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Fashion Diary : Gray

D&G top given by Tita Jaki

Like wallpaper.

Maison Martin Margiela asymmetrical sweater. I love MMM.

It drapes...

and drapes...

and drapes.

I haven't been taking outfit pictures recently. I'm too lazy or usually I'm dashing from one place to another, doing stuff and all, that by the time I remember I'm in my bed lying down after a good shower and about to sleep.

Blarney Stone at Sokha

My guy buds wanted to go here at Blarney Stone. Slight, errr...major ewww factor but I'm with them so it's ok. The bar has a whiff of tackiness to it. There was a band playing so they wanted to check it out ...and sing, hahaha!

Vince and Brewster. Not on photo is Loven. We just finished dinner at the Japanese resto in Sokha, also. That part was very good. Didn't eat much but the salmon sashimi was delish!

moi

Lego Watch

My friend Eliz gave me this Lego watch which she got from the Marc by Marc Jacobs show in New York. It's been years since I've worn a watch but I couldn't refuse the charm of this one.

Like anything Lego it has components that you can mix around.

I love playing with it! So colorful. It's a good foil to my usual all-dark palette, nowadays.

It even matches the pencil sharpener we have in the office.

Food for Kawadjan

Pistachio Chocolate Cake

Khmer desserts: corn flan, pumpkin custard, rice bread, coconut/banana cream and palm sugar syrup.

Yummy!

DP stuff: bags

t-shirt bag made of cloth instead of plastic

with stuff inside

party chain bag to place hanging in the neck. free the hands for dancing and you don't need to leave it when in the dancefloor. takeo black handwoven cotton version

hablon gold version

DP stuff: 19/03/09

New dresses for the store. Made of printed or matte jersey.

Limited edition printed jersey dress.

We have it in purplish pink...

and gray.

The fabric is very comfy. I should know coz I hate 'hot' fabrics and this type of jersey we use is so cool. It fits the hot Siem Reap weather.

DP: Beaded Bib Neckpiece

Three new designs of the bib neckpiece I developed for s/s 09. Raw silk with resin beads bib. Each design is unique.

$100 each. Available for order. We ship internationaly.

My accessories kit

Pepper Lunch pouch from Ms. Chuvaness, which I use to store my pliers, tweezers and other thingamagigs to make accessories.

Longing for a Pause

It's another point in my life when things seem to be happening at the same time even before I could savor the moment to even realize what had happened. It's not even the sheer amount of things I need to do. All taken cared of, thank you. It's about the same gnawing feeling I had before when all I wanted to do is sit on a fence and maybe leisurely, and possibly, in slow motion, dissect the play that is my life. Not this one where it's zooming fast or in Freedom-speak, 'fashter and fashter and fashter', complete with up&down hand gesture. Freedom's going to be four soon and I can't believe he's growing up so fast. It means I'm getting older, too. Not that it's really a dilemma for moi, unlike some friends of mine. Nope, I haven't earned the right to bitch about mid-life crisis and getting old yet. I'm definitely not making this an entry about that. I guess, I'm just sad sometimes when I'm having too much fun and then it had to end. Or something happened and it's a potential minefield for life lessons but then I shove it behind me. Oh, well...

On other stuff, last Monday I had a nice time with other Siem Reap-ers in the cocktail party hosted by McDermott Gallery for the Art Venues and High Street Boutique brochure the group is coming up with. It's so nice to catch up with other expats who are making Siem Reap a dynamic and vibrant destination besides Angkor Wat.

Loven and Narisa

Caroline, Eric's friend, Eric and Marie

moi and Bina

Zen Bitch lunch and other random thoughts

Last Saturday Loven and Vincent celebrated their birthdays together at Casa Ramos. Twas fun, fun, fun. Brewster had a wonderful tango with Jack Daniels while I did some waltz with Grey Goose. I spied Vincent whispering something to Nikki, the hot chick from New Yawrk. The Koreans were there, Sooyoung and friend. The Pinoy contingent were in full force - Marpha, Clave, Ryan, Jessie, Sarah, Rhea, etc. Even the Khmers didn't disappoint - Pisal was funny! One of the best parties I enjoyed recently.

Yesterday, Sunday, I was in the gallery for a viewing by a client. The Malaysian couple ended up buying $3000 worth of artworks. I'm quite pleased, of course. With the recession it's quite positive to find people spending that much amount on art. On the other hand I was talking to a friend and I said to him people wouldn't stop buying stuff at all. We retailers just have to make sure we create 'desire' and the buyers get the necessary 'emotions' when they see what you sell. Make sure your buyers get an emotional connection with what you sell and I'm definitely sure it's so easy for them to hand out their credit cards.

End of the day I was so tired, still feeling the effects of Grey Goose the previous day, I planned to go to the gym and sweat out the alcohol but scrapped it when there were too many guests using the gym. Loven luckily called and informed me that fried tilapia from Phnom Penh was our dinner fare for the night, and feeling I needed some carbs, decided to go home straight for a wonderful feast of rice and crispy fish. I'm mababaw. I love eating fried fish with rice.

Olive made some leche flan but I didn't touch it since I'm already losing weight (Kahit konti. See Kawadjan I still have some sort of 'elegance is refusal' mantra in moi, you should be proud). I waited for sleep to creep in while cruising through Sunday CSI marathon. Before that I was able to catch the late part of Wipe Out, a sort of Takeshi's Castle reincarnation where contestants go through a series of absurd 'obstacles' to win a plum prize. But it's nowhere near as fun as the Japanese version but entertaining nonetheless if you like shows where you're not required to think.

CSI Las Vegas had this genius case. Four perplexing deaths, each one a sort of sculpture study, the victims died of asphyxation using carbon monoxide and rigor mortis setting in just under 2 hours. It turns out a crazed artist wanted recognition for his art and thought that by killing people and using them as art medium it will give him the celebrity that he wants. What's exciting in CSI is, of course, the chase and analysis of clues.

I read the 25 influential style makers according to W magazine and then when I couldn't see but blur I decided to sleep.

Today I almost overslept until noon. I woke up around 4am coughing my brains out. I was ignoring it at first but then my throat became unbearably itchy so I had to get out of bed and drink Pe Pha Qua. Relieved I was able to go back to sleep but then woke up at around 9am. I hurriedly took a bath and did my morning rituals before zooming to the gallery.

Lunchtime, like any self respecting socialite, I met up with Zen Bitch to have lunch at AHA. It's the first time I'm meeting the queen of dinner parties of Phnom Penh. Take note Kawadjan, ZB was kind enough to bring me gifts. A Kenzo shirt, Perry Ellis gingham shirt, a Muji gym shorts and this wonderful Emporio Armani striped linen pants. So chic, no? I will post it in another entry.

Over fried eel with chili&holy basil for moi, and risotto, spring rolls & grilled shrimp for ZB, we gossiped, este, discussed about our common friends and their lives. O sige na nga nagtsismisan kami. Hay, naku there's a lot of stuff we both totally agree on. We talked about Pinoy horror stories, both of the ghostly kind and the ones that involve Pinoys you want to make a ghost of. Sa apartment nya na bago may mumu na nagpapakita at nagpaparamdam sa kanya! Lalaki daw. One time he and his housemate heard sounds of somebody moving furnitures around the house. Some of their friends even saw it. He's not bothered though.

I also learned he's going to India next week. Shusyal! I told him Kawadjan is going there also. Naku, this Slumdog Millionaire is making India more deathly popular ha. I wish I'l have the chance to go there. I'm so envious.

Next week, Friday, the LTE's Lyka Bergen, Mama O and Ekra Tan will stay in my hotel and will tour Angkor Wat. No report yet about their Bangkok escapade over at Kawadjan's coz the bitch of Bang-cock seems to be busy traipsing in the old capital Ayuthaya and Saphan Buri last week and currently is swimming with the fishes in the Gulf of Thailand. Don't ask me what kind of fish because I suspect it's not the kind that has gills and scales. Zen Bitch said he will try to come back Saturday next week to meet the LTE's. It'l be fun I hope.

Earlier today, I was talking to Gibo while he was doing his laundry. Gasp! How very domisticated! Pwede ng mag-asawa at mag-settle down. Hahaha! I reminded him how he loaths doing laundry in the evening because he hates the moon spying on him. I guess, there's a lot of smog in San Fo so that basically covers it. It's an inside joke so I'm pretty sure only those who really know that part of Gibo will get it. We also talked about some current 'obsessions' of mine which I'm going to refrain from discussing here.

Later I'm going to a little party hosted by McDermott Gallery. Ohhhh! I love going to parties by John and Narisa. There's always plenty of delicious wine and gossip. Hahaha!

Anyway, that's about it. I'l leave you with one picture of my lunch with Zen Bitch to dot this chatty entry:

Another year wiser for Loven and Eliz

I hosted an intimate dinner for two of my most favorite friends in the whole wide world.

They each represent the familiar and the newly discovered but then it all gets mixed-up in a sort of amazing collage of words, images, ideas and concepts. Both are simply wonderful!

Loven has been my friend since college. Our interest in all things designed, conceptualized, provocative and exciting cemented a friendship that is instinctive and familiar. We are family. He's my brother, a crazy and creative one at that. He is the storm and I am the calm. He is the push and I am the brake. I come up with an idea and he will add to that another wonderful idea. It's always our beautiful conversations and animated blabber where we conjure dreams of world domination. Loven is the boss that everyone calls but doesn't act like one. He's more like the ring leader of a freak circus of mutants with extraordinary powers. I am amazed how profound and deep this guy influenced me in the path that I have taken in my life now. He is such an amazing friend.

Elizabeth, though I've known for less than a year, seems like one of those who you feel you've known like forever. Not only because we constantly dress alike like we're part of the same genius collection. Or how we have the same opinion over something we hate or love. It's perplexing because she came from the nexus of the superchic, superhip and superglam New York fashion galaxy versus my third world 'avant-garde'. But that is the wonder and beauty that is Eliz. She can tote a Balenciaga, wear a mix of Rick Owens and Martin Margiela paired with some killer Marni shoes, and she still comes off as someone you want to have conversations with. She is not alienating or terrifying in her chicness. You see her. You see beyond her fabulous-ness and feel the kindness that nurtures. She invites you into her world and makes you feel alright. She shares with you the power of fashion and all its crazy trappings. She is the insider but an outsider.

Let me be selfish and wish that I could share many more of your birthdays to come.

DP stuff: accessories

Polka Dot bow

Silk Tassel neck piece

'Eigth' charm necklace (metal and plastic 8 charm, word puzzle charm)

'iPod' replica necklace

Safety pin necklace

braided rope scarf neck piece

Some more reading materials this month

The controversial Vogue issue.

This issue of L'Officiel Hommes was edited by Milan Vukmirovik. Gothic, hot and edgy.

This issue of British Vogue is one of my fave. Inside there's a Tim Walker shoot full of eccentric goodness. It is indeed fantastic!

I don't know. I've never been an Elle fan. I just don't get their point of view.

Cate is just ghostly. A good read.

Stefano Pilati for YSL and Junya Watanabe as best women's and men's collection for 2008. A round-up of the best restaurants, packaging, furniture, designs, down to the kitchen sink. Paris regained its status as the best city of the year.

Food stuff!

Eel with garlic and basil. Yummy! I love eel if cooked properly.

Chocolate Trio, as creme brulee, as pie with molten chocolate and pecan, and as pure chocolate square. Chocolate overload. I'm not fond of chocolates but I got curious, hehehe.

All from AHA.

Spicy Blue Swimmer Crab Salad

Spicy but refreshingly delicious. At Meric.

Last Week

Thursday: Had dinner with Elizabeth and Loven at Sugar Palm. Faith couldn't join because she had to finish a report. We discovered Eliz hated tofu and she told us about her funny 5 hour dinner in a swanky tofu place in Tokyo. Apres, we had desserts at Sofitel. We practically laughed away the whole evening.

Friday: After work I went to the gym and worked-out a bit. Wasn't feeling 100% energized so I stopped after 30 minutes on the threadmill. I usually watch Teen Titans, Ben 10 and FTV when I'm in the gym. That time I watched Animal Planet. Something was really wrong with me.

Saturday: Slept the whole morning. The meds I took for my flu worked but I feel totally drained. I ate breakfast but skipped lunch. I managed to design a jacket for my collection and by the end of the day my seamstress finished it. I was happy with the way it turned out. Feeling hungry late in the afternoon, I opened the Piatos I got from Faith. I savored it because it travelled from the Philippines to Phnom Penh to Siem Reap into my loving arms. Late evening I went to Eliz. We just talked fashion and ranted about stuff. After that I went to Monument Bookstore to buy Vogue Paris Feb. 09 and ate dinner at Lucky Burger. I love the shrimp burger there. With no date, I went home.

Sunday: Had an interview for a magazine. It went well. I had fun and I think I've delivered my message about my role in the Arts Lounge and being its curator. Loven and moi then checked the progress of the project we are unveiling soon. Had a little drama situation involving a Khmer but it was settled instantly by Loven. We had a nice little chat with Martin also. I went back to Eliz to wait for Loven there while he deals with our project. We chatted about Hello Kitty, Blythe and other dolls. I don't know why the conversation got there. Apres, went back home to get Faith, Granny and Freedom for dinner. We had a tummy bursting one at Hong Kong Restaurant. Then desserts at Chamkar, nyomplay-ay, glutinous rice balls with sugar palm cubes inside and coconut cream sauce. They sprinkle shaved fresh coconut meat and some more crumbled sugar palm cubes on top. Heavenly! I had it with tamarind juice. We went home after and watched CSI marathon.

I miss going to the ukay already. :(