What's Up, Ankle Strap

I am totally in love with this look!  

The first time I went out with Dada, I wore a pair of ankle strap heels from Kenneth Cole. I still have it. Berry specifically asked me if she could have my "high heels". I tell Berry to take care of it because that's what I wore when I first met Dada. I should take a photo para you can see. It's still nice up to now. 

Good thing I kept it. It's so hot this season! As in smokin'! There's an ankle strap for everyone, from Lola, to Tita, to y tu Mama tambien! Check these out yo! All from net-a-porter:

 

Gucci - for your sister, because she's tired of all those predictable neutral heeled sandals

 

Chloe- for Sofia Coppola, because I can totally see her in these

 

Alexander Wang - for your high school best friend who has a weakness for "look at me" shoes

 

Nicholas Kirkwood - for you, yes, for you!

 

Marni - Lola will love these because of the chunkier than usual heel

 

Saint Laurent - for your disco loving Tita

RED Valentino - for your girly tween who now wears the same size of shoes as you

 

Givenchy - for your chic cousin who is always impeccably dressed

 

Esteban Cortazar - for your neighbor whose style icon is J. Lo

 

Givenchy - for your understated but always glamorous Mom

 

Pierre Hardy - for your artsy best friend who hates that you hate color

Nautical by Nature

Façonnable knit top, Marni belt, Rugby Ralph Lauren short, Isabel Marant sandals

This is what I wore to run errands in Megamall, not to go yachting. Hehe. What's so special about this outfit? I got everything on sale! Well actually, the same goes for most of my stuff. I normally will not pay full price on clothes and shoes. I always wait for items I like to go on sale, my belief being "If it's still there, it's meant to be."

The striped top, I got at Nordstrom Rack. The shorts I bought online from the Rugby Ralph Lauren website. (After searching for "white shorts" via Shopstyle). The belt was from the Net-a-Porter sale, and my Isabel Marant sandals from Totokaelo's spring sale.

I think there's a lot more fulfillment from buying items I like on sale. It's like the Universe conspired to save that piece in my size, especially for me. Does the same go for you? Do you feel the same way too?

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

26 Weeks: Prints Please

Suddenly, I seem to have somehow started accumulating printed dresses. From graphic to ethnic, my wardrobe of mostly solids, checks and plaids has been infiltrated with loud prints. I only started with at most two printed dresses, and now I have like, five. Ehehe! Of course, I am still staying true to my vow of keeping a capsule wardrobe.

Here's what I wore at 26 weeks:

Marni x H&M dress with Marni platforms and accessories from J.Crew, Fenton/Fallon and Alexis Bittar, when Rissa & I attended the MEGA event with the theme "Global chic"...

Ran errands in this t-shirt jersey dress from Twenty8Twelve (this was my breastfeeding dress for Berry because it has snaps on the shoulder, so easy to remove hehe), Repetto BB flats and accessories from J.Crew and Fenton/Fallon

20 Weeks: Green is In

This is me and Xavi, who is now 20 weeks old. We had our ultrasound last week, and it's confirmed! Dragon Dychiao is a boy! So we have a new nickname now, Xavi, just like the Spanish footballer. (Although Kat & I agree that Xabi is more guapo, haha).

Last weekend, we went to my good friend Ivy's wedding, and it was just a lucky happenstance that I had this dress on standby. I got this from MYTH last year. I didn't really have an occasion to wear it to then, but I got it any way. It's by Joel Escober. It's not a maternity dress, but it had ample room to fit our growing baby boy. 

Sometimes, it really pays to get a great dress and just wait for an occasion to wear it to. Instead of looking for a dress when an occasion calls for it. At least you end up wearing a piece you love, not something na "pwede na" because you had no options.

Since the dress is a bit of a statement by itself, I accessorized minimally. Just my simple pumps from Louboutin, a pave bracelet from J. Crew, Tom Binns chandelier earrings and this gorgeous agate ring from Kristine Dee and Paul Syjuco!

Here's what I wore another day to meet Mikka at Rockwell, and stroll around the mall. An old dress from Zara. I searched high and low for this dress! Combed Manhattan for this in my size.  Found this in Zara on Broadway. Still something I can wear till full term I think!

Paired it with a FEED 1 tote and these Marni platforms that are the same shade as my dress! Chamba lang! Please excuse my grunge-y polish, wahaha! 

Incidentally, Marni x H&M happens tomorrow, March 8! My friend Naomi is asking her nanny to line up for her in the morning and will take her place when she brings the kids to school. Hay! So excited for her, and me! Heehee!

Guys, You've Got Marni x H&M Goodies Too

I actually would wear these clothes meant for you guys!

Fave Looks from the Marni x H&M Lookbook

Here are my favorite looks for the girls, although guys, I gotta tell you, there's a lot of pieces to like on your end too! I haven't forgotten you! But first, here are my top picks from the collection:

 

Quintessentially Marni = socks + platforms

I love this dress! And the sandals!

 

The belted coat! One word. Volume.

I want this tee! And the sequined collar! Reminds me of this one...

What Sofia wore...

These flat sandals + socks, that collar again, and the cardigan w/ belt. The swimsuit is cute too. 

If there was a like button on each piece, then I just liked everything!

This dressssssssss!

What Lou wore. Super cute. If I end up with only this top & the shorts, I think I'll be ok.

Want this tee too! And the pencil skirt!

The collection will be out in select stores worldwide on March 8. All photos courtesy of H&M.

Marni x H&M Launch

Ha! Trust Sofia Coppola & Lou Doillon to choose the best pieces from the H&M x Marni Collection. Here they are as seen from the launch:

From what I've seen from the lookbook, I also want the t-shirts and the collar necklaces. The shoes don't look shabby either. Promising, very promising! Will show you more looks soon!

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!

Marni x H&M This Spring 2012!

I am normally not a print person, but I always give Consuelo Castiglioni of Marni a free pass. I often find myself longingly browsing at Marni, wishing I could buy everything in the store. I mean, I don't even wear heels and wedges, but her chunky take on shoes convince me I need one in my wardrobe. Now if only I can snag one on sale, because you know, these things when they do, they go fast!

So when I saw in my inbox that the next collaboration with H&M would be Marni, I was almost hyperventilating with excitement! This I personally feel, is the best one yet! The dream team!

Here's what Consuelo Castiglioni, Founder and Creative Director of Marni says about her collection for H&M: “I wanted to create a true Marni wardrobe by revisiting all our favorite pieces in signature fabrics and prints. As always, I love juxtaposing prints and colours, mixing modern tribal with Bauhaus graphic adding sporty utilitarian elements”. 

Margareta van den Bosch, Creative Advisor H&M enthuses.“We all love the collection here at H&M and we believe that our customers will do the same. Marni has such a modern touch with everything they do, mixing prints and accessories in a playful but chic way. It’s fantastic to see how Consuelo Castiglioni coordinates her designs, matching new combinations of print and colour, with such incredible craftsmanship behind every piece. The collection will arrive in stores at just the perfect time, as a lovely statement for spring“. 

Available from March 8, 2012 in around 260 stores worldwide and online (in countries where they do sell online), the collection features both clothing and accessories for men and women.

For women, expect all Marni staples, with full pleated skirts, dresses, cropped trousers and jacquard knits, while fabrics range from silk to crisp cotton poplin. To complete the look, the collection also includes jewellery, shoes, bags and scarves.

For men, the colours and fabrics are softened for a relaxed take on menswear staples that are truly Marni. The use of print is subtle, often as a lining or as a contrast detail for shirts, the silhouette a modern and relaxed take on masculine classics.

To get you more excited, I leave you with the teaser! Consuelo promises "everything has the same quality, craft and attention to detail that Marni is known for". Eeeeee! This is one collection I am seriously contemplating lining up for!