Granny Hair: A Guide to Gray/Silver Hair

Since I graduated from high school, my hair has always been coloured. After 12 years of studying in Catholic institutions, colouring my hair after high school graduation was like a rite of passage for freedom. I think that was the last time I wore my hair in its natural hair colour? (Or maybe I did once back in college?) Anyway, late last year, I finally had enough courage to try and experiment further with my hair. I've been eyeing this gray/silver hair for a few months already. I was so scared of the idea that my hair would be excessively dry and brittle due to heaps of chemicals that involve the whole process. Or I might go bald due to excessive hair loss! But, I really wanted to do it. So what the heck, let's do this. I mean, there 's always the wig for worst case scenario, right? Haha! 

I do not consider myself an expert. However, I want to share my entire going gray/silver hair experience and some tips that I learned somewhere along the way. Hence, if you are considering going gray/silver (or even dyeing your hair a shade or two lighter than your hair colour), then read on:

- BEFORE YOUR SALON TRIP -

Ask yourself again.

The mere fact that you have reached this part and reading this sentence means you are really interested in going through this (or maybe you're just plain curious, which is fine, too). So yeah, ask yourself again: Are you willing to risk your hair and go through the whole process and grievances involved with bleaching and dyeing your hair? If yes, then, let's proceed!

Be rigorous and adamant with your research. Go crazy with it.

How does bleaching work? How long does the process take? How is the upkeep? Which salon does it well? How much do these salons charge? Do they have client photos? How do they do it? Going gray/silver involves bleaching the hair. Bleaching will strip out the natural colour from your hair and lifts the outer cuticle of your hair in order for the chemicals to fully penetrate the hair. Due to the process involved, bleached hair leads to dry and brittle hair and makes your hair prone to breakage. If you are going to risk your hair for this fancy and expensive change, you might as well do it properly. There are heaps of salons who does hair bleaching and their difference from each other all boils down to the quality of the finished product. So please, don't just go for the cheapest salon that you can find. Make sure they are doing the whole process spot on.

At that time, Hairshaft, a multi-branch salon in the Philippines, seemed to be the prominent salon doing the colour that I wanted. They already had a few clients who had their hair bleached to silver/gray so I figured they might be doing their job well. (Let's be clear first before I continue writing - I am not promoting nor am I sponsored by Hairshaft.) I decided to do it in Manila (I had mine done in Hairshaft Robinson's Manila and the hairstylist's name was Fred) because I was flying to Manila for the holidays, anyway, and to have it done here in Sydney was a bit more expensive -- which leads me to my next point.

Prepare the stash.

Having your hair bleached professionally is expensive. Prices vary depending on the salon but it definitely costs more than your usual hair colour. Mine amounted to Php 7,000 (200 AUD, more or less). Maintenance for bleached hair is not only meticulous, but also expensive: keratin treatments, root touch ups and hair products.

Day 1 of gray hair (and freshly washed!)

If you previously coloured your hair, grow it out as long as possible. 

This will help create an even colour and minimise dryness and breakage after the bleach.

Deep condition your hair.

Do this a week or two weeks before your targeted bleach trip to the salon as this will also help minimise dryness and breakage.

- ON THE DAY - 

Do not wash your hair before going to the salon.

Your hair's natural oil will help protect scalp against bleaching process.

Day 7/8 of gray hair

Patience is a virtue, as they say.

The black-to-granny hair process is a painstakingly looooong one (I had to sit there for 5 hours, more or less, that my brother fell asleep waiting for me to finish). It involves the following:

1. Bleach - in order for the gray colour to be effective. For my hair (which was dark and thick, as you can see from the photo above), I had to undergo two layers of bleach. It went from dark to orange to blonde, which is the colour needed before applying the gray dye. The whole bleaching process took around 2-2.5 hours to finish.
2. Tone - to remove the yellow tones caused by the bleach. The toning process took around half an hour.
3. Dye - the application of gray colour (Yay!). This took another hour or so because the colour had to sit on my hair before rinsing and blowdrying.

Due to the layers of chemicals applied to my hair, my hair scalp was itching (just a bit; bearable) halfway during the whole process (But boy, was I glad for the shampoo sessions in between though!). Luckily, I didn't feel any burning sensation during or even after the process (I read that bleach on a virgin scalp can be painful so it is advised/suggested to massage coconut oil onto your scalp after.). It was also agonising to wait if it will work out just the way I wanted it to or if it will be a complete mess and waste of my time and money instead. Luckily, it worked out pretty damn well. :) *victory dance*

2 months after. My hair is mainly blonde by then, with few streaks of silver/gray hair

- AFTERCARE - 

Be ultimately ready for maintenance.

This is the tough part. How damaged your hair will be would depend on your natural hair colour and the colour you changed it to. As for my hair, it was a complete 360-degree change: from very dark to very light. Having lighter shades of hair colour requires more than your usual hair care. Of course, you don't want to waste your money if your colour will just fade out easily or turn brassy. BRASSY IS TRASHY. You don't want to go there, my friend. No, you don't.

To keep your gray/silver hair last as long as possible and healthy (This is the part where I made some hits and misses so I added more information that I've read/researched):

     - Purple shampoo and conditioner will be your bestfriend. Why purple? Because if we look at the colour wheel, purple is the opposite of yellow. Hence, to cancel yellow tones on your hair, you need to use purple-coloured hair products. Purple shampoo and conditioner work by preventing the brassy tones in your gray/silver hair thereby, making it more vibrant and maintaining your colour. It was hard to find purple shampoo and conditioner in regular shops in the Philippines (at least during that time).  One of my friends (Hi, Vinch!) introduced me to Funky Streaks, an online shop in the Philippines, where I can purchase a purple shampoo and conditioner. I purchased and tried Clairol Shimmer Lights Purple Shampoo and Purple Conditioner. The 16 oz bottle was worth around Php 1,000 each (almost 30 AUD) but you can get a minimal discount if you buy them together. Right now, I am using Matrix Total Results So Silver Shampoo and Matrix Total Results Hello Blondie Conditioner. I love this product more than Clairol because this is less harsh to my hair and my hair feels waaaay smoother, even if I use the shampoo daily.

     - Purple shampoo and conditioner don't have to be used everyday or together. If your hair is or if you are aiming for gray/silver all over, leave the shampoo on your hair for 3 to 5 minutes before rinsing. If it is not too brassy, leave it for a minute or two. Moreover, leave the conditioner for another 3 to 5 minutes for extra softness. The purple shampoo and conditioner are meant to be used once or twice a week or whenever you feel like your hair colour lacks vibrancy or is becoming brassy. On the other hand, other people just use the purple shampoo and use a different conditioner. This part is trial and error because how much purple shampoo and/or conditioner you use or how often you use them may depend on the quality of your product, the type of your hair and the level of brassiness you have. As for me, since I was paranoid about my hair having brassy streaks, I have gray/silver hair all over and my hair is very thick, I use the purple shampoo every other day and I use the purple conditioner alternately with hair mask. I also leave the conditioner on my hair a minute or two longer. It's up to you and your hair to experiment on how you want to use these products. 

4 months later and blonde

     - Avoid purple shampoo and conditioner that have purple dyes in it. As mentioned, these purple products are for toning your hair. Go for purple products that will cancel the yellow tones on your hair, not dye your hair purple. So read the label carefully!

     - Use shampoo and conditioner that are sulfate-free, colour-safe/friendly. Sulfate can strip the colour away from your hair so use these for days when you are not using the purple shampoo and conditioner.

     - Use a gray colour-depositing product to add in more colour. Compared to other hair dyes, gray dye, unfortunately, can fade or wash off quickly (as evidenced by my blonde photos above). I read that you should do this every 2-3 weeks. However, I really cannot advise further about this part. I was happy with my blonde locks even after the gray colour washed out from my hair so I didn't bother doing this.

     - Repair the hair. During bleaching, the keratin of your hair is being stripped off by the chemicals hence, keratin treatments aid in putting back the lost protein on your hair to make it healthier and stronger. I also purchased Kerastase Masque Force Architecte from Hairshaft to prevent breakage and brittleness of my hair. Currently, I use Schwarzkopf Essence Ultime Blonde and Bright Neutralising Mask (to refresh hair colour and prevent brassy tone), OGX Argan Oil of Morocco Intense Moisturising Treatment (to soften and strengthen hair) and Schwarzkopf Extra Care Ultimate Repair Mask (to repair heavily damaged hair) alternately. (Update as of 05 May 2017: Olaplex treatment is a fairly new process of repairing damaged hair through the recreation of disulphur bonds (which are broken during hair colouring) in your hair and will give you a healthier and stronger hair thereafter. Read more about Olaplex treatments HERE.) 

5 months later

     - Condition and nourish. Hair oil and/or hair serum application is also vital, especially with heavily bleached hair. Hair oil aids in conditioning or nourishing your hair to help prevent breakage or split ends due to the chemicals applied on your hair. Hair serum, on the other hand, adds shine and prevents frizzy hair. Currently, I use Naturals by Watsons Argan oil and OGX Healing Plus Vitamin E Penetrating Oil.

     - Avoid the heat/Protect from heat. Do you notice that when it's summer or when you're at the beach, your hair colour tends to become lighter? I've read that heat also affects your bleached hair by making it even lighter and can eventually lead to brassy hair. And as I've said, you don't want brassy hair. It is disgusting. Hence, use heat protectant products before blowdrying or curling your hair; don't stay under the sun for too long and avoid using hot water for rinsing your hair. But if you can avoid them at all cost then, please do so.

     - Root touch-ups. Unless you don't mind an ombre gray hair, root touch-ups every 6-8 weeks help in keeping your colour consistent all throughout.

Be ready for regular cuts as well.

After all the chemicals from the bleach and regardless of the tons of products you use to prevent your hair from excessive dryness and breakage, your hair tips eventually has to go. Our hair tips are the oldest part of our hair and at some point, they just have to be cut off. Even more so when you have bleached hair.

Just work it!

Need I say more?

We all have our respective beauty rituals/commitments that we adhere to. Just like your skin care routine, healthy meal plans and workout schedule, having this kind of high-maintenance hair involves dedication and effort. When gray/silver hair is done well and taken good care of properly, it looks really damn good (Again, Brassy is Trashy. Lol!). It is an instant accessory. So if you're not ready for all of this, do not even do it. It will just be a waste of your time, money and hair. However, should you go through all of these then, I wish you good luck and I hope you enjoy your new hair! :)

And I really hope this post helped you in some way.

(Update as of 27 August 2016)

I finally found a hair salon that I can fully trust here in Sydney. I went to Kaye's Hairstylist Salon, as per my friend's referral, for a haircut and hair colour. I wanted to change my blonde hair colour to red but the hairstylist said that changing my blonde locks into red would be a waste as my blonde colour is still in good condition (So that meant, I took care of my hair properly!) so she suggested to darken it and tweak it with subtle highlights. So now I have a dark blonde with subtle blonde highlights hair colour. Hence, I'm still using the purple shampoo and conditioner. I'm currently using Provoke Touch of Silver Intensive Brightening Shampoo and Conditioner. I find that this brand is not drying to my hair.

The new colour is not obvious yet as the colour will gradually show

I now use both hair oil and hair serum alternately so I can get the benefits of the two without my hair looking too greasy. I tend to use the hair oil when I use the purple shampoo. I'm still using the OGX Healing Plus Vitamin E Penetrating Oil and Marc Daniels Blue Cypress Blonde Repair Serum. This repair serum also has the purple toning capacity, which I like, because it adds extra protection to my hair colour and extra prevention from being brassy. It doesn't make my hair as soft compared to the hair oils. Also, it doesn't make my hair as shiny as it's supposed to be due to the purple toning capacity of the serum.

Then, 8 months later! (from the previous photo) This is how my dark blonde with subtle hightlights looks now.

(Update as of 05 May 2017)

I tried another hair salon here in Sydney. I wanted a trim one Sunday afternoon but Kaye's Hairstylist Salon was closed so I tried Charles and Sherry Hair Salon, which is a few shops away from Kaye's. I was satisfied with my haircut and to date, I've been there twice now. I haven't tried their hair colour service yet as I'm just waiting for the remaining colour to grow out, go commando with my hair and give it a break for the meantime.

A year later from the previous photo. Just growing the remaining colour out, which worked really well with my new short hair. The colour was still great, giving it an ombre look.  

I have used Marc Daniels Blue Cypress Blonde Shampoo and Conditioner. I find that this brand is slightly drying to the hair. At the moment, I am using John Freida Sheer Blonde Tone Correcting Shampoo, John Freida Sheer Blonde Color Renew Tone Correcting Conditioner and OGX Argan Oil of Morocco Conditioner. I had my hair cut three weeks ago and I'm growing my dark blonde hair colour out. I still have blonde-ish tips so I'm still using the purple shampoo and conditioner. I am still using OGX Healing Plus Vitamin E Penetrating Oil and Marc Daniels Blue Cypress Blonde Repair Serum as well.

Organization 101 Part 1

Being an organized-slash-neat freak-slash-OC woman that I am, my things have to be categorized accordingly and/or be arranged properly. Since my friend and I moved to our own flat, I have been anal with my storage and/or organization item purchases and plans. Well, there is something about having your own place that makes you want to go through all the trouble of organizing to a tee. So far, here are some of inexpensive and creative organizing ideas that I can share with you.

Space savers

Very basic and unoriginal, I know. Haha! I bought a set of plastic trays (similar to that photo below) for $3 at The Reject Shop. I used it as my bra organizer. Unfortunately, this is the last remaining stock. I am still waiting for them to restock -- if ever they will be restocking it.

ebay

However, I found a bigger plastic box that comes with a detachable dividers (similar to the photo below) in a different store worth $4.50. I bought two for my undies and socks. 

Lifespace Australia

(I used these photos instead because I don't think anyone would be interested in taking a peek of my undergarments drawer. Besides, it's too personal to share. Lol. :p)

Stack 'em!

Those paper towel holders can still be useful after the you've used all the paper towels. You can use the cling wrap or aluminum foil or baking paper holders as long as they are thick and sturdy to stack your bangles and bracelets. Also, place the heavier or chunkier bangles at the bottom for a stronger foundation.

Who said this $4 tissue holder (from The Reject Shop) can only be used solely for tissues? You can use it for stacking more bangles, too!

Apart from lollies, this candy jar can also display your colorful nail polishes! This was actually a little too pricey though -- $20 from a homeware shop -- but it was what I was looking for. I initially wanted a cookie jar but I figured it would be a little difficult to get the nail polishes that I need, especially if they are placed at the bottom of the jar.

Hang those dangles

Okay, this cocktail glass actually has a story. Last year, when my friends and I watched Wicked, cocktails can be bought while waiting for the show to start. This cocktail glass is more of a party favor because it has a button underneath to make it light up. It looks really cute but I bought the Wicked spectacles as a souvenir instead. As soon as we got up to leave after the show, someone left this behind. My friends were teasing me to pick it up and keep it. So I did, yes! I cleaned it up when I got home -- but I didn't use it to drink, take note. Haha! So now, I am using it to hang my hook earrings and to place my other earrings inside it. You can also use a quirky cup or glass, if you want.

Now, this is the toughest thing. I do have a fairly moderate size of closet space in our new flat, which would be just enough if only I have fairly moderate amount of clothing items. But I don't. Lol. So I have to be wise with maximizing the space!

To fit more items in the drawer...

It was my friend who actually taught me this technique. Instead of just folding them the usual way and stacking them up, fold again the clothes in half and arrange them as I did in the photo below so you can maximize the space and, at the same time, find what item you are looking for more conveniently. 

Sleepwear x Lounge clothes drawer

To fit more shoes in the rack...

I used the bottom left of my closet to place the shoe rack, which I bought from The Reject Shop (My obsession for this store isn't too obvious, hey!) for $12-$15, if I remember correctly. I wanted to buy those clear shoeboxes but I'll save that idea when a bigger closet can already accommodate all of my stuff. Haha! 

I was able to fit 38 pairs in here! Whaddup!

For the meantime, I arranged my shoes by placing them alternatively. I hang the ones with slimmer heels. Pairs with chunky heels or wedges were kept inside their boxes. And no, this is not yet done. I still have my pairs of boots on the bottom right of my closet that are still not arranged in a way that I want to so I'll save that one for the next entry.

I still have more ideas to share but this will do for now. I will write a part 2 of this entry. Anyway, hopefully, these ideas are, at the very least, a bit helpful to you, guys! :)

The Search for the Best Flat for Rent

It's been a month since my friend and I moved out of our 'bedspacer' place and into our own flat. Searching for a good one is quite a challenge. As full-time students who only work part-time, we have a more limited budget so the rental fee is a main factor in our decision. Moreover, we also have to consider the inclusions of the place and rent, location, transportation and convenience. Luckily, we were able to find a flat that is fully-furnished, 10-minute walk away from the train station, 2-3 minute walk away from the bus stop and accessible to shops. Only slightly above our budget but this was the best one of the lot that we saw. So to those who are searching for their own flat, not that I am an expert and this may only be applicable to international students living on a budget, here are some tips that I can share with you:

1. Rent
How much are you willing and able to spend on rent? Downsize your search by sticking to your budget limit.

2. Bills
Are the utilities included in the rental fee? Do you prefer for the utilities be included in the rental fee or not? Personally, we prefer for the utilities to be included in the rental fee so we won't have to be bothered remembering the deadline of payments for internet, water, electricity, etc.

3. Inclusions
Is the place fully or semi-furnished? Or unfurnished? Do you prefer buying or do you have your own furniture and appliances or do you prefer to just move in along with whatever stuff you have? Since we are international students (Oh, I am no longer one since 5 days ago -- got my permanent residency already! Yay!), we only have our personal and school stuff with us. We don't have money to spare to purchase ourselves a sofa, our own bed, etc. So a fully furnished place is necessary for us. (With that being said, anyone wants to sponsor us a television? Hahaha!)

4. Duration
How long will you be renting the place? Are you thinking long-term, like a year, or short-term, like 3 or 6 months? How long will the owners have the place rented? Look for flats that will suit your duration preference. Some owners prefer long-term renters; others prefer having the renters' contract renewable every 3 or 6 months.

5. Location
Should it be conveniently located near your work? Or anywhere near the bus or train is fine? Which suburb do you prefer? Is it safe and quiet? Are there shops nearby? Since we do not drive and rely completely on public transportation, a place conveniently located near the bus stops and train stations is of utmost importance. Safety is also highly significant to me so we researched about the suburb profiles. We don't mind if it's one or two hours away from work as long as there is transportation within reach and feels safe.

6. Look into real estate websites.
There are millions of rental ads in the worldwide web. Be sure you are looking into legitimate real estate websites and ads. Be wise enough to dissect which ones are dodgy and which ones are not. Here in Australia, we used Real Estate website

7. Inspect, inspect, inspect
After you've looked into legitimate websites and ads, make time to meet the real estate agent and to do an ocular inspection of the places you've inquired for. It's better to see the place personally and you might be also able to meet or talk with the owner. For us, the bathroom and the bedroom are the first two places that we check. The bathroom has to be clean and well-maintained. The bedroom has to be conducive, has a firm mattress and of course, has enough closet space. :D If the place is furnished, check if everything is functioning properly.

8. Legal stuff
Paperworks, of course. Take time to read carefully the terms of your lease before signing. Make sure everything was put into writing. Know the bond amount and how much of the rent should you pay in advance.

And once you found that flat that suits your liking and budget, grab it as soon as possible! :)

Hopefully, these few tips that I discussed may lead you to your own good flat! Good luck! :)

Saturday Favorites 029: Three years ago

With the recent news of new board passers of the Nursing Licensure Examination, I cannot help but reminisce how I felt when I knew that I passed the test three years ago. (My, that was three years ago already? It just feels like last year.)

School pride, ehem. :D UERM is one of the best Nursing and Medical schools in the Philippines

I remember how my heart was almost beating out of my chest when I got texts from my friends that the results were already released. I was on my way home from Marikina to Cavite. I swear, it was the longest trip of my life everrr. I wanted to fly home. Haha! I also dropped by at St. Clare church in Katipunan with my friends before going home. Luckily, it was my first time to go there. You know what they say when it's your first time on a church -- wish something and it will come true. :)

I remember how firm I was in instructing my family, relatives and friends not to check and look for my name once the results were released. As if they would follow my instruction, I added not to tell me anything if ever they want to check the results. (Funny thing was, my mom tried to check the list online that morning. She was shocked that she couldn't find my name on the list. My aunt rechecked the list that my mom saw only to found out that my mom was actually looking on the list that was from the year before. Of course, they wouldn't see my name on it. Hahahaha!)

See the banner behind us? HAHA. :p

I remember crying in front of the monitor as soon as I saw my name. I had no doubt that I would pass the test but of course, you can never be too sure until you see your name. I remember how sad I suddenly felt upon hearing that one of my closest friends didn't pass (She passed when she took the test again). I remember how proud and happy my family was. I remember offering this exam for my grandparents who died a month prior to my exam date. I knew you were very proud of me Lolo and Lola. You were the first ones who knew I passed, diba? I remember texting almost everyone (who actually cared) in my phonebook about the big news and replying to their congratulatory remarks. I remember receiving a sweet reply from then-someone-special.

I remember how proud I am of myself. I remember being excited for the oathtaking, for processing my license at PRC and for the testimonial dinner. I remember looking forward to start my career. I was just ecstatic and speechless, you know. A sigh of relief and full of big gratitude to God and everyone who prayed for me, that night was.

And that reminds me, I need to renew my license already!

At 23, I believe that was one of my biggest achievements to date. The degree seemed nothing without being legitimate to practice it. I encourage every nursing graduate to take the exam. Even if you fail (but let's hope to God, you will not), so what? Don't stop until you pass the damn test. Nothing beats the feeling of having that two letters legally attached to your name. Don't let the possibility of unemployment hinder you as well.

Three years had already passed and due to unfortunate flow of events in this field, my career is nowhere to be found. Since I passed the licensure exam, I was busy with training, volunteer work, frustrating job hunting, review for the NCLEX and IELTS (and eventually passing both! :D Yes, I just saw my IELTS result earlier and I got an overall 8! :p), figuring out what I really want (which until now I haven't quite figured out) and other sad, desperate moves to start my career. Last year, I got my first job. It wasn't entirely related to nursing, it was something like, para-magkapera-na-lang kind of job. I didn't see any career growth in it. Two months ago, I got a new job and it is something close to what I think I want. I had my frustrating and trying years. I was envious of my friends who belong to a different field because they were already starting their careers immediately after graduating from college. My only consolation is that those days weren't a time wasted. I think of it this way: it was just a long, long process that I have to go through, which I hope and pray that will lead me to something really, really better. I had spent my for-the-meantime-days in a better way. At least, I'm done with everything I need to do that can lead me to have more and better options later on.

Anyway, congratulations to the new batch of nurses! I know there's a ton of uncertainties luring your way but don't let it burst your plans and dreams. Yes, it's sad that with our overflowing number, our country cannot even make use of us. But we can see that they are trying. They did something to stop mandatory payment for volunteer work at hospitals. They started a program wherein they hire more nurses and they widely distribute them to different hospitals and even at rural areas (though they won't be under the employment of the hospital itself). There are a lot of possibilities out there (unfortunately though, some requires you to shell out hefty amount of cash). If you have to go out of the country, be my guest. Being nationalistic and giving service to your own countrymen is a very good thing, there's no denying in that fact. But at some point, we all have to be practical. We all got to pay the bills, somehow, you know.  Also, let's not put to waste the degree that we studied for and the license that we worked hard on for.

After passing the board exam, now what? Here are a few of my suggestions to newly board passers:

1. Do volunteer at hospitals. If you have plans of working abroad, volunteer work can count as experience in some countries. And even if it's not and even if you have no intention of moving out of the country, it still beats than doing nothing.

2. Research. Look for hospitals that has job vacancy for nurses. If your parents can afford, look for places outside the country that you can go to for work and/or study (Some countries require additional units for you to become a registered nurse there). 

3. Look for "backers." I know, job hunting is shitty but if you got a backer, it's no problem. Trust me, that's just how it works nowadays. At least in our field. It's not "where you came from", it's "who you know."

4. If you got nothing else to do, take NCLEX and IELTS and other tests you can take. Even if US is in recession, you will never know when USRN will come in handy. These tests will not only give you another license, but it will actually give you the license to practice in that country some time in the future. It will give you another exit option later on. 

5. If you can't get a decent job at a hospital, go for a job that is near to the nursing practice. It might not be the exact same thing but at least you won't be off-track.

(Photos from my Oathtaking and Testimonial Dinner)

My Fashion Week Essentials.

I read Status Magazine's post regarding Fashion Week Survival Kit and I thought of making my own Fashion Week Essentials since it'll be my first time to attend a fashion show as BIG as that. :)

My Fashion Week Essentials are (in random order of importance):

1. Camera. Needless to say, I wouldn't want to miss a snapshot of what's going down the runway! My creative, artsy gene is always on the lookout on what will probably be the upcoming trends or whatever can inspire me. 
2. Invitation/s. Forget everything else but not this one! What's the use of being all dressed up and bringing the rest in this list when I can't get inside? :)
3. Stunning shoes. When one says stunning shoes, sometimes or most of the time, it means KILLER SHOES. Some people would sacrifice comfort for fashion (I, myself, SOMETIMES included.). Regardless of a simple dress that I am wearing, a pair of shoes that has enough statement (+ self-confidence) is just enough to land me on the best-dressed list (Dream on, girl. Dream on. Haha.). 
4. Flats. When I said I wear killer shoes, it doesn't mean I wear it until it literally kills my feet. I'd learned my lesson literally in a painful way that when I wear too much height for too long, my feet just screams loud. That's why I bring handy, trusted flats (or flat boots, depending on m mood or outfit) with me so I can change and let my feet breath after an event. (If this wasn't a fashion event, I would have written flipflops instead. Hee. :D) 
5. ID. In my case wherein I won my passes, this is necessary. How can they give me the invitation if I don't have a proper identification card to match with it?
6. Cellphone. Just because I always bring my phone with me especially when I'm out for more than an hour.
7. Statement accessories. Just like shoes, an accessory or accessories can pump up the volume of whatever I am wearing. Besides, Fashion Week is the best time to go all out with accessories! In a fashion event, one can never be overdressed. Unless of course, you are wearing a gown or something. That's just too much.
8. Fashionably and comfortably chic outfit. With statement shoes and statement accessories mentioned, a simple yet fashionably and comfortably chic outfit is enough to balance my whole look. But if I prefer to go bold with my outfit, I can just lessen the accessories or no accessories at all. :) 
9. Wallet. My wallet holds everything, money, identification cards, ATM. My wallet never leaves whatever bag I am using.
10. Lipstick. I'm a lipstick person. If my face needs color, I use lipstick rather than blush. I like fuschia pink and red plus a little gloss. :) 
11. Big bag. There are only a few instances wherein I use a small bag and I prefer having my things complete and throw them inside rather than having to choose what to bring and what not that's why I go big (but not so big that it already looks like a baggage!). 

So there's my list. Now, what about yours? :)