AM NO ABERCROMBIE & FITCH GUY BUT I WEAR WEAJUNS AND SHORT SHORTS

I remember mom would make me wear pink, khaki and plaid when I was little and pulled it off quite nicely. Shirts and shorts mostly from Lacose, Le Tigre and her all time 80’s favorite Collezione – yes, that store along J. Bocobo street in Ermita.

My parents believed in traditional clothing and viewed it not as a style but as clothes worn for generations. Suddenly, I have gone back in time when I used to borrow dads Weejuns to school and wear my Tretorns to church. I never gave up and it has been my uniform since god knows when.

Growing up down south, my summers were usually spent waking up early, hitting the fairway at eight in the morning with cousins and sometimes with my dad when I was 9 and ending the day hitting a few buckets at the driving range.





Vincent Schoepfer's Gossip Boy S/S 2010

The past few days, I have been frequently checking out Vincent Schoepfer’s Gossip Boy collection for S/S 2010. His collection simply embraces the dapper philosophy of waistcoats, henleys, prints and bow-ties creating a modern uniform of travel.

MUCH NEEDED WEEKEND BREAK AT THE BUTT CRACK OF DAWN

Ironically, being invisible for the past two months also meant that I've been insanely busy working on new business pitches, editing and writing multiple press releases, organizing press conferences and making progress on other stuff that's been languishing.

I haven’t even had the chance to squeeze in a little bit of shopping during workday lunch or happy hour and finding a better balance only means I have to do what I have to do, and what I have to do is get work done and find a way to take advantage of my weekends instead of bringing work home all the time.



Then, I woke up one weekend morning up at the butt crack of dawn realizing I haven’t done anything interesting for the past year and a half. I haven’t gone sailing, I haven’t visited the driving range nor kissed the putting green in ages, paint and hold an exhibit, shopped impulsively without mom and dad stopping me, traveled abroad nor find the time to visit mi mamá y papá down south. I really need to figure out how to not exhaust and burn myself from this curse.

I must shut up and work on the pitch fast - buddha needs to shop this weekend!

Here’s what’s on my list this weekend:

shawl collar sweater

new black oxford lace-ups

crisp white dress shirt

new black leather watch straps

probably sourcing for fabrics too and yes,


bonus item – deck shoes! Haha


And oh, drop by Plant and check out the Rockwell Urban Bazaar ( Dean & Trent’s there!)

GILDED SUMMER

I recently came across Paul Smith’s Spring/Summer lookbook and I was pleasantly surprised with what I saw.





I’m in love with the muted and subdued tone of the images and the bright pop of colors. Everything looks as though it's been painted gold by the summer sun reminding me of summer days in Tali and the beaches down south.

THE APC’S OF SUMMER

I’ve always felt that A.P.C. is one brand that has been consistently providing beautiful everyday clothing ( I’ve two pairs of nice selvage jeans I got at Homme et Femme way back and I still wear them).

SHORTS FOUND!

Over the weekend while cleaning my closet, I discovered I had 2 pairs of shorts ( plaid driving range shorts and an old clipper shorts worn the first time I went sailing) hidden under a pile of pique preppy polo shirts that I haven’t worn in ages, meaning it has been there for almost 4 years untouched.



( How to wear it right and what to wear it with. Photos from The Sartorialist)

Excited, a pair of shorts actually offers countless possibilities, you just need to know what goes with what and by now you know pleats are a no-no . To up your game shorts, you’ll need to focus on fit. Baggy ones and cargo knee length shorts are the most comfortable while slim-cut versions with a slight low rise that stops two inches above the knees are the most modern.

Shorts are still in style and will never go out of style. I must dig on my closet more and look for the right pair of boat shoes and loafers.

IVY LEAGUE + EAST COAST PREPPY = CHESTER FRENCH

You got it right! They're both from Harvard. Music history savants Chester French seem to project themselves as an obvious choice for the new big thing and check out their Beach Boys-infused, Joe Jackson-inspired, hodge-podge indie rock and 1960s swagger style – perfecto!

LINED NOTEPAD FROM RHODIA

Ants present to me and Timmy, a staple bound black lined pad from Rhodia which looks like a mini-notebook at 3 x 4 3/4in. Rhodia offers the smoothest writing experience and the paper is a pleasure to write on.

I might end up hoarding a lot when I get to the US in a few months haha I'm totally going to enjoy writing on this one. Thanks Ant!

BASIC MATTER 11: SUEDE SHOES FROM OPENING CEREMONY

Saturday is “me” day so what better thing to do on a sunny Saturday right after the storm? Retail therapy! Retail therapy + Buddha Banana = comfort and yes, comfort is like happiness – who’s not looking for happiness?

A quick drive to Theodore’s which is by the way moving to its new home before the end of the year in Makati was worth it. I always tell myself that what you wear south of your ankles always deserve a seasonal update and yes, I spotted a pair from Opening Ceremony that made me not think twice haha.

Nothing says you’re ready for balmy temperature and shorts like a pair of suede shoes.

I JUST TURNED A YEAR OLDER - SALUD!

Today is my 27th birthday.

Do I feel old?
A little.

Do I care?
Not so much.

I remember thinking when I was around 10, I’d always ask myself “I wonder who I will be when I graduate. I wonder what I’ll be doing and what I’d look like.” I don’t think I ever could have guessed that I’d look like I do now, and would be doing what I’m doing now.

I have realized what a brilliant life I have got in regards to great friends, family, a loving God and a nice job and I just thought I’d share my joy with the people around me.

It’s still not too late to buy me a beer and those blue suede loafers haha.

Thanks everyone who greeted!

WHEN THE BELL RINGS, RUSH TO CANTEEN!

The style of dining is reminiscent of the restaurants along the artistic meat packing district of Soho in New York City. My meal at canteen was pure Aracama, unlikely ingredients enhanced by unsurpassed imagination. Much of his food appears unstudied and spontaneous, but it is entirely a product of perfectionism-definitely up there at the top level of the top restaurants in the metro.



(Canteen is a small laidback restaurant serving a variety of salads, soups, pastas and sandwiches.)

Canteen’s food is one of a kind. You might find it peculiar, I find it earnest, innocent, irresistible, and imaginative – a little art naïf, a little emerging rock-band.

(Cheese steak US beef onions, bell pepper and cheese wiz sandwich and Lemongrass beef and nuoc cham dip in soy sauce.)

Anyone who dines regularly at Canteen knows to expect perfectly prepared salads and sandwiches and the finest homemade chocnut ice cream in town.


(Canteen’s unassuming storefront entrance in Legaspi Village sits across furniture heaven, Habitat and a stone throw away from 105 Rada.)