Outfits: Memorials and Mini-vacations

SHIP'S LOG: B spends the long weekend thrifting in Tagaytay but first drops by the American Memorial to re-visit the site of A and B's very first post.

So I've had my driver's license for years now but have yet to drive alone anywhere. (Shame!) Since I am sick of being at the mercy of my mom and brother I decided to start practicing again. I began on Friday when Aaron came over to give me a few pointers. I learned how to avoid the curb and slow down at intersections. He learned that I get easily distracted by pretty houses and have no trouble talking while driving!

I got another chance to test out my skills on Sunday. I drove my brother to the American Memorial where our very first post was. It's actually one of my favorites- I thought we did pretty well for beginners! (As usual, Arianne trumps me at the history so you guys may click back if you want to know all about it) The Memorial is always a great place to take pictures and has free entrance to boot.

Afterwards, my dad, brother and I spent the long weekend in Tagaytay, where we did A LOT of thrifting. I really love how the men in my family can keep up (and sometimes surpass) my shopping stamina. We must have hit up 7 ukay-ukays!

As for the outfit, it is typical lazy vacation attire. The silky slip with the sweetheart cut is a basic full of possibilities. The shorts (skort?) are an exact duplicate of Arianne's pair but a teeny bit too small for her. Hooray for me! To be honest they are a teeny bit too small for me as well but the zipper on the side looks cool half-open, right? Right!

I like the two pieces together so much that I may live in this combination for awhile. Case in point: wore this exact outfit on Saturday when Arianne and I shot for our upcoming shop.

Here is a sneak peek. Obviously, not selling the slip or shorts but the navy military coat and wedges are up for grabs. I added the gold buttons to the military coat myself! (Buttons are my only DIY outlet.) The poor wedges gather dust in my closet only to be pulled out for blog shoots. Someone give these beauties a loving home!

As I mentioned, I am easily distracted by pretty houses. I spotted this little house from our hotel window and thought it was just the nicest thing. The colors are fun, there is a corner balcony and an attic window! To me this place just says 'welcome home'! Bright, cheerful and quaint. House of Dreams, as Anne would say.

Still not over my Anne kick, obviously...

B wears thrifted slip, coat and shorts, Aldo Sandals and H&M wedges.

Overseas: Bangkok Bargains

SHIP'S LOG: A goes nuts at the six-story wholesale mall Platinum near Pratunam Market in Bangkok. Also introducing Sr Paddy, the first of our Paddington Bear pair.



Te presento a Sr Paddy. B and I each bought a Paddington Bear the last time we went thrifting at St Joseph’s. If you remember, she went a bit wild over the vast selection of teddy-sized toggle coats. Making sure to leave four-fifths of my luggage empty for future purchases, I took my style cue from him and packed:

(1) a pair of red flats
(2) a blue dress
(3) a red purse (though I would find a red wool navy hat over the weekend. YES.)
(4) two striped dresses
(5) three cotton tank tops



If B has a predilection for shades of blue, I definitely have my own preference for telephone box red and TARDIS blue. As for M. Paddy, he likes soy milk and Chinese butterfly doughnuts. So sue us.




I’m not particularly pleased with the outfit shots, but I tell you: it is very, very difficult to pose when you’ve got family snickering in the background.

‘What is this for, Achi?’ asks a not-so ancient relative.

‘My blog,’ say I, fidgeting in front of some historical monument. ‘Can you hurry up and take the picture please?’

‘Why don’t you move a little to the left so you get that cute elephant too?’ adds my mother.

‘Bend more so it looks artistic!’ advises a cousin who knows too much for her own good.

‘Just take it!’

And so on. It was better to have bad photos than to endure another three minutes of excruciating embarrassment. So as you can see from the photos, I’ve regressed to my pre-blog days. Shaky camera, straight as a plank poses, mirror shots, and all.



I had planned to introduce all you loyal readers to the streets and shops of Thailand with an hourly photo journal. That ambition soon faded away as I was slowly consumed by that obsession, so awesome and terrible: shopping.

On recommendation from fellow Povedans Little Miss Dress Up via B and D from the Shady Chronicles of P & D, I dragged my family to Platinum Mall. Located across a creek from ISETAN Department Store and CentralWorld, it is a six-story wholesale fashion mall. Yes, that’s right SIX floors spanning half a block.

I spent a whole day at Platinum Mall, feeling like a Lotus-Eater in the Odyssey, never really wanting to leave the exhilarating confines of an air-conditioned fashion-filled labyrinth. I must have come away with two duffle bags’ worth of presents, and I didn’t even finish the first and second floors.

Everything was so cheap that I just wanted to buy everything. That sentence is awkward but so true. If you buy two or more items, the price drops by at least 30 per cent. The only problem is that almost all shops won’t let you try the clothes on beforehand. Still three dresses for 200 baht each? Madness, glorious madness.

So, tip: measure yourself before leaving home. That way you won't regret leaving that might-fit-but-it might-not-but-I-want-it dress or blouse behind.

My mom’s digital camera lay forgotten in my purse and I returned home to Manila, abashed and hesitant to disclose my blogging failure to B.





Ah well, hope you enjoy what little I’ve captured of the Bangkok’s beautiful capital and you get that marvelous wish-I-was-there feeling (do let’s all go next time)!

Congratulations to our friend Chantal Tee who was accepted into fashion school in London. She is the designer and producer of my ubiquitous red Ylla flats. Chants, you better let me kip on your sofa next summer!


Also, we have been invited to The Prive Fashion Series by Glitterati on Wednesday, September 1, 2010 at Members Only at The Fort Strip, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig. If any Manila-based reader would like to come, please email us for further details. Thanks for the invite JL!

Overseas: Bangkok Bargains

SHIP'S LOG: A gets treated to a short holiday in the Land of Smiles to celebrate her super wonderful aunt and uncle’s wedding anniversary. Several pounds (both luggage and corporeal heft) later, she presents this glimpse of Bangkok.




Thailand, the Land of Smiles and milky iced tea. It is home to temples, ivory and gold, and elephants, little and great, and the best low-cost shopping in Southeast Asia. Not for me the underground malls beneath the parks of Shanghai or the whistle-clean high street shops of Orchard Road.

Thailand, give me your fruit and flower markets, floating on the river Chao Phraya, and your independent designers at Chatuchak weekend market. Let CentralWorld rise again, a rebirth of the Zen department store—and, for heaven’s sake, get me to Platinum Mall on time. Thailand, oh Thailand, I miss you already.



Our rooms were at the Grand Erawan Hotel, which might just be the poshest place I’ve ever stayed at. It had leafy trees and man-made streams winding in and about their main lobby. Tea tree infused soaps! Jade elephants! Disgustingly yummy breakfast buffet! Fluffy pillows and fluffier comforters, I would have spent all day in bed if I could. But no—the call of the Mall lured me out into the sunny city.

On Saturday, we took to the train to Mo Chit where the weekend market can be found. It’s a sprawling maze of stalls selling everything from fried crickets-on-a-stick to brass jewellery. Whenever I visit Chatuchak Market I usually head straight for where young Thai fashion designers debut their magnum opus and the secondhand clothes section.




Caveat: Thai sizing follows the usual Asian trend—buxom girls who are taller than five foot three are going to have problems with the fit. I hover between size 8 and 10 (though after all the glorious food I’ve devoured I’m probably a size 14 now) and the lack of suitable button-downs and dresses drives me to tears.

My favourite part of a long day’s walk at Chatuchak? Coconut ice cream served on a half-shell. I had the frozen creamy goodness twice and the cooks were nice enough to give free glasses of fresh coconut juice. At 25 baht, a steal! I had two. :)



My uncle, the Cat, and I had lunch at the fruit and veg market across the street. It’s the best place to have lunch on a budget with a three or four dishes for less than 150 baht. I love the orange and sugar cane juice that I drink to kill the heat of the green curry and crispy catfish.




Clockwise from left: coconut and pandan cream jelly, pink salted eggs, prawn balls, and spiky durian




Not fond of black pudding so I gave my share to my uncle who traded for his roast pork. Many Westerners I’ve met are, er, wary about eating street food which isn’t exactly subject to health department regulations. Nevertheless, I highly recommend giving squid balls and crab cakes a go.

My gran always said, “What won’t kill you will only make you stronger.”



Here’s the Cat and I drowning in purchases from Chatuchak Market. The cabbie laughed at us because all the shopping bags took most of the seat area and I was relegated to a tiny corner for the long drive back to the hotel.

More food than fashion, but look forward to Sunday’s post about Platinum Mall (don’t dare miss it) and dressing for a Bangkok shopping trip.

Looking Back: The 90's

SHIP'S LOG: Is good personal style brought about by nurture or nature? Perhaps a little bit of both- a big thank you to our respective parents for helping begin A and B's journey down the sea of style!

Since A and B can't get together for their weekly collaborative shoot-here is a happy little trip down memory lane for you. You will notice that florals, stripes, polka-dots and sailor suits have always been present in our closets.

Let's begin in kindergarten where little girls were allowed to express their individuality by picking the pastel floral print (sunny yellow, pretty pink, foamy green) of their uniforms. We could even make a pants suit instead of a dress if we were so inclined! (Guess what we chose)

By the way, that little hut was not our school, okay? We're not that backwards!

Some sweet pictures of Arianne who evidently did not tire of florals even outside of school. She may or may not be trying to camouflage herself against the potted flowers in the first photo.

Bea's love for stripes and bows goes way back. See her fearlessly try vertical AND horizontal stripes without caring which is more flattering to her figure? Last photo was taken before she could truly comprehend her fear of flying, obviously. Also the jumper dress looks eerily familiar...

Top photo: Bea devouring a dumpling/ Bottom Photo: Arianne enjoying her pancit (and neglecting her napkin)

Make no mistake, A and B love to eat. In fact, that is the way they usually reward themselves after a shoot well done. It also seems Arianne has always added a touch of cool to her outfits with aqua shades.

An amusing photo of Arianne in a dinosaur (mwrar!) costume. Her pouty little face tells it all. She made the little boy beside her cry because he dared to wear the same costume! A tyrant, even then.

Top: A in pink sailor top/ Bottom left: B in 80's sailor romper/Bottom right: A in cherry red

Of course, where would A and B in the Sea be without a few nautical pictures! Arianne hopes to one day re-create her red sailor dress. Bea wishes her little navy playsuit didn't have shoulder pads. She looks like a little football player + sailor hybrid.

Outfits: Corinthian Hills

SHIP'S LOG: B discusses her own personal paradox of thrift (nerdy joke- any Keynesians in the house?) and shares a floral find.

Lately, I've been thinking a lot about shopping and clothes. But not in a good way. I feel as I grow older I keep trying to discipline myself more. When I first started thrifting, I would come home with bags and bags of junk! Anything 'unique' or 'cool' looking ('Ooh, funky print!') I would snatch off the rack without even thinking.

My yearly closet cleanse (i.e. garage sale) made me realize how many clothes I've bought carelessly. Shameful bags of clothing I never even wore- hidden in my drawers! Ill-fitting clothes that I hoped I could stuff myself into! Seeing how much money I wasted really started to bug me...

So I ruthlessly threw out anything that didn't fit in with my everyday style. Now I'm left with a humble but rather satisfying collection. I find myself mixing and matching everything easily. (Maybe it's because everything is blue and therefore all go with one another. Hmm!) And I'm really hoping I can keep it that way.

All this led me to think about the goals I would like to set for my style and consequently my wardrobe. I do like to think that I can build a wardrobe which will take me well through my 20's. No more impulse buys. Just adding some key pieces once in awhile. A well edited closet which can weather time and trends.

Am I just dreaming, guys? Do you think it is possible or is the fast pace of fashion eventually going to make me sick of my clothes anyway?

Anyway the oxfords got quite damaged during the Pastel Pastures shoot which made me realize that I must be more careful with them. I'll likely never thrift as perfect a pair. The socks (similar sockings available at Sock and Sole Co.) were being sold brand new (left overs from the 80's, we think) at this ukay-ukay for ten pesos!

Just had to share a picture, from The Sartorialist, which I have been quite enamored with. I find her simple but quirky style so inspiring.

PS. Continue to wish Arianne luck with her law exams. She will be taking a mini-vacation to Bangkok (and taking us with her via blog) and asks if any readers can recommend good places to visit?

B wears pink floral dress from Chill (Megamall Department Store) and thrifted Oxfords

Play Pretend: Anne of Green Gables

SHIP'S LOG: B daydreams that she is Anne Shirley (with an E) and wanders around the 'haunted forest' looking for the 'lake of shining waters'. Kindred spirits are welcome to join the adventure!

The funny thing about it is, I have had a ratty, untouched box set of Anne novels sitting in our library for years. (I was busy hanging out with my homegirl, Laura Ingalls Wilder!) It was only after seeing adorable screen caps on Maria's blog that I became curious and picked up both movie and book.

Megan Follows is perhaps the best literary heroine come to life! Perfect to play quirky and lovable Anne. I was so inspired by the movie that I decided I must do a play pretend post. Then I realized I didn't have any oh-so-fashionable puffed sleeves or smocks to wear over long-sleeved dresses. I took inspiration from the pastel color palette instead. And of course, the boater came out to play. Though it looks much handsomer on Gilbert!

So this shoot was a great excuse to buy a carpet bag at the St. Joseph Church thrift shop. I really like that is a vintage version of a tote bag. Also picked up this yellow silk blouse- at the low,low price of ten pesos! I am supposed to be channeling Anne getting picked up by Matthew Cuthbert at the station but I look more like Anne as a school ma'am.

In typical Anne fashion, I had to go exploring. You can see the stream's winding path leading towards the tree if you look closely. It was a bit dark and shadow-ey, pretty good for getting 'deliciously scared'. But I was more fearful of random passersby than any wailing ghosts.

I actually don't mind having picked up the Green Gables book a little late in life. Anne is such an amazing character-full of creativity, wonder, determination, honesty, kindness and humor. Everything I wish to be. I also really want to visit the real Prince Edward Island one day.

I could go on and on about the series but I could never do it justice with words. So how about you, dear readers? What do you think about the Green Gables series? Have you guys seen the movie? Anyone want to do a Lady of Shalott shoot with me and Arianne?

Here are some of the books from the box set. I tried to copy the first book (top-most left corner). See the carpet bag? I am now working my way through the series. Still reading Anne of the Windy Poplars so no spoilers please!

Almost forgot to mention the soft opening for Sock and Sole Co. Click on the logo on our sidebar to browse the shop!

B wears Gingersnaps chambray skirt, thrifted silk blouse, carpet bag and boots.

Looking Back: June and July

SHIP'S LOG: A long over-due behind the scenes post. June and July proved that blogging will forever be a learning process and a lot of hard work! See how many of our bloopers you guys can relate to...

People outside of the 'blogosphere' probably think style bloggers live the good life. Take self-indulgent photos, pose in pretty clothes and visit picturesque locations. Oh, how deceiving it all is! Only other bloggers will understand how much dirty work goes into each shoot. Case in point: B's mucky hands from scaling the rusty gates of the haunted mansion.

Of course, style bloggers are also accused of being vain. Which is so...true! Every shoot Arianne's main question is: 'How's my hair?' Heat, wind and sweat can really wreak havoc on ones 'do!

In which case an electric fan can become ones best friend! Handy for drying sweaty bangs and looking suspiciously fresh . When Arianne spots a fan (rhyme!) it's like a moth to a flame. Except with quite the opposite effect, of course.

What about bug bites? All those pretty forest and field photos come with a price. Usually in the form of vicious blood suckers. Bea usually spends 80% of her time scratching away- poses nicely for a few seconds- then resumes scratching!

Anyone else out there have self-timing cameras with a mind of their own? Always snapping at the most goofy and awkward moments. Bea thinks she looks like a new born foal testing out it's legs for the first time.

And like boy scouts-we come prepared! A small suitcase full of hats, hair accessories, bags, shoes and umbrellas are usually present. These are a bloggers equivalent to a first aid kit.

But don't take all of our grumping to heart. We never take ourselves too seriously!

And for anyone interested here is our first vlog/mockumentary/mini movie just traipsing around Paco Park. Look out for magical doves appearing out of nowhere.

Behind the Scenes: Paco Park from A B Sea on Vimeo.

Apologies for the shaky camera work and lazy editing! Credit goes to Flip camera and Zooey Deschanel for the music.