Posts

Showing posts from September, 2014

10 random coats that make me wish for fall

Image
There's really something about fall fashion that captivates me. Maybe it's the layering. I don't know if it's the pieces themselves like sweaters and coats. Or maybe it's the fact that I simply cannot wear them here in this climate, hence the feeling of deprivation, that longing for such wear that it already becomes aspirational to me. Oh well, pardon me for such repeated musings because it's these 10 coats here that got me all started again. At least those of you with four seasons can use one or two of these as temperatures start to drop. (L) This floral jacquard overcoat is love. Wear this and you easily stand out amidst a sea of blacks and grays in the fall. From Our Legacy . (R) Brushed knit, cool stitching details. What's not to love about this Wings + Horns Chesterfield jacket?

Wearing colored pants: Maroon, wine, bordeaux, whatever

Image
Wearing darker-hued trousers leaves a man with much less trouble in picking a shirt and jacket to go with it. Now colored pants--much so bright ones--can be a little challenging at times. But then it's nice to wear some color, even on occasion. I previously showed some ideas on  how to wear green pants  and how to wear orange pants  based on how I've worn such items in the past but now let's turn to something that's much safer in my opinion. It's called by many names--bordeaux, maroon, wine--but however you call it, here are a few personal experiences with this pant color. Pair it with brown Black is probably the safest to use with maroon pants but try adding some brown into the mix. In this look I put on a brown plaid blazer that just happened to have some nice maroon lines that easily anchors the blazer to the pants. But with or without those lines, most shades of brown will work on their own.

East Dane's 1st anniversary capsule collection

Image
Now ain't that a lovely pile? Southern Field Industries waxed canvas backpack (perfect for fall since it's waxed), a pair of very handsome Grenson G Lab brogue boots, Marc by Marc Jacobs Martin wallet, and some über stylish Miansai jewelry. These items are but part of an exclusive capsule collection in celebration of East Dane 's first year anniversary. Brother site to Shopbop.com , East Dane is an online menswear shopping site that features more than 200 designers and brands both heritage and new. Navigating the site is a breeze. Apart from affording customers several different ways to search and filter items (from clothing type to brand/designer, size and even color), it also allows you to personalize your shopping experience. You can tag which pieces and designers you like best, which items should go on your watch list,  or even write a review. Now here's more of their collection:

[Lookbook 09.24.2014] Keen for some sheen

Image
It's my third day this week wearing old trousers that fit me again. That feeling like you just scored a lot of new clothes, it's great. After wearing plaid pants 2 days in a row, today I felt the need for something shiny.

East Dane's latest brands to watch

Image
One of the things I love about menswear online shopping site East Dane is that I get introduced to some really fine brands I've never even heard of. I admit that my knowledge of fashion, particularly of brands and designers, is not much. Just recently the site came up with Ones to Watch , a list of 5 brands it says should be on our radar, and I agree. 1. Han Kjøbenhavn The Danish label blends innovative and classic Danish design. Its fall collection is characterized by minimalist styles, a neutral color palette, and nuanced details. Apart from jeans and trench coats, you'll also find a few pastel colors in their buttoned shirts and tees, though.

[Lookbook 09.22.2014] Glad to be in plaid

Image
My birth month's almost over but I'm glad to have some "new old clothes." They're basically old clothes I've set aside to be given away because they don't fit me anymore. However, as I was sorting a pile yesterday, I discovered some of them fit me again--much to my delight, of course, that I had to reconsider giving away all of them. I kept a few, including the pants I'm wearing today. It was like having a bunch of new clothes, only they're really old ones.

[Lookbook 09.17.2014] A touch of 80s

Image
The morning after I turned another year older...picked up the cats and did an impromptu lookbook shoot with an S5 while waiting for our ride. Cats being cats, they naturally weren't too pleased about it.

Cuff 'em and brace for more

Image
It's a given that unlike women, men have much less to work with in terms of accessorizing. But thankfully accessories designers have been pushing the envelope--however gradually--in providing guys with much more options. In this post I'm taking a look at some really cool cuffs and bracelets. Okay, I'm ogling at them. Fishing hook cuff by Miansai . A bracelet in malleable sterling silver that takes the shape of a fishing hook of all things! Now how cool is that!

Fall fawning and winter wishing

Image
If there’s one thing good about living in the tropics, it’s that you get to enjoy the beach almost year- round. And with that, you get to wear the lightest of clothes from t-shirts to tank tops and shorts. However, there’s always that yearning somewhere for layering, which would only most likely result in beads of sweat trickling down my face. This is when I wish I were in a different climate where fall and winter come each year. I don’t necessarily long for snow; just the cooler temperatures that give me the perfect excuse to wear clothes on top of another. These are but a few of the stuff I’d love to, and wish I could, wear this season. So here goes. 1. A double-breasted coat Oh, wouldn’t it be great to saunter down the city streets in a DB coat, with its tails flipping graciously in the cool autumn wind as you take a sip off your Starbucks cup? It’s sartorial elegance at its finest. Double-breasted coat by Dolce & Gabbana . 2. A cape As if the flapping hems of a c

[Throwback (Travel) Thursday 09.11.2014] A sampling of Siargao Island sans the surfing

Image
 The winding wooden walkway at Cloud 9 in Siargao Island.   With the Siargao International Surfing Cup drawing near – which is now on its 20th year, by the way – I'm taking a look back at that one time I visited the lovely Siargao Island in Surigao del Norte, Philippines. Dubbed as the "Surfing Capital of the Philippines," Siargao first came into my consciousness after I chanced upon an article from our company employee newsletter. It was about a certain international surfing competition where our company was one of the sponsors. I got intrigued. Fast-forward to February 2002, I found myself in Surigao City for a work assignment. With Siargao just 3 hours away by slow ferry and about 1.5 hours by fastcraft, the chance to visit the island was just too good to pass up even if rains are expected in the area from January through July. Undaunted by the weather, I embarked on this little journey of mine – alone – and sailed for three hours while huge waves rocked our

[Lookbook 09.08.2014] Clean and khaki

Image
So this is what greets us in the morning when we're about to leave the house: cats giving us some curious and judging stares. It could be "What's taking you so long? Go now and leave us in peace!" or "You're late. What are you looking at?" But then it could also be "That outfit's horrible!"

Rediscovering old school at Back Alley Barbershop

Image
I've always been a salon kind of guy. As a kid it may have always been a trip to the local barber for haircuts but once that "consciousness" arrived in my teenage years, I graduated to salons. I guess it had to do with this perception that they're more attuned to current hairstyles than old barbers. But then not all salon-based stylists are good. Anyway after twenty-something years I found myself at a barbershop again just yesterday afternoon. Following a failed call for an appointment at my go-to salon, My Bibe suggested I try Back Alley Barbershop , which she'd been following on Instagram. Alright, I thought, time to try something new by going old school (ironically). As old school as this place can get, they play music from vinyl.