Between the Lines

My idée fixe for stripped look started a little over than 2 years ago..I always incorporate stripes with nautical wear. Blue and white with a hint of red. Oversized sun glasses and wide brimmed hat - All set for Yacht Party at the Hamptons. But seriously, stripes especially when mixed with minimalism can boost an entire look and transform your ensemble to a classic glam up number yet not so over the top.

Dress by Aldrin & Laura 

Some people, women in particular dread wearing lines. And trust me, I used to shun away from them too. Back then I view them as too dramatic, so many things going on and restricting as you can only partner it with little variations.Then I saw Alexa Chung sporting this striped black and white tee with boyfriend Jeans highlighted with pop of color in red lipstick. It literally changed my perception about wearing sea of black and white. In fact, each time I would scout for pieces to add to my wardrobe, I would end up buying a tee, dress or skirt detailed in stripes of black and white.

Alexa Chung in striped tee

You have to give it to this simple yet taken for granted look as if it's an ode to classic fashion mantra. It's the trend which will always be a hit regardless of time, age and season. It's the perfect default look which certainly saves the day. It's versatility to accord its style for any occasion have proven that this sure is closet must have.

Here are some pieces you can work with the help of our trusty basic striped tee :

1. Beach Babe

Add pop up of color your tee and match it with an oversized sunglasses and you'll be turning heads in no time

2. Corporate Gal 

Conquer the board room with those cat eyes and striped mini dress and get everyone's ears and eyes attuned to your every word.

3. Party Siren

Ripped Jeans + Stripped top + Ankle Strap Hells + Red Lippy = #readytopaintthetownred 

4. Casual Chic

Got errands to run? Slip on to your converse and don a stripped top and boyfriend jeans.Complete 'em list by looking extra stylish.

5. French City Girl

Dreaming of Riviera or simply strolling under the city lights of Paris. There's nothing more perfect that a red coat don onto a striped top and knee high skirt.

Sometimes we become oblivious that beautiful things may come in the simplest form. In this case, a basic striped top. It can pull sophistication without trying so hard. It can stand on its own or can be adorned with luxurious ornaments in gold and whites. It will work on any body type without sacrificing sartorial gusto. It's a fantastic trend that is clean and effortlessly chic.

So if simplicity is what you're after then a striped tee is your best bet as you can never go wrong with this look. Activate your imagination and set forth for a style-exercise and be surprised at variety of looks one can pull off with this number.

Xo,
Jhesy 

Blossom

Taking a break from Travel diaries and sharing with you a throwback #ootd to jump start this year. I enjoy incorporating different textures in my wardrobe. Not only does it diversifies your outfits but it lets you explore endless possibilities on what would work with your body, what will accentuate your features and also a good test run for you creativity. This ensemble is part of the shoot we did for Aldrin & Laura some time in June. 

Was torn between going for a romantic, dreamy and slightly formal look but eventually resorted to pairing this beautiful balloon lace skirt with a jersey strappy loud pink top. Most grown ups shun away from pink colors as they may seem to loud or too girly to be taken seriously.  Lace on the other hand sends a romantic, lady-like, soft and innocent aura to anyone who dares to don in them. Mixing these two elements was a bit of a fashion risk as there's a thin line between attempting to gear towards semi-formal look injected with a youthful vibe vs that of a desperate cry for trying to imitate a teeny booper wannabe. The back detailing adds a subtle hint of sexy showing a good amount of skin against the bold color. Completing the look with silver stilettos and you're all set for high tea, girl's pre-night out rendezvous or simply a date night with your man. 

Dare to wear pink and embrace your inner child-barbie-fan girl. It's a refreshing pop of color that could instantly brighten your look and mood. 

Trendsetter Bazaar x Aldrin & Laura #trendsettersbazaar

Happy 1st of December!!! A few more weeks and we're about to cap off 2015. You can feel the Christmas spirit in the air, the cold breeze in the morning signals the coming of the holiday season. It's that time of the year again when people are in their cheerful demeanor, kind and stating the obvious, generous.The holiday season is more than just the celebration and parties but it's also the time to rewards ourselves and others like a pat on our back for being goody and nice all year-round.

And with that comes the series of bazaars which are happening all over the metro.

Trendsetter Team is back with their Holiday Bazaar series and I couldn't be more excited as Aldrin & Laura ( The brand which my friends and I own - really feels good to say that ) will be one of the brands you'll be seeing at MetroTent. I am thrilled to be part of the December event as I've been a passionate bazaar aficionado since 2008. And now, I am actually part of it ( squeals! ) Truly a dream come true.

Trendsetter Bazaar have always been known for its collections of quality and unique goods curated from different online sellers and young talents. They never fail to deliver amazing shopping experience to all its ardent buyers.

So come and celebrate with us on this new venture! Catch us at the Trendsetter Midnight Bazaar happening on December 11-13 at the MetroTent Ortigas from 12:00nn - 12:00 midnight. Booth : Z26

We have a new collection to match every fashionista and stylista gusto! Get exclusive discounts and freebies during the event. So join us and kick off the holiday season in style. 

Bare Minimalist

" I enjoy long romantic walks to the fridge"

No, I was definitely not walking towards a refrigerator but rather to an empty swimming pool. Though if you know me well enough, you would certainly debate on this one because you would rather see me walking to towards it to scrabble around for food. Yes, I have developed this close relationship with food and it's starting to take a toll on me. Read: gaining weight. Alright, back on this #ootd look, this was taken during a shoot we did for our brand " Aldrin & Laura last June. If you're bored and looking for some time to kill, you can drop by our website to browse through our collection. We are also in Zalora Philippines. I guarantee it'll be worth your time. You can choose from a range of dresses, bottoms and outdoor wear. All of these items were specifically designed to cater to any fashionista's gusto. Oh and did I mention how affordable our items are. Talk about shameless plugging here. But seriously, Aldrin & Laura aims to help every modern Filipina to be confident in whatever she wears. It's about knowing what suits you,what makes you feel good and owning it.

It is a fashion sort of rule that less is always more. Echoing that thought to this ensemble. The whole look features a crop top with a bow tied at the back and a white laced pair of shorts. This can go from day wear with a coat on top to even a night out.These white shorts features white lace overlay and stretch waistband. Fully lined.We love it on sheer off shoulder top and wide brim hat. Oomp your ensemble with lace up sandals and you’d be turning heads and lights in no time. For the shoot, I paired the them with silver metallic heels to make it a bit edgy.Wondering how accessories come into play? I only had big reverted pearl earrings to complete the outfit. You can play around with accessories and shoes to change the overall feel. Go casual in sneakers or slips ons or add a moto jacket and pair with biker boots if rocker chic is what you're gearing for. There's just so many look ideas I can think of but bottom line is to keep it within the same color range. Minimalism is a classic aesthetics in fashion world which is adapted by some of the most distinguished fashion houses as : Calvin Klein, Balenciaga and Jil Sander.

Dressing up can be a lot of fun but quite exhausting too if you're like me who could spent hours in front of my closet figuring out what to wear. But I find it rather easy at times if I'll go for minimalist look. Keeping everything low key, bare minimum and go for plain colors and cuts.Keeping things clean and simple can be rewarding I'd say. If it means saving a bit more during morning rush prep time, then this fashion philosophy is absolutely something I'd incorporate in my daily style.

♥♥,
Jhesy 

Jump Right In

70's has been making its way to fashion limelight since 2013 Spring/Summer.Fashion gurus continue to re-invent, play up and re-engineer clothes to 180 degrees this 2015, luring us to fall in love more and more with this era with a more structured appeal and silhouettes to match every stylista's fashion flair.

Jumpsuits have been lurking in billboards, red carpet events and daily lookbooks of fashionistas and women alike. One thing that is captivating about this piece of clothing is its ability to transform from casual to dress up look. Day wear to night. Technically, it's a pair of trousers with a matching top. Pull your creative/stylista card out and you can even make it a double look by folding the top,leaving just the bottom and voila! a pair of new pants.

Photo grabbed from Google

Runways have been flooded with this trend, A-listers and models donning it in different fabric textures such as silk, denim and suede. It varies in colors and prints down to loose cuts, bare back and plunging necklines. 

The trend may raise an eyebrow and prolly an eye roll for others with the notion that you have to be a size 6 to pull this off. Now that's a sartorial conversation I sure would love to have with anyone who would like to give this trend a cold shoulder. In fact, jumpsuit is a closet must-have for its versatility. It is practical which makes it a staple piece. It's everything you need to fall in love with this piece. Jumpsuit will absolutely fit with everyone's body type. So flexible that it can even adapt to any occasion and event. You can even wear white kicks to achieve that sporty look or go for sleek and sophistication with one color jumpsuit, amp up your look with metallic accessories i.e belt and sky high heels.

Wearing an Aldrin & Laura Pinstriped jumpsuit ensemble. This piece is sophisticated and effortlessly feminine featuring pink and brown stripes. A cut out bare back adds a subtle hint of skin adding a touch of glamour to the entire look.Steal the scene away with platforms and wide brim hat and be a party eye candy with this number. 

You can absolutely play around with jumpsuit and style it with whatever and however you want. A tip though,should you decide to own your first pair, denim trend is definitely back so choose it in this fabric as it sure is a season fave. 

So are you ready to jump into the jumpsuit bandwagon?

♥♥,
Jhesy

As Yet Unwritten

Letters to Juliet, You've got Mail, The Notebook and P.S. I love You.  Yes, they all scream chick flicks, sappy and tear-jerker plots. Yet, they all have one common ground. Letters.  The timeless art of putting prose on paper.

Oh how I've missed the old school means of communication. Snail mails, handwritten cards, stationaries. Nothing beats the waiting period and build of excitement as you wait for those coveted letters delivered to your doorsteps. And with giddy, unassuming heart, you wait with enthusiasm to hear your last name uttered by Mr. Postman.  "You've got mail!" are music notes to anyone's ears. The scent of freshly delivered mail and the eagerness to tear the edge of the envelope to find the content inside; back then, they all seemed mundane and just plain conventional. Yet now, I would gratefully trade a hundred likes on facebook or any social platform for just one handwritten letter addressed to me.

A self-confessed sentinmental, I've kept all those letters, notes and greeting cards sent to me by friends, family and loved ones. I take joy in reading every single one of them until now. Letting them take me back to memory lane, transporting me to places and time when they were written. It felt surreal at times reminiscing the surge of emotions these letters have brought me. The handwritten words evoke sincerity and authenticity of emotions which is so hard to come by in digital exchange.

In a world where nothing seems to last, a text message, 140-character tweet and even a lenghty email; words can be void of meaning and lost in translation. Snail mails and handwritten letters may be a medium not worthy of anyone's attention. Sure enough it is outdated yet it certainly offers an experience which the modern technology will never be able to cater.

"Sending a letter is the next best thing to showing up personally at someone’s door."

People, myself included have ceased writing letters. We became so wedded to modern technology that we fail to savor the joy of writing and receiving handwritten impressions. Admittedly, I still get thrilled whenever I receive a letter on the mail. My eyes would literaly light up at the sight of an envelope with my name typed or handwritten on it. Yes, most of them are bills and marketing notices but there's just something magical about real correspondences. Part of me would like to believe that the desire to write and receive letters is still within us. And it's a form of art that is worth of bringing back.

So I urge you to take the initiative and begin that circle of communication. Strike up a convo with an old friend, write a post card and even a thank you note to your office cleaning lady or to anyone who have shared their time and effort to be of assistance to you. Share your thoughts, ardent love, deepest gratitude and your most sincere symphaties to someone who needs it. You'd be surprised how a small gesture can change someone's day or little did you know, even life.

*This Caligraphy dress screams handwritten letters mixed with high fashion.It exudes romance and class. Show those legs for days in your stilletos, go as loud as red pumps and team it up with your boxy clutch.  Head on a date night and get eyes locked on you.

Dress by Aldrin & Laura

The art of art, the glory of expression and the sunshine of the light of letters, is simplicity. - Walt Whitman

♥♥,
Jhesy

Monday Hues

Morning was greeted with showers and cold breeze.Looks like rainy season has already started here in Singapore. Few more days and my second home will be celebrating its Jubilee year. It'll be a 4-day long weekend holiday and I'll be hitting the beach once again #eggzoited!( this will be for another blog).I am still in denial that it's already August.We are four months shy to capping the year off! To say that time flies when you're having fun is an understatement. Time does slip away without you knowing it ; more so when your post-work hours and weekends are fully booked with activities.Four months ago, you would find me locked up in my room on weekends binging on sweets and movies. But then I met a lot of people over the past couple of months and was plugged in to a community. I realized that after 3 years of living in Singapore; I haven't really given myself a chance to explore and try out new things. I was just existing and have not fully embraced the life I now have here. I told myself at the start of this year that I won't waste time and will venture on things I haven't done before. Be productive.Do more and live more - ( sounds like the tagline for Smart  ). And yes, I am finally doing it.

 "then, she began to breathe and live
  and every moment took her to a place where
  goodbyes were hard to come by.
  She was in love. But not in love with someone or something.
  She was in love with her life, and for the first time
  in a long time, everything was inspiring" - r.m drake

Starting out something new at the beginning of a year or a month seems fitting to a lot of people. There's something about new beginnings that feels monumental and remarkable. It's springs hope and builds excitement as you gear for a challenge of sustaining it on your pre-defined timeline. Existing is a far cry from living. Living is waking up in the morning excited. It is that sense of optimism on how the day or the future will turn out. To live is to take full control of your life and to  make the most of the little time we all have. 

So be excited and fearless. Take a chance and be in love with life. Appreciate the beauty and chaos that compromise it. Do things out of passion rather than obligation and routine. Because truly,there's a lot more to life than what we let ourselves see, feel and experience.

Bow Down Dress from Aldrin & Laura 

"Be fearless in  the pursuit of what sets your soul on fire"

♥♥,

Jhesy 

Shrug Off Your Sleeves

Let's veer away from serious writing a bit and talk about what I love best - FASHION.

Fashion favors an old favorite this season. Moving on from crop tops and mid riffs, off shoulder dresses and tops are making a huge comeback this summer months - and I say comeback because it's been around in 18th and 19th centuries. If pearls, lace and corsets were all part of Victorian, baring your shoulders had its fair share of limelight in the fashion timeline.

If you live in Singapore, weather conditions can be pretty erratic. However, most people would agree that it is rather humid and dry on most days thus, heat can be very oppressive and we tend to find ways to self ventilate.  This season's must-have has been spotted on bloggers, fashionistas and A-listers sporting this look from day wear to night. Make your fashionable statement in mid-length skirts and high waisted shorts. Be a beach babe and bask under the sun in all white off shoulder dress silhouettes and even cut offs, baring just a hint of skin. Surely, "bare shoulders" is the new frontier of sexy.

Off Shoulder Dress by Aldrin & Laura

This trend is so easy to pull off. Shoulders have been spared from the overly picky eyes of fashion critics which should take off any apprehensions on whether you'll look great in this pair or not. Good news is,there are no ideal shoulders. Whether you're plump, petite or blessed with an hour-glass figure, you can have fun and be confident in this number. It's age/body/season/style/ appropriate. Talk about confidence boost yeah? 

So shrug off the world from your shoulders and carry your sleeves instead. It's an effortless, chic and feminine look that I'm sure we'd never get tired of soon. 

Stripped Navy Blue Off Shoulder Top by Aldrin & Laura

♥♥,
Jhesy