Here's also a few key trends and items that I really loved, and will most probably continue on using:

• Classic footwear - 2013 marked the return of two surprise favorites: the ankle-strap sandal and the pointy pump. Not the easiest things to wear, but so versatile!
• Blacks and whites - obviously!
• Ankle boots - can't stress how necessary these are (the walkable, casual-wear variety)
• Vests, vests, vests! - Vests are like, weather-friendlier, less rigid counterparts of leather jackets and blazers. I can't live without these babies! I liked this white vest and leather skirt pairing and this leather vest and origami skirt pairing, in particular.
• Caps and hats - What you place on your head can sometimes really complete a look.

SO THERE! I don't know how different or similar I'll look this year, but it's always fun trying to see how it turns out.:)

Thanks again for visiting xx

Boy, keeping up sure is hard to do sometimes-- at least where blog posting is concerned. Take this outfit post for example-- something I wore to the Make Your Own Havaianas 2013 in Cebu event, sometime early August (which explains my very late "that Zara skort") post hehe. I know I have a serious backlog problem. Stress! I very much promise I'm working on it :)

Grid-Print Shift Dress from The Maze Hipzone - Ayala Center Cebu | ID necklace from PlusMinusTimesDivide | cuff from Gold Dot | cat-eye sunglasses from Romwe | vintage MCM bag | Jeffrey Campbell Soiree ankle-strap sandals

Photos by Thaad Sabolboro

These days, fashion trends come and go in a heartbeat. A lot of us love to stock up on the current season's "it" items-- it's a VERY hard addiction to cut especially if you're a fan of online shopping, right? The sad reality, however,  is a lot of these items will be very dated in just a couple of months or so. I used to be this kind of shopper until I got kind of wiser when it came to my purchases. These days, I prefer to invest in neutrals with a kick or an edge-- I'd rather buy a structured jacket than, say, a pricey digital print dress. If I really want something hyper trendy, I'd rather resort to bazaar finds and or thrifting so I don't invest a shitton of money on a piece I probably will only get to wear twice.

That's why I always believe in the power of accessories and jewelry. The right pieces just seem to stretch the potential of the pieces you've probably always had in your closet. The right clutch, cuff, necklace (smartly edited, of course) and other carefully curated additions can mean a whole lot of difference.

Here's a look back at some of my most favorite Spring 2013 accessory and jewelry trends:

image via en.vogue.fr

I can't say enough how much I loved this Spring 2013 trend. What was once deemed a "tacky" material was given a more polished, luxe edit for this season in the form of box clutches, stilletto heels, big clear cuffs, and more. The great news is, given its simple and minimalistic nature, I don't think this "trend" will run its course anytime soon. I'll definitely be wearing my Jeffrey Campbell "Soiree" for a long, long time.



Firstly, who doesn't have Christine Centenera on their "style crush" list? And secondly, how awesome is her Celine ID necklace? This piece has been making quite a storm and is on the must-have list of virtually every style blogger out there (including yours truly). Its a bolder, sexier take on last season's metal-plate choker trend-- I just love how it perfectly polishes off any outfit with so much attitude.

For much friendlier price tags, I'm loving Luv AJ's ID necklaces, Mango (in stores for 1,700PhP), and PlusMinusTimesDivide 's version-only for 400PhP!



I don't think I'll ever stop obsessing over these Balenciaga rings anytime soon. I think these rings will age well  in any closet and can be worn season after season. Of course ASOS was quick to come up with a very, very good copy of these, but sadly they quickly ran out! I'm thinking of getting back to DIYing just for this one.

This is less of a "jewelry trend" and more of a classic must-have in any girl's closet. My mom has always told me about the importance of slowly investing in fine jewelry pieces because they last almost indefinitely (unless you're like me that easily loses the jewelry her mom gives her. sorry ma :(), are effortlessly seasonless, and sometimes their value could even be worth more over time. The best fine jewelry pieces for me are simple, understated ones, such as thin-band tennis bracelets, eternity rings, and thin necklaces. 

Anjolee currently houses some incredibly beautiful, customizable fine jewelry pieces I've seen recently. Start saving up for fine jewelry pieces now-- just make sure not to wear them while riding a jeepney!:)

 Current hairstyle-- not my choice and not the best decision ever

Wearing street bazaar find top and glasses from Davao | Zara skirt and clutch | Mango booties

"But is heaviness truly deplorable and lightness splendid?"

Reading "The Unbearable Lightness of Being" by Milan Kundera is making me deeply ponder (to my chagrin) a lot of things going on in my life and about decisions I've made recently. There's days wrapped in a lot of heaviness and other days bathed in lightness that it's hard not to be dazed and lost in the melee of it all. I want my life to settle down in a sort of calm I've never had before-- but with everything that's going on, that seems to be quite a futile wish. I guess best I can do these days is to stop bitchin' and roll with the punches...

I hope you guys are doing MUCH better than I am! Toodles! xx

photos by Thaad A Sabolboro

Scarification, by definition, is literally what the body experiences after receiving marks and wounds involving scratching, burning, and/or cutting into the skin. A term more popularly used for those practicing extreme body modifications, "scarification" can also be a term used for natural wounds and the process of their healing.

Since today is Good Friday, I thought it would only be appropriate to blog from within; and to stop and reflect about all the good, the bad, and the ugly. Though varying in severity and situations, I think all of us are survivors of some sort of personal turmoil, no matter what way, shape or form they may be. Over the years, we have amassed tons of mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual wounds-- and we have the battle scars to show for them. 

I am certainly not exempted from this. I have endured so much scarring from all sorts of wounds-some I brought on to myself, admittedly--that it's hard to cope and keep track of it all. Just this past year alone, it was such a ridiculous roller-coaster of extreme highs, and then extreme lows, and then back up again that I can't keep my emotions at bay in one place. I don't know if life will throw me a lemon, or a stone, in every corner I turn to--so naturally I've just braced myself for whatever good or bad comes around.

Despite of it all, something really good has emerged from all this stream of life challenges--a strengthened and renewed relationship with God. To anyone who asks, I will readily admit that I am not devout in practicing my religion. I don't go to church every Sunday, I cuss like a sailor, and I may have forgotten the bible basics I learned as a child. But what I DO have though is a one-to-one conversation with Him in my thoughts, an earnest faith that He will provide the strength I need to get by in this life, and a deep sense of hope that He will pave the way for the greatness (I'll try my best haha) that I'm meant to achieve for myself. No matter how bad and ugly it gets, He always sends in little signs of good that reminds me to hang on. It never fails to amaze me.

I'm proud to say that I have and will continue to survive scarification beautifully because of Him. Take the time to be thankful for the little things, especially today. Have a truly Good Friday!

Boy London cropped muscle tank from Punk-X-Pretty | River Island bandage skirt | mirrored sunglasses from the American Outlet Store | Jeffrey Campbell Soiree ankle-strap sandals | accessories all bought from downtown

all photos by Thaad A. Sabolboro

Jeffrey Campbell "Soiree" (available here )

I love shoes as much as the next girl. Okay, maybe just a weeetle bit more than the normal girl. But after so many years of incessant impulse purchases and hoarding of trendy styles which I know won't get much wear in my closet (I'm talking about you, heelless shoes), I felt like I needed a change of perspective. It wasn't easy, but I eventually decided to bid adieu to many, many pairs of great shoes (either by selling them off or giving them to loved ones). I've made a promise to really save up for things that may  be worth way more than the average, but are sure to stand seasons.

It's been awhile since I really, really fell in love with a shoe design, but my heart did leaps and cartwheels when I saw the Jeffrey Campbell "Soiree" for the first time. Burdened by its somewhat steep price, I was lucky enough to have my good friend and fellow blogger Sweet bring this home for me from Bangkok, a tad bit discounted and all.:)

As per my bf, "it looks like you're walking on air." He can't have described it better! I can't wait to take outfits with these:)

Thank you to Kookie and GCashAmex for this wonderful contrast moto jacket, which I've been nearly married to for weeks now. Cebu weather has been kinder and perfectly gloomy for some leather-wearing lately. Hope it keeps up.

When you've got a good life, it kind of makes more sense to just live your life, as opposed to poring over hours and hours telling the world about how "awesome" everything is. My boyfriend gives me that argument whenever I pick up my phone or camera to take pictures or check-in or document just about every nice thing we do together-- he thinks it's silly, and it "destroys" the human experience because of the "need" to have proof/share the things that should just be enjoyed. Being the incredibly private person that he is, I definitely see where he is going. To each his own and there is of course nothing wrong with that, but that's the way he rolls, and definitely that's how he wants me to roll. After blogging for what feels like forever, I do appreciate his unbridled honesty and his uncorrupted view of how the world works and about what I do. Sometimes, we just really need to kick back and live our lives, and not to go about chasing and documenting it all the time. I'm glad to be with a man that tries to keep me grounded in that sense. 

This is a more personal post than most, and I hate to sound super cheesy and icky (my bf will probably give me hell for this lol), so I'll keep it short. I may not have everything I could ever want, but I'm glad to have a life that's currently filled with so much love and support. I won't always be talking about it here, but at least you know what goes on behind closed doors. I owe it all to my two boys, Thaad and Mozart, in keeping my life together in a world filled with agendas and a sea of ups and downs. I can't be more grateful.

vintage thrifted scarf and animal print blazer, 3.1 Phillip Lim (thrifted) white button-up, leather shorts from Ace Eboutique, Vanessa Bruno satchel, Figliarina ankle boots, pyramid stud necklace from OASAP

Photos by Thaad Sabolboro

I've been a very, very bad blogger--yet again. I gave in to my urges of having a week's off from this. It's kind of a "crime" especially in these days when  absences from the blogosphere could mean the demise of traffic and stats, but it's kind of fine for me. I kind of wanna strip down my blogging experience and go back to a certain sense of being true to myself and what this is that we bloggers do. It's kind of overwhelming how all of this (fashion blogging in general) has evolved, both in good ways and bad... so I want to hit the brakes somewhat to assess where I want all of this to go for me. I don't know if it means reduced posts or anything, but it's definitely gonna be more honest, at least to the level that I want. We'll see what happens. 

Just sharing this backlogged outfit post real quick-- went on a thrifting spree awhile back and found this incredible collector's piece. It's got this season's "on-trend" prints, and just the right amount of gaudy... Liberace would be proud.

I'll be back soon! xx

...is an awful joke, but my boyfriend loves to crack it to pester me and gets me to laugh all the same (despite my obvious annoyance). The things the men in our life can get away with, lol. That was basically the first thing that came to mind, trying to caption this very Day-glo ensemble. I absolutely love this deconstructed traffic-cone hued dress from Maldita, which I've worn to a couple of other occasions already. Not sure if saffron orange is big this fall, but here's to layering it with some leather to try and make it work.

By the way, I finally got out of my cave and signed up on Pinterest-- hope you can Pin away at the stuff you like here! :)