by the basement and tried these on:



Yup, I was having a "shorts" moment. Who wouldn't, though? They were cheap! And while I ended up trying 5, I ended up dropping two.

Speaking of trying things on, I just noticed that they renovated the basement fitting rooms. The one I was assigned to was huge! It's probably bigger than a lot of the flats I've seen here in HKG. Harhar.



One H&M branch down. A couple more to go. Hopefully the accessories I'm looking for are there. Then the real hoarding can begin.

Sale away!

H&M is on sale.
Zara is on sale.
Lane Crawford is on sale.

This is a bad time to be in HKG.

But I promised myself that I'll be good.

I smell another sale...

All the signs are there.

First, the old (read: month or 2 months old) stuff are back on the racks. Second, the new stuff are slowly disappearing (to make way for the old stuff). Third, leftovers from the last sale are also making a comeback. Fourth, they're removing the window display in one of the panels. (Methinks this is where they'll put the sale sign.)

And now, a friend just confirmed it.

The Zara sale will start on the 25th of June!

Get ready to attack (or avoid, depending on what your intentions are) Zara.

Brace(let) yourself...

Unlike the Plains & Prints sale where I marauded the store on the first day, I decided to sit out the Mango sale and will probably wait until the 70% sign comes up. Aside from their "sneaky" prices, there weren't a lot of really nice apparel on sale.

But thanks to this act of ignoring their apparel, my attention shifted to their accessories. I never really paid that much attention to Mango Accessories, mainly because H&M has a much better spread. Yesterday, I finally did. And as stories like these usually go, I ended up buying something.



There were 2 bracelets that were just too pretty to ignore. Ate Bullet has a liking for bracelets and bangles - especially the Indian ones I usually buy from Singapore. These ones would make a worthy addition to her collection. Since this is my first accessory purchase at Mango, I was pleasantly surprised at the fact that they come in lush looking velvet bags.



The first bangle is obviously made in India. It has jewels, beads, ornate patterns - all in rich tones. This will look great on its own, or stacked with a couple colorful bracelets.



For some strange reason, the second bracelet reminds me of Rachel Zoe. Probably because she likes things that are chunky, statement-making, and vintage-looking. These 3 adjectives would best describe this piece.



The good thing about this is that it'll look good on any occasion. Whether it's paired with a white shirt and jeans for an errand day, or worn with a long, black evening dress for a formal event, the piece works. Maybe it's the color, or art deco looking metal detail.



There were a couple of pieces that likewise caught my eye. But they're too fashion forward so I'm sure they won't be picked up by people soon. So I'll probably wait until they slash the price once or twice more.

Plus, Monna just told me that H&M is on sale. More accessories, here I come!

Go, go, Mango

It was easy to figure it out. After running into a bevy of ladies carrying bags and bags of Mango merchandise, I knew Mango was on sale.



This usually means the "fast fashion sale season" has begun. After Mango puts up their sale sign, Zara usually follows suit after a few weeks. Then Debenhams. Then every other store that hasn't gone on mid-year-sale-mode yet. (Plains and Prints already did last June 11, and all the great stuff was gone in a matter of 2 days.)

Speaking of stuff, I noticed a sneaky tactic that Mango is using. I saw this striped, flowy jumpsuit a month back. I checked the price, and it was around P4,900. Today, I checked it again, and the "original price" listed was P8,450 and the sale price was around P4,300. After checking out 2 or 3 maxi dresses, they employed the same tactic, too. They reduce the price by around P500, mark up the original price by around P4,000, and that way, people will think they're getting a deal.

But I say no deal. I'll wait until the price REALLY goes down.

In any case, these are dangerous times to go out. With so many sales going on, I'll be safer staying at home.

Before Lady Gaga...

...there was Toni Basil.



Funky clothes, weird hair, great choreography and catchy music - she has it all in one great package. I wouldn't be surprised if she was Lady Gaga's inspiration.

Mercury in Retrograde

That might be the reason why my phone is acting super weird. One minute it's fine, then the next minute, the screen blanks out and I can't see a thing. Then another minute it's upside down, black and white, and cut in half. After that, it's back to normal. Geez!

The tech guy said that flip phones usually have more technical problems than non-flip ones. Which might be accurate because the flip phone I'm currently using is about a year and half old. And my Nokia phones that are already 6 years old? Still in great working condition.

Maybe it's the brand. Or maybe it's just the way the stars are aligned.

It's the 80s all over again...

First, Chace Crawford has signed up to do a remake of Kevin Bacon's "Footloose." Gosh! I remember how we watched that movie en masse, and everyone was snapping to "Let's hear it for the boy"

Now, they're also remaking this! Well, I'm not sure if it's a remake or a new version.



I'm sorry, but watching the trailer is making me giddy. Harhar.

Now my question is, when will they remake "Flashdance"?



Somebody do it, quick!

Fun-nini

At D' Frendz get together yesterday, I was once again able to put my "Chef's hat" and prepare something to eat for everyone. Armed with my favorite panini maker, some cold cuts, sauces, breads from Bizu and some greens, I whipped up 5 different kinds of panini. On the menu were:

1. Ham and Cheese panini
2. Pesto and Cheese panini
3. Spanish Sardine panini
4. Chicken-pesto panini
5. "The club" panini (which basically means all the leftovers in one sandwich.) Harhar.

It didn't help that we were watching "Top Chef" while I was making the sandwiches. Suddenly, my pent up chef-tendencies reappeared and immediately shut myself out and concentrated on making panini. And by the time the party ended, not only did I make 2 different sandwiches for everyone, I also gave them sandwiches to take home.

At least now I now my back-up plan. Lester-the-panini-maker.

The day of the free...

Happy Independence day, O beloved country of mine! Here's to freedom!



And thanks to Mark, I found out that the MRT is giving free rides again. I remembered that last year, I also got a free ride.

Ain't being free grand?

Literally funny!

This is just SO hilarious! I haven't laughed so much since "Romy and Michelle's High School Reunion." Watch and be amused.

Lester the Explorer

Who would've thought that Care Bears and shot glasses would be so difficult to find.

I spent the last month jumping from mall to mall and department store to department store in search of these two things. I must have scoured every toy store and toy section of every department store in the metro (including Plaza Fair) for Care Bears figurines. While they do have stuffed toys, I'm more in the market for figurines. Similar to those paper mache ones they used to sell in Gibson's during my high school days. (Blast from the past!)

And there's the subject of the shot glass. Gosh! Considering that they're in every souvenir shop around the world, finding a plain one is a challenge. Especially if the one I'm looking for has a particular shape and tint.

Today, I decided to explore outside the malls and department stores, and search for these items in more far-flung and seemingly uncomfortable settings. And thank goodness, my exploration paid off.

FOUND: Shot Glasses
PLACE EXPLORED: Quiapo



There's a street in Quiapo where household items are sold in bulk, and on the streets. A plethora of plates, ceramic mugs, and glasses with kitschy prints were scattered all around. But what caught my eye was this huge store with an impressive display of glasses. Went inside, found the perfect shot glass, bought samples on the cheap, and left with a sigh of relief and a smile on my face.


FOUND: Care Bear Figurines
PLACE EXPLORED: Apo St., Quezon City

This one I found thanks to Ate Bullet. Her friend owns a balloon shop and toy store, and it's the place where she usually finds hard to find toys. After a quick call to the owner, Ate found out that they have one last set of Care Bear figurines. It was the last! As in! Thank goodness Ate called on time and was able to have it reserved. And after the Quiapo trip, I went to Apo to pick it up.

There's a bonus here as well. The balloon shop was a block away from my old high school, LSQC. So after picking up the bears, I dropped by the campus (which was still empty since classes start on the 15th) and the Church where I used to go after class.



Ah yes, it was a fruitful day. Not only did I get to explore, I also got most of what I was looking for.

Conclusion: I should explore more often.

New cheap thrills

The great thing about riding the MRT is discovering and re-discovering cheap food that they usually sell at the stations. The past couple of weeks, I've been addicted to two:

1. Dunkin' Donuts Strawberry Kreme donut

This was a favorite of mine when I was a kid. Then the Go Nuts Donuts and Krispy Kremes of this world came along, and it was relegated to the back burner. But now, it's back with a vengeance, with me usually eating 2 pieces in one sitting. And because it's way cheaper than GND and KK, two pieces of Dunkin' Donuts is still cheaper than one from those brands.

COST: P11.00/donut

2. Yumpanada Mini-Chicken Adobo Empanada

Red Ribbon's Chicken Empanada is da bomb. But it suddenly became a watusi compared to this empanada which I found at a small stall at selected MRT stations. The crust is perfectly crunchy, and the filling has that perfect adobo flavor with a hint of sweetness. And since they come in mini sizes, they're handy and easy to put in your pocket when you ride the MRT. (No eating in the MRT, kids!)

COST: P5.00/empanada

As much as I wanted to take a photo of the Chicken yumpanada, I always end up finishing it before even taking a shot. Yup, it's that good.

Yo, Joe!

Now here's one movie I'm really, really, really looking forward to seeing.



I was a huge G.I. Joe fan when I was a kid, and seeing it in a live action film is such a thrill.

Show it now! Quick!

A decade In Style

It hit me while leafing through this month's issue of In Style Magazine.



The epiphany? It's been 10 years since I first bought a copy of this magazine, and I haven't missed an issue ever since.

It's quite easy to get hooked on the magazine. It's an easy read: light, funny, insightful and inspired. Their bevy of features, from personalities, parties, homes and fashion, are all very timely and interesting. Month after month, I read it from cover to cover, sometimes even re-reading it until the next issue hits the stand. And believe me, I actively look for the next month's issue on the stands.

Previously, Bufini was my source of In Style. Then it shifted to Mag:net. A few years ago, I decided to subscribe to the magazine via Emerald Headway, (the back issue promo was so irresistible) but I stopped because the issues arrive on the stand way earlier than the subscribed copy arrives at the office. While I was living in HKG, my source was HMV. For some strange reason, they sell it for a much lower price - about HK$20-25 less than in Page One or at great.

During extended travels abroad, I make it a point to look for the magazine. When we were in Mexico for almost 2 months, I'd relish our cross-border trips because that means I'd be able to buy the magazine in Texas. On my trips to Europe, first thing I'd look for at the airport was the latest issue. I've even resorted to reading its foreign issues - particularly the Spanish edition (to help me practice my Spanish) and the China edition (for the unique aesthetic.)

I've even formulated "economics by In Style" or monitoring the cost of the magazine in the countries I've been to. Hands down, it's cheapest in its mother land - the US. In Asia, the cheapest In Style is found in Hong Kong, followed by Singapore, then Malaysia, Thailand and the Philippines. Yup, it's pricier here compared to our ASEAN neighbors. But of course, it's way more expensive in Japan, not to mention difficult to find.

Yup, I think I've elevated it to a semi-obssession. Harhar. And who should I thank for this In Style addiction? It has to be Sheilah Marie! She introduced me to the magazine while we were officemates back in that white building along Vito Cruz. She'd always have In Style on her desk and I'd often browse it during downtime. (Which was few and far between.) Sheilah also introduced me to Delia's - but that's another story.

Amazingly, a lot of the magazines are still at home. There are issues dating back to 1999, and whenever I look at them, i'd chuckle at the photos and think to myself: "Whoa! That was stylish back then?" But of course, with the way trends seem to resurrect every 5 years or so, it'll just be a matter of time before the 90s come back to haunt us.

After following it for 10 years, I've noticed that trends, clothes, accessories and personalities do change - sometimes drastically, other times just a teeny-tiny tweak here and there. But if there's one thing that doesn't change, it's how interesting this magazine is. That's why, in my opinion, this magazine will always live up to its title.

It'll always be In Style.

What's afflicting everyone?

Just as I was breathing a sigh of relief at the fact that the "checkered-scarf-invasion" gone away, a new "uso" is now spreading like wildfire in the metro.



Everywhere I look, there's a Tom, Dick, Harry and Jane wearing a shirt with the word "Affliction" emblazoned on it. At first, I didn't really pay attention to it, but when everyone (and their fathers) started donning these black, tattoo-inspired shirts, I just had to look it up.

It turns out that it's a "rocker shirt." Among its fans are Ozzy Osbourne, Mike V, and even Kevin Costner. While it's being sold in almost every stall in Greenhills, I reckon that Anthem is the official distributor here in the Philippines.

After viewing their site, I conclude that they have nice shirts and leather jackets. But will I be afflicted anytime soon? The answer is definitely no. Yes, they're nice, but borrowing Michael Kors' words "It's just not my aesthetic."