Flash Flash, baby ft. Clothes Buffet Manila

A few weeks ago, Clothes Buffet Manila sent me a big zip bag stuffed with loads of clothes. Some of the pieces were so me, some weren't so Ida-ish. However being an experimental girl, I tried styling each of the clothes sent to me by combining it with pieces in my wardrobe. Want to see how I styled them? Well, read on baby girl (or boy??).

Piece #1: The Statement Shirt

Statements shirts appeal to the sight. I dressed up this piece by pairing it with something that would appeal to touch. I added different textures, namely fur and lace. It's always good to experiment with different materials, just don't go too crazy with your color palette if you plan to texturize your look, which is why I stuck to the safe side by going all black on this ensemble.

Fur Jacket by Terranova | Lace trimmed shorts by Zara

Piece #2: The Quilted Skirt

From all black to colorful neutral (lol, is there such a thing?). What I mean to say was that for this outfit, I wore more than two colors but still stuck to the more subtle, non-shocking colors. Maroon, navy blue, grey, with a hint of faded yellow on my shirt's print.

I found the material of this skirt very dressy so I balanced it out by wearing a very 'I don't care what I look like' loose vintage shirt which I then knotted up front to keep my waist's shape. Who says you can't look cool yet feminine wearing your dad's shirt?

Shirt by Nike 

Piece #3: Gold Lion embellished body-con cutout dress

I personally don't like complicated and intricate cuts on my dresses. Not unless the complicated-ness is around the shoulder (straps) and back area then it's fine. However, styled well, these kinds of peices might just work. For this piece, I wore it on its own and accessorized with metallic pieces to complement that little lion detail on my waist, I then topped with whole look with a hat. Keeping it clean and simple, this dress speaks for itself.

Hat by River Island | Watch by Marc Jacobs

Piece #4: Sequined Bolero

This piece was quite a challenge to style for me. Why?

1. The puffy sleeves made a kind of kiddie impression to me
2. Sequins have a high risk of coming off as tacky when not styled carefully

Fixing the kiddie dilemma, I thought I'd build a mature look out of it. As for the tacky dilemma, a straightforward and uncomplicated piece. So I paired it with this slitted fitted maxi skirt to address both dilemmas. Quite nice for formal events I must say. Although I might need to replace my skirt with a more streamlined one.

Skirt acquired from a bazaar | Watch by Marc Jacobs

Piece #5: Knit Sweater

Here's a versatile piece that I love so much. You can practically dress a sweater with anything (especially a plain and neutral colored one). Shorts, pants, or if it's big enough, you can wear it by itself like a dress. Just to be different from how I usually style it, I paired it with a high waist, knee length fitted skirt and to balance out the girly-ness in this look, I topped it with my favorite New Era NY cap. Wear it with sneakers or heels, sweaters go with anything.

Cap by New Era | Skirt by Bershka

And that's my styling take on these pieces! What did you guys think about the outfits? How would you have styled the pieces mentioned to fit your style? Tell me in comments below <3

The Clothes Buffet Manila is currently happening in the Elements Tent, Eton Centris until tomorrow. A great chance to go crazy shopping without even looking at the price tag! Check their site to know more details about it.

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.

Wild Heart

I know this post may be a bit untimely. What with the cold weather we have lately, but I just wanted to show you guys another side of me. From denims and leather booties to something more delicate like lace and crochet tops.

I'm not sure if you guys have noticed, but lately I've been slowly but surely shifting my style (see my instagram). I've been collecting clothing articles that I don't have yet and opting for styles I don't usually wear. If I was still my old self, I'd definitely pair this crochet top with something of the likes of denim cut-offs.

Wanderland 2016 is also coming up soon! I've been there last year and I must say people really make an effort in coming up with out of the box boho outfits. Perhaps this oufit may be one of your pegs?

Top: Naya Crafts | Shorts: Zara | Shoes: Soludos | Necklace: Edge Co | Bag: Mumi | Mandala Tapestry: Armstrong & Smith

Excited for this change in me and I'm also excited to show you guys more of the styles I'll be going to explore!

'Til the next ♥

Songs to Cry The Whole Day To

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for the damaged;

I know most of my readers have already experienced this. That gnashing feeling in your chest, the loneliness eating your thoughts, the eternal tears running down your cheeks. We've all been through a terrible heartbreak.

You're confused and dazed, so many questions running through your head, some you have absolutely no idea what the answer is, some you know the answer to but refuse to accept it. How are you supposed to function when you feel like this? How are you supposed to do the things you need to everyday when you can't take off your thoughts over that person who broke your insides into a million pieces. Damaged, asking why? why? why?

Being okay and moving on is never easy. If it was easy, then it wasn't real. Don't worry, no one's rushing you. You can take baby steps, and the first step, based on my experience, is to cry it all out. Don't block away the pain, don't turn away from every terrible thought, let the cocktail of sadness and anger flow out of your eyes.

For those who want to take the first step, I compiled these tear jerking, super feels songs for you guys. My sawi songs when I was at my lowest of lows. Listen carefully and feel every line of the songs, and I hope at least one of them relates to your heartaches.

You'll be okay.

Hello, meet Ida

I'm back and I have very exciting news for you guys! It was a normal mundane day when a notification popped in my phone, "Hello from American Apparel". Yup, your girl just kind of partnered up with one of her ultra favorite brands — American Apparel.

To be really honest, it's always been one of my mini dreams to be noticed by this brand. Their clothes are just so me. Classic-casual daily grind fashion that you can actually wear  everyday in the real world. Simple silhouettes and classic cuts that hug your body in the right curves, just my aesthetic.

Top by American Apparel | Pants by Levis | Shoes by Bershka | Cap by New Era

You guys have probably noticed on Instagram that I haven't been wearing shorts lately. Opting  for nice comfy mom jeans that hug my waist perfectly instead. Also being the sneaker girl that I am, I've been braving the world of wearing heels for these past few weeks. This pair from Bershka being one of my two ultra favorite pairs with just the right amount of height so that I won't end up torturing myself for the duration of the day.

Two random style tips I came up relevant to this outfit:

• If you're wearing a loose bottom, balance it out with a fitted top - well, I guess this is common sense. Stick with this rule if you want to stay on the safe side. Of course, it's always good to experiment. I've tried a few loose on loose outfits myself and it turned out pretty well. Just make sure to have to mini dress rehearsal first to see if it looks well put-together.
• Experiment with different clothing genres - lately, I like mixing "classy" pieces with somewhat "street" pieces. Heels with baseball caps, sneakers with sleek blazers, or again, neutral colored heels with a camouflage printed jacket. Again, don't be afraid to experiment. I was never the girly type, so I really can't go all pure frills and girly-ness.

I'm super excited to show you all my loot from American Apparel! Til the next post, loves.

Photography by Michael Macalos

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).

City Sunset

You might've noticed that lately I seldom blog about outfit posts. Truth be told, I'm having a hard time finding what to say when it comes to posts like these. Do I talk about what happened while I was shooting this? Do I talk about the logic behind my outfit? What if nothing noteworthy happened while shooting? What if there was no reason why I chose this shirt and shoes, I just felt like it? On the other hand, I'd hate to just throw a bunch of photos and then tell you guys where I got my clothes from. I mean, I could easily do that on Instagram right? Well, now that I've let that out, I finally have an enough chunk of paragraph for this post... ha ha kidding. Hit that 'read more' button!

Sunnies by AestheticEmporium | Plaid button-down shirt by Bershka | Shoes by Zara | Bag by Louis Vuitton | Watch by Rolex | Necklace by Stoneriver

In my earlier post, I shared to you guys what my lazy go-to outfit is — an oversized shirt dress and sneakers. Well here is a more dressed up version of that go-to outfit.

I wore this ensemble for a Bulgogi Brothers affair at Resort's World. It's Resort's World, I thought it would be appropriate to dress up a bit and it wasn't just some Korean fast food I was going to but at the same time, I wasn't feeling like wearing anything tight around my skin. I wanted to look like I wasn't somebody you can just mess with but at the same time I wanted to look effortless.

With that in mind, the oversized shirt dress was replaced with an oversized button-down shirt (with a printed back to retain the edgy, youthful feel), and the sneakers were replaced with classic black chelsea boots. Topped with signature accessories as my cherry on top, viola!

What would you wear if you were to go to a kinda fancy place but you're too tired to dress fancy? Tell me in the comments below!

Photos by Duff Orate

Lust List #1 - Adidas Sneakers

Photo by Sweat the Style | Edit by me

Lately Adidas has been hogging the spotlight, dropping revamped classics and genius, out of the box designs. I present to you four sneakers from the brand who has done an exceptionally good job this year. Sneakers that I am completely and hopelessly in love with, finding every way possible to cop them all.

Stan Smith

“I’m a tennis player, but a lot of people think I’m a shoe.” – Stan Smith

You may or may not know this but Adidas' Stan Smith has been around for a very long time. It's named after Stanley Roger "Stan" Smith, a former world No. 1 American tennis player and two-time Grand Slam singles champion. At the peak of his game, Adidas approached him offering him to wear the sport's first ever leather shoe, and so history was made.

From a sport shoe to an iconic fashion phenomenon, the Stan Smith shoes have gone through several revisions, revamps, and versions and up until now, it's still a classic through and through.

This right here is on top of my list for that reason. It's simple and subtly screams classy. I can imagine it going with just about any kind of outfit. Dressed up in a sleek body-con dress, hair tied in a pony with big wayfarers or dressed down to your distressed jeans and favorite white shirt. This is why it's been a favorite all this time, the design goes beyond the trends and flashy styles but stays iconic all the same.

Superstar

Like the Stan Smith, The Superstar is also older than the people who are wearing it. The shoes were released back in 1969 and blew up because of sports, but instead of tennis like the Stan Smith, it blew up in the field of basketball. New, more advanced basketball shoes came out and the hype of the Superstar faded. It was thanks to street culture and music that it came back and really became truly iconic this time.

If the Stan Smith's claim to fame was its timeless and classic design and simplicity, the same goes with the Superstar but with a more badass vibe. It was worn by rappers and renowned skateboarders and speaks individuality and creativity... especially in it's newest release in collaboration with Pharell Williams where you'll be sure to find the perfect one for you 'cause it practically has all colors imaginable (exaggerating but you get my point).

Lusting over this for the same reason I have for the Stan Smith shoes. Lately, I've been craving for more simpler outfits. Clean, classic shapes, and neutral colours that complement each other instead of clashing pieces that crown me the queen of migraine town.

Yeezy Boost 350

The hype on this one is real. The shoe was recently released last June 27 and people worldwide have prepared, mentally, physically, and financially for it. The already rich Kanye is definitely much richer now what with his shoe being almost sold out on the first day of its release (not 100% sure about this but I am sure it's sold out here in the Philippines). Sure, you may find some people selling it but the mark up is just ridiculous. I definitely regret not lining up for this baby.

Props to Kanye for coming up with kind of weird but definitely out of the box and unconventional designs. Yes, it does look like Nike's Roshe black sail speckle, but I don't know, this shoe definitely speaks more. Although I must admit, part of its beauty definitely comes from all the hype about it.

Tubulars

Another sneaker that has a striking resemblance to Nike's Roshe Run or for the more knowledgeable sneaker heads, the Y-3 Qasa High. This shoe originated from Adidas' 90's archives of prototype designs which back then, were way too advanced to be made into actual sneakers. It is also the brand's contribution to the contemporary collection of high street sneakers fashion enthusiasts are lusting over today.

What I love about this shoe is that in spite of all the intricately designed cuts and details, overall, the shoe still looks put together, streamlined, and I don't know... futuristic-ally-sexy-simple-classy-spinkled-with-a-bit-of-athletic-vibes kind of beautiful. I bet they'd look pretty on my feet.

Frankly, I've been leaning on to Nike for a long time now but Adidas definitely stole my heart from them. Props to the Three Stripes brand for all their awesome releases lately and for keeping up with the generation's changing aesthetic. I really love a brand who keeps up with the fast paced change in the industry and Adidas really did a good job at it.

What about you guys? What sneakers have you been lusting on lately? Tell me in the comments below!

Seasalt Trippin'

Frankly, I'm not really a beach type of person. I do enjoy going to the beach given that the following conditions are met:

• The shore is clean
• No creepy icky seaweed stuff (I do hope it's just seaweed) floating around.
• Definitely no rocks and corals I could step on. They freak me out.

But hey, in spite of all these conditions of mine, I'm still a very versatile person. I enjoy what's given to me, especially if it's an experience with my family. Also, let's be real here, who doesn't like beach photos?

Swimsuit by Holy Skull | Denim shorts by High Five Brands | Bucket hat is thifted

Went away from the usual bikinis and summer's very trendy crochet pieces and went for a graphic one piece suit, high waisted garter shorts when I was off-shore, and an army green bucket hat that I got for P40 (thrift shopping is hella awesome). If there was streetwear for swimwear, this is definitely how it would look like.

I'd like to know though, am I the only one creeped out by corals and floating seaweed? Tell me in the comments below!

Photo credits to my mom and my brother, Idu Anduyan.

My favorite iPhone Apps

These days apps play an essential role in the everyday lives of some people. I'm one of those people. As of writing, my iPhone has 126 apps right now. Quite a lot, I must say. Some people have around 3 to 10 apps for photo editing, not me though! I have around 40+ but wait up! This post really isn't about photo editing apps. This post is about the essential apps in my everyday grind, notable apps that I simply cannot do my everyday errands without, and apps that allow me to recharge when I'm drought of creative juices.

1. Wunderlist

I don't know how long I've been in the "app or actual planner to plan my life" dilemma. Right now I've decided to go with the app. Trust me when I say that I've tried tons of productivity and to-do apps. There's a reason why this app stays on top of the productivity apps category. I use this app to keep track of the things I need to do in my personal life, projects and postings for my social media accounts and blog for brands, and even the movies I need to download.

2. Dropbox

Blessed is that day I discovered Dropbox. This app has helped me for the longest time, in school most especially. This is like an invisible USB, a back up in case you forget your flash drive for that super important presentation (so long as there's an internet connection). This is also how I transfer my photos from phone to desktop and vice versa. Really handy if you need to access your files across multiple devices.

3. Pickle

Words can't express how in love I am with this app. I'm one of those people who like to collect cute photos for pegs and screenshots for reminders. The problem with an iPhone is that all of your photos get thrown in the camera roll, no legit folders. I'm also one of those OC people who likes to keep their camera roll free of junk. Contradicting... what a dilemma. But hey, Pickle comes to my rescue, I transfer all my pegs and screenshots in this app (by copying them) and it has folders to keep everything organized and easy to navigate through! That's not all, you also have the option to put a password on each folder for those sketchy photos of yours (mmm-hmm). I actually got this app for free, right now it's priced at USD 2.99 but trust me, it's worth it.

4. Telegram

Okay so honestly, I'd really like to keep this app a secret 'cause I'm enjoying the serenity of it but hey... I love you guys. This is a chat app. I don't like chat apps. Most of them are complicated and clunky, they have all these stickers, you can post status messages... but those features aren't really the reason why you downloaded the app right? This app is a straightforward messenger app, clean, minimal, and most importantly, fast. Ever since me and my friends made our group chat here, we've honestly never discussed anything as a group outside of this app. From just talking to each other whenever we need something to talking just cause for fun or just to share some really random itsy bitsy kwento.

5. Feedly

I don't exactly know how to call this app. An RSS reader? Basically, it's an all in one app where you can read articles from your favorite sites like Thought Catalog or posts from your favorite blogs. That's how I use it, you can utilize it whichever way you want. News, NBA updates, or just for some light reading in your down time? It's all up to you!

6. Buffer

As an online influencer, this app is a must-have. It can automatically post scheduled content for you, and keep track of the engagement and reach of that post. I mainly use this app for twitter. A lot of quote accounts use apps like these to stay active especially during the times when a lot of people are online. Try this app and watch your social media accounts run on their own.

7. VSCO Cam

Well... duh. Who doesn't like this app. I know people have different preferences but I'm pretty sure most would prefer this app when it comes to editing their photos. What I love about VSCO Cam is the subtleness in their filters and how each preset gives off a certain feel and vibe. I must admit that the original app did the subtle game better, but hey you can always adjust the how intense the preset is.

8. Waze

As a driver I am terrible when it comes to memorizing routes I don't go through everyday. I can't imagine not having this app whenever I need to go somewhere I'm not familiar. Not only that, Waze leads you through routes where there's less traffic (just be ready to sometimes go through small and kind of sketchy streets though) and remembers which routes you prefer going through. Say bye to asking strangers for directions, getting lost or stuck in a standstill traffic. Everyone should definitely have this app, especially drivers.

9. Pinterest

If cars have gasoline stations to fuel app, this is my creativity station when I'm tired and uninspired. Bedroom inspirations, graphic design ideas, and quirky outfit ideas, it's all in here, it just depends on what boards you follow!

So there! The apps that has helped me through my daily life making it more convenient and bearable. What about you guys? What apps can't you absolutely go through the day without? Tell me in the comments, I'd really love to hear it!