hello again!

another collection to be released this Sunday at 8pm. :)

KFC's Double Down

but mom likes it this way:

:o

still with bread??

-M

Philippine Fashion Week Day 2

and so, i love my shoes! :)

today's show:
paper dolls by kate torralba together with wharton by rajo laurel.
too bad, mr. rajo laurel wasn't at the event :(

we'll be busier tomorrow! 3 or 4 overlapping shows?? :O wow! 1 is enough! really!

i love kate torralba! i'm now a fan! yay! she's really cute! hihi!

we saw Mel Entuna of Style and Soul & Aisa/Pax of Drowning Equilibriums today! weeee! :)


-M

Philippine Fashion Week Day 1 + my birthday + inkarlcerating + behind the scenes

we [kat & I] were at SMX to help out with the committee on Philippine Fashion Week from 12pm up to 10pm.
we were assigned at the registration area at the far right side.

thank you Agie for inviting us! :) yay!

we met Paul & Chris (hala! i'm very sorry i forgot your name! i'm not sure if it's really Chris. forgive me please!) outside function room 1. they were standing there, so we approached them.
kat introduced ourselves (that we were the same person they've met few weeks ago at Greenbelt 3), then asked where karl is. :D they told us that he is already on his way. :)
they also asked me why i wasn't wearing a Soule Phenomenon boots. i think Paul told me to contact karl so i could get a discount. :O [in my mind: naku wag na po, hihi]. i would love to have the inkarlcerating wedge boots, unfortunately, they only have a size 6 left. :( if ever they had it in my size (which is 8 or 8 1/2), it'd be my birthday gift for myself (oct. 26! today! yey!). :)


we already went back to our assigned area. few minutes later, kat was pointing at someone and then keeps on saying "si karl! si karl!". then i was like "omg! asan?! asan?!" i couldn't see him at first because there were a lot of people. but then there he is... he's wearing all white while his friends are wearing all black from head to toe. :)

we had an assignment, our task is to email Don Protasio & Arnel Zulieta PFW invites. :)

-M


photo credit: stylebible.ph

Skylar Strap Boot by Lower East Side for my birthday!!

okay, so tomorrow is my 22nd birthday, and look what my bestfriend got for me! :)

she asked me what i wanted, and i told her that i was in love with these pair of beauties!
it's gorgeous in actual! and it is really really comfortable! i got a size 8.5 by the way. :)
just making sure that i have enough room to wiggle my toes, i don't want them to be all snugged up at the end of the shoe.
and also because i'm having problems with sizes lately. :))


i shall wear them tomorrow on Philippine Fashion Week.
we [kat and I] have to be at the venue at 12noon to help in the said event. therefore, we won't be dressing up for the event, instead, we will be there ahead of everybody to arrange the place, and make sure everything is ready for the 5pm event. :)
we will be there with Agie. :)

again, thank you Marrisse Garchitorena (Atimarsh as i call her)

for the wonderful gift for my birthday! :)

-M

photo credit: payless.com

ps.
Skylar Strap Boots by Lower East Side from Payless for 1,250php.
it is located at the 2nd floor of SM Megamall, Bldg A. (few walks from Forever 21)

Peep Toe Wedges by Forever 21

again, what was my dilemma? a size 7 or a size 8?

remember (in my previous post) i said "black"?

here it is.
when i saw this color, i could hear the angels singing. :))
it looks clean and fresh! :)
LIGHT BROWN.
it was really really nice!

and so, my new problem was "black or light brown"?

-----------------------------------------------------------------

i'd make this post very quick...........
i got the light brown.. heee ^ ^ i love them.. :)

here it is:

-M

photo credit: forever21.com

product code: 2082111606

Distressed Leatherette Boots by Forever 21

finally, we were able to buy this pair of boots for kat.

she didn't buy it the first time we saw them. but when we got home, i was regretting of not buying it for her.
the following week, we were about to purchase them. only to find out that they already had the mannequin wear it. and that, there was someone who already had it reserved, so kat was on the waiting list. :(

but 2 days ago, we went back to F21 to check if there are new stocks of shoes.

sad to say, that same mannequin was wearing a different style of shoes, so we assumed that the first person who reserved the boots has already taken it.
we even saw the same F21 employee whom kat gave her number to. she sincerely apologized for not informing kat anything regarding the item.


and so, i was busy trying on these pair of black peep toe wedges. i couldn't make up my mind whether i'm getting a size 7 or a size 8.

after a few minutes, the F21 employee called kat and handed her the gray boots. kat was so happy. yey. happy happy joy joy,, and so on.. :))
yes, we bought it! :) she wouldn't put down the beauties (fyi).


-M

photo credit: forever21.com
Product Code: 2080559349

i used to say i don't like clogs

but when i saw this pair of clogs (and tried it on), i was amazed on how it looked nice on my feet.
and my whole perception of them became different, and now, i love clogs!

this was purchased from Forever 21 last week. they only have 2 pairs left. size 6 & 7.
i tried on 7, and yey! it fit me! i'm actually a size 8 1/2 (usually 9 if they don't have half sizes).

this morning, i was blog hopping, and i saw these pair of clogs.
i really really liked the design of it, but when i saw that it's a Jeffrey Campbell item, i was in love! :)
i might post a picture of it some other time. :)

-M

all photos were taken by me (also modeled by me) :)

benched

this was taken in Eastwood last week.

we went to Honda to have the alarm of my car fixed.

our appointment was scheduled at 8am, 

but arrived there at 9. :p

while waiting, kat and I decided to have breakfast at McDonald's in Eastwood.

unfortunately, McDo is under renovation, 

so we had our breakfast at Aysee's (?). :(

 

-M

loving animal prints

my current obsession:

animal prints! [especially leopard prints] 

all 3 were purchased from f21 philippines.

photo credit: forever21.com

okay, wait here's more:

my little Maddee

and there you go. :)

-M

it's so fluffy!!!

the girl/guy from the salon trimmed a few inches of my curls, making it more defined.

still loving my permed hair. fluffy! :)

-M

ps. pics were taken by webcam. blurred much? :)

day to day basics

caught in the act:
before leaving our unit, this is what i always do. :)
i make sure that the rag is in line with the door hehe.
also, it has to be dragged by my foot from left to right.
i think of it as good luck.
right to left is strictly prohibited. :D

look at those two chihuahuas! :) let's squish them!

-M

blue collared shirt from Arrow

gray slippers from Havaianas

Venus Raj at 7eleven

Kat and I saw Venus Raj at 7eleven a while ago.

Good thing we always have our cam with us :)

btw, [on the left/first picture] this is my current size (?) haha, i'm so big :(

and my pose? what the..?

-M

Charles & Keith

 

i got so lucky yesterday.

i was supposed to buy a new pair of unbranded shoes worth more than 2,800php from an online shop last wednesday, october 6. i was so sure that i want those! but i couldn't transact with the seller that day because we [kat & i] were supposed to meet our mom at gateway, cubao. i left the computer on so that when we get back, i'd be able to contact the seller immediately.

oh, our mom needs a new top from marks and spencer for their annual meeting/convention in ministop (which was always held at SMX), this is also why we were at gateway.
after buying a PLAIN top from M&S, we passed by Charles & Keith.
we went inside, yey!! :) i was looking for a perfect belt for my shorts while kat and mom were trying on some sunglasses.
our mom needs to go back to her store (ministop p.campa) so we had to end our window shopping as early as possible.

by the time i was able to pass by their new arrivals, i looked up and saw these pair of black wedge booties. i was longing for this style AND COLOR for months (i was able to buy a pair of wedge booties at forever21 but it's gray..see previous blog entry). i reached for it!! the price says 2,499php. i turned around to tell my mom "eto yun! pramis eto yun!! omg talaga! etong-eto yun!!!".
this is what i got from her "sige bilin mo na".
"yehey!".
"next time".
"ai" :( this was the last word that came out of my mouth.
then we went home. :(

the following day, october 7 [happy day], we [kat & i] had lunch with Agie (Puffy as i call her) in gateway mall.
since it's thursday, we went to St. Jude to hear mass. then went straight home. :)
that's all. :)

oh, and before leaving gateway, i got this:
 

even nicer in actual!

all photos in this entry was taken by me.

wasn't able to put a watermark in each picture (i forgot).

should you take them, please notify me,

or else, 20 years of bad luck will come your way.

-M

SHOP SUPPORT: HTW designs by Wanda

It’s a cliché to say it but I’ll do it anyway: great things are wrapped in small packages. I’m not saying this shop is small, nor the designer lacks in height. Rather, it may not YET be as big as those top online sellers that we read in magazines, but I’m sure time will come that the world will unwrap it and discover its greatness within.

Or maybe I should change the cliché to: small but terrible...nah.

Two months ago, AuxManila has been featured in Melai Entuna’s blog, styleandsoul (feel free to visit, just click here). We were the first shop to represent a movement called Shop Support. Of course we didn’t pay her to do something like that, nor has given her any kind of freebie, goodie, or garment LOL. As kat would always say: Maybe we really did something good in Aux, and it’s just an innate response, an appreciation being translated into words. (Which melted our hearts btw, to read and be aware of how other people see us, what they think of us.)

As a way of paying it forward (as Mel would say it LOL), we would like to share a little shop that kat and I became very fond of, in fact, I would like to OWN every single, each and every one, the entire, the complete, every bit of creation that was and would be released by Manang Wanda – the person behind HTW Designs.

Here’s a quick info...(courtesy of FB – fropile ng bayan)

 Full name: Wanda Kristina Madarang

Age: Eep! Kelangan ko ba sagutin yan? Hahaha.. fine.. 18... joke.. 24, but still the YOUNGest in the family. Hihihi! ;)

Affiliations: HTW Designs by Wanda

                         FB fropile :) Profile

BTW(highway LOL) she’s my cousin’s cousin, although she’s not my cousin. It’s a long explanation (although I know you’ll get it), but she’s really not my cousin. Since she’s a family to me, I decided to address her faux-cousin (in line with her background in fashion) or pseudo-cousin can also do (being a BS Nursing graduate :D).

In addition, we call her (and her sister Manang Wonina, who models her works) “Manang” because she’s Ilocano, and manang = ate (in Tagalog) :)

I thinks it’s better to hear(or read?) from Manang Wanda herself for the reason behind HTW’s name :)

HTW stands for Haute-To-Wear (pronounced as oht-tuh-wair). In fashion school, I learned that you could either sell custom-made clothes (which is "haute couture" or "couture", strictly for a very select few only) or ready-to-wear (RTW). I opted to do RTW, but I wanted to have a high-end feel to it so I incorporated the word "haute" into the brand. Coincidentally, my designs came out as clothes you wouldn't really see anywhere else, hence the brand now also has a double-meaning as something that I think people OUGHT TO WEAR.

Haute-To-Wear debuted August of 2010. Before it came to be, M. Wanda (Miss Wanda, or Manang Wanda for me, of course J ) took up Professional Design at the Fashion Institute of the Philippines. For four months, she has been taught from the basics of inserting the thread inside the needle, until the part where you undress your mannequin because your creation has already been sold. One may question the short amount of time given to learn the fundamentals to the most clear-cut aspect of fashion. Where in this industry, no matter where you turn, critic’s point of view would always rise above all, and one might ask: “Am I ready?”

Yes, M. Wanda, I can see you raising your hand, what is your answer? (me pretending to be a teacher in a class, recitation time)

The classes and the learning part is admittedly a fast approach, which is okay. The practical aspect of putting what you've learned to good use afterwards is what's really gonna take much time, a lot of experimentation and hard work, failures, mistakes but also rewards. :)

*concepts include basic and advanced fashion design, sewing (taken during free-time), pattern-making, merchandising, children’s wear, and men’s wear.

Well said M. Wanda (pretend reply, as a part of the pretend class recitation harhar). And for that, you should attend the Graduation Show to be held next year. (this time I’m not pretending anymore :) She said she’ll be joining the Graduation Show, and a very excited me couldn’t hold back my smiling after hearing it from her :D )

To give a few more background, M. Wanda graduated with a Bachelor's Degree in Management Major in Communications Technology from Ateneo De Manila University last March of 2008. Although she said designing wasn’t her first dream.

I had dreamt of becoming a nun, a nurse, a teacher, an accountant, a finance person and so many other things before I ever had the slightest clue I wanted a career in fashion.

And that was what she did. Last year, she could not stand going to the office anymore, and decided to pursue the life as a fashion designer.

It was scary, but I don't have any regrets even now that I don't have anything much of a booming career yet to be proud of. Nonetheless, I am currently very happy simply draining my creative juices each day and refilling it every now and then with brand new inspiration.

INSPIRATION: Where (the hell) do you get it from?

Anwser: I do try to listen to my inner voice, my instinct, the one that just FEELS something’s bound to be a classic.

Well apparently, she’s doing a very good job listening to that voice. I remember when I came to their big house (yeah, I have to say it. BIG), I caught her working. Using my ultra-heightened parallel vision, I peeked at her working desk, the size of a pool table (because it USED to be a pool table LOL), and just sighed: WOW... I didn’t understand anything that was going on in there. It wasn’t because things were cluttered (well, a little bit a guess), or I wasn’t familiar with anything there...actually I still haven’t figured out why (boo me), until now. It’s her insight.

I have been inspired by different silhouettes, structures and even my emotions at the time of inception. My inspiration can come from anything anywhere and everywhere!

It’s not like an origami where you should follow a strict step1 to 10, or else your paper crane would turn into a crap, I mean a scrap of folded paper. Different strokes for different folks, as my (ex)professor would say :).

a world that offered a place where my once locked up imagination could run free

To me, inspiration is extremely personal. What it means to me may mean something entirely different to someone else

In the fashion industry there’s no rule book, just guidelines. And at the end of the day, it’s still you taste, your preference, your pick, that would determine the type of designer that you are.

If you’ve recently watched a certain 3D movie, you would know what a BFAB is. Born From A Boom box. Now those are intended for dancers. Now, I thought we should come up with something like BFASM (Born From A Sewing Machine), or BFAPOC/ S (Born From A Pile Of Cloth / Swatches) or maybe BHANAT,COWAFO if we really want to get serious and bring it (Born Holding A Needle And Thread, Came Out Wearing A Full Outfit) :) Well, that’s just me :)

Few weeks after she opened her online shop, I found myself filling up the order form a few seconds later. Though I still couldn't make up my mind on what to buy, I ended up buying 2 of her works LOL.

Believe it, love it. HTW designs is literally ought-to-wear.

Wanda Madarang: Certified BFAPOC

-M

again

black romper

black vintage watch

white vintage ring

gray wedge boots from Forever 21

btw, kat took pictures of me upon arriving home from puffy's house.


-M

puffy's celebration

agie, puffy as i call her, invited us [me & kat] on her celebration today.

26th collection was also released today. :)

i don't know why, but i'm excited for tomorrow. ay baliw?


-M

blazer still?

i gotta stop this addiction to blazers. our rack is already falling (literally!!!) because of my blazers. :(
and yesterday? i bought another one. haven't tried it yet though. but i think it'll fit me (my shoulders) perfectly.
and today, i have decided to buy my last blazer for the week, okay, i mean, for the month. :(


-M

blazin' hot

i bought 2 blazers yesterday. it's my first long blazer (?).
but i'm thinking of reselling the other. :(
i only have to keep one. :(

i'm planning to put up a collection of blazers in AuxManila.
no, my blazers won't be there of course! i won't sell them! not yet!

excited! :)


-M

1st day of 26th collection photo shoot

Agie/Agatha Axibal modelled some of our clothes again for the upcoming 26th collection.

Kat has a blog now. i created it for her. :) though the name of her blog was her idea. :)
there's nothing much from it yet. i told her to put something in it, but here's what i got from her:
"masakit ang ulo ko, masakit ang puson ko, nagtatae pa ako!!"

we're currently here in cainta (again).

i want to sleep early tonight but there are still a lot of things that i need to do, or finish rather. :(
we've been so busy lately! we're so busy that we haven't got the time to clean our kitten's litter box!
it stinks! :( why? because we have 3 kitties! not one, not two, but three! three contributors! :D
and yet, we love them! ^^

i bought the latest issue of Preview magazine, btw, while i was scanning the pages backwards (yes i do read backwards, not because i'm chinese or whatever you think might be the reason is), i saw Nixon Marquez, he was my schoolmate at UERM. here's what i have to say to him, "you might not know me, but i know you." or "akala mo hindi kita kilala, pero kilala kita!! isa ka sa masipag na student nurse sa neuro ward!".

Agie told me that Nixon and Zeke Nolasco (left; Agie's schoolmate way back then) are friends (correct me if i'm wrong). i love watching Zeke walk down the runway at every fashion week event. :)
she was also seen in project runway philippines season 2 week 3 and week 5.
oh, i just remembered, kat and i saw her at the MRT cubao station once. she's with a friend. she was so thin. i wanna be as thin as her!! yes, now!!
i viewed her profile in facebook (just now), and found out that she just celebrated her birthday last saturday, september 11.
well, belated happy birthday zeke! (just in case she reads this) :D

photo credit: Zeke's multiply


so there you go. will be posting new pieces from 26th collection tomorrow.


-M