Modern Filipina

top: People are People

bag: Tomato

shoes: SM Parisian

necklace: StyledUP

This is what I wore to lunch today with my sister. I had a gift check to Cafe France and wanted to treat my mom. However, the mother in her couldn't bear leaving the other children home so all of my siblings came and she insisted that I treat my sister instead as she took my rowdier siblings to eat somewhere else. We ate at Cafe France at The Peak, Gaisano Mall. I really loved the ambiance. With the huge windows and the chill music, it felt as if we were in a cruise ship. My sister and I even started calling each other "Emily" and "Victoria" after the characters on Revenge because of the Hamptons-esque feel.

I wore my white pants (I recently bought a pair because I think they easily give off this rich vibe) with this top my mother gave me as a belated birthday gift. When I got back from Manila, I found it in my closet. I was surprised cause my mom doesn't usually buy me clothes. I guess she really must've missed me those 4 days I was away ;)

This outfit reminds me of the outfits Angel Locsin wears in her Modess commercials, but I didn't want to name my outfit post "Modess" so I went for their latest ad campaign: the Modern Filipina. To you, what is a Modern Filipina? To me, it's someone who still upholds the virtues of the Filipina but is empowered. My friends Mithi, Heidi and I are really into women empowerment. But do you think there's such thing as "too empowered"? My mother once told me "you are too empowered" and I couldn't help but think about it. What does being too empowered mean? Does it mean that I don't need a man in my life? Because I totally do. Who would carry my shopping bags or change my light bulbs? (haha. I'm kidding) Does it mean something bad, or is it good but in a bad way? Does that mean I'm too outspoken?

Seriously though, sometimes I feel a tad misunderstood. I am independent and I love it, but not fiercely so that I am too good for anyone's help--I still do need help. Everyone does. Do tell me your thoughts about this "too empowered" statement. I would appreciate some help sorting out my thoughts. 

xx

Enchanted

top: H&M

shoes: Tomato

necklace: StyledUP

Just showing you what I wore to last week's trip to Seagull Mountain Resort in Buda. I can't believe it was just last week that we went! A lot of things happened since (I went to Manila, for one). This entry I just keep pushing back for the other backlogs and my other outfit post which I wore in Manila. 

I just wore something simple and comfortable since I know I'd just be sitting in the car. I enjoyed the road trip and the change in scenery. I'll be posting some more photos from our trip in the soonest time possible, I hope! I can't promise anything though cause it's exam week and I still have a lot to catch up on.  (EDIT: I went to school today and found out I have the chicken pox! So I am spending the next 7 days home, working, to catch up on backlogs and other work-related stuff. As if the whole of August was not already vacation enough, I just had to have the chicken pox when school resumed. On another note, I realized how much of a workaholic I really am. Somebody chill-ify me!!)

Tried my hand at the aztec trend by incorporating an aztec necklace into my outfit. You can buy one from my shop (StyledUP) or from Yhansy at Zalora. You can buy from Multiply but with ZALORA, you get free shipping AND a 5% discount with my code: TheStyleReactor120

I entitled this Enchanted cause the photos seemed as if they were taken in some enchanted forest that *poof* magically made me look slim! (What is this sorcery?) Thank you to my cousin Irah for taking these! :) 

Color

My sister has always teased me that navy blue is my go-to color. She's right. I have tons of navy blue tops; the color makes me look fair. Anyway, the turning point was one Wednesday, I wondered out loud "What should I wear?" and she said "Navy blue". We both laughed at the thought but she turned serious, "Seriously Far, don't you have any other color to wear?" Can you imagine, I got schooled by my admittedly-not-into-fashion sister! That only strengthened my resolve to wear more color! ;)

Defining

necklace: StyledUP

I read an article on tips to be an It girl and one of the advice given was to find your distinct style. I was scouring the mall yesterday and found this blouse in the department store rack. I mean, it was simple. It was navy blue. It was chiffon. It had gold buttons. It wasn't loud, special and trendy.. but it caught my eye still. I realized that despite the sales and nice clothes around me, among everything I ever saw, this was the only one that caught my eye. And though a lot of people don't understand the beauty in simplicity, this top is my style.   

I just wanted to show you this blouse I want but didn't buy because it costs 1000php. :( As a rule, I try not to buy tops over 1000php. I might find something of the same kind but at a lower cost. Anyway, if you want a similar blouse, I found one from Zalora. I would love to own a blouse like this because it can take me from business to casual! And my look with the shorts was very Hamptons-esque, right? (Just imagine me in white shorts!) 

 I also wanted to share you something I've been pondering on the past few hours in the car while on the way to Buda. It happened yesterday while I was in Abreeza and I swear I can't take my mind off it! There was a girl of about 16-18 years old with her friend in front of me near the escalator.  She was well-dressed, she was in heels and her hair was pulled up in a half ponytail. At that time, there was a group of indigenous people holding up the line to the escalator. They were afraid of getting on the escalator. I saw the girl whispering to her friend "Ugh ano ba yan? Di sila marunong?" (Ugh why the hold up? They don't know how?)

My grandmother being afraid of escalators, I felt for them. I, along with a middle-aged couple, helped them get on. I'm not perfect and I'm not the most patient person myself, so I don't wanna sound self-righteous and yap about don't do this or don't do that. I understand people can be xenophobic. But because of that encounter, I realized a couple of things. One, things so normal to us like escalators, we take for granted. It's quite refreshing to look at a group of people who are so simple-minded and innocent to things like these. You learn to appreciate the everyday stuff. And two, your outward appearance defines how people treat you but it sure conceals what's inside you. And what's inside of you really defines who YOU are.

Blush

peach kimono: Sunkissed

shoes: SM

necklace (not seen): StyledUP

What I wore to Mothers' Day dinner with my fam.

Actually, I could think about tons of possible titles for this post:

*Call Me Maybe--cause there was a really cute waiter at where we ate!! I won't say where we ate cause if you dropped by, you'd immediately know who he was!

or
*Bat Girl--cause my cover-up made me feel bat-like, like I had wings!
or or
*Sideways--cause I posed sideways cause I'm wide up front! HAHA
or or or
*Titles--cause I can think of so many!!

The list is endless! :))

Anyway, I picked Blush cause of my reddish-pinkish tones. Normally, I wear contrasting colors (I wear neutrals then have a bright colored accessory) but for this outfit, I wore complementary ones instead. I love how everything worked out in the end cause I just grabbed the first thing out of my closet. I got pressured to wear something fasyon when I saw my sister's outfit! (By the way, please check out her blog! :) )

Now I'm off ready for Mimi's 28th birthday celeb! :)

Micro trend: YSL Arty inspired rings

Almost everyone loves these rings as much as I do! I've been spotting them on almost every famous Filipino fashion blogger I follow!

Laureen Uy wears one from Extremefinds on Cape Town

Camille Co wears a real limited edition one in Tweed

Cheyser wears one from ROMWE in Sequins and Studs

Kryz Uy in one from WAGW in You can bet

See? :)

Well, good news! My online shop StyledUP is selling YSL Arty-inspired rings!

I have 1 more in red, 2 more in turquoise and 3 in black!

Visit my Multiply page and Facebook page now!

(photos from their respective blogs)

Giveaway Winners: Day 4 and 5!

I know this is all you've been waiting for! Sorry for the delay! Really, really, really ultra mega sorry! *sad face* I had these giveaways stored in our computer for a few days already cause I wanted to announce all the winners in one post, but our computer broke down a couple of days ago. I thought all the files would be erased! Huge sigh of relief when I turned on the computer and everything was there. That incident forced me to post it ASAP cause I didn't want to have to audit entries again. Plus, people have been tweeting me when I'd release the giveaway winners. Patience guys, patience.

Anyway, here are the winners for Day 4 (Asian Vogue) and Day 5&6 (Anagon x StyledUP x Plethora). Will try to finish auditing Days 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11&12 tomorrow! Well anyway, before I head off to get ready for the Bloggers' Soiree, I'll leave you with two giveaway winners for the mean time.

12 Days of Christmas Giveaway: Day 5&6 **CLOSED**

Sorry I didn't post a giveaway yesterday! 

I was too lazy to (and yet I posted 2 other entries! Haha!), and so that there'd be more breathing room and more room for other readers to join. :)

Last night, Cheyser texted me saying I should check my twitter. I was busy studying last night though so I got to check it this morning before leaving for school. Imagine the shock I felt when I saw that I won her Romwe x TWR Thankgiving Giveaway!

October Highs

This October was filled with tons of great moments. And because I'm in such a great and positive mood, I'd love to share the good vibes in my life.

I think I wrote about a lot of the earlier ones--blogger food tasting, cousin bonding, red velvet bonding and finally getting my red trench. I haven't gotten around to wearing it yet though. It's been so HOT in Davao! So much for being a -BER month!

By the way, I changed my blog name for like, a couple of days but then I noticed I still got  lot of hits on LVL, so I decided to keep the blog name. Darn! I really wanted to go with The Style Reactor. Haven't seen a blog named that yet, and like I said, I think it goes pretty well with my Chemical Engineering background. Ooh.


So, let's start yeah?