Looking Back: Europe 2006

SHIP'S LOG: When A feels a little low in spirits she makes extravagant travel plans to far off places like Croatia, Ulan Bator, and Brazil. With finals coming up faster than a speeding bullet, she takes a look back at Eurotrip 2006.



My mom's Nikon D60 has died, taking along my camera privileges with it. For some ineffable, horrible reason the silly thing won't take pictures except on the Flash setting. It's gone to the shop for treatment, but my mother has banned me from using the spare digital point-and-shoot. The words 'I didn't do it!' mean nothing to her, so I am without the wherewithal to show you a photograph of my pink polka dot dress. Instead I've unearthed photos for an extended Looking Back post.

When girls turn eighteen years old in Philippines their parents usually throw them a huge party with lots of food and dancing in a fancy hotel. There are 18 Candles—girls who either sing or perform for the birthday girl—and 18 Roses—boys who dance with aforementioned birthday girl. And there are wardrobe changes, lots of 'em. This interesting phenomenon is called a debut, and it's closest relatives are probably the sweet sixteen party and quinceañera.



My barkada and I plumped for a five-week trip to Europe instead. We did the entire Grand Tour (yes, just like in romance novels) and came back, smelling like wet puppies and rather hating the sight of each other's faces. It can't be helped (I was bossy and Naesa wouldn't share her iPod). Spending seven hours a day with each other at school is very different from spending twenty-four hours together for thirty days. We're still great friends though, so it all worked out. :P

Okay, so B and barkada are probably going to kill me for putting up these embarrassingly unfashionable photos, but what the heck, at least you guys will have a laugh!

First stop, London!






Then Paris . . .






We got lost in the hills of Tuscany and played some poker in Barcelona (at that point, we were tired and wanted to go home)!






Looking at our photos, I'm really excited for my trip to the UK next year. I'm dipping into my savings from the last four years and the profits of my businesses Sock & Sole Co. and Sunday's Best Manila but I've just about got enough money for a month and a half.

When I am stressed about school I like to armchair travel (all right, I know it's not a real phrase, but I like it!) and pick out the places I want to see: pirate caves in Cornwall, haunted streets in Edinburgh, John Soane's Museum in London . . . Always knits up that ravelled sleeve of care.

What do you do to de-stress? Where will you go on your next holiday?



Apologies for the lack of decent clothes in this post. With any luck the camera will be fixed and I'll do better next week. :D

Outfits: Cowgirl Night

SHIP'S LOG: For a silly night out with friends, A and B pull on the plaid and their best dancing boots.

Introducing Chantal (L), Gia, Aya, B, A, and Naesa (R)!

We all went to the same school for eleven years. We are what Filipinos call a group of close friends—a barkada. Since we got into different universities, we haven't seen as much of each other as we would like, but the moment we meet up again it's like we never left the pastel pink corridors of Poveda.

Chantal is going to London for fashion school, so we've been cramming as much barkada time as possible. And what better way to send her off than with a silly themed night that only girls love to do! Cowgirl night, ya'll!

Dinner consisted of all American burgers and milkshakes at Gram's in Rockwell (A just wants to say that spicy onion rings and marshmallow mint milkshakes do NOT mix well) before heading out for dessert at the best French bistro in Manila and midnight boot stompin' at Ponti's.

Gia's parents treated us to a bottle of chocolate vodka and French pastries at La Regalade. The cream puffs were heavenly in three flavours (strawberry, chocolate, and vanilla) and the warm tart had that perfect flaky crust and oozing chocolate. It must be said that La Regalade has the most amazing bathroom. Soft red armchairs and piles of magazines while you wait in line. B feels sorry for the boys who had to sit at an empty table, waiting for us to come out.




Chocolate vodka: smells like chocolate, tastes like death. One would have thought that four years of university drinking sessions would build up a strong tolerance for alcohol. Not so for we were brought down low at last, and we had to ask for milk (something only Arianne would think to do in a bar) to transform the shots into White Russians. Sweet, neat, and strong.

By the end of the night, we needed a cup of jo—coffee makers!




The club was almost sauna like, heat-wise. This is where tops tied at the midriff came in handy. It's too bad that it wasn't iPod night so one of us could have played Boot Scootin' Baby, the song that played in the background while we learned to line dance in P.E. without (a) boots and (b) boys. Ah, memories!

We were able to request Party in the USA though and some very guilty pleasure dancing ensued...

A wears Topshop plaid shirt, denim shorts from NeXT, Dooney & Burke saddlebag, and Aldo sandals. B wears Topshop polo, Maldita jeans (snipped into modest daisy dukes) and thrifted boots.

Outfits: Plaid Puddles

SHIP'S LOG: B takes advantage of the rain to don some cold weather clothes and walk in pleasant weather to a lovely new location. The lot would be a favorite if it weren't for all the shady characters lurking near by.

As a resident of a tropical country, I can't help but feel left out of all the fall hullabaloo. This is no ones fault really-except maybe Mother Nature's. Most of my favorite blogs are brimming with fall inspiration, fall color palettes and fall wish lists. It definitely makes me wonder what actual changing seasons must be like!

In any case, rainy season is as 'fall' as it gets over here. There may be no trees changing color or crunchy leaves blanketing the sidewalk but there are mud puddles and flashfloods. See how I like to look at the bright side of things?

Sarcasm aside, the rain is just the best excuse to pull out otherwise ridiculous coats and boots. Most of my friends will attest to the fact that at the mere sign of a drizzle, I will be singing 'boooots tiiiiime'!

These very slick pair of black ones have awesomely sturdy stacked heels and make me break into a sweat just pulling them on. I kind of wish the manufacturer of these boots had heard of a little thing called: the zipper. The coat is pretty light with a pinstripe pattern inside and plaid on the outside. It may or may not be reversible as I have yet to try that out...

A funny thing about the Philippines (and other bloggers can attest to this, I'm sure) is that when you wear boots people tend to treat you like some sort of walking freak show (or sometimes hooker). I don't know exactly why that is. They are more practical to stomp around in than say sandals which would get your feet all dirty and wet.

I had to endure numerous cat calls, car honks and blatant stares as I wandered around taking these photos. If this is the reaction to my plainest black boots I am extra glad that I didn't break out my chunky brown ones lined with wool!

The boots certainly did not help me in my mission to sneak into this empty lot. I walked a short distance in very pleasant and breezy weather. As I got to the lot I noticed that it was not so empty after all! There was a shady makeshift house built in one corner. Using my peripheral vision, I saw men popping out of it to see what was going on. As more men came out of the house (How many fit in there anyway!) to stare, I began to sweat a bit. So much for the breezy weather!

But since I made it that far I just continued and tried to find the most secluded spot to take these photos. But I was so on edge the whole time keeping an eye out for those creeps.

In retrospect perhaps I was the creep since I was the one trespassing on their property. But I'm just an innocent blogger and pretty harmless looking, I would say. Except maybe for the boots...

B wears thrifted plaid coat and black boots, denim jeans cut into shorts and beige tanktop from Greenhills.

Outfits: Door in the Wall

SHIP'S LOG: A takes a walk one sunny morning and finds a door in the wall of a North Greenhills basketball court. Should she do an Alice and see what's through the keyhole?



When I was a kid we had to read a book called The Door in the Wall. I can't remember a thing about it, but I think it's odd and wonderful that so many books have strange doors that lead into stranger worlds—read Robert Heinlein's A Door into Summer if you like time travel, smart geeky boys, cats named Petronius, and little girls with boys' names. It has me hoping that I can find a bit of magic every time I pull open a wardrobe or an attic trapdoor.

So B and I went for a quick shoot on Wednesday to stock up on posts (to prepare for the oncoming storm First Law School Finals). After fiddling about with the camera of M (see, M, you've been featured! Sort of.) we passed by the neighbourhood rec centre. And there, next to halfcourt line, was a something right out of an old Jet Li movie.



It was a tiny wooden door, studded with dangerous looking nails and chained shut. I wanted IN. What is it about closed doors and locked boxes that make girls throughout history set aside common sense for curiosity? See Pandora and Psyche. See Jane Eyre and Alice in Wonderland. Now see me.



B said we needed to come up with new poses. Time for an America's Next Top Model marathon. 'Find your light!' Tyra Banks, she speaks the truth.



I am wearing my favourite sweetheart neckline dress, which funnily enough matched the paint. Lately, I've been wearing a lot of bracelets and watches. I think it's rather neat how different patterns, which ought to go like green eggs and ham, actually look pretty good together.



What do you think?

Why the heck is there a Chinese temple door in the middle of a park wall? The question remains unanswered. Maybe B should take out her pipe and I don a deerstalker hat to find out.

A wears sea green gingham dress from Jellybean and polka dot Keds. Also wears an old watch from her grandmother's closet and clay beads from Israel.

Play Pretend: Betty Draper

SHIP'S LOG: Lipstick, horses and cupcake silhouettes- that's what Betty Drapers are made of! B uses the silliest prop in blogging history to channel a jaunty January Jones. (Can you tell I am in the mood for alliteration?) *No spoilers for season 4 please

Oh, if only I had a shotgun then I would have been able to re-enact one of Betty's most iconic scenes. But I don't (or if I did I certainly wouldn't tell you). Ironically, this scene conveys exactly how I felt this morning when I woke up at 7am. I thought my pictures would be touched by the gentlest morning light. To my annoyance, the photos came out either incredibly shady or blindingly overexposed.

Looking around my room, searching for my most Betty-esque prop, I suddenly burst out laughing when I saw my stick horse and riding hat. I love how blog posts allow me justify silly purchases. I don't even ride, I just really admire how classy and polished riding costumes are.

I could have taken this inspiration quite literally but I wanted a good excuse to show off the adorable 50s style dress Arianne gave me from Bangkok. While I am used to less pristine looks, I couldn't resist changing things up a bit. It's quite reminiscent of Betty's dresses -with the playful print and poodle skirt.

I could not get Betty's little cat-like smiles just right so I decided to make her typical 'I-am- about-to-slap-you-in-the-grocery-store' face. (It's just my people are Nordic, you know!) I know a lot of people hate her but for the life of me, I cannot understand why. It seems more people are even more sympathetic to womanizing Don than they are to troubled and misunderstood Betty.

I fully agree with the Jezebel and Daily Beast articles that people are too quick to judge her complex character. I have my frustrations with her too (Why can't you and Don just be on the same page for once!) but knowing all she's been through, I can't just write her off as a spoiled ice queen. Anyone in Betty's shoes would find themselves full of bitterness and resentment too, for Pete(Campbell!)'s sake.

Plus Betty and I share the same philosophy in life: only boring people are bored.

That being said, Betty isn't actually my favorite character. I am also amused by the other wives. Trudy and Kitty mostly- though they kind of look alike. And when Ken, Salvatore, Pete, Harry and Kinsey join forces you always know it will be a good time. Roger too...Oh heck, I love them all!

On a related note, there is another Betty-ish dress available in our shop. I will admit that I won't be too heartbroken if nobody buys this one. Into my closet it shall go!

B wears 50's style dress (pasalubong from Arianne) from Bangkok, riding hat from Cubao X and Zara Heels. Green BCBG dress available at shop.

Play Pretend: Heathers

SHIP'S LOG: Flashback to the 80s when John Hughes ruled the Hollywood school. A indulges her love of red with an outfit inspired by the croquet-bashing teen queen Heather Chandler.


Seriously, Heather, what's your damage?

Before there was the pink and plaid wrapped Mean Girls and the elevated (by platform sandals) Jawbreaker, there was Heathers. Snappy one-liners ('Well, fuck me gently with a chainsaw. Do I look like Mother Theresa?') and meaningful details (if setting up a girl's suicide in her copy of Moby Dick is in any way meaningful) are representative of 80s big money and even bigger hair.

Most people think John Hughes, who launched red-headed Molly Ringwald into stardom (if only she stayed there), wrote Heathers but it was actually a young screenwriter named Dan Waters. He was twenty-four years old when he came up with this work of genius. TWENTY-FOUR. I feel so unfulfilled.



Like Clueless, Heathers must have had a fashion team that worked overtime to capture the zeitgeist of the time. There are padded jackets, heinous perms, and tiered skirts galore but somehow they make the 80s—which I consider to be one of the worst periods in fashion, right after the 1830s—look good, oh so good.

I am going to look for some shiny and vulgar brooches now.

I love the use of colour. They definitely tell us something about the characters who wear them. Heather Chandler wears big, bold red like the Red Queen, powerful and the center of attention. Heather Duke is in green, which traditionally represents envy, and Heather McNamara is always in yellow, an omen of her attempt to kill herself. Then there's Veronica Sawyer, who is calm and logical in shades of blue.



Oversized double-breasted blazer? Check. Prep school shoes and red scrunchy? Check, check. Dainty prints? It's all there in the bracelets and dress, all in a bright fire engine look-at-me red with huge mother of pearl buttons. I've even got Heather's snotty expression down to a tee.

Okay, so I don't have a croquet set (yet) but I took the photos in a golf club. Golf, croquet, the same thing—under the header Sports I Am Rubbish At.




So what's on top of your favourite 80s movies list?

Are you fond of the eggs-and-bacon fare in Breakfast Club? Or do you prefer the sugar confection of  Sixteen Candles with Jake on the table and Anthony Michael Hall in the car (me, a young John Cusack in a trench coat)? Maybe you wear a Save Ferris shirt and like to Twist & Shout? I definitely do.

Let us know in the comments below!

A wears red candy stripe dress from Bangkok, black and white spectators from Shanghai, red bow borrowed from B, and red blazer for sale at Sunday's Best Manila.

Outfits: Sunday Biking

SHIP'S LOG: The bike geekery ensues as B shares her newest purchase and adventures around a bike warehouse and the UP campus. Watch out for a fun little video at the end of this post!

I have confession to make. I was actually supposed to publish these vintage bike posts last week! But I furtively kept them to myself because I was scared someone would read them, head over and buy my beloved bike even before I had saved enough money! (Yes, I am just that paranoid).

But here I am, proud owner of Peaches the Bike (I went the obvious route given her color) and ready to share my adventures with ya'll. I sold my old skateboard for exactly the amount she cost. One mode of transportation to another, I suppose!

I guess by now, loyal readers would know how I love brown leather (shoes, belts, bags) so it is just perfect that she came accessorized in the same way. Her color varies from a pretty peachy tone to a chilly orange popsicle hue in sunlight.

This Sunday, I discovered that a ton of people go biking and running in the UP campus early in the morning. My good friend Porch was nice enough to not only to go with me and buy Peaches (then assemble her once we got home) but woke up early on Sunday to join me on her maiden voyage!

I started off really wobbly, having not ridden in years. I was pretty sure I was going to run over small children or get run over by the speedier bikers. When I noticed a woman running towards me I freaked out, jumped off the bike and let it crash to the ground while I ran to the pavement for safety. After which, Porch lectured me on how I should never bail on my bike. 'All you need to do to stop is put your foot down! Never jump off your bike!' First lesson learned.

While it was quite breezy biking under all those trees, I found myself passing so many dirty ice cream carts and craving UP's particularly delicious avocado flavor. It's the exact same color as slime, don't you think?

Of course, I would have to throw in some more bike obsessed photos, from the Bzkleta warehouse this time. In the last post we visited the showroom. When Porch brought me there to buy Peaches I discovered (to my annoyance) that the warehouse was actually in my neighborhood!

I have a particularly funny anecdote about the rusty bike in the second photo. See the one that is crusty brown with holes already forming on the frame? After seeing all the gorgeously restored beach cruisers, Porch and I made fun of this rickety one and jokingly said 'It's probably just 50 bucks. I bet we could buy it right now!'

I wandered around for a bit while Porch talked to the owner. Then he came up to me and said, 'Guess what? It's 19,000 pesos.' What?! Apparently, that bike dates back to the 1930's. Impressive but what the heck would one do with that bucket of bolts!

I also realize that I didn't need to be so selfish regarding the bike posts. As you can see Bzkleta is definitely NOT lacking in stock.



Anyway here is a short video of our fun little adventure on Sunday. I was extra pressured while he was filming because he kept reminding me not to fall and embarrass myself on camera. You can also see him do some neat tricks and better shots of my outfit and bike!

Sunday Biking from A B Sea on Vimeo.

Speaking of Sunday, don't forget to visit our shop!

B wears Topshop embroidered blouse, belt and shorts from Greenhills and red Offshore sneakers from Aaron. Also thrifted plaid coat.

Thrift Manila: Vintage Bikes

SHIP'S LOG: B drags A to a vintage bike shop along Aurora Boulevard. Bzkleta proved to be a tiny treasure trove of beach cruisers, baskets and even unicycles!




B says:

When my friend Porch told me about the vintage bike shop he discovered, my mind immediately conjured up images of an adorable little boutique tucked away in a quiet corner of old Manila. Imagine my surprise when Arianne and I found the shop located on one of the busiest, jeepney-ridden streets in the city! One will have to keep a very sharp eye out for Bzkleta but the unique finds inside definitely make up for the traffic and shady location.

The first thing that greeted us as we stepped out of the car was this line of popsicle colored bicycles. Or would you guys say ice cream colored? Either way the bikes look like some kind of sweet treat, don't you think? Maybe macarons...





The shop was small and a bit cramped but wall-to-wall with things to stare at! Colorful streamers for your bike handles, classic blue and red scooters (for children only- sigh!) and the aforementioned unicycles. There are three floors full of bikes, bikes, bikes in all sizes, styles and colors! (Bea took photos of everything interesting and had to be extra selective so as not to make this an agonizingly long post.)

For fear of sounding like fools, we won't go into the names and details of the bikes we saw. We will say that the place is very guy friendly. They would probably enjoy examining the cool BMX and motocross bikes. And might we suggest the sweet His & Hers bikes for the vintage loving couples out there?



Rows upon rows of pretty wicker baskets. The 'straw boater hat' of a stylish vintage bike. Unfortunately, these are not as cheap as you would think. 800 pesos a piece! Anyone know where cheaper wicker baskets are sold? The leather case in the top left photo was also a finely crafted beauty. Luckily, the 'for display only' sign saved us from cracking open our wallets.



In general, the prices of the bicycles range from the affordable Php 1,500 to the astounding Php 37, 500! But the day we went there the shop was having a sale of sorts. All bikes outside were marked down. Bea's eyes got all starry and she summoned up the resolve to come back for one of them. Arianne, a bike owner already, took the role of stopping Bea from making hasty purchases.

Although Bea went home empty handed that day she came back a few days later, still starry eyed, but this time with cash! The full story of that purchase will be saved for a special post- so stay tuned. Can you guys guess which one she bought?

In the meantime here is Arianne sharing her own bike and her ideal ( if slightly impractical) outfit!



A says:

I took my favourite hat out of the closet for the excellent four o'clock sunshine. My mom's camera is making funny whirring noises and the focus works fiendishly, but my sister got some interesting tilt-shift photos. And if you're going to ask—yes, my bike is much too small for me. My sisters bought it at a store but forgot that I'm almost half a foot taller than they are. I've ridden it around UP though, a major major (Bb Pilipinas, teehee) laugh. I love the bright fuschia but I may have to trade it in for a bigger one.

Bikes, I love em! Though it did take me a week to figure out how to balance without training wheels.

Bzkleta Vintage Bicycles & Collectibles is located at 150 Aurora Blvd. J. Ruiz Station LRT 2 .

Also, we are happy to announce that our shop, Sunday's Best, is now open for business!