110 posts tagged “life”

*seven reasons i lurve sundays

Aug 17, 2009
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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?

*the scuttlebutt on style

Aug 12, 2009
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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.

*pop went the world

Aug 4, 2009
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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'...

*stealth

Jul 31, 2009
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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.

*and they meant you just for me

May 27, 2009
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I wonder who I'll sing this to. Haha.

But seriously, I am entranced by this song. Heard it first from the movie "The Object of My Affection", which I love. (Btw, the book is waaay better than the movie. As is usually the case.)

Turns out that Sting was not the first singer of this song (Gene Kelly sang it in "Singing In The Rain"), yet the music and lyrics are as relevant as they were decades back.

No official music video, so I'll settle with this movie montage.

You were meant for me by Sting

You Were Meant For Me

written by Nacio Herb Brown & Arthur Freed

Life was a song

You came along

I lay awake the whole night through

If I should dare

To think you care

This is what I'd say to you

You were meant for me

And I was meant for you

Nature fashioned you

And when she was done

You were all those good things

Rolled into one

You're like a plaintive melody

That never lets me be

I'm content the angels must have sent you

And they meant you just for me

*well that was the river, this is the sea!

May 26, 2009
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Inspired by my recent trip to the beach, I'd like to share a well-written song by one of my favorite bands - The Waterboys. The song always gets me thinking each time I think of it (in a good way) and I hope you find a personal meaning to it too.

Waterboys This is the Sea

These things you keep

You'd better throw them away

You wanna turn your back

On your soulless days

Once you were tethered

And now you are free

Once you were tethered

Well now you are free

That was the river

This is the sea!

Now if you're feelin' weary

If you've been alone too long

Maybe you've been suffering from

A few too many

Plans that have gone wrong

And you're trying to remember

How fine your life used to be

Running around banging your drum

Like it's 1973

Well that was the river

This is the sea!

Wooo!

Now you say you've got trouble

You say you've got pain

You say've got nothing left to believe in

Nothing to hold on to

Nothing to trust

Nothing but chains

You're scouring your conscience

Raking through your memories

Scouring your conscience

Raking through your memories

But that was the river

This is the sea yeah!

Now i can see you wavering

As you try to decide

You've got a war in your head

And it's tearing you up inside

You're trying to make sense

Of something that you just can't see

Trying to make sense now

And you know you once held the key

But that was the river

And this is the sea!

Yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah!

Now i hear there's a train

It's coming on down the line

It's yours if you hurry

You've got still enough time

And you don't need no ticket

And you don't pay no fee

No you don't need no ticket

You don't pay no fee

Because that was the river

And this is the sea!

Behold the sea!

*double take

Apr 17, 2009
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Annie Leibovitz does Paul Rudd and co. in the tradition of Tom Ford, Scarlett, and Keira in the latest Vanity Fair. Kudos to VF for elevating Paul to comedy legend status!

Spot zee diff

*so shoe me

Apr 13, 2009
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I don't know what I'll wear these with, but I sure want to have them.

Lv kanye boat

Kanye's one lucky bitch. Now he's "apprentice" to Marc Jacobs.

Speaking of shoes, I got passed on a pair of Adidas Hemp Dakota Hi's from a cousin who's now in heaven.

Hemp dakotas

It's in my sneaker size (I'm anywhere between an 8 and 9). Got them in black. They sure look good, though I have the same dilemma about them.

I'm turning street. Before I know it, I'll be dancing to hiphop.

*what getting lost in san francisco gives you

Apr 9, 2009
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Ok, so I read the train directions off the BART website to take me to the nearest station to SoMa. What I didn't read, however, were the walking or Muni instructions.

What was supposed to be a 30-minute stroll turned out to be a 2-hour ordeal.

But, alas! Look at what I saw.