Love Chic

Blind Clothing one-shoulder dress, CMG wedges, SM Accessories necklace, earrings and clutch bag, XOXO watch. Contacts from Japanese Candy.

Hype this on Lookbook here, Chictopia here.

Sometimes I get asked how I think of look titles or entry themes. It’s nothing serious or scientific, haha. While uploading the photos, I usually just look for a detail somewhere in the outfit and then try to connect it to the day’s story.

Like this dress with all its lines. Wore it to a dinner date with some awesome people. Lately I’ve been having a lot of these dinners, with old and new friends from diverse backgrounds and countries. Different folks with different strokes, yet somewhere along the conversation, we find intersecting interests. I’ve been learning a lot from them and loving it. I think the Universe is making up for a couple of years of incidental social constrainment. :)

On another note of gratitude, to everyone who’s been continually interacting with me through this blog, Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and/or YouTube, thank you :) It’s still as kilig and inspiring as the first time, and so lots of exciting things are in the works. Here’s to a great week ahead!

Giordano chambray button-down shirt and shorts, Forever21 Run DMC cropped tank top, SM Accessories bangle and ring, Nine West shoulder bag, Call It Spring platforms.

Hype this on Lookbook here, Chictopia here.

Titled because Run D.M.C. is a hip-hop group from Queens, and because my best friend Lester lives there. This outfit is inspired by the street photos he sends me every day of stylish people and interesting scenes he comes across. It’s part-torture and part-motivation; before this year ends, I aim to finally see New York in person.

Giordano released a line of colorful shorts for the summer and I picked out this light blue. It can Iook denim, cotton or chambray, depending on the piece it’s paired with.

Got this button-down from Giordano in Hong Kong just because it was on sale when we went, but I think the Manila stores also have it.

Thought I’d throw in a couple of non-poses. Haha. My mom continued clicking the shutter while I was taking off the button-down.

Yes. On some days there’s many an awkward stance and last-minute clothes-fixing before arriving at a fairly decent shot.

I’d love to know how you’d style this look differently. Maybe with sneakers instead of platforms, change the hair, choose another color button-down? Or we could just chat about whatever. How was your Labor Day holiday? Have you ever been to NYC? Do you like Run D.M.C.? Why is it so hot? Drop me a line here or leave a comment below :)

Binkydoodles cutout top and maxi skirt, Crocs wedge sandals, SM Accessories necklace and bangles. I’m doing a trio of outfit ideas for the CloseUp Summer Solstice, the first music festival of its kind to happen in Manila this Saturday. While my first one has a more casual urban feel, this one’s for the hippie in you. Hype it on Lookbook here, Chictopia here.

In putting together these outfits, I wanted to only use pieces that are already in my closet. I wore this cute top in this post and the maxi skirt in this one. I like going floral on floral for summertime events.

I tucked the bottom of the cutout top in the skirt to shorten it and balance out the look, since the skirt is already long and flowy. It’s a really breezy outfit that’s great for staying cool despite the heat we’ve been beleaguered with these days.

Since everything’s already colorful and feminine, I went with pointy white accessories.

It’s going to be difficult to wear heels and complicated shoes to a music festival—they’re usually held outdoors in unpredictable weather, and entails doing a lot of standing up and walking. I went with these Crocs (yes, they’re Crocs) to complement the accessories, and of course, to add height. Maxi skirts make you look longer, especially when paired with wedges.

Pulled my hair up into a bun in keeping with the carefree vibe of the outfit. I don’t really comb my hair because it tends to go against the natural waves. Buns are a good way to keep hair in place, as frizz and sweating are inevitable at a summer music festival.

How do you like this outfit? Is it something you’d wear to Summer Solstice? Let me know what you think, or ask me your style-related questions here.

Miss Sixty dress over striped tank top, Cole Haan wingtip brogues, SM Accessories hat and necklace, Veloci wristwatch, backpack from my sister. Hype this on Lookbook here and Chictopia here.

Just something for the summer. Been going on drives with my loved ones to nearby places that I haven’t been to in a while. Looking forward to more of these this year :)

Hope you’re all having a wonderful week so far! ♥

Happy Stripes layered sheer top, Binkydoodles sheer maxi skirt, Asian Vogue wedge pumps, SM Accessories headband, beaded necklace and cuff bracelet.

Hype this on Lookbook here and Chictopia here.

Today’s weather here in Pampanga was the kind of sunny day I enjoy—chilly and kind of overcast, but still bright enough to inspire.

To be honest, I woke up this morning feeling under the weather, inundated with thoughts of my recent choices and actions and succumbing to the temptation of overanalyzing and dissecting every little detail. I was thinking about unrequited loyalty, how we don’t always get back the same kind that we give those who are important to us.

Whenever I get like this, I remember what someone once taught me: to focus instead on the people who see us at our most vulnerable, who see us be impulsive and foolish and love us anyway. People who, instead of appearing to agree all the way through and watch us crash and burn, care enough to call us out to protect us from the mistakes we’re making. To let us know that at the end of the day, they’re the ones who truly know us and believe in us.

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Much as we’d love to, it’s ridiculous to wear fall’s layers outdoors on this side of the planet. So instead, we took the season’s staple somberness and combined it with the bright prints and more wearable pieces of often-summery Manila.

Simply Felice sequined top, printed skirt and necklace; Ferretti peep-toe wedges, Promod fingerless lace gloves, SM Accessories headband. hype this on Lookbook here.

Dansen button-down shirt; Giordano shorts; Sperry Topsiders; SM Accessories shades, watch and wristlets. Hype this on Lookbook here. 
 

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This is Marcelo Santos III, a young writer and culture blogger. He’s the first subject for our “Freestyle Fridays” series, where we don’t just give tips or answer questions like we used to on Dear Love Chic, but actually show you via a free styling session with us.

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You know how much we love the Korean aesthetic of effortless adorability—be it fashion, beauty or interiors, it’s simple and charming and gets the job done in a way that makes you go, “That’s basic yet functional and pretty… why haven’t I tried that before?”

Neither of us have ever been to Seoul (at least physically)—but in the meantime, we’ve been on the lookout for little pockets of Korea wherever we are.

We found a couple of them when we visited Cebu: a hair and nail salon called Secret B, and this café called Sunday 2PM.

According to the owners, it’s called Sunday 2PM because it’s that time of the week when things are most relaxed and chill for most people. They gave the café this name to evoke that cozy feeling of being at home.

We just had to film the cutest stuff in Sunday 2PM for another video diary!
  

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Don’t say you haven’t been warned—following these outfit photos are scrumptious shots of what we had for dinner at Torch with friends. Hence the garterized skirt to make room at the tummy area. Haha!

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After much anticipation, SM Accessories has finally unveiled The Supreme Four: Xian Lim, Georgina Wilson, Richard Gutierrez and Anne Curtis. This is SM Accessories’ biggest campaign ever, which started with teaser posts and contests on YouTube, Twitter and Facebook and culminated in a grand launch event on November 15 at Republiq.

Here are highlights from the event.

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In navy and maroon shades during our fashion blogging workshop for Myth boutique a few weeks ago, where we busted some myths (pun unintended) on blogging and bloggers.

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This week’s cheap and chic finds. No matter the season, animal prints always seem to find their way to the top of trends lists. Our definite fave? Leopard. Men’s eyeglasses from SM Accessories. Taken with Instagram - @sephcham 

The back of our phones are now just as indicative of our personal styles as the accessories we wear. We love how today’s cases are both functional and fun. iPhone case from Mikeemarielluxe. Taken with Instagram - @shailagarde.

This week’s cheap finds for both guys and girls come in bright, bright red. SM Accessories bag, Quirkypedia eyeglasses, The Belle Soeurs bangles. All you really need to accessorize any simple outfit—probably best to avoid same-color clothes and shoes though.
Taken with Instagram - @shailagarde

SM Accessories shades and bracelets, Quirkypedia eyeglasses. It’s rare for me to find men’s accessories in red that aren’t too rugged or too loud, so whenever I find something casual and sleek, I make sure to grab it. Best worn with just shirt and jeans for an easy vibe.
Taken with Instagram - @sephcham 

Yes, you can pick random stuff from your closet, tie your hair haphazardly, wear no makeup and still blog about it. Blind Clothing floral dress, Ziggy & Zooey zebra print flats, Martina-Martina tribal-inspired necklace, Chemistry bangles. Hype this on Lookbook here.

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The last of this 4-part tutorial is all about teaching beginners the basics of changing simple daytime makeup into something more glam in just a few minutes. It will continue from the first three tutorials, so for first-time readers (welcome!) I suggest you click here to check those out. As I’ve said in my previous entries, I’m not a professional makeup artist or a formally trained beauty expert by any means. I’ve come up with this series at the request of readers asking me to share how I do my own makeup. To make things more interesting, I’m giving away this fabulous 12-pc brush set from SUESH Cosmetics to one (1) reader! Details later on.

Photo from my Instagram @shailagarde. Since I have big animé eyes, I like to put the emphasis on eye makeup as seen in the last tutorial. On occasions that call for a more dramatic makeup look, I simply add more color and volume. That’s what I’ll be sharing in this how-to.

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