Running in Angkor Wat again. I'm so happy because I missed it so much. There's something fulfilling after finishing the route, all sweaty and tired. I was a bit sore all over the next day but I felt I achieved something great. It's really the first few runs that's going to hurt but after your body will adjust.
Fashion Diary: top - Muji, shorts - Ralph Lauren, bag - Prada, shoes - New Balance.
A few moons ago, two of my friends celebrated their birthdays one day apart.
Romyr had an 80's theme.
I was evoking Banana Rama so pardon the hair and denim.
Franco went into the colorful, sporty look.
Adi, Mikee, Arnie and Dave.
Everyone just chilled out at Naga's Darling Darling.
Eng and Toefi.
Vane
Dave
Franco and Nara.
We surprised Toefi with a little cake the midnight of his birthday.
He celebrated at Maan's place.
It's basicallt the same pips, lol!
The birthday boy and moi.
I was in Phnom Penh last Friday to attend the second anniversary party of F Magazine, Cambodia's best fashion magazine. All my friends were so excited about it especially what they are going to wear.
As for me I decided to mix a vintage Comme des Garcons top with pieces from my collection for spring/summer 2012. The pants is a gift from my friend Daniel and it's from FadThree that he bought in Japan. I wanted to wear the ponyhair shoes Toxic gave me but it was raining hard that night I didn't want to ruin it so I wore my trusty patent DM's, instead.
As part of the celebration, F Magazine invited 20 designers to create white outfits for the runway.
I showed this layered dress with feathers on the sleeve.
It was also the launching of their September issue featuring Cambodia's superstar, Preap Sovath and Sim Solika.
Inside the issue they also featured the 20 creations in individual spreads. I shot mine in a boat while it cruised the Mekong river.
Backstage, Franco, the magazine's creative director, was busy with the event. With him is Sina of Sophy&Sina, and Sophy, the editor-in-chief of F Magazine.
My friend Toefi wore a hooded piece from my fall/winter 2011 collection.
Here's a group shot with Toefi, Nod (wearing a DP vest), Franco (in a Leon Franco suit and OS necklace), and Eng (in DP pants).
Me with Nod and Franco.
I came to the party with Nod and Finn.
Finn's sister Heather was visiting from the UK, here with model, Sros.
Mylene also wore a DP draped dress, Arnie in DP suit and Anne Marie in a DP skirt from s/s 2011.
I was so surprised and happy when a lot of my friends and clients wore my designs for the party. The celebration continued at Fly Lounge where everyone had time to catch up and chat.
Congratulations F Magazine on your 2 years!
Usually, if I'm just here in Siem Reap, I go to the Raffles Garden to pray during Saturdays.
Raffles Hotel is one of the most sought after place to stay when you are in Siem Reap. I usually go there for some high tea or cocktail in their lobby bar.
A little bit of fashion diary first: tee - from Hong Kong, jeans - Levi's, shoes - Converse, bag - Margaret Howell.
MHL Margaret Howell sling bag 'inspired by function and utility'. Lovely, non? It's one of my fave bags to use lately.
Apres, I had breakfast at a local market near my place.
Got some delicious egg noodle soup. Reminds me of batchoy but I know it's totally different.
I also got the wickedest iced coffee with milk. Pure love! So yummy and the kick sure hits you.
Usually, after this I go thrifting.
My obsession for anything Helmut Lang extends up to collecting old issues of National Geographic magazine. Wait the minute, what?! Yes, National Geographic didn't escape the subversive imaginings of Mr. Lang as he unleashed his iconic ads on its pages. When asked the reason for such a trailblazing move, the first fashion label to put an ad campaign in the history of the magazine, he explained that no one ever throws National Geographic. I think I have around 10 pieces now between 1998 to 2001. Most of the copies I left in the Philippines but I luckily found 3 copies in Phnom Penh at Boston Bookstore.
March 2001
May 2000
September 1999
Plastic bags has a long history with fashion and it keeps coming up in cycles every now and then. Recently, the Jil Sander clear grocery totes has been one hot item for the fashion crowd.
Here's a few of my faves from other designers:
Alexander Wang
Prada
Chanel
Hermes
In my case, I find it strange to carry a bag and all its contents for everyone to see. In a way you really have to be very neat, organized and minimalist to pull off the look. Imagine strangers judging you because they can see all the jumble packed in your bag. A clear one is perfect for someone I met recently who tends to forget things she puts inside her bag. One time she pulled out a stick of pork barbecue she bought a week before.
I got this Gucci clear tote recently and I love the shape and simplicity of it. The black leather bordering the frame makes it ghost like. It's like carrying a phantasm, a floating bag. I got it for $3 from the thrift shop, not bad for something Gucci, non? I'm guessing this was during Tom Ford's time designing the label.
Here, I'm using the bag paired with an all-black outift: Calvin Klein tee, DP pants and DM's shoes. My attempt in evoking 90's minimalism.
If I can have my way I'd dress up looking like this everyday.
I love drapes and layering. I love elements in clothing that droop, wrinkle, fold and crease. Lately, I've preferred wearing clothing that bore the effects of time. In my mind those elements make the pieces solely unique and in my world highly desirable. Even the permanent stains, holes and tatters are cause for celebration in having a truly personal collection of clothing items. There's a mindset that the new, sleek and perfect is the better choice. I say, it's more modern to create looks with pieces that look worn and used. It's more poetic!
Living in Siem Reap where it's generally sunny and hot, it's absurd for me to layer and pile on drapes all the time. There will be days when the only decent thing to wear is a tank top and shorts because it's too humid to even wear a t-shirt. But I always grab the chance whenever it's abnormaly cool, although, the most I can do is Layer Lite. Here I'm wearing a DP draped top with a Rococo vest and black Banana Republic tee.
The back of the Rococo vest has a deep scoop making it shorter than the front. It has a long sleeve before but I decided to cut it because it'll be to warm to wear. I tend to like vests because I get the layered look without my arms covered. I rarely use my jackets when I'm here in Cambodia.
This look encapsulates my idea of a uniform for myself. I feel normal when I'm wearing this kind of look. Actually, I wore this when I was about to go out and do my errands. I went to the bank, did my grocery, went to the wet market and bought vegetables, etc.
My pants is from EDITED, the rtw line I front with my friend Jaki Penalosa. The patent DM's I bought from my last trip in Bangkok proved to be the most practical buy since I've been wearing it non-stop! It's Cambodia friendly where it's dusty and muddy and all kinds of tropical terrain you can experience. Just wipe the patent surface, and voila!, it looks decent again! I'm planning to buy the classic 8 hole black leather and probably some gray ones, too.
My beltbag is from Y'saacs Homme Yohji Yamamoto, a thrift find from Japan Thrift Shop. I think I got it for $2.00 and it made me very happy
