Current Obsession: Isabel Marant Betty

There's a hidden grunge girl inside me. And it comes out when I wear my Isabel Marant Bettys: 

H&M plaid tunic, H&M jeggings, Isabel Marant Betty sneakers 

But this is my current uniform of the moment: a slouchy tee, skinny jeans and my Bettys:

Daley tee from Catalogue63, J Brand skinnies with zips, Isabel Marant Betty

T by Alexander Wang, J Brand 910, Isabel Marant Betty

I first blogged about Isabel Marant's sneakers here. I admit I was smitten when I first saw it in her Greene St. boutique back in 2010. But wedge sneakers? I thought it was just going to be a passing fancy. A trendy item not worth "investing" in. But well, 2 years later and it's been reincarnated in so many color combinations. The style has become a cult piece, it has inspired a myriad of copycats and knock-offs. 

I also like the cut-out ones by Margiela. But I think, one high-top wedge sneaker in my closet is enough.

27 Weeks: Back to Grunge

My mom and Dada don't particularly like it when I wear these tattered jeans, but they are just so comfy! My mom says this is something to wear to the market, or Divisoria daw. AKA as the haggling outfit, haha!

But I still often wear it out to run errands. This is the easiest outfit to throw on ever, plus this is one of two pairs of jeans I have, that still fit me. Wore this to lunch with Karrots at Basil:

grey shirt from Daley, Super Loved Destroyed boyfriend jeans from Current/Elliott, black Converse x Play Comme des Garçons sneakers

This is how I look like from the side:

I think Xavi is going to be much bigger than Berry. I was on 30+ weeks with Berry na when my belly was this size. Then again, as they say, first babies are smaller and succeeding babies are bigger. Plus with Xavi, I have a teenage boy's appetite and I am hungry every hour. Yes, up to now.

The Daley News: MFO Talks to Marga Nazareno of Daley

I am a bit obsessed with Daley tees these days, they're just the softest, slouchiest tees that look great by themselves (with bottoms of course) or semi-untucked and worn with a blazer. Emmanuelle Alt would so approve! I had to ask Marga of Daley to tell us more about their homegrown brand of tees.

Daley tee with front pocket in navy (photo by Don Yap)

I love your shirts! Very T by Alexander Wang! I love how I can just throw them on with jeans, slim cargos or whatever, and not look like I am wearing just any boring tee! How did you and your business partner Andrew come about with your concept?

Marga: I've always really wanted to come up with a basic apparel brand that carried nothing but 'season-less' basic pieces -- just stuff you want to wear over and over and wear with everything. I guess this is a reflection of my taste and personal style as well. I love women who always look classic and timeless and only use trends to punctuate their looks. And there really seems to be a gap in the Manila fashion scene for something like Daley. A lot of the young brands just do trendy stuff and all the high-street brands do all the trendy stuff as well. But women are never going to tire of basic pieces so it's nice to have access to a brand that specializes in that.

Andrew, on the other hand, is simply interested in dabbling in all sorts of businesses and the idea of setting up brand. Thats his strength. So when i was floating the idea by him, he felt like it would be a good opportunity. So he basically runs the show on the business side of things and it helps that his aesthetic is a male version of mine :)

When did you start Daley? 

Marga: We started the brand in September 2010, and Daley just happens to be our idea of what a good basic piece should look like -- something that hangs a little bit loose and just drapes the body. The colors tend to be neutral as well because the idea is really that you should be able to use the piece as a blank canvas. And of course the core of the brand is our tanks and tees -- it's really the first thing women are gonna need to build their wardrobes. 

It took us about a year to set this all up because we were having a hard time looking for the right supplier. 90% of what makes a Daley shirt a Daley shirt is the fabric so if we don't get that right, the fit just doesn't turn out right either.

I agree. Your shirts just have the right, slouchy feel to it, without looking sloppy! And I have all the basic colors and cuts, but I can't seem to have enough. Something so basic but so covetable! What's your inspiration?

Marga: In terms of designs, our core styles are always available. So you should always be able to get a tank or a tee in black or white. I think that's just the beauty of being a basic apparel brand. We try to introduce a new color every so often for our tank and tees, but always in keeping with the Daley aesthetic. But in terms of the rest of the styles, the clothes are really just inspired by what I would want to wear or see other women wearing. And since we're a basic apparel brand, I think a lot about what building blocks women would need in their wardrobes and pieces that would look good with certain outfits. And a lot of the time, the clothes are really just inspired by the fabrics. So we tend to start with the fabrics first.

Where else to find your shirts?

Marga: Right now, Daley is available at the Rockwell bazaars, Catalogue63, and at shopdaley.multiply.com

Daley at Catalogue63

I have been meaning to share Daley with you (I actually discovered them in Catalogue63 a few months back), but good thing I waited a bit, because now they have this button down sleeveless slinky shirt in a gorgeous shade of camel.

I just love how they drape so nicely, it just has an effortless ease to it. Very T by Alexander Wang. The best part of these shirts? They are so well priced! Prices start at Php650 for tanks and tees and go up to Php850 for the button front shirt.

Daley was started by Marga Nazareno and Andrew Villanueva and you'll learn more about them soon! In the meantime, get to know Daley shirts, available at the Daley boutique in Catalogue63!

Catalogue 63 Trunk Show

You are all invited by Martina of Catalogue 63 – an online shopping site that proudly carries Philippine brands and locally made products to:

WHAT:  Catalogue 63's first Trunk Show

WHEN: June 25 and 26, 2011
TIME: 11 am to 7 pm

WHERE: Metropolitan Club in Makati City

What could be one of the Philippine's well-edited online sites, Catalogue 63 carries online faves Renegade Folk and Tala Manila, as well as your soon to be faves like Amaranta, Vel, Sienna, Daley and Celline. 

Prices range anywhere from Php195 for a bracelet to Php2200 for a dress thereabouts, and  it doesn't take a lot of sifting to see the gems they have in store. I think they have the perfect pieces if you are looking for well-chosen gifts for a hard to please sister or friend and you have no plans of breaking the bank. They stock everything from slouchy tees & breezy maxi skirts  to both understated & statement accessories.

I am sharing with you my top picks, and as you can see, I found a lot. These are really just a taste of the sort of stuff you'll find online, and of course, at the Trunk Show.

 Both these baubles from Amaranta will look great dressed down with a plain black t-shirt and 

dressed up with a little black dress.

 Exotic snakeskin wrapped around your wrist takes a laidback outfit to a whole new level. 

Simple, chic & luxurious at a price that can't be beat!

Reminds me of TKEES with its thin sexy straps. It's the sort of grown up flip flops that won't look silly in an urban setting. Wear it to the nail salon, so you can show off your pretty polish right away.

I am feeling bad for spending dough on Alexander Wang shirts when I was pregnant with Berry. These tees from Daley look and drape exactly like the ones I have. I swear, stock up on these instead.

O.M.G. I am obsessed with Equipment and Madewell silk shirts and 

these pieces from Celline easily give off the same casual yet elegant vibe.

I mean, seriously. If you are into the model off-duty type of style ala Erin Wasson and Alexa Chung, and your working with a shopping budget that is more typical Pinay than Pivarova, please peruse Catalogue 63's online catalog. 

Then, make a beeline for the Trunk Show on the 25th & 26th. I think, you're gonna love it!