Roaring Jazz Age

While jumping from one blog to another, I came across an article about dressing according to “your” era. According to the article, all body shapes have been considered ideal at one time or another. My boyish body shape, for example, was considered the “ideal” during the 20s and 30s, while hourglass figures were all the rage during the 40s.

I thought my era, the 20s, was rather appropriate, since Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby is one of my favorite books of all time. With my short bob and stick-like body, I look like a relic from the 20s. Flappers also have a soft spot in my heart for being one the first female rebels. Also, the 20s happened to be Coco Chanel's heyday.

That Hastings Girl

Since falling in love with Melissa Cooper’s style while watching The O.C. a few years ago, I’ve been looking for another TV show character whose style I might hope to emulate. Gossip Girl’s decadent sartorial choices amazed me, but I found Serena’s style too carefree, Little J’s too dark, and Blair’s a little too outrageous for my taste. On the other hand, I found The Vampire Diaries’ Elena’s style too girly.

But, then, my cousin recommended Pretty Little Liars, and I clapped eyes on Spencer Hastings for the first time. Bingo. I found the one TV character whose closet I wanted to raid and ravish with a fierce longing.

Spencer Hastings’ style, like her personality, is classic with a few vintage pieces thrown in. This girl rocks preppy outfits that include oxford shoes, boyfriend jeans, blazers, and oversized cardigans—basically all the things I want for Christmas.

I'm Alive

My, my. I’ve really let this blog go. I want to say that I was busy with matters of supreme importance, but I would be lying if I used that excuse. Frankly, my interest in fashion—this blog and thrifting included—started to wane, and t-shirts, jeans, and Converse sneakers became my standard uniform.

Perhaps, my disinterest in this blog stemmed from my confusion about my own personal style. I read all my previous posts, and found all my outfits rather… unsatisfactory. I love vintage, thrifting, oxford shoes, and all things from the 20s and 30s in general. I’m bookish and into all things classic—movies, books, you name it. My previous outfit posts didn’t really show that. Instead, I used modern, structured clothing in shades of gray, blue, and green. It’s safe to say that my style didn’t fit my personality.

That’s about to change.

Colorful t-shirts, jeans, and Converse were great for days when I didn’t feel like dressing up, but the combination didn’t say anything about my personality. I’ve decided to take risks with my personal style. The first risk I took involved buying a pair of oxford shoes. It doesn’t sound like a big deal, but I live in a city where most people don’t even know what a cardigan is.

But I digress. Like any proud mother, let me show off my oxfords or brogues… I’m kind of confused.

I’ve been hankering for a pair for over a year. When I saw the above oxfords at a bazaar stall at my school, I snatched them up immediately. People say that women are crazy about shoes, but I never understood that statement until I bought my oxfords. Carrie Bradshaw, I’m glad to say we’re finally kindred spirits.

So, once again, I hope you join on my quest to find my real personal style.

Tagged by Chloe :P

Chloe from Butterfly Cupcakes & Daffodils was kind enough to tag me. :P I have to answer her eight questions, then I have to tag either other people.

1. What are three things you never leave the house without?
My phone, my glasses, and a paperback book. Yeah, I'm a total bookworm. :P

2. What is your favourite piece of clothing in your wardrobe?
My favorite piece of clothing... Um, I guess the dress I wore to our college department's JS Prom. Yes, we have proms for junior and senior college students here in the Philippines (which is pretty lucky for me since we didn't have a Prom in high school).

3. If you had a never ending credit card for one day (that you didn't have to pay back) how would you spend that day?

This is a really difficult question... At the mall, I guess. I know, lame answer. The mall does have everything, gadgets, clothes, and every conceivable object I could ever want/think of (except for Harry Potter's wand).

4. Where would you most like to travel?
To London! I've wanted to go there since I first read Harry Potter in the third grade. Haha. Platform 9 and 3/4!

5. Where do you hope to be in 10 years?
I hope to be in London! Haha.

6. Who in the world are you most closest to?
I'm really close to Lory Ann, my best friend. We've known each other since the second grade (we're both nineteen now), and I think she knows me better than anyone else.

7. If you were throwing your dream party, what would it be like?
My dream party? Ummm. Everyone will be dressed in either black or white. It'll be at a really classy hotel ballroom. The guests will just whisper the name of the food/drink they want, and it'll magically appear on their plates/goblets (just like in the Percy Jackson series, haha).

8. What was your first pet?

My first pet? It was a hamster named Chibi, I think... I had him when I was eight.

So, I'm just going to cheat here and tag: YOU, YOU, YOU, YOU, YOU, YOU, YOU, and YOU. Hahaha. :P

Then and Now

I was digging around my computer when I found some old outfit pictures. I posted these on my previous style blog (Wishing to Stand Out). I deleted that blog because something happened to me, and the blog itself became a painful reminder of that.

Seeing these photos made me ask myself who I am now, and how I've changed as a person. My priorities are completely different, and the things that were so important to me now seem insignificant.

Buy, hey, life is all about change. I've become stronger as a person, and I learned to deal with difficult situations.

And I'm happy again. :)

Effortless

(via jakandjil)

Leather, leather, leather.

I'm in love with this photo. It's timelessly chic, and it looks like it was pulled together with the least amount of effort.

Happy 99th Birthday Lola! :)

My grandmother's mother celebrated her 99th birthday yesterday. :) It was fun. I got to see my relatives again, and they all oohed and aahed over how grown up me and my cousins look. LOL.

My great-grandmother became even cooler at 99. Exhibit A:

For some reason, me and my cousins all ended up wearing purple.

I'm the one who's smiling like a crazed loon in the middle. The dress I'm wearing is supposed to be a blouse for bigger and taller people. I got it for about 150 pesos which is equivalent to about 3 dollars. So, yeah, bargains make me happy. LOL.

And here's my adorable little cousin. I wanted to take him home with me. He's just that cute.