Assorted Looks

top - Calvin Klein, bottom - EDITED, shoes - DM's, bag - vintage military pack

top - Izzue, scarf - Izzue, pants - from Japan, bag - Moschino, shoes - DM's

top - DP, pants - EDITED, bag - Maison Martin Margiela, shoes - DM's

top - Hare, pants - Gap jeans, shoes - Raf Simons x DM's, bag - Dior Homme

top - McQ Alexander McQueen, pants - SM Collections, shoes - Nike Air

top - from JJ market, pants - Gap jeans, bag - Dior Homme, shoes - DM's

top - Eairth, pants - EDITED, shoes - DM's, bag - Dior Homme

top - EDITED, pants - Levi's, shoes - Raf Simons x DM's, bag - Dior Homme

top - vintage, pants - made-to-measure from Hong Kong, shoes - Raf Simons x DM's, bag - Dior Homme

top - Eairth, pants - EDITED, shoes - DM's, bag - Takeo Kikuchi

top - DP layered tank, pants - DP, shoes - DM's

top - Marc O' Polo, pants - from Japan, shoes - DM's, bag - Dior Homme

top - Neil Barett tee under DP gray vest, pants - Fadthree jeans, shoes - DM's, bag - vintage woven leather clutch

top - Another Place, pants - Dries Van Noten, shoes - Converse, bag - canvas Hermes

Many Heads Are Better Than One

Paradigm Shift x OS x Enzo Mondejar x Eric Poliquit = Sublime Imagery.

Chrome Hearts

There's this thrift shop here in Siem Reap selling all sorts of stuff from Japan. Aside from the usual clothing, homeware, bags and shoes, they also sell random things like furniture, fabrics, toys and something that the Little Mermaid would call 'whootzits and whatzits galore'. Discarded random cd's, books, souvenir items, chains, ribbons and stuff in all sorts of colors and sizes from different people. In the thrift shop they usually put them in huge plastic bins because it would be too tedious to segregate it one by one. I love going through those bins and finding little trinkets that I use to make accessories.

One lucky find that I'm so happy to find was this Chrome Hearts bracelet. The luxury brand is known for items with fleur-de-lys, dagger and floral cross motif designs in silver. It was founded in 1988 by motorcycle enthusiast, Richard Stark, hence the gothic rock mood of the wares they are selling, aside from jewelry, includes leather clothing and furniture. I know Karl Lagerfeld is a fan, piling loads of pieces together and wearing it like stacked coils of metal.

With a little bit of patience and $1 after, I now own a piece from Chrome Hearts.

Comme To BLACK

Comme des Garcons lovers will always love black and the CDG line called BLACK. Visit their blog for more black and CDG BLACK.

Helmut Lang Ads

Luxirare's thoughts about Helmut Lang's enduring genius through his ad campaigns here. Among his trailblazing marketing ploy was being the first designer to show his collection via the internet, the first major fashion label to place an ad in the National Geographic Magazine (I obsessively collect copies), credit perfumes in fashion editorials, using taxi cabs for campaigns, etc.

Helmut Lang will always be an inspiration to me!

Recent Reads

BLACK

I was in college when I embraced black. I'm a 90's boy and I grew up with minimalism, Helmut Lang, Prada nylon backpacks and the whole reductionist bregade. I spent my college years wearing all-black outfits everyday except exam time when we're required to use our uniform. Of course, that time I made head turns. I would create my own version of Helmut Lang's more progressive designs in black and wear it. Lots of slashed sleeves, straps and dangling belts. I've relaxed when I started working but I can say I still have a dominant amount of black clothing and accessories.

The other day I went thrifting and found these black pieces:

Vivienne Westwood tank top

NatuRAL Vintage top

Prada nylon backpack

Issey Miyake leather and nylon drawstring bag

Comme Ca Ism nylon tote

Ice Cream Shake

Back in the Philippines my sister introduced me to Selecta's Reese's ice cream. I swear it's one of my favest flavor and trust me when I say it's delish!

Back in Cambodge I was so surprised when Faith told me she saw a Breyers version in Lucky Mall. Of course, I had to try it for myself. It wasn't the same at all and although it tasted fine I found it too sweet for my taste.

So I had the idea of mixing it with Yakult and turn it into a shake. Yum!

PAID

My very first collection was created using recycled and reworked old clothing given by my friends who also modeled for me. Sadly, the one assigned to photograph the fashion show didn't really do a good job and ALL the pictures were blurred. I didn't give much thought about documenting my clothes that time which is a sad thing.

Working with vintage or recycled materials is a different challenge than when you have bolts of fabrics to use. I used to incorporate some reworked pieces in my collection but I felt quite restrained creatively with the colors, cut and materials to use. To solve the problem I created, PAID, my other line using recycled vintage materials.

One of our PAID best sellers are easy, breezy, dresses made from recycled silk, cotton and satin scarves. The fun is making all the patterns work and each one is unique, too! Here's a few of the pieces we have on stock at Poetry:

My favorite is this one with paisleys, monograms and geometrics combined.

We purposely didn't iron the pieces because I think the wrinkles and creases make it more charming.

Being 'green' doesn't mean you can't look chic at the same time. Here's one way to recycle some old scarves you don't use anymore ;)

Cambodia Fashion Week Launch

Last month I was invited to attend the launching of Cambodia Fashion week, slated to be end of October through first week of November this year. It will be the first fashion week on this region, in the capital Phnom Penh, and will be participated by different local brands and invited guests from abroad. I was invited to participate and showcase my designs, tentatively slated for November 4. Last Monday I talked to the production group behind the event and we discussed my production requirements for hair&make-up, set-design, music, lighting and models. I'm planning to show 30 pieces of my collection for spring/summer 2012 and I'm excited for all of us. We are producing the pieces now and I hope to finish everything before I leave for Philippine Fashion Week, which starts October 24. That means I'll be in the Philippines for a short time only because I need to be back to prepare. Anyway, here's some pics from the launch event:

Moi with Sophy Ke, editor-in-chief of F Magazine, wearing a lovely Alexander McQueen dress and hot pink Hermes Kelly bag.

The venue was packed!

I went with Franco D., creative director of F Magazine, here trying to see if he can carry a hot pink Kelly! We all agreed it's not him, LOL!

Six Bags

Some thrift finds:

Unbranded leather bag, $7

Unbranded Intreciato woven clutch, $2

Hermes Fourre Tout canvas bag, $0.25

Comme des Garcons Robe de Chambre briefcase, $1.50

Porter wallet, $0.25

Ann Demeulemeester fabric bag, $0.10

Total cost: US$11.10

Not bad for a little retail therapy, non? ;)