so stew me!

*look ma, got published

nobody@vox.com(owen) — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 14:10:48 +0800

I always need to remind myself that I make my own dreams come true. And it starts with the energy to make things happen.

If you think about it, the publishing industry - fashion and lifestyle, in particular - is a very small community, and the reading public is as familiar as one's facebook friend list.

So when you get tapped to write for the country's best-selling and most creative fashion magazine, take on the cover (no less), and speak to one of the country's most beautiful women, you know you're up for something grand.

Like this.

Preview november 2009

I still fancy myself a Plum Sykes or Hamish Bowles once in a while, seeing myself in the US Vogue staff box. But a chance to write for a top Pinoy publication is super great as it is. And this, on top of another job I keep, is aye okay.

For all this, I have Iced Venti 3-Splenda Cafe Americano to thank.

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*cue the christmas score

nobody@vox.com(owen) — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 12:48:08 +0800

Do I really know the difference between my birthday and Christmas?

A friend of mine asked me this (I paraphrased the question) over coffee a week back. I did not know the answer. Should there even be a difference, I ask myself now.

There probably is.

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*inside the actor's studio

nobody@vox.com(owen) — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 23:38:11 +0800

Actor

These ten (10) questions originally came from a French series, "Bouillon de Culture" hosted by Bernard Pivot. They're better known as the questions that James Lipton asks every guest at the end of "Inside the Actor's Studio."

1. What is your favorite word?

Stealth. There is power is proceeding furtively and unobtrusively. And not a lot of people use the word. Ha.

2. What is your least favorite word?

Twist. Anything now has a 'twist'. And that's supposed to make it different?

3. What turns you on creatively, spiritually or emotionally?

Impulse

4. What turns you off?

Deliberate displays of vileness

5. What is your favorite curse word?

P*ta

6. What sound or noise do you love?

Creative or intellectual banter

7. What sound or noise do you hate (dislike)?

Whining

8. What profession other than your own would you like to attempt?

DJ-ing. I will spin house music until everyone's panting. That's gonna happen soon.

9. What profession would you not like to do?

Soldiery. I know I won't survive. My father knows that.

10. If Heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the Pearly Gates?

"I've a room prepared just for you. And would you like some Cuba Libre?"

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*the curator

nobody@vox.com(owen) — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 19:40:04 +0800

Earlier today, my mind was torn between buying an iPod with bigger storage and staying put with the trusty old unit I've been using for three years now. The one I have now - a 2 GB first generation Nano - can only house around 450 songs (if I un-tick the Album Artwork option).

It's not an epic dilemma, really. It's just the conspicuous consumer in me attempting a jailbreak. I am not entirely convinced that I need a new iPod. I have an older one, a mini, that still runs fine when nestled on the charger all day. A third one is, admittedly, unnecessary.

But yes, the (almost) daily edit and sync bothers me. I don't the have best home computer to house all my songs, you know. And Star, that macbook, is yet to be. Wouldn't it be nice to have all your songs in the same gadget at anytime?

*silence*

Well, not really. For all my PC's latency, I get a natural high from handpicking each song that lands on a playlist. Or from creating a playlist that captures a sweet/sad memory. Or from rearranging songs in an album the way you think works. There's also that part of me that wants to make sure that anyone who borrows my iPod for the next few minutes will enjoy the experience. It's a tedious process that makes me smile from ear to ear.

Come to think of it, an streamlined serving is notches better than picking from a pile. Daily edit and sync it is.

For now, this is the closest I could get to being a curator. And a good one I'll be. You watch out.

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*seven reasons i lurve sundays

nobody@vox.com(owen) — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 08:08:40 +0800

The day I used to dread as a student is now the only day of the week I truly, if not excitedly, look forward to. Here's why:

1. Sunday is the only day I start in the daylight and end at night. For all its cliche, I get a certain kick from waking up seeing sunshine seep through the windows. I don't get that six-sevenths of the time. Cue the Nescafe score...

2. Whether due to a hangover or oversleep, the sluggish Sunday pace is excused. If you ask my mom, it is encouraged. Sunday does not happen until reason number three...

3. Afternoon variety and talk shows - the local kind, available only on Sundays - are my greatest, guilty pleasures. The mix of crass, cheese, and tack is the best counterpoint to the daily cable surf. And I'm not one to deny local channel viewing.

4. Magallanes? Forbes? Rockwell? I'm not moving houses, silly. Tougher. It's the epic 'Where to hear mass?' decision.

5. Known to most, my Sundays are spent with family. It's an unwritten rule that has, over the years, deprived me of movie or dinner invites from friends. I even have a friend who loyally texts me for drinks post-dinner on a Sunday night. I, religiously, decline the offer. No, I am not complaining.

6. It's the only day the whole family's complete. My dad's in Subic the whole week. My sister's locked up in her room on any other day. (It's that age.) Mom's the only daily person at home. I get a high when we're complete. And yes, I am a family guy.

7. Sundays are the best days to people watch. Over cheesesteak sandwich at Elbert's last night, I witnessed a whole gamut of personalities - obsessive compulsive moms 'managing' their newborns, doting fathers figuring out overpriced baby strollers (which OC moms force on their newborns), clusters of grandmothers gorging on dessert free samples, emo kids exerting extra effort to look...emo, thin twenty-somethings dragging twenty-something designer store paper bags on each arm, company CEOS, old classmates, friends, cousins, everyone! It's a variety show all by itself.

I could write more reasons why I love Sundays. But it's a Monday now and I need to sleep more for work tonight.

So there.

Do you love Sundays as much as I?

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*the scuttlebutt on style

nobody@vox.com(owen) — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 01:37:00 +0800

My formula is 60% comfort, 40% play.

I gravitate towards New England prep and Brit high street on most days. My love for New England prep started five years ago. I've always been intrigued by Brit street style. I think Brits dress better than the French.

When I feel like it, I wear a tailored jacket and it caps my look.

I am not afraid of prints. Paisley is my favorite. And you know paisley's a love it or hate kind of print. Runners up are floral, plaid, gingham, stripes, and herringbone. Paul Smith would be proud.

When I'm not wearing prints, I wear black. And why not?

I am not a shoe fiend at all. I favor slides, loafers, and sneakers. Leather shoes, the pointy kind - I reserve them for the occasional dress-coded event. I should buy more shoes.

How I wish I could afford Bottega Veneta, Marc Jacobs, Lanvin, and Rick Owens. In the meantime, there's Tyler, Topman, Old Navy, J. Crew, and H&M.

No to fakes! I'd rather wear a cheap brand. If it bothers me so much, I rip the label off. I feel much better after.

I only have a couple of watches. One of which was a corporate giveaway. I do not own any jewelry. I'd play with eyewear, though. I've been drawn to nerdy frames since college.

Cost per wear is the only metric I maintain when dressing up. I'd rather wear the same things over and over than spend on singular, disposable, flash-in-the-pan fashion.

I ought to have a better relationship with the local alteration store.

I get more excited looking at trends from women's magazines. If I get inspired enough, I'd pick a female trend and make it my own. The writer in me, however, would buy the men's magazine because it is better-written. Speaking of trends, I mostly like seeing them on someone else.

How do I define best-dressed? If someone's able to put together a smashing ensemble without the aid of a stylist. Or if that person looks fly but doesn't look styled. (Then you'll know the stylist did a good job.)

The real good dressers, you find them on the streets or sometimes on The Sartorialist. Some of them are on lookbook, too. Sometimes, however, it's hard to tell if they're being editorial about it. That being said, military men in full regalia are the best dressed folk in the world.

The best-dressed celeb guy on my list is Brandon Flowers (The Killers). He had me at feathered jacket. Kanye West, more for his attitude, is second. They both look like they can to dress up without professional advice. Ladies who make the grade are Zooey Deschanel, the Olsen twins, Sienna Miller, and Jennifer Connelly.

If I had my way, I'd get me the whole LV Damier Graphite collection, but I'll be happy with a Fred Perry PVC Carry-all for now.

I should save more money and stop buying clothes. But I should buy more shoes. What should I do?

Having pegged my style as 60% comfort/40% play, I'd still say it's ambiguous, erratic, and undefined. Now that's where attitude comes handy.

Style goes beyond fashion. It's your aspirations, realizations, predictions, and predilections combined. It could be tricky. It's surely not store-bought. Everyone has one.

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*pop went the world

nobody@vox.com(owen) — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 08:48:34 +0800

If there was one reason the 90s ruled, it was Swatch.

No, make that Pop Swatch!

I used to own one - a product of studying hard and making it to the top 10 in class. I remember twisting my Dad's arm so he would buy me this. It was called Icecapade, in my then favorite color, blue. (I like green better now.)

Icecapade

Clearly, my watch stood out in a sea of Casios and regular-sized Swatches, which were all the rage back in the day. (Unfortunately, someone else lost the watch.)

I wish Swatch manufactured Pop Swatches again. And catapulted careers like Mikee Cojuangco's. Tsk tsk.

Mikee

Okay, we can add Geneva Cruz's, too.

Geneva

Excuse me while I sing 'I Like You'...

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*stealth

nobody@vox.com(owen) — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 09:59:15 +0800

I fell in love with the word 'stealth' when I first read it in an email in one of my old Yahoo Groups. It's the same kind of love I have for words like 'beyond' or 'passion' or 'horizon.'

'Stealth' spells like an old, rich European on The Sartorialist, sounds like a Margiela, feels like Godiva in the tongue, and conjures up a story all its own. I like my words that way - so much so that I look forward to using 'stealth' in my writing, even in passing.

Perhaps the reason why I adore (and am intrigued by) the word is because it is a juxtaposition next to the person I have been in recent years. I am anything but stealth, and hoards of people from university, church, family, and work can attest to that. There is nothing stealth in preaching, teaching, getting published, and yakking in front of kliegs.

Unlike 'beyond', 'passion', or 'horizon', however, my love for 'stealth' is aspirational. (I've seen horizons, looked beyond, fallen prey to or ignited passion.) Stealth is like saying 'I love Dior Homme' but never really having a thread of Hedi Slimane in your wardrobe or saying 'I heart Greece' without the passport stamp that galvanizes the experience.

Then, stealth happens. And hard. All of sudden, it is no longer that chain-smoking well-dressed man standing on a cobblestone street in Corsica, understated yet luxurious jacket, or designer candy. Stealth ceases to be an aspiration. Stealth becomes you, becomes your own story.

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*the historical, satirical, and real. 2007's back.

nobody@vox.com(owen) — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 18:16:21 +0800

Music

The kids from 2007 are back. Mika and Paolo Nutini are back with their respective sophomore albums!

We Are Golden - Mika

Mika

Mika's 'We Are Golden' remains true to the pomp and kitsch of earlier hits like 'Love Today' and 'Grace Kelly.' I can imagine the irrepressible singer belting the single on a pulpit, backed by a multi-racial choir. Epic, if you will.

04-paolo_nutini-candy

Paolo Nutini

If his new single 'Candy' is any indication, Paolo Nutini took a longer stroll down the folk route in his second album 'Sunny Side Up.' It has, IMHO, a love-it-or-hate-it type of sound. Music-wise, this type of an ambivalence gets my vote.

Movies

The latest crop of fashion-inspired movies seems deserving of all the hype. Audrey Tautou's take on the young life of one of the most influential designers of all time, Sasha Baron Cohen's lampoon of fashion journalism, and Anna Wintour's ice queen existence have me anticipating with delight!

Historical: Coco Avant Chanel (Coco Before Chanel)

Coco Before Chanel - Official Movie HD trailer 1080p

Satirical: Bruno

BRUNO - Film Trailer HD

Real: The September Issue

'The September Issue' Trailer HD

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QotD: One Day. $100,000.

nobody@vox.com(owen) — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 05:59:29 +0800

If you had one day to spend $100,000 - and you had to spend it totally selfishly - what would you buy?

That is big money in the Philippines. ('Round PHP4.7M.) Hmmm...what to buy?

Could be any of the following:

Condo Unit - I've tried it before and I enjoyed it. If I had that much money, I'd love to get a unit in the building where I used to live, or anywhere in the same neighborhood. Corner unit, 1 bedroom. I miss the thrill of living independently and breathing on my own terms. Nevermind if I won't have any more money for furniture. I lived in a sparse unit before and still had a blast. Plus, minimalism (and the whole 90s ethos) will be back after all this 80s overkill.
Car - Yeah, I ought to get myself a car by now. It's just that I have no mean adult savings account to boast of. It doesn't really matter what make or model, but I want it to be an SUV.
Macbook and Airline Tickets - I'll bundle the two and plan the ultimate getaway. Been wanting to visit and blog from Europa and Latin America eversince I could remember.
Retail Overload - I am so ready to buy all the clothes and accessories my $100,000 could get. That's truckloads of Paul Smith, Fred Perry, Lanvin, Etro, and Marc Jacobs already! There's H&M, Old Navy and Topman, too. I'll definitely get stuff made by local designers like Joey Samson and Ivar Aseron. And one item from Hermes for good measure.

Geez. Give me those dollars now!

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