Rocco + Ruru

Photography, direction, styling, and post-processing by mebut hell no, this shoot isn't possible without the team I toiled with.

Pardon me for getting sidetracked at the very beginning of this post, but I'd just like to dwell on the fact that writing isn't really my forte, a fact that may be obvious in this visual heavy, yet "short & sweet texted" entry. Well, at least I'm good at inventing these non existent "phrases" to mask my not so wide vocabulary. I can write, but between other things I can do, it's not exactly my specialty. Consider this a warning, though I do have high hopes for the visuals of this entry.

Now back to the reason for this post.

Get this, I just styled & shot Rocco & Ruru. Yeah, that just happened.

I was given the opportunity to style two of GMA's biggest stars who also happen to star in the remake of one of the most popular Fantaserye in Philippine Television. Though "styling" turns out to be a massive summary of my role. Later on (literally a few days before the shoot), I was informed that I would be basically in charge of the whole shoot. My responsibility escaping self went through minor hysterics.

I know you guys are dying (kidding) to see the photos, but please don't scroll past this as I'd like to recount the hardship I went through while pulling out the clothes for this shoot. A million thank yous aren't enough to thank my ever loyal friend, Duff, who spent 6 hours with me walking up and down Bonifacio High Street, carrying 10+ uber heavy paper bags in the midst of our then incomprehensible, humid, Philippine weather. Oh and I was wearing this really fluffy sweater + jeans + boots cause the weather looked gloomy while I was dressing up. How deceitful.

So a big shoutout to all stylists out there and their loyal friends who're ever so supportive of their stylist friend's endeavours.

For the first set, I dressed the two stars based on their profile sprinkled with a teeny bit of my style.

Both heartthrobs who are adored by females (and perhaps males) all over the Philippines Islands, yet different in their own sense. Rocco being the fit, brooding, mature moreno, and Ruru being the teen, Spiderman-esque lanky tisoy.

Rocco wears button down shirt and khaki chino pants from Cotton On, wristwatch and spectacles from Aldo, and lace up boots from Pedro.

I dressed Rocco in a safe yet classic ensemble — A midnight blue button down shirt, paired with khaki chino pants, and accessorized with a brown leather strapped wrist watch. Finished off with rounded spectacles and lace up boots the same color of the watch for a contemporary touch.

Ruru wears polo shirt and sneakers from American Eagle Outfitters, black parka from Factorie, and khaki shorts from Cotton On

As for Ruru, I took into account his teenage charm. The iconic "Taft conyo outfit" popped in my head. A polo shirt, paired with slim cut shorts, but instead of the usual combo including a pair of loafers or boats, I replaced the shoes with grayish taupe sneakers and added in a parka for some street style vibe.

Ive failed to mention this earlier, but the location and feel of each set is based on the aesthetics closest to me. The first one having that clean white + foliage thing going on and this second one, a clean, light and airy pastel vibe.

In the first set, I've considered both Rocco & Ruru's profile & possible (hehe) personal style, but for this set I only considered my vision (insert evil laugh here... kidding).

Now I've came across a comment saying "Nahhh that's not what a skater dude looks like" blah blah blah. My vision may be distorted but hey this is my shoot, my blog, and when I say this is my idea of a skater dude in an alternate pastel universe, then it will be.

Convictions aside, I think this makes for a quirky chill outfit on hot, sweaty days.

Ruru wears pink shirt, shorts, and sneakers from Cotton On, and floral cap from Aldo. Socks are stylist's own.

Rocco & Ruru's outfit are pretty similar for this set, but Ruru's lies more on the lighter color palette. I know I've already mentioned this a bajillion times, but pastel pink, light colored denim, and clean, cloud white sneakers make a great, foolproof combo. Topped with a blue and white printed headgear and dual hued striped socks to break off the plain colored monotony.

Rocco wears shirt and shoes from Cotton on, board shorts from Factorie, and bracelets from Aldo. Socks are stylist's own.

As for Rocco, whom I know is very much into fitness, a knowledge I got from "researching" on his Instagram and from having a little chat over breakfast, wore board shorts instead of denim ones. I feel like the the shirt and layered bracelet gave him more of a surfer dude appeal? Have I mentioned that I absolutely adore tops with statement backs?

I should also mention how much it was a breeze to work with Rocco and Ruru. As talented actors and regulars on the spotlight, of course these two knew exactly how to pose and project. They were especially fun and light to be with too, in my case, it was most fun to shoot the second set, my favorite shots being the candid, laughing ones.

A special thank you to the GMA crew and Dianne who tagged along with us during the shoot. Many thanks to Bench's Global brands for the clothes. To Rocco & Ruru, if you get the chance to read this, thanks for being such great sports during the shoot and for doing a great job! Last but definitely not the least, to my forever supportive boyfriend who skipped worked just to assist, accompany, drive, and help me create last minute outfits for this shoot. Love you, Miguel.

If you want to more of Rocco & Ruru, better watch out for the premiere of Encantadia on July 18, GMA channel.

So tell me, how did you like (or dislike) this shoot? Let me know in the comments below!

Three Strikes

I don't know if I've already mentioned this, but music is definitely one of my biggest inspiration when it comes to my style.

I'm not exactly sure how, since music isn't something you see rather it's something you hear and feel. I guess it's the feels certain type of songs give me that prompt me to wear certain types of clothing but just a few days ago, music inspired my outfit... literally. Have you seen Kylie's music video for her lip gloss? This may or may not be a popular opinion if you're not a fan of the Kardashians/Jenners, but Kylie was seriously beyond beautiful in that video. I especially love the bandana thing going on. I saw that and was like, "wow, that's perfect for summer."

A little trivia, I used to wear a bandana like this during my chemotherapy days. Either this or a bucket hat to cover my baldness/pixie cut hair.

Though initially I wore the scarf around my neck, later throughout the day I realized the look seemed a bit to chic and opted for a more casual take on it instead and wore it on my head. Also let me just say that I'm very happy with my recent purchase of this mustard body suit. I love the color, it's definitely something new to my dominantly black, white, grey, and nude wardrobe. I'm actually building a new color scheme for my wardrobe and I'm super excited for it. It's definitely a lot of fun to hunt and collect for pieces I haven't tried before.

Now I'm wondering why I didn't put on my So Cute gloss for this ensemble...

What I'm wearing:

Silk Scarf by H&M | Mustard body suit & Lace Up Heels by Forever 21 | Mom Jeans by Levis | Sling bag by Céline

Visual Diary: Anvaya Adventure

Sometimes there are just no words (and okay I admit sometimes I'm lazy too... kidding) so I'm doing this series, "Visual Diary" where I can share to you guys an experience, an event, my mundane day, or even my thoughts, visually through photographs. I'm gonna be babbling sometimes in between photos but yes... not so much. Last Friday was a dream. A great break from my daily life in the urban jungle. I woke up extra early than usual, around 6am, and yes, that is extra early for a night owl like myself, and rushed to get ready for the trip. Miguel and his blockmates planned a trip to Anvaya and I came along with them.

Road trip. Food trip. Warm sun-kissed skin. Sparkling pool water. Laughter. Friends. Puto bumbong by the sunset drenched beach. Read more to see our calming adventure.

I mentioned earlier that I woke up super early and rushed to get ready right? Well, I wasn't able to prepare my stuff the night before so the time for eating breakfast was spent on packing quickly instead. We stopped over real quick along NLEX instead and ate quickly at KFC. Grabbed some funshots on the go, too.

Are we there yet?

Touchdown, Anvaya! My superman carrying all our bags. He wouldn't let me carry mine.

The boys' mini reunion.

What welcomed us upon entering deeper into the clubhouse. What a lovely view... and the water looks so welcoming given that it was so hot that day.

Raging sunrays calls for lots and lots of sunblock!

The company <3

In all honesty, I've never seen a beach so clean and calm. I haven't explored a lot of beaches yet though, the best one I've been to was Hundred Islands. Also clean and calm, but quite scary probably because each island feels so isolated from civilization.

Loving my view from here.

Little oopsie my bikini tag is showing moment right here. Haha.

Does this look majesticcasual looking enough? Featuring the clear sparkly water?

After swimming in the pool, we decided to eat some lunch while waiting for the sun to calm down so we can swim in the beach. The smoked salmon carbonara was so delish!

We shot some hoops by the shore before indulging in the beach. You can actually do a lot of other stuff, there was a space where you could play football, volleyball, and there were also kayaks you could rent!

Darkness came, we showered, and went home. That was basically how my Friday went down. It'd be nice to have more days like this!

How about you guys? How did you spend your Friday just a few days ago? Tell me in comments below!

Ala Mode: A Lookbook

Accessories have the power to make or break any outfit. It can amp up a casual outfit, or tone down a rather extravagant one. If I were to rank the importance of each type of accessory, bags would definitely top my list and I know a lot of ladies would agree with me on this. They don't only alter your look aesthetically but it also serves a function of holding your cellphone, wallet, and other stuff you lug around with you (which is important if you're like me who brings a lot of stuff when going out). However, if you really want to turn heads and let your bag do the talking, designer bags is the way to go.

Now don't get me wrong, I'm not saying branded stuff is always better, but let's be real here, have you not turned your head when a girl carrying a Balenciaga bag passes by? Have you not drooled whenever a paparazzi photo of Kendall comes out, wearing only a plain shirt, tattered jeans, booties, but strapped across her body as a Céline nano bag? This may not apply to all, but it does apply to a lot, including myself.

Just last week, I had a shoot with Ala Mode Bags. I think it was actually my first time to have a studio shoot. I mostly do my shoots in non-controlled environments a.k.a the streets, my room, etc. Read more to see the photos and see how each bag finished off each monochrome outfit.

Michael Kors Selma Messenger Bag in Medium

This bag reminds me a bit of the Céline nano bag. It's just the right size for quick errands and events where one should only carry a small bag for essentials. The silhouette is also clean and uncomplicated which means that you can pair it with intricate pieces without looking overdone.

Britten Slouchy Tote

I fancy the color of this tote so much. "Camel" as they call it oozes not only Autumn vibes for me, but also reminds of of Kanye's neutral palette collection — Yeezy (although their styles are of a completely different genre).

Michael Kors Ava Satchel in Medium

Pale pastel pink — another hue that I love oh so much because of it's subdued playfulness which also goes so well with the Ava Satchel's shape. Pair it with a turtle neck sweater and skirt to look extra feminine or a plain loose shirt and denim shorts, with your hair in a pony for a casual chic look.

Furla Metropolis Mini Crossbody

You know those times where you just want to bring some bills, your lipstick, and some oil films to keep your face fresh throughout the day but refuse to stuff them all in your pocket? Well this body bag is for you, it's tiny but packs quite an impact design wise.

Marion Quilted Chain Shoulder Bag

There's just something about leather quilted bags that makes it so classy... especially when it's paired with gold chains. This Marion Quilted bag is roomy enough to fit all your essentials, but not gigantic to overshadow your well planned, put-together outfit.

What do you guys think about the bags I mentioned? Care to share which designer bag is your favorite or a piece you're just dying to have? Ala Mode Bags might just have it for you! Be sure to follow them on Instagram and you might find that dream bag that's worth investing on.

Shy Boy

My little brother, Dadu, officially became a teen yesterday! Just a simple and intimate celebration for his 13th birthday, that's how the family usually prefers to do it. We had dinner at a Japanese buffet, and my parents bought Dadu his present afterwards. Namely, four PS4 games and a charger for his laptop (cause my brothers keep fighting over who gets to use the existing one they have). Of course, the birthday boy has to look great on his special day, so that's where I came in! Boys, take note!

Sweatshirt by H&M x Alexander Wang | Skinny Jeans by Zara | Sneakers by Adidas

Why Shy Boy? Well, if I had to rank my brothers, Udo (the youngest) would have zero shyness and Dadu would have around 90% shyness. I had a hard time taking nice photos of him cause he went all awkward every time I asked him to pose, but hey I got a few lucky shots.

As for his outfit, I checked how the weather yesterday would be so I dressed all my brothers in sweaters. For the birthday boy I made him wear my H&M x Alexander Wang sweatshirt which was just sitting around in my closet. He didn't like it cause of the stiff material, but I insisted he looked great haha. My mom also wanted Dadu to wear his Adidas Micropacers, so I based his jeans on that. I figured shoes like these would look best with super skinny jeans thus, the hand-me-down-from-mom Zara jeans.

The Adidas Micropacers are really cool. First time I saw it, I was like "What the heck, this is so weird, why'd you even get this?", but then I realized it's one of those hard to find, unique pieces you'll be sure you wouldn't see everyone wearing... cause it looks weird... but cool at the same time.

I'll probably borrow it from my brother (evil laugh).

Into The Wild

A few months ago (yes, months, sorry for being MIA lately), the family went on a vacation in our hometown, Iligan City. Along with that my parents also checked out a few properties along the shoreline. The tide was low that time and the beach was super rocky so I didn't really feel like going for a swim while they do their adult business. So while my little brothers went playing through the rocky beach, I decided to take advantage of the nice sunset, palm trees, and beautiful background.

This is actually my go-to outfit when I'm feeling lazy and not in the mood to have too much clothing against my skin. A nice, loose shirt dress paired with sneakers. I still look awesome, but it feels like I'm wearing a duster. Ha!

Well actually, this isn't a shirt dress, it's a men's shirt that's two sizes bigger. Hey, you gotta improvise.

What I'm wearing:

Oversized shirt from H&M | Cap from Forever 21 | Watch from Casio | Sunnies from Eyeknowrightsunnies | Shoes from Converse

What about you? What's your go to outfit whenever you aren't in the mood to dress up? Tell me in the comments below!