These days (who am I kidding, I do this all the time) my outfit choices centrally revolve around stuff I’ve already worn within the week, and then pairing them with stuff I can wear with other stuff I’ve already worn within the week. This is primarily out of practicality, secondary to sharpening my resourcefulness skills. This was shot at a dank and poorly-lit parking lot, featuring my thrifted silk button-down and slutty shorts from Forever 21.

Loose and slouchy white tees are totally my thing. No brainer, no fuss, roll out of bed and pair it with whatever. BOSS DRESSING SKILLZ.

Especially open-back ones. I can be such a slut sometimes.

I love wearing clothes that aren’t mine. Borrowed (stolen) clothes just feel more comfy, like second skin almost. I guess that explains why I thrift so much, I find worn out clothes so cozy. I’m wearing my boyfriend’s shirt and my indispensible thrifted blazer that goes with everything, random brand cutoffs and my trusty leather belt. I think I need more leather belts. I’m also starting to reconsider my aversion towards accessories; maybe a skinny bracelet or two won’t be so bad. After all, personal style is all about reinvention.

I’ve had this skirt since I was 13. It’s been hiding at the back of my closet for years now, waiting for the time I’d feel like wearing it again (cause I know it’ll come.) I felt today was the perfect day to take it back out. I like breathing new life into the most outdated and unexpected of things. It’s like being reunited with an old friend; it’s a sweet familiarity with an engaging sense of novelty at the same time.

One of my favorite bloggers, Ingrid Holm, previously blogged about how “smart girls pay their bills and improvise.” Couldn’t agree more on the context of practicality. In the real world, practical girls have to carefully consider whether or not to purchase a piece to include in their precious collection of clothes, often at a bargain or from their hard-earned savings. They have budgets and repeat outfits, get creative and work with what they have. The result is often something so personal and authentic, which I think is really cool. My blouse and blazer are both thrifted, and I’m wearing my lone boyfriend jeans.

I admit to picking rainy days over sunny ones my entire life, but monsoon week had me better appreciating the stinging burn of live sunlight on my skin and the heavy, almost damp high noon air. The overcast weather the day after monsoon week was a wonderful paradox of crisp cold and brisk heat, with sunlight filtering through stratified clouds; maybe that’s how spring feels. 

I’ll always love rainy days, but sunny days are starting to look inviting. So inviting in fact, that I took my slutty short shorts out on the only time during the weekend that the sun came out. Wore it with some crappy outdated rugby shirt.

Being weird*

I spent a beautiful rainy Sunday wearing this while having cupcake, lovely macarons from here, and catching up with one of my closest friends. More on the macarons some other time, it deserves an entirely differentl story. For once this warm thing of a cover up finally felt appropriate, we even had the pleasure of being greeted by a thunderstorm while we stayed outside. Wonderful -_- Got to snap some awkward piccies when the rain let up.

This little get together practically marks the end of my month-long hiatus. I feel much better and well-rested. Back to real life now. I’m so excited :)

Photos from here, here, here, and here.

Here’s some Sunday inspiration coming your way. I cannot comprehend Hanne Gaby Odiele’s level of coolness. It’s quirky and trendy yet undeniably fresh.

I love mid-year sales, they’re proof that a month or two of tempered shopping restrain pays off.

Some dressing room gratuity for this equal parts grungy and bad-ass and awesome skull slash-out shirt from Zara. Generous helpings of back exposure is never a bad thing, and despite it leaning towards indecent, I think this is the most modest way of looking slutty.

But since I’m practical and lazy and wouldn’t bother with an inconvenient top that would attract the wrong kind of attention, I settled for this play suit instead. Don’t get me wrong, I dearly loved the skull top, but quirky parrot print is always nice…and more socially acceptable, in my opinion. I found this in a perfect Small (quite a rarity) and at 50% off. It was my lucky day.

In other news, I NEED a hair cut. Oh wait, I already got one :)

I guess the title just emphasizes how I’ve yet to warm up to wearing high heels regularly. Low heels lend me that polished look without the hassle of having to walk on my tippy toes. I’d take comfort over trend any day, and I’d rather kick it and have a ball in brogues and loafers than endure aching feet in heels. Though there may be some pretty heels I’m willing to disprove this rule for, I’m generally all for practical dressing.

Love by Z Sport Loafers at ZALORA

Love by Z Penny Loafers at ZALORA

Love by Z White Layered Brogues at ZALORA

Now these are my kind of shoes; structured, almost clinical, and leaning towards androgyny. Also doesn’t hurt that they’re colorful; I’m an avid fan of color blocking.

These are my personal picks, but you can always check out other styles for yourself at ZALORA. Shop for different shoe styles by the dozen, and enjoy free shipping to wherever you are in the country, same day delivery, and cash on delivery options. That’s shopping convenience at its best. Don’t forget to punch in my voucher code: AlessiBrugada123G at checkout! Happy shopping!

I know, I’m wearing this hideous raincoat again. What can I say? I love it. My relationship with this raincoat can be likened to falling for the biggest nerd in your class; its quirks and ugliness make it more lovable. This shall be my tentative rainy-day piece before I find myself a legitimate parka in the standard blogger-olive shade. I paired it with this thrifted silky button-down, cause its obnoxious collar can make even the most tasteless pieces look good.

Plains & Prints Vania Playsuit at ZALORA

I love playsuits. They’re the most effortless way to look put-together without having to worry about coordinating separates, easily concealing your lazy-ass sartorial tendencies. They’re absolutely fool-proof too! Perfect for times when you’re too busy living life that you can’t be bothered to worry about over-exposure. Of course I’m just glazing over all these to hide the fact that the sole reason I like this Plains & Prints number is because it’s in the prettiest most powdery shade of pink. Girl can’t get enough of her pastels.

While we wait for this lovely playsuit to go back in stock, you can carry on with your lazy-ass peg by shopping online for other dainty pieces from Plains & Prints and other local brands at ZALORA.

Plains & Prints Veronica Dots Dress at Zalora

Plains & Prints Vienna Elbow Sleeve Dress at Zalora

Dresses work the same way as playsuits in providing instant chic to the sloppy dresser in all of us. Here’s another round of low-maintenance, super chic dressing for the lazy-ass care of yours truly, My Little Pony friends, and ZALORA.  I’m crazy about the dainty polkadot prints and the iron pleats, it’s subtly cute and girly without trying too hard. The orange and white color block is pretty awesome too, well worth a fit.

I’m sure all you stylish kitties have heard about ZALORA, it’s only your one-stop online shopping destination. They carry a wide range of local and foreign apparel brands, totally big in variety, and we girls just love variety.

Get a  Php 250.00 gift voucher just by signing up! Sweet shopper’s deal indeed! You can also use my voucher code: AlessiBrugada123G to get a 5% discount on your Php 500.00 purchase! Don’t forget to punch in my code at checkout! Happy shopping!

Again, my desire for international goods takes over..

Photos by Vanessa Jackman

Miroslava Duma is the former editor of Harper’s Bazaar Russia, and is now a freelance writer. She is also an outfit coordinating genius, but you guys probably know that by now. I mean, seriously, how can you look so outrageous and so put together at the same time? Many a fashion editor look like a walking Christmas tree in their attempts to do so, but somehow Mrs. Duma manages to retain an air of refinement. She totally gets it.

She has a blog too: http://buro247.ru/ it’s all in Russian, but I don’t really care. It makes for perfect eye candy.

Let us pause for a moment to imagine that I am Miley Cyrus on a crazy shopping spree at American Apparel. Because I have a shit ton of money at my disposal, a great slutty sense of style, and a crazy awesome-looking body from all my yoga, I shall purchase for myself the following :

1.) shiny skater dress

2.) leotard

3.) turtle neck crop top

4.) the riding pant of course

5.) nice fitting high-waisted skinny jeans

6.) floral jumper, cause I’ve always wanted it the moment I laid eyes on it

7.) chiffon blouse

8.) multi-layer reversible petticoat, cause everybody loves this

9.) denim circle skirt

Okay, so maybe the last four items were more me and less Miley, but this is actually also known as my secret American Apparel shopping list. Me and my frustration with American Apparel. Why is it not here in the Philippines.

all photos from store.americanapparel.com