Daylight

Had my wedding hair and makeup trial, so I wore a sweetheart neckline to get more of the effect without getting really dressed up. Since I didn't want fiance to see the trial results, these pictures were taken after everything was removed.

UO Cotton Bustier, UO BDG Skirt, AA Opaque tights. Current Soundtrack : Matt and Kim - Daylight.

Stretch

Latest love : legging jeans. Snow is starting to fall in the city, paper thin leggings just don't cut it anymore. Soft, stretchy Jeans that fit like leggings? Genius.

Cold weather makes me want to wrap myself in cashmere and cotton and sleep all day. Year end makes me want to throw away all my clothes and start afresh. Here comes the long stretch of winter...

Madewell Legging Jeans, F21 Cutoff Sweatshirt, Corduroy Pumps

Work Wardrobe Chronicle : Summer Uniform

For business casual, I pretty much wear variations of the same exact outfit everyday : pencil skirt, silk top, boredom...

Club Monaco Pencil Skirt, UO Silk Top, Top Shop Shoes, F21 Belt.

Changed into shorts for running around town after work.

I'm a Nomad

Pictured : Double Layer Silk Wrap Skirt ( Worn as a Dress )

I'm a nomad, I think it's in my blood. I've moved at least twenty times to date, and have traveled to more than twenty countries. When I don't leave a place for more than two months it starts to make me feel ill. It's been one month since I left New York, and five months since I was on another continent. I so desperately want to wake up in a foreign land.

This getup is made of Indian Sari silk, and was purchased from a tiny Japanese store in Australia. Yet another little reminder that I need to be far, far away.

Bunch of Animals

I work in an intense environment heavily dominated by males. In most meetings, I am not only the only female present but also one of the youngest. I'm very conservative and cautious about what I wear to work because I don't want people to focus on my outfit and would like to be taken seriously.

I wore this dress to work, because it's a great shape ( bloussant top, pleats... ), plus the length is about as short as I can go at the office. However, check the print on this dress, full of sizable bunnies, bears in tutus, mushrooms, ponies, and ducks wearing big hats. Mulled over this for half a second, and decided oh well, can't always take yourself too seriously. Plus, adding pearls to anything makes it classy, right?

Pinkyotto Satin Dress, Top Shop Peep Toes :

Petal Pusher

What I wore for a Cuban brunch and afternoon cocktails. This is a wedding budget friendly outfit ( less than $50 ) : F21 Pleated Cotton Shorts, Tank, and Sandals.

Trunch Wear

On rare weekends when we are blessed with beautiful weather and free time, A and I have Trunch ( Tri-Lunch ) : Saturdays and Sundays when we indeed eat three lunches per day. We spend hours walking around ( which we use as justification for our gluttony ), with the sole purpose of discovering new places to eat.

My requirement for outfits worn on such occasions are : cheap, comfortable, washable, and roomy enough to conceal an inevitable belly. Then I just hope to not run into anyone I know while working on my third meal before 3PM.

Wearing : Zara Plaid Blouse, Billabong Cutoff Shorts, Foley and Corinna Bag :

F21 Cotton Tank, Skirt and Cardigan, Foley and Corinna Bag :

Rundown of a recent Trunch where food was good, cheap, and plenty:

$12 Dim Sum ( Too hungry for pictures )

$4.75 Hand Pulled Beef Noodles at Super Taste ( 26 Eldridge Street )

$1 Pot Stickers at Prosperity Dumpling ( 46 Eldridge Street )

$1 Mini Cakes ( Cart on Corner of Grand & Bowery )

$2 Fresh Watermelon Juice ( Random Chinese Bakery )

All these eateries are tiny spaces where customers shout out their orders as they walk in the door. Hand pulled noodles are al dente, with a flavorful broth. Fresh, plump pot stickers, finished with fresh off the iron mini cakes :

Work Wardrobe Chronicle : the World Needs More Seersucker

My memories of childhood summers always involve my grandmother wearing some form of seersucker. Even back then I was smitten with this magical fabric. It's made of cotton, it's textured, and I need more of it! I've had this seersucker blazer for so many years and have since been searching for another. I may resort to making my own.

Seersucker Blazer found overseas, Sisley Satin Pencil Skirt, Club Monaco Belt, Kenneth Cole Peep Toes.

Waiting...

Waiting for a thunderstorm to pass before going out for dinner and drinks. Wearing F21 Cotton Skirt & Burnout Tank, AA Suspenders & Bandeau:

Philippines, Beach & Green Mango Shake

Local green mango shakes are my favorite drinks in the Philippines. Made from unripe mangoes, these refreshing smoothies taste like sour green apples with a hint of fragrant mangoes.

Enjoying a tart, slightly sweet green mango shake at a beach side cafe in Punta Fuego. Wearing : UO Dress, Dior Shades.

Work Wardrobe Chronicle, the Shirt Dress

A combination of work, chilly temperatures, and chronic rain has gotten me down. This usually translates to extra snoozes in the morning. When I'm running late to work, shirt dresses are always my first pick because they save me the trouble of having to put together an outfit.

I realize that my fashion posts have been lackluster and slightly infrequent. I've been wearing a ton of black due to aforementioned reasons, and in pictures they show up as inky blocks and all details are lost. Hope to be out of this funk soon!

Club Monaco Shirt Dress, Pinkyotto Belt, Bloomingdales Earings :

Petals & Tights

Weather in NYC has been pure crap for over a week.   I started a new job,  which has kept me very busy.   Went out for drinks for the fifth night in a row (I'm ready for a break).   Here's what I wore :  AA Tee,   F21 Skirt,   AA Tights.   The skirt reminds of elementary school.   

Philippines, Punta Fuego

Three hours, and one buko ( coconut ) pie after leaving Manila, we arrive at Punta Fuego.  This resort of private villas, guest houses, secluded beaches, and dramatic cliffs, is very reasonably priced by US standards.  For a few hundred dollars per weekend, a huge, gorgeous Spanish style house with a small stretch of beach can be rented.  

We stayed in a one bedroom casita ( equipped with a bathroom that had its own garden ) and made trips to hang out at the beautiful houses that F and P rented with their families.   Our first glimpse of sunset at Punta Fuego :

Sparkles & Shimmer

What I wore to have drinks with a friend at one of my favorite wine bars :  Bar Veloce on Second Ave.

Topshop Jeweled Crop Tank, AA Shimmery Leggings, Enzo Angiolini Shoes, Lunessa Earrings:

Yellow

This weekend was productive.   We finally picked a wedding location and venue!   As much as we wanted a tropical destination wedding,  we decided to get married in New York City after all because we really want our family and close friends to be there.   Looks like we will have to save the traveling for our honeymoon.  

What I wore to go wedding venue shopping : UO Dress, UO Hat, Michael Kors Espadrilles. 

Work Wardrobe Chronicle, Convertibles

From work to play...

Dress code at the office from Memorial Day to Labor Day is business casual, which means no suits in summer and open toe shoes!   This dress is safe for work when worn with a cardigan, but also good for an after work date with A.   Plus there are pleats and pockets!   Shoes were part of my first F21 shoe purchase, failed the walk-to-work test but I still likey though.

Club Monaco Dress,   F21 Cardigan & Shoes,   Pink Sapphire & White Quartz Necklaces ( by Vale Jewelry ) From the Young Designers Market on Mulberry.

Tonight...

First night of summer 2009 was just lovely, with that fresh summer scent filling the evening air.  

What I wore to P and F's casual chic banquet in the Hills : F21 Tunic/Dress, Bloomingdales Sandals, F21 Necklace.

Philippines, Stop & Smell the Coconut Pie

Jeepney, a colorful & popular mode of local transportation.

Sugar cane being loaded onto trucks along the roadside. 

I hate "coconut".  By that I refer only to the fake-snow looking stuff which comes in a plastic bag, and all types of coconut flavoring.  Usually anything coconut "flavored" makes me gag.  Fresh coconuts however,  are another story.   During our drive to Punta Fuego,  we passed by endless stands selling fresh coconut juice and homemade coconut pie.  

We picked out some young coconuts at a roadside stall.   This little lady took out a machete and swiftly cut straw openings in them so we can sip their juices.   She surprised us by taking back the coconuts after we were done,  then proceeded to chop off pieces of the shell to carve into rustic spoons so we could scoop out the soft, delicately flavored coconut flesh for our consumption.  Man, is there anything she can't do?   If I were stranded on an island I would want her on my team.

We also had to stop at a Colette's to buy their famous coconut pie.  You can find Colettes all over this area.  The pie was still warm when the shop keeper put it in our hands.  It was not too sweet, fresh, and delicious.  Tasted nothing like the fake coconut flavor that we usually encounter in New York.  Fiance and I love the Philippines!

Pink

Half of 2009 is in the past, and we still haven't had a single free weekend.   I would love to have one day to just chillax.  

What I wore to drinks n chair dancin, because I was too tired to dance standing up.

F21 Tank and Leggings, AA Bandeau Bra, F21 Necklace.