What I Wore...

...to run errands and drop by L'Occitane for Happy Hands Day 

silk top from Madewell, jeans from Cheap Monday, Louboutin Simple 85

...to run errands and pick up Berry from school

dress from APC Madras, APC belt, Repetto BB

...to go to war. Joke! Actually I just remembered I had these old pants and tried to style them to make them look more "now". Jenna Lyons was the inspiration

burnout tee from Nation Ltd., camouflage pants bought 8 years ago at Suan Lum Night Market in BKK, Louboutin Simple 85

...to bring the little ones to Blow-up Babies for a photo session

button down from +J Uniqlo, trousers from J. Crew, oxfords from Bimba y Lola

...to go on a massage date with Dear Hubby

shirt from Old Navy, shorts from H&M, Marni flatforms

...to bring Berry to school. She specifically requested that I wear a dress, so tadaaa!

dress from AllSaints, Isabel Marant sandals

Hi-Low Shopping for Kids

So fun to dress up kids these days, so many choices! Everything just depends on how much parents are willing to spend on their kids.

Take for instance the French brand Bonpoint. I always go to their site and used to drop by their shop in Forum on Orchard Road for inspiration, and then look for similar pieces at H&M, Zara Kids or Gingersnaps. Of course, I couldn't resist getting these Bonpoint sneakers for Berry though (she has the exact same ones below). It was worth it since it's so comfortable and she wears it all the time. But the clothes, heart attack prices!

Then, of course, there's A.P.C. Kids. So easy to replicate the looks, because these are all pretty much basic pieces. The great thing apart from the timeless styles are, they're unisex, so the kids can share. But limited styles lang. What you see below, that's it! A.P.C. took the term capsule collection literally. Then again, it's A.P.C - minimalist through and through.

Have you checked out DVF x Gap Kids? I have! Both at Bonifacio High Street and Shangri-la. So many sizes and choices pa! I made Berry choose, and my ever so chic daughter only wanted this black drop waist dress with the relatively muted, printed skirt. 

She didn't like any of the other printed pieces. So, I bought her this dress she liked, plus the printed leggings on the mannequin on the right, just because it was cute with her plain colored tees. She actually didn't like that, but I like it! It's so fun. While I am also glad that Berry already knows what she wants, and can make decisions at such a young age, hey, Mother knows best! Haha! 

But I think my best find above all, which I am sure many of you will agree with me, are these Japanese children's clothes that I found at Paseo de Sta. Rosa a few days ago. The store Ryuma (not rheuma ha!), which is in the same area as Nine West, Aerosoles and Samsonite, and beside the similarly named Ryuma Restaurant and Ryuma Grocery doesn't look much from outside, but they have nice stuff! This sailor onesie is just Php100 and the printed shorts are Php80. They have cotton sleepwear for kids, a top and bottom set with super cute prints for just Php200.

Admittedly, I have been concentrating on girl stuff, but have started researching on what I want little Xavi to wear. My friends who have boys swear by J.Crew crewcuts and I think I will also start browsing the little boys section of J.Crew soon. Zara and Gap Kids have nice pieces for boys too. Locally, I have spotted a lot of nice, preppy basics at Gingernaps.

Girls are so easy and fun to dress, and I can't wait to face the challenge of dressing up our little boy in his own chic way too! How about you? Where do you shop for kids' clothes? Hope you can share!

17 Weeks

shirt: A.P.C., shorts: J.Crew, velvet loafers: Pedder Red, belt: Marni

Wore this to my OB appointment. 17 weeks as of February 10! I am so excited! In 3 weeks we can find out our Little One's gender na!

Now that we are back in Manila, I super love being pregnant! Rustan's Beauty Source sent me Palmer's Cocoa Butter products, a brand I actually used when I was pregnant with Berry. Will show you the range that I have soon. I swear by it, I never got stretch marks when I was pregnant with Berry. 

And thanks to my BFF Nina, I discovered the pre-natal massage treatment at Clarins Institut Spa in Rustan's Makati! So relaxing and perfect for pregnancy aches and pains, and of course, for toning and taking care of our bodies. Will tell you more about that too. I think a lot of pregnant moms, ok fine, pregnant & maarte moms like me will appreciate it as much as I did. 

Will be back again soon! Wait lang!

A.P.C. Spring/Summer 2011

In case you haven't noticed, this is the sort of aesthetic that inspires the way I dress day in & day out. If I could only wear one brand my whole life (for casual clothes only, there are too many nice shoes out there hehehe), it would be A.P.C.

I Will Show You Why...

...I have no outfit posts.

Because a little girl we all know very well has been asking me to document her outfits. Each morning, after she takes a bath and dresses up, she points at her Dada's camera, insisting that I take her photo. She thinks taking outfit shots is just a normal every day thing, yikes! Apparently, she's been observing my every move, heehee!

Wearing a top from Auntie Frances & Alexa, Gap jeans from Ate Carissa Carale

Zara top from Ninang Aileen and Gingersnaps harem pants from Auntie Kaye

Gingersnaps top and random leggings from Grandma & Grandpa. I promise you, all these, particularly that last shot, she posed all by herself without any direction from me!

Meanwhile, all I have to show you are my attempts at getting a decent shot of my mommy outfits, because Berry won't let me be, hahaha! (Mommy, baduy ka naman! Ako na lang!)

Me: H&M top, Levi's Curve ID jeans, Toms

Berry: Zara dress from Tita Dianne, Saltwater sandals

Me: A.P.C. top, Old Navy shorts, Sperry Top-siders

Berry: top from Auntie Frances & Alexa, Gap jeans from Tito Ver

In the Navy

Striped shirt: A.P.C., rolled-up trousers: J. Crew, boat shoes: Sperry Top-Sider

Singapore is so rainy I swear! Today was no exception. It seems to me, it's raining every other day. If not daily.

I can't whip out my pretty flats and with the heat, I'd look stupid wearing my No.6 clog booties, so it was just perfy that I have these waterproof Sperry Top-Siders to wear when the weather isn't cooperating.

Almost Like St. Tropez

Saturday was spent over at the Jersey Shore (fist pump!). We went outlet shopping after a morning at the beach. I've turned into such a homemaker! My buys of the day? A skillet and a 3.5 quart French Oven from Le Creuset!

Here's what Berry and I wore:

Me: Breton shirt from A.P.C., shorts from Greenhills tiangge, Ray Ban wayfarers, 
J.Crew accessories

Berry: Pilipinas shirt, swimsuit & shorts from Ralph Lauren, Saltwater sandals

The Jersey Shore almost feels like St. Tropez when you're wearing K. Jacques. Hahaha! But seriously, these sandals are such a good buy. I've had it for almost 2 years now and it just looks better as it ages. Not to say, I also want a Rondini like Garance Dore's!

Berry was so funny though. While we were at the boardwalk, she kept on pointing at the sea, wanting to go down to the beach. But by the time we went down and she felt sand on her feet, she hesitated (you can see that in the second photo, she's clutching my hand, not wanting to move, hahaha!). Then she gingerly took a couple of steps, but I don't think she liked how unstable and uncomfortable it felt because her feet kept sinking into the sand and little grains would go into her sandals.

By the time she changed into her swimsuit, we immediately went to the shore to play with the waves. But she hated it! Hated it! Didn't like the water creeping onto her feet, and when a big wave came over us and got her wet, she hugged me so tight and wouldn't let go. Awwww. So not a water baby. Just like her Dada!

I Wear The Pants in the Family

(Button down shirt: A.P.C., rolled-up trousers: J.Crew, belt: J.Crew, shoes: Toms)

Look, I dress like Olivia Palermo's boyfriend. Dear Hubby is wearing stripes and shorts. Like Olivia. Heehee. (The funny thing is, we wore these outfits even before we saw the photo below! Uhm, great minds think alike?)

Lamang lang kami sa dalawang ito. Because we have a super cute Berry!

Uh-oh!

We're in trouble! Online and in stores!

Give Me Liberty or Give Me...

A.P.C. !

While it's wonderful that Kamiseta did a collaboration with Liberty of London, I just wish they didn't overdo it you know? They should have just let the prints "speak", instead of doing that print on print thing with the ribbons and all that jazz.

I think A.P.C. worked with Liberty prints the best. The pieces they came up with were simple and understated. This is what classic is all about. Fresh but still harkening to Liberty's traditional roots.

But there's no denying, the fact that Liberty worked with Kamiseta is a feat in itself. And we hope for more collabs with international labels to come! Now Kamiseta can say they're at the level of 10 Corso Como, Cacharel, Louis Vuitton, Nike & Yves St. Laurent - labels who have worked with Liberty, a historic yet still relevant English institution!

SMOD: Loafing and Romping About

Weather has been warm enough to ditch the sweaters, jackets and boots and wear my Repetto Jackson loafers that haven't seen the light of day since winter:

(Shirt: PLAY Comme des Garcons, Trousers: Topshop, Loafers: Repetto)

Oh! And remembered I had this A.P.C. romper which I last wore when I was still 23 weeks pregnant with Berry!

Look at Berry now, smiling so happily while I was taking my photo. She was probably thinking, "Mommy is strange! Taking her photo like that!"

Berry! This romper is older than you! Show some respect, hahaha!

P.S. Sex & The City Tour Blog Giveaway ongoing until May 8 EST! Join -- here!

Army & Navy Club

When I was little, we used to swim at The Army & Navy Club in Roxas Boulevard. I don't think it's there anymore no?

I guess going there and growing up in military camps pretty much my whole life have made military wear a staple in my closet. Especially since my Dad had a lot of those in HIS closet when he was still in active service. I am known to nab his US Army issue fatigue undershirt which was so thin and soft and worn in, it was almost like the burnout tees of today! But of course, I had to surrender it when my Dad looked for it, hahaha!

So yeah, up to now, I have an above average number of fatigues, army greens and khakis, you can pretty much call me the Chief of Stuff (army stuff, hehehe). But I have my favorites at a time. Back in graduate school, it was a pair of fatigue cargo pants. Before the winter of 2009 struck, it was my J.Crew military boyfriend jacket. This spring, I'm bringing out the parka you saw above! I got that for about $30 from Gap months ago (maybe almost a year ago, Berry wasn't born yet then I think)!

As you can see, it's a bit of a challenge to get a full outfit shot because Commander Berry is going through a clingy, separation anxiety phase. It seems I have to be beside her or within her line of sight all the time! (Dear readers, did any of your kids/nephews/nieces ever go through this?)





Here's what I wore under my parka, a tie front shirt dress from Margiela. It was on major clearance at Century 21! Bought for about $15 back in August. No kidding! It is an XL but I figured, I like slouchy clothes, and this would make a great breastfeeding dress. I just need to slide off my arm off the sleeves into the neckline.


Of course, when I checked weather.com, I still needed to layer the dress with a cardigan. It wasn't that warm out as I thought.


Speaking of Navy, that nautical themed denim tote on the lower right is just so me! I think that will look so cute with all my breton striped shirts! And! Surprise surprise! These totes here will only set you back $20, or about $22 with NY tax.


Cheap but really great finds no? That's one thing the Army taught me. Because funds are limited, you need to scout for the best deals, always!

Breastfeeding Style

(Wearing my favorite breastfeeding/summer dress from Cheap Monday)

Hi! Read your blog, it's really interesting!

Could rather relate to it, as I'm an expat wife living in Manila now. Just wanted to know, how'd you dress fashionably when you've got such a young baby around?

My baby's 7 months old now (almost the same age as Berry!) and I'm stuck in the same few breastfeeding tops and berms all day. :(

Plus, I'm always lugging around a huge backpack full of baby stuff... can't ever use a small chic handbag anymore.

Cheers
Jean

One thing I told myself, back when I was still single, was that I will never allow myself to slide (in Filipino, "Ayoko maging losyang!") when I get married and have babies. I want to look stylish, fresh, and smelling clean always. Well, it turns out, it's not that easy when one does not have yayas and helpers at home. That means, yes there are days when I putter about the house and run after Berry in pajamas the whole day. That's real life.

So, I "got it" when I became a mom myself. Mothering can really be a challenge, style wise (and grooming wise, I haven't been to a salon in months!). I totally see where you're coming from Jean.

But since I never was one to sacrifice style, I vowed I would never be caught outside the house wearing "boring" clothes. I still want to be me, I don't ever want to hide behind mommy clothes just because I am a mommy now. That was my philosophy too when I was pregnant. It just didn't make sense to buy maternity and breastfeeding clothes. (First, because I wanted to save. It wasn't worth spending on clothes I would only get to use for a few months. And second, there are just too many cuter clothes out there that are worth spending on!)

So I figured, the best clothes that were still "me" but practical enough to wear for breastfeeding would be roomy clothes (I wear a lot of A line tanks and oversized tees) and clothes with easy access points - button downs, snap-ons and wrap styles.

As you can see below, I have button down clothes in all its incarnations:

A button down dress from Cheap Monday which I wore every chance I got the whole summer with my K. Jacques...


A button down drop waist tunic from Old Navy which I wear with leggings or tights...


A button down flannel shirt from Uniqlo that I wear with jeans and Bensimon sneakers...

A button down onesie from A.P.C. that I wore with flat sandals in the summer and tights and my Golden Goose boots during fall/winter...

And yes, a hand-me-down button down shirt from Dear Hubby that I wear with leggings. I suggest you check out your husband's closet for shirts that he can pass on to you...

I also found this really cool Union Jack dress from Twenty8Twelve...

...that has snaps all the way around the neckline and down to the sides, that I can easily breezily remove come feeding time.

Finally, a wrap/mock wrap dress (or a top) is very breastfeeding friendly too! This one from H&M is pretty versatile. I can dress it down with sandals or dress it up with pumps if I have to...

And it is so easy to pull down the front come breastfeeding time...

My best accessories for these clothes are a breastfeeding cover and my breastfeeding bras from Bravado Designs (which I discovered, thanks to my friend Belle!). So there. I still get to wear real clothes, clothes that I love, and I don't have to sacrifice my style over breastfeeding at all.

Now when it comes to bags, you may have given up on small, chic, handbags, but you can easily replace those with big, chic handbags! I have friends who stuff a Louis Vuitton Neverfull with all their essentials, plus that of their baby's. When I go on short trips out, I put 2-3 nappies, baby wipes, a changing pad, an extra set of clothes, a bib and some snacks in a Rootote tote. And when I can only really just carry one bag, I put Berry's stuff inside my super lightweight bag (a Goyard Fidji).

I bring out the big diaper bags when we're out the whole day. Because when we are out for 2-3 hours, Berry hardly needs to change clothes and she only needs to change nappies once if at all (thanks to Pampers Baby Dry!). So in essence, it doesn't make sense to bring along so many things if it's just a short trip out to run errands.

In a nutshell, shop your closet for button downs, wraps and snap-ons and retire your breastfeeding tops. You can wear "real" clothes. Always bring a breastfeeding cover and use an easy to unsnap breastfeeding bra. Get yourself a nice lightweight and roomy tote or hobo (Longchamp, Kipling and LeSportsac are affordable alternatives to luxury bags) and try to whittle down the baby stuff to the essentials. That way, you don't have to lug around a huge backpack. Hope this helps you Jean!