Frida Kahlo-inspired Photoshoot

Last month, my friend and I decided to do a collaboration project for our respective assignments (Photography for her, styling for me). Before the shoot, I was required to submit a moodboard. I don't know what triggered a Frida Kahlo idea but she was the first idea that popped in my head as an inspiration.

Click HERE for the actual Pinterest moodboard.

For the shoot, I wanted a modern take of Frida Kahlo. I tweaked her outfits and her look but tried to remain true to her style. I made sure there were mix and match of prints and colours, embroidery details, layers of accessories and of course, her headpiece.

I decided to omit the unibrow and the braided hair because I was not aiming to exactly copy her. Since this was a small project, I asked our friend if she can be our model and she was happy to render us her service. Haha!

As for the outfits, we looked for clothes in the easiest place we can go to - our closet. Luckily, my friend and I have heaps of options to choose from in our own closets and we actually have items that fits my modern Frida Kahlo idea. Also, my friend did her own make-up since we have no budget for a make-up artist nor do we know a make-up artist who can collaborate with us on this project. Being self-sufficient really comes handy. Location, you ask? I wanted a leafy or slightly rustic background. When we looked around, and we didn't get too far really, our backyard fits the bill. Easy peasy.

Aaannddd here it is! Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you my (long overdue) collaboration project with my favourite photographer (aka the person behind most of my ootd photos), Vernadette Carullo! :)

True to Frida Kahlo fashion, mix and match of prints and bold colors are essential. The key to mix and matching colours is to make sure that the colours complement each other and there is at least one similar colour that must be present on all items. For her first outfit, the blues, reds and whites worked together. Her headwrap is actually a kimono cover-up that we folded and played around with.

The second look was a splash of colours. Since the skirt was very colourful, it was easy to style it around because any colour will look good with it. Of course, this wouldn't be Frida Kahlo-inspired without the headpiece so I decided to use it for this look.

The third look has a touch of grunge. I tried to amp it up a bit. We changed the skirt and shoes and added the army green jacket with colourful embroidery and neon coloured accessories as contrast. See how tweaking here and there can change the whole vibe of an outfit? The vibrant colours, the embroidery details, the accessories are still there but a little tweaking can make the whole look totally different.

Unfortunately, I couldn't submit these photos now because they changed the requirement. Not to worry though, these can be used for our portfolio. Or our respective instagram accounts. Hehe.

Big thanks to my friends, Clare and Vernadette, for waking up early, for braving the heat that day and for working (Yessss! Haha!) with me.

Singapore Lookbook

Sharing my OOTDs from my trip because why not? Haha!

THE TOUCHDOWN

Specs - Bailey Nelson | Drop earrings - Lovisa | Scarf - Zara | Linen buttondown - Uniqlo | High-waist denim - JayJays | Leopard print sneakers - Novo | Backpack - Sportsgirl

When I travel, I always go for the easiest and comfortable pieces in my wardrobe. Generally, how I choose what clothes to wear depends on my mood. So if I want to look a bit more polished at the airport and on my flight, I dress up a bit. And at that time, I was in the mood to trade my leggings and hoodie for a buttondown and jeans.

THE THEME PARK

Specs - can't remember where I got it, sorry | Backpack - Sportsgirl | Crop top - Sportsgirl | Denim cutoffs - JayJays | Sneakers - Cole Haan

For an active day just like a day at Universal Studios, a very comfortable outfit is a no-brainer. Hence, I opted to wear denim cut-offs and sneakers. I paired it with a printed crop top for the pop of colour.

GIRL, IT'S YOUR BIRTHDAY

Hat - H&M | Top - Zara | Skirt - Sportsgirl | Flats - Topshop

Since it was my birthday, I wanted to dress up but still be comfortable since I will be going around that day. I decided to wear white so I will stand out in the Yayoi Kusama exhibit. I paired a boxy, chiffon top and with a crocheted skirt with fringe and faux snakeskin lace-up flats for added texture on the all-white ensemble. I topped off the whole look with a fedora hat.

THE MUSEUM

Specs - Quay Australia | Tassel earrings - Lovisa | Top - Zara | High-waist shorts - Zara | Crossbody bag - Charles & Keith | Flats - Zara

Heat and humidity are two of the things I am not fond of. So I chose to wear another comfortable but chic outfit because we were going to visit some museums. I also wore this very posh crossbody bag given by my friend for my birthday.

THE DEPARTURE

Shirt - H&M | Backpack - Sportsgirl | High-waist denim - JayJays | Leopard print sneakers - Novo

First, I am aware this is not an ootd shot but this is the only photo I had for my departure look. Anyway, I chose to wear the same jeans and shoes that I wore upon arrival and I paired it with a plain black shirt (and a pullover, which is not seen in this photo. I usually bring a pullover and keep it in my handcarry because it gets a bit chilly inside the plane). I was so tired already and I couldn't be bothered to dress up a bit for the flight. See what I meant with choosing what to wear based on my mood? This is different from my earlier airport look, obvs.

How to wear Metallics

I remember my dad once said to me when I came out of my room all dressed up, "Kung hindi ka matingkad, makinang ka naman." Lol! If it was a compliment or not, I couldn't care less. He was speaking the truth. Hello, orange nga favourite colour ko e. (Yes, go ahead, judge me and roll your eyes on me.) And while others have black and/or white as their staple, mine is metallics. Go bright or go sparkly! Haha!

Less skin, more sparkle

Metallics are tricky, though, which makes it terrifying or overwhelming to use. It can either instantly spice up or break an outfit. There's a fine line between looking fab and tacky when using metallics. Similar to colour-blocking or mixing prints, if you do it wrongly then, you'll be doomed. Nevertheless, if you do it correctly, you'll be stellar.

Here are some tips on how to look shimmery but not tacky:
1. Consider the quality of the metallic item that you want to use.
We've all seen those ghastly, super shiny, it's-just-so-tacky-it-hurts clothing items so you know what I mean. Hence, when buying a metallic-coloured item, look at the texture, the fabric and how the piece was made. I think this is the main point of what makes or breaks a metallic piece and what makes it work or not.

2. Keep it minimal. Keep it balanced.
Your metallic piece, whether it's your clothing item or accessory, is already a statement on its own. It's not sparkly for nothing. Make the piece stand out by keeping the rest of your outfit subtle or understated. If you're wearing a plain, monochrome-coloured outfit, you can go big with it. However, if there's enough texture/colour on your outfit, tone down or don't use metallics at all. It's all about finding the right balance. You don't want to look like you came out from 80's disco party or a walking Christmas tree. I repeat, keep it minimal and balanced.

3. Pair it with neutrals.
Related to what I discussed on the previous bullet point. A safe way to make your piece stand out is to pair it with neutral-coloured items in your closet.

4. Keep the palette of your outfit as monochrome as possible.
Another foolproof way to draw attention to your metallic piece for the right reasons. If the rest of your outfit belongs to the same colour family, it draws the attention to the metallic colour and you wouldn't look "too busy" to the eye.

I kept my outfit palette in the old rose/mauve shade so they would complement each other and my focal piece, which are the pants.

5. By all means, colour-block it.
If you're feeling more experimental and daring, you can also play with colours. This can be tricky as well, so choose colours that go together or choose one solid/richly saturated colour to pair the metallic colour with, such as green and gold, purple and silver, navy blue and gold, to name a few. The colour wheel or Christmas decor colour combinations can be a good reference. Then keep the rest of your outfit or your accessories toned down.

6. Use it with texture, too.
Match metallics with texture, such as chambray top or denim jeans, leather jacket, chunky knit or sheer lace (similar to what I used in the photo) to add extra oomph factor. With texture, be careful not to go overboard. To be safe, use a single texture and opt for textured items that have neutral colours.

7. You can also go full-on, head-to-toe metallic.
If you choose to go down this road, make sure to go for metallic items that are of the same or almost the same colour so you will look cohesive and not too shiny.

8. Own it!
Pretty self-explanatory, I suppose.

I'm not an expert but I hope this helps! (And I hope I explained it clearly? Haha!)
Now, go on and strut those sparkles.

Saturday Favorites 003

Photos from Glamour, Just Jared, Yahoo, E!

1. Golden Globes 2012 Red Carpet Favorites!

Marchesa, Christian Dior, Vera Wang, Giorgio Armani, Versace, Zac Posen, and more! :)

2. Saizen

I've only been in this store once (just this afternoon actually) and I swear I can stay for hours and leave with a long receipt in hand. I was looking for plastic containers and here's what I actually bought instead: 

spin pins and something-I-don't-know-what-it-is-called

coral-colored flat pouch

(Tipid mode pa ako nyan, wala pang sweldo e. Haha!)

My 600.00 Php was saved from buying spin pins from Goody because the ones I randomly found in Saizen was only 85.00 Php!!! Good heavens! :) I bought the pouch so my three phones can all sit together inside it instead of swaying all over inside my bag. :) Plus I can keep money in its front pocket, you know, in-case-of-emergency type of money. :) 

My mom said I should go to Japan Home instead because they have more items that I'll go more crazy for. I actually made a list of things to look for and buy in those two stores. I love stores like these! I know they existed years back and my parents kept coming back to them but I have never been and I never actually went inside one until today.

3. Girl with the Dragon Tattoo

Still reading. :) I. CAN'T. SEEM. TO. PUT. THE. BOOK. DOWN. I will not watch the movie until I finish this one. :)

Photo Credits: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

4. Moshi-moshi phone

I randomly saw this in Who What Wear feature story and I got curious in the photo wherein a phone handset was attached to an iPhone. So I googled this Moshi-moshi phone. There's a dock version that works like a regular phone. If I read correctly, this is the new version of their bluetooth headset. It also has a  noise-reducing feature and eliminates the mobile phone radiation. It comes in different colors, too. :) And hey, you gotta love that retro vibe of the receiver. :) Read more review here and click on the links of the photos to know more.

HERE

5. Scarf-printed blouse

I was about to buy myself one but my mom told me not to because she has 2 blouses like this that she hadn't been using anymore. Tralalalalala! :) Thank God for my fasyon Mom! Closet steal a-gain!

6. Elle and Blair

I was watching fashion vlogs on YouTube and I saw a link of Blair's channel (and her other channel, for more personal vlogs) on the sidebar. I clicked it and I stayed until the wee hours in the morning watching her videos. Her sister also has her own channel, too. These two really know what they are talking about. They are very good and they're not just all about fashion and beauty talks. They share about music, books and a little bit of their personal life, too. I learned a lot and I think I can relate with Blair more; she's neat freak, practical, loves sweat pants and planners (the paper one). These two own a shared blog, too. You can browse their videos more easily in the blog, I think. :) And they own an online store! They are a power duo.

Anyway, let me share one of the things I learned and I believe all girls should have this in their bags, too --Mini- Emergency kit, which consists of:

Hair Spray

Clear Nail Polish

Nail Polish Remover

Emery Board

Lip Balm

Earring Backs

Clear Elastics

Sewing Kit

Double-Sided Tape

Stain remover

Deodorant Towelette

Pain Reliever

Tampon (Napkin for me.)

Breath Freshener

Dental Floss

Adhesive Bandages

I'll add Hair pins, Safety pins, Antihistamines, Anti-pyretics and that anti-dizzy ointment/tube that smells really good to the list

7. Longchamp Spring 2012 Lookbook

A fashionable exaggeration of carrying a bag. I love how these two posed -- much emphasis to the bag!

8. DIY Ombre Nails

This is definitely my next diy! :)

9. "New Year, New You" Yeah, right - Realistic New Year's Resolutions

Yes, easy and realistic. :) I've been doing number 1, 2 and 4 already, ever since. As for 6 and 7, I'm getting there. As for number 3, I'm still strangling myself since I need more shoes -- flats and more formal-ish shoes for work and parties.

Now let's move on to my outfit post:

I wore a black eyelet strapless dress that comes with a black satin ribbon belt. I wore a thrifted denim vest over it to add oomph to the girly outfit.

I used 2 necklaces: one in turquoise with silver accents and fringes and one silver with longer fringes, and layered them. The one with turquoise beads is my own DIY product and was sold in my online store late last year.

To complete the outfit, I wore one of my favorite shoes -- blue suede lace-up oxfords from Janylin.

Happy weekend everyone! Advance Kung Hei Fat Choi as well! :)