CHIC IN THE TROPICS | A Detroit Style Blogger and Filmmaker: chic in the tropics

Chic in the Tropics does NYFW

Ugh, I missed the schedule of my own Detroit X NYFW post! I mean, when you're close to 30, and a cold kicks you, it kicks you HARD. Needless to say, this is one heck of a catch-up post! Brief recap: I collaborated with my blogger friends Lil Miss JB, Mafia Mel , and Beauty and the Muse for a Detroit x NYFW - themed blogger link up love. I missed the date on posting my own look, ironically, but here we go.

Before anything, I would like to thank Scott Mitchell for the awesome photos, edited by moi.

Check out my Detroit X NYFW Q& A after the jump!

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chic in the tropics

Detroit X NYFW

If you ask any fashion girl what THE dream is, I think everyone would be unanimous about New York Fashion Week. You know what I mean by the dream - the ultimate highlight to anyone's career; the ultimate sight to see, the ultimate #fashiongoal. It happens like clockwork every year as all eyes are glued to New York City and how it basically sets the stage for all the trends for the upcoming year. Like what Miranda Priestley said in THAT scene we all remember from the Devil Wears Prada, it affects everyone (even if you don't consciously think it affects you). Economies are moved, companies rise and new talents emerge, and trends are very much set. Again, NYFW jumpstarts it all every single year.

Now, we may not be able to personally be there for the action (someday, though!), but who says we can't celebrate all that glitz and glamour right here in our home turf? I had the chance to collaborate with some of my blogger girls for a New York Fashion Week special, Detroit fashion blogger style -- see more photos after the jump!

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beauty

Get Radiant with YSL Touche Eclat Blur Primer and Perfector: A Review

How about filing this under e-mails that make you ridiculously giddy: +Influenster reaching out to you with the news that you've been handpicked for the VIP +YSL Beauty Touche Eclat Voxbox? I could barely contain my excitement! Should you dump your go-to primer for these beauties? Read after the jump for my quick, unbiased take on these goodies!

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beauty

Save or Toss? Makeup Expiration Guide

original article and infographic courtesy of Makeup.com

I think this infographic is definitely worth sharing, and obviously self-explanatory. As someone who has worked behind the makeup counter for almost a year, I encountered quite a few... interesting stories from some customers about the shelf life of most of their makeup, and it wasn't very pleasant. Heck, I was pretty guilty of this myself before I got seriously schooled. A lot of us are pretty clueless about this, really, but I think common sense prevails in this situation, right? I personally wouldn't throw awat a perfectly good pan of bronzer or eyeshadow palette (Estee Lauder's Bronze Goddess, in particular, is SO HUGE that it should last you well beyond two years even with everyday use!), but anything that is in liquid form is obviously more susceptible to bacteria, and anything that approaches your eye has to be deal twith some degree of caution. It was sad when I had to toss a couple of Diorshow mascara tubes away, but yes... definitely 6 months tops for mascara. Tops!

While we're on the topic, do you guys have recommendations for the best drugstore mascaras? Do let me know in your comments! xx

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chic in the tropics

OUTFIT: Prefall Daze

The sun sets a tad bit earlier, and the mornings are getting quite a bit more chilly... hold up, when did we get this close to fall?

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chic in the tropics

Throwback Outfit: Fall Undertones

Ah, 2013. The year of awesome hair, not-so-sweltering days back in my old city, and deliberating on many, many tough calls and life decisions. Oh, and let's throw skinny legs in the mix! Good times, good times. My pre-partum physique may have left the building (temporarily, at least), but I did get to keep the sick military coat and boots. Fall isn't until a few more months away, but I can already feel it beckoning!

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beauty

The Bare Minimum: Daily Makeup Roundup

Have you ever rummaged through your handbag and was flabbergasted with the number of lip balms, lipsticks, and a ton of other makeup products you didn't know you left there? Now I'm not saying I have a TON of product (I don't, haha), but working in beauty and getting free stuff here and there and dealing with makeup majority of the time, I do get product fatigue. As a new mom, I also prefer to look put together in the least amount of time. I cleaned up my stash, and here you go, the simple and absolute must-haves for my daily makeup bag:

Face Coverage and Color:

Estee Lauder Double Wear BB Glow SPF 30

Ever since I got to know Estee Lauder's Double Wear, I have not looked back to my old foundation-- or any other foundation at that. It's the only foundation that doesn't make my skin turn or oxidize, and it stays ON. Like, put it on at 7 am and it'll stay until 9pm kind of ON. The Double Wear BB Glow is a lighter formulation with a generous SPF, and it provides just enough coverage.

Physician's Formula Youthful Wear Cosmeceutical Youth-Boosting Spotless Powder in Translucent, SPF 15

Yep, that's certainly a mouthful, haha. Essentially a brightening powder which promises to extend the wear of your foundation (a.k.a a setting powder) and evens out your skin tone. I love the light-reflecting optics in this powder, which gives a really subtle glowy finish.

Estee Lauder Bronze Goddess Powder Bronzer in Medium (03)

Bronze Goddess is not just A bronzer, it's THE bronzer. Immediately ordered it from my work gratis -- it gives just the most flawless glow that doesn't look orange, too sparkly or too shimmery, which I hate. Yes, it is a bit pricey, but the pan is HUGE and literally will last you a couple of years at least. If you're out bronzer shopping, get this-- no regrets, I tell you.

Eyeshadow and Mascaras:

Estee Lauder Little Black Primer- I love mascara as much as the next girl, but I hate having to deal with the end-of-the-day cleanup routine! Estee Lauder's LBP is my favorite new product from the line this year-- it curls and lengthens so magically sans the "spidery" mascara look. Perfect for grocery and errand days!

Clinique High Impact Extreme Volume Mascara - I use the Little Black Primer on a daily business, but keep this tube in case I need a bit more drama.

Tarte Amazonian Clay Eyeshadow Quad in "Brewed Awakening" - I own several neutral palettes, but this little box from Tarte is my current go-to! Tarte's Amazonian clay formulation is divine and these pigments stay on until the end of the day without primer. It is SO good.

Liners and Lipcolor

NYX Soft Matte Lip Cream in "Stockholm" - Wow, just wow. I have to admit that I'm a tad bit late to to the NYX matte lipcolor party, but I am seriously hooked.. They are so worth all the hype they're getting everywhere! The color stays on forever, doesn't dry your lips out, and is super affordable compared to other matte lippies out there. "Stockholm" gives a great pink-y nude tone perfect for everyday wear.

Pixi Endless Silky Eye Pen - I've already mentioned how much I love this gel liner here, and I'll say it again -- this is a GREAT liner. It glides on like silk on skin, gives the inkiest pigment, and doesn't budge when it dries... a very worthy dupe of Lancome's Le Stylo Waterproof, which I worship, but can't afford. Pixi offers the same payoff but costs only a fraction!

Kat Von D Tattoo Liner in "Trooper" - Hailed as the HG of all eyeliners by some beauty vloggers out there, this liner gives a very precise fine line for the perfect cat eye.

What are your absolute must-haves in your makeup bag? Let me know in your comments! x

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chic in the tropics

The MAZE Hipzone Spring-Summer 2013 Ad Campaign Shoot Video

The MAZE Hipzone Spring-Summer 2013 Ad Campaign Shoot from Thaad Sabolboro on Vimeo.

Direction and Cinematography: Thaad Sabolboro

Producer: Carla Marie Moras Adlawan

Fashion Styling and Art Direction: Eden Villarba-Sabolboro

Hair and Makeup: Chady Pantaleon

Models: Gazini Ganados, Ann Sophie Muller, Bjorn Lundqvist

Shot on location at the Best Western Plus Lex Cebu - Cebu City, Philippines

Many thanks to Sven Chua, Carolyn Tan and The Maze Hipzone

Truth be told, I terribly miss doing fashion styling work and working in fashion in general. After almost a year of having moved to the US and in Metro Detroit, the connections I've made in the industry are still few and far in between, and the things I used to do professionally seems like a distant reality now. Definitely still light years away from my professional career goals. Though I'm obviously more gravitating towards rebuilding our video production company and finding more work as an actor, I still miss working on little fashion projects here and there and would definitely welcome new work with open arms. Baby steps, right? Time and patience, so to speak.

Anyway, here's the fashion ad campaign video for Cebu City retail store The Maze that we did almost 2 years ago now for their spring and summer season. Definitely missing good friends and other collaborators in this video... but on a more positive note, I still have my husband as my creative partner (he shot and directed this video!), and for sure we'll keep the work coming.

Are you a fashion designer/stylist/model in Metro Detroit looking forward to collaborate? Don't hesitate to hit me up at edeninthetropics@yahoo.com -- let's talk! :)

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chic in the tropics

Rad For Some Plaid

Plaid Moto Jacket, Bongo | loose satin tank, Abound | bucket bag, Steve Madden | leather lined pants, Romwe | Tika2 burgundy faux croc skate shoes, Topshop

A friend of mine back in the Philippines jealously quipped at one of my photos saying, "aren't you just sooo lucky being able to wear leather jackets without having your pits sweat buckets!"(and no, she wasn't rapping when she said this, haha). I guess you can call this my little tradeoff for missing out on all the beach and island hopping adventures back in the tropics. I know I'm missing out a lot, but hey, at least I get to rock a leather jacket in April. Take that, friend (haha, hear my bitterness talking?)!

On another note, I'm feeling steadily grand these days-- starting to meet creatives and other bloggers in Metro Detroit, steadily working on the groundwork of our revived video and film company, and my baby is doing better with sleep training and mobility milestones. Life's a daily challenge but hey, gotta be thankful for the small things.

Hope you're all doing great! xx

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chic in the tropics

Photo Diary: Toronto, September 2014

random streets and scenes, downtown Toronto

Photos by Thaad and Eden Sabolboro

Ah... Toronto. It is downright impossible NOT to fall in love with this beautiful and extremely vibrant city. I'm all about big cities that put arts and culture at the forefront, and Toronto is definitely one of those places where there's just so much of that to experience. After having the opportunity to visit the lovely city twice over the past year, I feel pretty blessed to have witnessed a smorgasbord of cultural experiences that I feel has personally enriched me. And not only that, the food and the people are always awesome. Toronto, I'll always miss you!

Early in September of last year, my heavily pregnant self went along with my husband and my brother and sister-in-law to attend the Toronto International Film Festival for the very first time, which has always been on my bucket list as an aspiring filmmaker. I'll be reserving actual photos of my festival experience along with a few survival tips in another blog post (trust me, you'll need it!), but for now, I'd like to share some of the snaps we got of Toronto-- it just comes more and more alive with every angle. :)

More over at Instagram @edeninthemitten -- see you there!

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chic in the tropics

Goodbye to the Thigh High

Bomber jacket, Zara | black dress, thrifted |bucket bag, Steve Madden | thigh-high boots, Wild Diva | tassel necklace, New York and Co.

After months of waiting and several freak snowy days in between, spring has really finally landed in my part of the Midwest. And I'm not talking about the 10-degree false alarms, I'm talking about sunny, fairly cool 50-to-60-degree weather, which is absolutely just perfect in my book. You're not sweltering and sticky with sweat, and yet, the sun is completely out and casting lovely rays. Though I miss crazy hot beach weather in the Philippines, nothing is more lovely than the perfect spring day. :)

Since winter is finally bidding adieu, these boots would also have to go for now. They've been my companion almost every time I'm out in the winter, as they feel perfectly dry and insulated, and I think just a tad bit too hot for spring.

Btw, don't be a stranger! Do connect with me over on instagram @edeninthemitten where I post tons of food porn, girly things here and there, and a whole lot more. :)