Smol Goes Steam Punk!

I love period costumes. And though my day to day get-up may well be disturbingly ordinary ( I believe in casual Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays...), I do love dressing up for costume parties. The last time I did, I came as Wednesday Addams (hair extensions and all) but now I figured I'd try something much more challenging.

Steam Punk is an eccentric mix of Victorian colors and silhouettes with a Utilitarian flair. It screams Industrial Revolution. It brings a whole new meaning to "Rage Against the Machine". hahaha.

To put it even simpler, if Jane Austen married Sherlock Holmes, this would be it.

I detest commercialism and impulse buying. I am cheapness personified. So this little masterpiece is a mix of everyday things and stuff I found while rummaging through my closet, my Mom's closet, my Dad's closet, my boyfriend's garage and a quick trip to the thrift shop and the hardware store.

I'll be posting more pics and DIY tips for this Steam Punk costume soon! :-)

The Yellow Patterned Dress: A Murder Revealed

This post is a confession.

Yes, I admit to rummaging through my mom's closet for clothes that might look good on me. And yes, sometimes I tear down a dress in several pieces in order to fit my more modern sense of style (whatever that is). I confess to being swept away by the notion of possible fame as a style-recycling diva (a label I invented during my manic moments). Here is one project I am confessing for. And with the help of my little sister (who is not so little anymore), I came up with two separate tops from a single dress. Take a look!

On the background is my mom's closet, the same one I always raid when I am tired of tearing down my own set of clothes. These pair of pants are "ukay" too, and the belt is from the SM department store (during a sale of course). You can pair this with black pumps for a night out or some flats for more comfort.

I find the sleeves of this dress really vintage-y and unique. So I decided to play with the puffs by making her wear a pair of black shorts and her black prom shoes. You can wear this with flats too.  

She does this thing with her hair, they look a bit disturbing at times. I think they make her look like she's got lice or something, she thinks its cute. You decide.

Who needs models when you can bully your little sister into doing this for free? lol

Evangelista: A Haven for the Modern Fashionista

Welcome to Evangelista, a quaint neighborhood that hardly resembles the busy streets of modern Makati. Instead of skyscrapers and men in business suits the whole area is dotted with small stores that specialize in car parts. On first glance it may look like the ultimate haven for car mechanics and automotive specialists (whatever that job means).  

Yet several corners away, Hizon street blooms with a different promise. All it took was that single turn for me to realize that I was finally home! Vintage was everywhere! I now take this space to wholeheartedly thank the thrift store owners who allowed me to take picture after picture of their excellent goodies!

This bag is a Nina Ricci creation. The ribbon detail is just charming and it sells for just 1, 200php. Not bad!

This studded sling wonder from YSL is in excellent condition and is priced reasonably as well.

Here's a unique piece from Christian Dior, a vintage party bag with lots of character!

Who doesn't love Dior? This leather bag sells for 9-7k, depending on your bargaining skills!

Jill Stuart is famous for her mini dresses and this black lace number is a heart-stopper. For just 700php.

Louis Vuitton flats in orange and pink!

I may have forgotten the brand, but this pair is a beauty!

Vintage costume jewelry makes for a great collection.

These shoes are made for walking and shopping and partying...

Some more adorable bags...

Channel the Victorian in you with cameo pendants and a set of earrings. The one inside the box is a reproduction while the one outside is an original vintage piece.

No, you can never own enough bags!

This charming vintage comb comes with a mirror, the two items sell for 2, 500. A cheap price for authenticity.

It is a sweet irony that in modern Makati, there are age-old wonders waiting to be discovered.

These timeless treasures deserve a new home!

Thrift Store Finds Along Hizon Street

I have a penchant for all things old, from vintage dresses to vintage houses. This little street at Barangay Bangkal in Evangelista Makati, is a heart-stopping prelude to the ultimate Manila thrift store experience. If I had a house of my own, I would be hording stuff from this place. I'd be driving a truck and asking people if they accepted cheques and promisory notes. 

 

Here are some amazing things to fill your empty imagination to the brim!

This set of wooden trunks cost as low as 5, 000 pesos. If you are a master bargain-maker then you can probably get it for a lot less. As to the authenticity, I wouldn't really mind if they are not at all vintage, they are simple adorable!

These candle-holders vary in price from 1, 000 to as much as 5, 000 pesos, depending on how old a piece is. Doesn't this picture vaguely remind you of Lumiere and Cogsworth? hahaha

I am no antique dealer, but I'd love to have one of these on a table top.

The owner says this authentic painting sells for 4, 500php. Ah yes! The art of vintage hunting!

If  these don't light you up, I don't know what will!

This looks like something out of that high school Ibong Adarna book.

Flowers and intricate wooden borders make for the perfect wall decor.

Relive your fairy tale fantasies, magic mirror on the wall...

Travel back in time with these thrift store bargains!

A Vintage Prom Project

 My little big sister is now 15 and yes she is taller, weighs heavier and may be a tad bit prettier than me.
She is now officially a teen who doesn't really care about anything other than her French tip and her cheek tint. But yes, being 15 comes with its own brand of self-absorbed thinking, so I can't really blame her for behaving like the usual prom-struck "teen".

They had a Vintage-themed Prom Night and I struggled to create the perfect ensemble from snips and bits of what we both love about Vintage fashion.


In our own self-absorbed way of thinking, the following elements make for the perfect Vintage look...

1. Nothing spells vintage better than Audrey Hepburn. We thought about the bun, but decided she was too young for an updo. We thought about that dress she wore in Breakfast at Tiffany's, but she thought she wasn't skinny enough to do justice to it. So we settled for the gloves instead. And by the way, I couldn't find any shop that actually sold black velvet gloves! I bought some velvet cloth and hand-made them using the remnant skills I used to have thanks to those Home Economics classes back in grade school.

2. I had to choose the perfect Vintage era to base a dress on. The 40's was far too stiff and tailored for her full-figured body, so I opted to go for a dress that was somewhere between the 50's and the 60's. This way it had a balance of structure and softness. Rather than have one of those ballerina-ish creations with a sweetheart neckline and some tulle fabric on top of a full petticoat (the ballroom was full of these dresses during their prom night!), I went for something more elegant and womanly. Here are some of the inspirations I picked out. I love the cut of the Sarmi empire waist gown in pink chiffon but I got more dramatic colors from that gold and black creation from the late 50's. My special thanks to Ammi Hofilena for her added creative input!


 3. Now for the hair. My sister has long healthy dark locks, so I decided to do something similar to this hairstyle. Yes, incidentally it's a picture of Audrina. We do love our names!





4. You may recognize Twiggy as that delightful judge in some episodes of America's Next Top Model. Well, back in those days, her big soulful eyes were a huge hit ( bigger than THE Tyra Banks anyway) so I decided to give it a try. May I say, that it took us a good hour and a half to get a similar look. Whew!




With all those things combined, here's a picture of the final product. She danced the night away and got home 2 hours after her curfew. But I used to be 15 once, so I guess there's nothing better than your first prom!

The Juicy Advantage of All Things Vintage

My love for all things aged has led me to cultivate a love affair with flea markets, thrift shops and surplus stores. There's just something about pre-loved, nearly historical clothes, bags and accessories that I totally can't get enough of.

For me, vintage things have very juicy advantages...

1. I'm not sure if this affliction is nothing short of my usual form of rebellion. I hate conforming to social fashion norms. I don't buy something simply because its "trendy". I want to wear something unique and comfortable. Besides, what good is a trend if you can't pull it off anyway? If you're missing my point on the matter, just remember that NOT EVERYBODY LOOKS GOOD in SKINNY JEANS! So the number one advantage of vintage? You have lesser chances of finding somebody wearing the same dress in a party!

You're skin...oh yeah you're skin and bones...-the perfect ladies to epitomize Cold Play's Yellow song.

2. Think about vintage hunting as a wonderful alternative to recycling. Before you grab that hot new item on the rack think about the production cost that went into making that dress, the chemicals used for that faux fur coat or the machines used to produce the zippers, buttons and other embellishments on that new bag. You will be saving the earth when you choose to buy used, yet equally wonderful items! Be your own Captain Planet minus the flashy costume!

                 Gay-est Captain P picture ever!

3. The economy is still down in the dumps and its not improving anytime soon. So if you have the attitude and the confidence to make a vintage find look ridiculously expensive, go ahead and save thousands of dollars by buying vintage clothes instead.

4. This is a nice excuse to raid your grandmother's closet. Make sure you ask permission though. If she's no longer alive, get a psychic medium by all means! Provided that you will be putting her old things to good use, I'm pretty sure she won't mind. Plus, its a good opportunity to pay homage to her sense of style. Aside from her lace wedding dress, you may find something else totally worth wearing. Yes, your next vintage treasure may just be hiding in the attic!

I can think of other reasons why its "advinatgejuice" to wear vintage clothes. But if I write them all down now, you wouldn't be coming back for more! (evil laugh, evil laugh, evil laugh!)