CHIC IN THE TROPICS | A Detroit Style Blogger and Filmmaker

fashion toy gun

Furious Rose by Shopyapi BTS

l-r: Lyka Raagas, Philip Lapinid, Kim, Aoi, Gizelle, yours truly

My good friend and fellow blogger Gizelle of Vanilla Ice Cream finally has the second collection for her online store, ShopYapi. When she told that she was coming up with a grunge-ish shoot for her new pieces, we decided to go ahead and collaborate. I don't have much time to kill really but I enjoy helping out friends with their own endeavours. Besides, I can't really say no to Yapi.:) Dubbed Furious Rose, the collection is all about really cute and non-fussy dresses and pieces with a kind of edge to them.

I did the creative direction and make-up for the shoot. Now before anyone asks, I'm just purely a make-up enthusiast, not really that good, but totally enjoy developing what little "talent" I have with it. I had a blast playing with Kim and Aoi's faces, who by the way have the most amazing creases for great eyeshadow blending. We wanted a kind of grunge, dishevelled-yet-pretty vibe to it, and I think we got that.

I can't wait for the final results from the shoot's official photog, Jonathan Carlobos of VEATA. I'm sure it's gonna rock.

I still have to edit a lot of the photos but for now, check out the BTS video from Phil of Fashion Toy Gun.

Shop Yapi "Furious Rose" BTS video. Styling by Gizelle Sembrano. Make-up and Creative Direction by moi. Styling Assistance by Lyka Raagas. Principal Photography by Jonathan Carlobos of VEATA. Video by Philip Lapinid

10 comments

, by Unknown

what i wore

float

Galaxy dress from By Accident, Bena wedges from Gold Dot

I feel horribly uninspired and miserable. Okay, maybe not quite, but I'm just not my usually happy and vivacious self. And when I'm in this phase it's pretty hard to pull me back up for a few days and I just need to just take a chill pill and relax or something. Maybe I just need another vacation or a new pair of shoes? I don't know, I just need some sort of activity that brings me catharsis. There's so many back stories underneath all the things that people see in me, and most of the times people just don't know how it really is. All I know is, almost a year ago, I decided to dive deep into the prospect of loving and being loved back completely and I thought I made it. I finally got to that point of happiness that people could only conjure in their heads and it was just more than anything anyone could ever hope to have. Months later, my reality completely readjusted and without my significant other by my side, our future is not in the clear and I'm totally in the deep end. The answers continue to elude me and I'm in limbo with what to feel, act and do. I don't know why I find myself in the same situation over and over--it really must be karma or whatever trying to make a joke out of me and laughing with some sort of cosmic rage over my fate. But whatever. I will get back up.

I know I promised to never really go into my emotions here on my blog, but I just had to really let that out of my system. Either that, or I'll spontaneously combust from the inside.

Well, thank God for real friends who are there when you need a huge ass dose of laughter to kind of get you going for awhile. One weekend, and boom, it felt like 2008 again. Nothing but good vibes, and absolutely no complications.

I think I need to get my shit together.

8 comments

, by Unknown

Manila

rush

By Accident pinstripe flute skirt with slit, thrifted knit crop top, Vanessa Bruno bag, DIY centipede necklace from Yves

Hope you all had an amazing weekend. I spent mine with barely any sleep just scrambling from one activity to another--acted in a short film, styled a promo video for a local modelling agency, and did hair and make-up for my friend's photoshoot for her online shop. I had no downtime at all and I kept zoning off in between, but I love the hustle and bustle so much. That's just the kind of person that I am, especially if I've got much to think of emotion-wise... our greatest enemy at times are our own idle minds, so I try to get my hands full as much as possible.

I also believe that to continue and life this kind of urban mayhem is the best way to prep me up for a potential life in another part of the tropics. I've been really contemplating about making a transition to Manila, but I won't really strike at it until I'm sure. I just really want more of that action, sans stress, if possible.

I'm still not done sharing my Manila advenchas... so much backlog, so little time! Dropped by the Swatch showroom in Greenbelt 5 and checked out their skull-inspired installations featuring OS by Paul Jatayna accessories and Jerome Lorico pieces... LOVE.

Left some of my artistic "skillz" in their rad freedom wall... and I of course I couldn't resist sending out my love to the boyf, for shits and giggles. I miss my boyf tons!

thanks for the massive love you guys have been showing xx

12 comments

, by Unknown

fashion watch

gomabella+zombie boy

Yves Identify "Gomabella" Pre-Holiday 2011 Campaign. Photography by Prem Ananda. Styling by yours truly. Hair and maquillage by Jomer Arances of Secanara Hands and team. Accessories by Noreen Tseng-Fernandez. Shoes by Mark Anthony Tenchavez of Shandar. Modelled by Astrid Hernandez and Victoria Aviso of Wafer Models Philippines. Shot on location at Diamond Suites and Residences. Special thanks to GM Ann Olalo, Juana Angela Claudine Emphasis, Sven Chua and Marlon Wafer.

Hey guys, sorry if I haven't been responsive to your comments or whatever. I feel less of a human today. Lol. I've been sleeping at 4am and waking up at 8am or 9 am daily for the past few days now so I feel very melancholic and blue somewhat...emotional duress maybe? I think I seriously need to take a chill pill.

Anyway, I get to act as a lead again in another short film shoot tomorrow. I get to kick my co-star in the nuts and he gets to punch me in the face--no worries, the violence is all in glorified black comedy film style of course. I'm pretty psyched.

I just wanted to quickly share with you the styling work that I did for Yves Identify's Pre-Holiday campaign dubbed as Gomabella--Just really pretty, a bit of retro minimalism going on, and a whole lot of red. Great to have worked with such an awesome team.

And since I feel really down in the dumps tonight, I think I could use a whole lot of Rico "Zombie Boy" Genest. Did I tell you how much I love him? And no, not because he starred in the video of Lady Gaga's craptastic song, but because he's just the sex. Anyway here's his cover for the June 2011 issue of Fashion Magazine Poland with Jac Jagaciak. I wish I knew how to say "that's hawt" in Polish.

I'll be back with more later xx

7 comments

, by Unknown

Gold Dot

bright anarchy+Gold Dot this June

Chiaroscuro by Oj Hofer infinity tank, custom-made leather skirt, vintage Gucci belt, cutout platforms from Shoesone

I realize that the bright red and bright yellow combination makes me look like the edgier cousin of Ronald McDonald. Lol. I couldn't resist wearing this incredible Chiaroscuro top to the designer's show, red hair and all. I rarely play with bright colours, and the designer was gracious enough to give me this piece, so I thought there was no better time than the show to wear it. And yeah, that's not really a sleeve, but Oj didn't call it the infinity tank for nothing! I'd have to thank Yves for doing the knots and all. I paired it with the custom leather skirt I had tailored for this trip--unfortunately the tailor didn't really get it right, and I'm buggin'. Oh well.

Oh, and status on the hair? It's fading out really fast :(( I wouldn't say it's as intense as it is in these shots but it's still really red. A costly and tedious colour to maintain, but if you're thinking about it, go! You'd have to endure the bleaching pain though. Hehe.

I don't really want to post personal stuff here, but to sum it up, I'm having a ridiculously tough day (more action on my Twitter if you really want in on the real score of my life dramz and all that--follow me! :P). 'Nuff said.

The June collection from Gold Dot definitely made me smile though. Yes, awesome shoes just reminds me that a lot of things in life are worth working hard for. Hehe. I can't wait to get my hands on these babies: