December 29, 2011

MUSIC : LOCKSLEY

Listening to Locksley’s music made it easy for me to stay smitten the entire day.


(Locksley perform "The Whip" for Brooklyn Bugle Sessions.)

Aside from being heavily influenced by early British Invasion bands with an instrumental style based more on early American punk bands and modern garage rock groups, their style’s just spot on landing them an 8-page fashion spread in ELLE.

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Those pair of red socks and saddle shoes – totally sick!

Watch Locksley’s full interview here:

December 28, 2011

B IS BANANAS, B-O-N-O-B-O-S!

Who said you can’t be impeccably well-dressed at the office?

The guys behind Bonobos. a New York-based online menswear company known for providing clothes with an amazing fit since 2007 have been good examples of the saying, “if you're going to talk the talk, you've got to walk the walk".

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Just like myself, the Bonobos guy is all about having a great fit that is tailored, stylish but totally not over the top – I think that makes a lot of sense.

Learn from them:
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“Every outfit should have one unexpected thing, one conversation starter, one beachhead for a casual compliment, one thing that says you care. When in doubt, wear a blazer.” - Andy Dunn, Co-Founder and CEO

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“I am a big believer that it's all in the fit. My advice is to find a great tailor.” - David Fudge, Head of Social Marketing

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“My personal style is modern preppy, and typically pretty comfortable.” - Richard Mumby, Vice President of Marketing

December 25, 2011

FELIZ NAVIDAD Y BON NADAL

Next to shopping and a shot or two of Jeiger, there ain't nothing that packs up and tears out faster than the Christmas spirit.



Mi abuelito used to tell me and my hermana this when we were little, "Esta noche es Noche-Buena, Y no Es noche de dormir" which means "Tonight is the good night and it is not meant for sleeping!"

Natural high, YES! I couldn’t stop myself from singing, “cascabel cascabel, suena cascabel, este dia en trineo vamos a pasear, Navidad Navidad hoy es Navidad, es un dia de Alegria Y felicidad!!!!”

December 20, 2011

DELAYED FLIGHT AND OCCASIONAL FREE THROWS

Last night was dripping with humidity and heat, and it is supposed to feel crisp and cool. Tonight surprisingly gave in and I just can’t help but enjoy the smell of newly cut grass.

I have taken my holiday break a few days earlier and it feels like I am centuries away down south. Yes, this sudden shift makes me feel like I am in celebrity rehab but thank god I was able to grab a copy of Rafe Bartholomew's basketball diary to the Philippines, where most men here are 5'4, and everyman's Air Jordans are a pair of flip-flops.

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(Rafe Bartholomew, currently an editor of Harper’s Magazine, obtained a Fulbright grant to study the phenomenon of basketball in the Philippines.)

Rafe’s wonderfully written journey in my side of the pond kept me giggling non-stop the whole three hours at the airport, that I almost missed my flight.

“Basketball fever in the Philippines ran so hot that the government once rescheduled a voter registration drive after learning that it conflicted with the telecast of an NBA finals game.” – Rafe Bartholomew

I was hooked and the wrigglers inside my stomach skipped a beat as I continue to flip each page – I mean, who would have thought my country was so hoops obsessed.

Now, what to wear tomorrow?

December 12, 2011

GUILTY PLEASURE: MONOCLE MAGAZINE

Just got my copy of this month’s Monocle Magazine. Yes, Monocle Magazine is the definition of a guilty pleasure.

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(Photo from Marc of That is just Awesome.)

Now, let us not hate Tyler Brûlé for doing a fantastic job.

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(Tyler Brûlé, Editor in Chief of Monocle Magazine and The Monocle Shop in St. Francis Yard, Hong-Kong)

December 05, 2011

BASIC MATTER 29: ALL THINGS TAILORED

I have a deep relationship with my tailor – not that it’s a bad thing. Bespoke really is not about fashion, It is about individual style and elevated quality. I’ve always had my clothes hand-finished to the exact shape of my body.

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(every tailor's guide to anything bespoke)

For the ignorant douche next to me, bespoke means having clothes hand-finished because anything mass produced won’t fit me – yes, consider yourself stupid!

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(A trip to my tailor is always a joy!)

I admit, I am just as vain as Italian men even if they won’t admit it HAHA!

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(My good friend, Mario in his usual Friday night party get-up!)

Right, Mario?

I mean, nobody really wants to look sloppy, right?

BLACK AND BLUE

Call me boring but yeah, I am the kind of guy who wears denim with everything from pique polo shirts to bespoke. Since some jeans are inherently dressier than some and will therefore look better with my bespoke dress shirts in my closet.
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(ACNE max cash slim jeans in black and Rag and Bone straight leg denim jeans)

A good pair of jeans should always enhance your body and not hide it. Almost all my jeans are cut slim (I was never used to super baggy blue jeans dad used to get me in high school) but not skinny but hey, I look good in them despite me having almost the same body type as Jack Black.
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Sometimes, when I see a nice pair with the right wash in a different cut, I grab them without even thinking twice. A quick trip to my tailor usually does the trick.

I mean, you just don’t want to wear your jeans – you also want to look great in them.

Note: the darker the blue, the dressier the jeans and please, no studs. You can also try black.

SOUTHERN EXPOSURE: ON WHAT TO PACK AND GETTING THE PERFECT TAN

Packing for the province always isn’t too easy for me especially when it’s sweltering hot down south (yes, double the humidity compared to Manila).

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What I have considered packing with me:

1.Espadrilles. Who cares about them being a big trend, I’ve had my pair even before
it became a trend in this part of the world. My Abuelito (grandfather) would
always wear them walking around the terraza and lanai.
2.My pink beach shorts. I’d rather be easily spotted in the middle of the sea than be
bitten by barracudas.
3.Sun tan lotion (yes, not sun block!).
4.Slim shorts in red, khaki, navy and seersucker.
5.My go-to cotton plaid shirts
6.My trusty perfectly beaten-up tan Gucci loafers
7.A pair of white dress shirts in cotton and oxford.
8.And a pair of selvedge denim for than unexpected after party.

It is always important to head down south or whichever destination you’re going for
the holidays with a simple but sophisticated capsule wardrobe. And please, no fur!

I have also been looking forward to the following:

1.An early morning drive to the farm.
2.House-hopping from lunch to dinner ( plus a few
bottles of wine)
.
3.Afternoon merienda (knickerbocker) at uncle
Greg’s restaurant, Palmeras.
4.The usual Hawaiian dinner at my aunt’s place overlooking the city.
5.Lazy afternoons at our Lanai.
6.A trip to pink sand Santa Cruz Island (yes, I need
to get toasted!)

7.Gift shopping in Barter and Yakan Village.
At the same time, I am also looking forward to getting back on the first of next
year to start working on a big project.

Note to self: have those golf clubs cleaned before hitting the fairway.