Love Chic

The last of eight layouts we shot for Call It Spring  last February (i.e. when the temperature still permitted the wearing of socks, closed shoes and long garments). We went for a nature-inspired palette: blue, white, brown and floral.

CPS Chaps top, flea market chiffon skirt, Aldo socks, Call It Spring wedges, SM Accessories belt. It’s the same style of shoes I wore in this layout except in a different color. Hype this on Lookbook here.

Barette and men’s eyeglasses from SM Accessories. Red bangs, black roots and blonde tips. Ayayay. Clearly, the ombré hair needs retouching.

Metal with petal. Connector ring and studded clutch from SM Accessories. With just a rose ring and a beige bag, this look would be too sweet and feminine for my style. I like how all the hardware adds toughness to the whole look.

F&X collared long-sleeved shirt, Bench jeans, Dickies socks, Call It Spring shoes. Hype this on Lookbook here.

Eyeglasses from SM Accessories. I just love wearing these even if my eyesight is thankfully healthy. Just like shoes, wearing eyeglasses seems to make even a small difference to an outfit.

One of my favorites from Call It Spring. I like to fold the cuffs down to show the colored socks. When they’re pulled up, the boots look different without the fluffy white trimming. It’s a versatile pair of sneakers-slash-boots.

Happy Sunday, everyone! If you haven’t joined our Etude House and Mandaue Foam giveaways, now would be a good time to. Click on the links to find out how.

…And it’s because of these shades. Ba dum tsss.

Celio top, Bench jeans, Aldo socks, Call It Spring shoes, SM Accessories shades. Hype this on Lookbook here.

Self-mocking aside, we tried to do something edgier for this layout, since all of our other Call It Spring shoots were in our usual fun-fun mode.

These shoes aren’t my usual style, since I’m more of a sneakers and boots kind of guy. But every now and then, we come out of our comfort zones when it comes to fashion to explore other options. You never know how it will turn out until you try, right? These aren’t bad-looking at all.

Kashieca chiffon tiered dress, Call It Spring shoes and accessories, YRYS fishnet stockings. Hype this on Lookbook here.

If the shoes aren’t Seph’s style, in my case it’s the dress. It’s floral, in white, and in tiers of chiffon. Plus the wedges are in floral, too. I opted to edge it up with metals, animal print shades and this.

Enough said. Hahaha.

What about you? Share naman diyan! We’re always the ones posting pictures or telling you random stories and we really appreciate it when we hear back. What look would you consider to be your comfort zone? Which fashion pieces do you usually stay away from?

Matchy in mismatched outfits, a tribute to the equally kooky weather we’ve been having. There are just days that have you sweating buckets and taking the heat, and days when you’re all wet and washed up.
  
When you think about it, that’s basically how you could describe life’s not-so-pleasant moments too, eh? Which is why rain or shine, we try our best to keep a sunny disposition and just go with whatever’s thrown our way.

CPS Chaps top and skirt, SM Department Store socks, SM Accessories ring, Call It Spring feather hairclip, and clutch with feather. Hype this on Lookbook here.

This feather hairclip is so pretty, but the way my hair is naturally messy like that, I’m thinking it would probably stand out better on straight hair. Still, I’m a sucker for feather accessories and I just love this.

When it comes to accessories, I like to work with a certain subtle theme. Sort of like an inside joke with myself. In this case, a ring leaf because my bag is green.

Gold shoes are quite hard to pull off for a casual look, simply because gold is associated with glamour. But when it’s a pair of flats in a simple enough design that’s comfy to walk around in, gold makes for fun footwear.

CPS Chaps shirt, Celio polo and shorts, Aldo socks, Call It Spring sneakers. Hype this on Lookbook here.

I haven’t been out of the country much, just Bangkok and Hong Kong. Hawaii is just one of the places I would like to see when I get the chance. It must be great to try out surfing and other water sports there.

When I’m not going crazy for boots or brightly colored shoes, I’m gawking at crisp white sneakers. There’s just something about statement shoes that I get a kick out of. Perhaps because it’s one of those things that can totally change a look—like if I wore flip-flops with this outfit instead. It would look too at-home, wouldn’t it?
  
Speaking of being at-home, we’ve got a nice giveaway for homebodies out there who would love to sit back, put their feet up and enjoy a nice book or DVD. If you have been missing out on the fun, click here to join!

From our first shoot together up to today, we’ve come to realize that the less we care how our photos will look, the more we like how they turn out—whether or not the amount of “likes” or comments on the post says the same thing. Most of the time, we don’t really plan what to wear or how to accessorize or what contrived and complicated poses to do. Even the title and the writeup just come later on, literally minutes before we sit down together and post.

CPS Chaps sheer floral top, The Ramp at Crossings skirt, SM Department Store socks, Call It Spring color block wedges and shades. Hype this on Lookbook here.

Beauty notes: Maybelline Pure Liquid mineral foundation, The Face Shop Face It designing dual shading pact, Topshop lipstick. Don’t you just love how the sunglasses match the top perfectly?

Wedges again! I added yellow orange to the black and white colorblocking to amp up its ’60s-era feel.

Celio button-down, CPS Chaps jeans, SM Department Store socks, SM Accessories shades, Call It Spring shoes. Hype this on Lookbook here.

Hello, Shai peering at my shades!

I don’t usually wear dressy shoes like these because they’re generally not that comfortable to walk around in (plus it can be difficult to pull them off without looking too corporate). But if you want to look polished and put-together, especially for a swanky party or a serious meeting, you’ll make a good impression with this pair. Something every guy should have. My late dad used to say, shoes are like car tires. If they’re dirty, that says a lot about the owner.

So why the title? Because we humbly and sincerely believe that the best way to blog is to be yourself.

Long before it was considered an actual career option, blogging in its purest sense was all about putting your heart and soul out there in an honest yet considerate, opinionated yet eloquent, consummate yet ethical way. And to play with the phrase’s actual meaning, we believe that it’s your self you should be seeing when you look in the mirror that is your website—not a stranger in a costume striking a pose. Otherwise, therein lies the danger of losing touch with what’s real and what’s important.

One of the many reasons we’re glad we have each other.

Landlocked lovers making do with the nearest body of water around. Shot at the pool area of the condo we bought together.

CPS Chaps floral-print maxi dress, Call It Spring wedges and headband, SM Accessories bangle. Hype this on Lookbook here.

This pair of Call It Spring wedges look amazing, notwithstanding my un-pedicured footsies. The color is right between my two favorite shades of red, corral and watermelon. I can’t think of any season I wouldn’t wear this, but the wooden element makes it perfect for the summer.

Celio button-down and shorts, Call It Spring shoes, SM Accessories belt. Hype this on Lookbook here.

I’ve always loved shoes in red shades because it doesn’t require a lot of effort to stand out when you’re wearing them. These are one of my favorite. They’re breezy, comfy and perfect for strolling around. The only limitation is I don’t think I’ll be able to wear them when it’s rainy, but for sunny days, they’re the best.

Hope you’re having a wonderful summer, wherever you may be at right now!

Tangerine pumps and gray sneakers from Call It Spring. This is one of the photos we shot for a collaboration to launch their Spring/Summer collection, published in the Philippine Star last month. This is also on Style Bible’s “Here Is The Love” feature.

F&X sweater, Bench jeans, Kissaholic bag, SM Accessories glasses, Timex watch. Hype this on Lookbook here.

Seph: As always, I opted to wear something colorful. Summer is a great time (and for some guys, the only time) to be brave with colors when dressing up. Personally, I like doing it year-round because it makes it easier to appreciate the details on what you’re wearing.

F&X “PS I Love You” shirt, The Ramp skirt, SM Accessories ring, SM Department Store socks, Kissaholic bag. Hype this on Lookbook here.

Shai: Three awesome things about this shirt: the worn, crumply look and feel, the cutesy graffiti print and my favorite color—turquoise! Threw in the tangerine shoes and the pink bag for mismatched colorplay.
  
The weather was still pretty cool when we shot these outfits, but imagine wearing them outdoors these days when the summer heat just gets too much! Don’t you just wish we had a cooler climate in the Philippines?

How is everyone? It’s been a while since we’ve heard from anyone outside of family and a few close friends, owing to a string of events both pleasant and otherwise that have temporarily kept us away from the chaotic monotony of our respective freelancer lives. Thankfully, we’ve slowly been getting back on track and getting some much-wanted downtime to post things here and there. Let’s get spring/summer started in this here blog, shall we? :)

On Seph: CPS Chaps shirt, F&X button-down, Bench jeans, Call It Spring shoes, SM Accessories glasses. Hype this on Lookbook here.

Denim on denim on denim was the idea for this layered look, taking advantage of the occasionally chilly afternoon breeze blown our way by the winds from wintry countries.

On Shai: Kashieca dress with cowl neck, SM Department Store socks, SM Accessories cuff, Call It Spring wedges. Hype this on Lookbook here.

Bright floral prints never fail to liven up drab days. If you’ve seen our blog Archives (or if you’ve been reading this blog long enough—and thank you!) you’ll notice how we love playing with prints. One of the reasons to love summer.

We were advised to dress comfortably on the second day of HKFW, and this is how we wore our matching Keds.

On Seph: Forever21 coat, R.A.F. shirt, Bench jeans, GAP scarf, Timex watch, SM Accessories glasses, grey Keds.
Hype on Lookbook here.

On Shai: Human cardigan, thrifted starry top, Abi Ong Project skirt, Topshop stockings, gray Keds, SM Accessories necklace.
Hype on Lookbook here.

This was the day we got to cover the Hong Kong Fashion Extravaganza, the most anticipated fashion show in all of Hong Kong Fashion Week attended by local celebrities and covered by national media. We had to be literally on our toes for the flurry of activity that happened that day: designer interviews, press conference, lots of picture-taking, and other fun reporter stuff that didn’t really allow for painfully dressy shoes. Stay tuned for this story!

A week ago, we were blessed with the most amazing opportunity: to do coverage of Hong Kong Fashion Week for Love Chic! We actually received the invites to be official Overseas Journalists (OJs) of the Hong Kong Trade Development Council as early as Christmas time, but we didn’t want to believe it until we actually had the plane tickets on hand. In effect, we were still completely surprised when they arrived in the mail!

The flat little building amidst all the skyscrapers is the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC), where the fashion shows, trade fair and press conferences all happened. We’ll be posting all about these in the coming days, but for now, the obligatory outfit posts.

Topman shirt, Forever 21 Men plaid shirt, Bench jeans, Adidas sneakers, 101 New York scarf, Kissaholic satchel bag. Hype on Lookbook here.

From Bangkok dress, H&M shorts, Topshop stockings, Aldo socks, Parisian at SM Department Store booties, Kissaholic satchel bag, 101 New York scarf, SM Accessories connector ring. Hype on Lookbook here.

It’s our first time in Hong Kong, and also our first time to go out of the country alone. So despite being terribly underdressed for the fashion capital’s winter air, we were feeling warm and fuzzy inside. We can’t wait to share more photos and stories with you!
   
Happy Year of the Dragon, folks!
   
Special thanks to Miss Vivienne Chee and Chloe Kiosk of the Hong Kong Trade and Development Council for inviting us to be Overseas Journalists.

As promised, two readers will win their favorite look from our “12x12” feature! Here’s how.

1. This giveaway is open to all Love Chic readers in the Philippines who are following us on Twitter and Facebook. Follow Bench on Twitter and Facebook too since they’re one of the brands who will sponsor the winners. We’ll be double-checking on these! :)
2. If you’re a guy, click here to see the 12 looks by Seph. If you’re a girl, click here to see the 12 looks by Shai. Choose your favorite one and grab the photo.
3. Post the photo on the wall of our Facebook Page. In the caption, tag @Bench then write down why you chose that outfit and how you’d wear it if you win.
   Sample caption: “@Bench/ lifestyle + clothing My favorite is Look 11 because it has all my favorite colors and styles! I would wear it to a special date with the girl I’m courting.”
4. Ask your family and friends to Like your entry. It won’t be the sole basis for winning but it would help to show the amount of support you get :)
5. Tweet this: “@sephshai I joined your giveaway! http://bit.ly/xQ2kuf #lovechic”

Deadline for entries is Friday, Feb 3 at 11:59 PM. We’ll choose the most creative captions: one (1) from the guys and one (1) from the girls. Just like that, they’ll win all the items from their chosen look! In case the item isn’t available in the winner’s size or is out of stock, it’ll be replaced with something in a similar style.
   
Winners will be announced via Twitter on Saturday, Feb 4. Best of luck, everyone!

Guess who just dyed their own hair ombré?

The term is a French word which means “gradiation” or “shade.” Instead of one color throughout, you’ve got a darker shade on top that gradually goes lighter down the tips, usually ending in blonde.

We didn’t find any salons that offered this, so we thought we’d do it ourselves.

We’re glad we did; not only were we able to save money, we were also able to pick up a few self-reminders from the experience.

Lesson 1: Stand on your own two feet. We’re firm believers that nobody is self-made; whatever form of success we currently enjoy, people along the way helped us get to where we are. However, being dependent on others is a different story. If you always need people to do certain things for you, what happens when they leave, turn their back on you, or worse, demand repayment and rub in your face all the good they’ve done when things go sour? Do things yourself. If it works, you’ll have leveled up and won’t have to drown in debts of gratitude. If it doesn’t, you’ll still have learned and have no one to blame.

Lesson 2: Dare to be different. Just because everybody’s doing this or wearing that or getting hooked with this app or going to that hip-happening place doesn’t make it imperative that you should, too. Au contraire. Dare to be a starter, not a follower—and dare to stand by your own choices and preferences.

Lesson 3: Experiment. Take risks. Whenever hesitation or fear strikes, ask yourself what’s the worst that can happen. What have you got to lose? Will it matter in the greater scheme of things? Will it matter three, five, ten years from now? And even if the answers to these are bleak, well, sometimes the best way we can truly learn and grow is through our mistakes and failures.

Lesson 4: Be yourself, always. In this day and age more than ever, this seems to be one of the simplest yet most challenging things to practice. With everyone so inevitably connected and perennially updated, it seems to have become so important to be who we are expected to be: edited, curated, censor-approved versions of ourselves, rather than who we are happy to be: just ourselves! How can we be true to other people if the person we see everyday in the mirror is fake?

On Shai: Forever21 embroidered dress, Parisian at SM Department Store booties, SM Accessories bangle, Fidelity necklace and rings. Hype on Lookbook here.

On Seph: Forever21 blazer, Topman shirt, Bench jeans, Aldo socks, Adidas shoes, SM Accessories necklace and wristband, Timex watch. Hype on Lookbook here.

   
…All this from three tubs of hair color. Who knew? Haha. Tutorial, anyone? Tell us what you think—use that Reply button on your Tumblr dashboard or leave a Disqus comment :) Hope y’all had a good start for the new year!

Part two of our Inquirer 2bU feature, out today. Click here to see part one for girls!
  
We laid out twelve different outfits using the same basic pieces, the styles of which you can easily find in your favorite stores or in your own closet.

1 Knitted long-sleeved shirt, Bench
2 Graphic printed tee, CPS Chaps
3 Tribal print scarf, Aldo
4 Plaid button-down polo, F&X
5 Faux leather and suede shoes, Aldo
6 Cropped denim pants, CPS Chaps
7 Randy Ortiz for Bench coat, Bench
8 Leather and suede sneakers, Pedro
9 Plaid preppy shorts, Human
10 Straight-cut distressed jeans, Bench
11 Leather loafers, Pedro
12 Plaid fedora hat with band, Aldo

LOOK 1 = 4 + 10 + 1 +11

LOOK 2 = 2 + 9 + 7 + 5

LOOK 3 = 2 + 6 + 4 + 8

LOOK 4 = 4 + 6 + 5 + 3

LOOK 5 = 10 + 2 + 4 + 7 + 11 + Bench glasses

LOOK 6 = 2 + 10 + 11 + 3

LOOK 7 = 4 + 10 + 8 + 12

LOOK 8 = 1 + 10 + 7 + 5

LOOK 9 = 10 + 2 + 7 + 3

LOOK 10 = 2 + 9 + 12 + 5 + Bench glasses

LOOK 11 = 6 + 2 + 1 + 11 + 12 + 3

LOOK 12 = 1 + 6 + 8 + Bench glasses
    
What’s your favorite look? Click here to find out how you can win it :)
  
Photos: Richard Romero

The story we produced for Inquirer 2bU. We always say that with the right mix-and-match skills, you need not spend a lot to look stylish, even with a limited wardrobe. Today we show you exactly what we mean. We laid out twelve different outfits using the same basic pieces, the styles of which you can easily find in your favorite stores or in your own closet.

1 Shirt with cowl collar, Herbench
2 Sheer polka-dotted vest, CPS Chaps
3 Knitted cape vest with buttons, F&X
4 Tribal print wedge booties, Aldo
5 Sleeveless flared jumpsuit, CPS Chaps
6 Glitter knitted cardigan, Herbench
7 Metallic strappy gladiator heels, Pedro
8 Ruffled chiffon skort, CPS Chaps
9 Bright army green carrot pants, Human
10 Black leather wedge booties, Aldo
11 Printed shirt dress, Herbench
12 Tribal print scarf, Aldo
   

LOOK 1 = 2 + 9 + 4 + 12 + Aldo bracelet

LOOK 2 = 5 + 7 + Aldo bangles

LOOK 3 = 1 + 3 + 10 + Pedro bag + CPS Chaps wristband + Aldo socks

LOOK 4 = 1 + 8 + 10 + Aldo ring and earrings + Human belt

LOOK 5 = 3 + 9 + 7 + Human necklace + Aldo bracelet

LOOK 6 = 5 + 3 + 7 + Aldo necklace + Pedro bag

LOOK 7 = 11 + 6 + 10 + Human necklace and belt + Aldo bracelet

LOOK 8 = 2 + 6 + 9 + 10 + Aldo bangles and earrings

LOOK 9 = 5 + 11 + 12 + 7 + Human bracelet + Pedro bag

LOOK 10 = 5 + 2 + 4 + Herbench shades + Pedro bag + Aldo bracelet

LOOK 11 = 2 + 8 + 4 + Aldo necklace + Pedro bag

LOOK 12 = 11 + 3 + 4 + CPS Chaps wristband + Aldo necklace
   
What’s your favorite look? Click here to find out how you can win it :)
   
Photos: Richard Romero