Crown Jewel

Crown Jewel by adjkinai featuring 24k jewelry

Moschino Cheap & Chic zipper dress, $190 / Christian Louboutin platform pumps / ASOS leather clutch / Hervé Van Der Straeten 24k jewelry / Imogen Belfield yellow gold jewelry, $1,075

Fleur

Flowers don't worry about how the're going to bloom.  They just open up and turn toward the light and that makes them beautiful.

~ Jim Carrey

When the weather goes cuckoo, a dress and a cardigan are your best buddies. You never know when it's going to rain, but since you have a meeting to get to, you have to look decently presentable. I never compromise my personality in dressing up. Whenever I want to go girly, I explicitly do so by donning a dainty patterned dress like this one from Mossimo. Paired with a sheer cardigan of sorts (which keeps me surprisingly warm despite its translucent appearance), and a pink and mauve cap-toe flats from Parisian, this ensemble just gave me the right amount of morale boost for an easy-peasy day up ahead.

Over the years, I've come to realize, thanks to my punk core and goth days, that experimenting with style is never a bad thing. We go through phases and it's all part of the growth process. Eventually, we find our niche, but it doesn't mean that the fun ends there. It's always fun to try new things and incorporate them into what's in your comfort zone -- just to keep things fresh.

If you ask me now what my style is, I probably can't give you a single word to nail it down. That's the fun part! I dress according to how I feel or what inspired me that day or what the music made me think of! It really varies. Of course, I also take into consideration the comfort factor. Since commuting is a big part of my daily schedule (too lazy to drive!), I aim to dress appropriately, with many factors being considered -- the travel time, the commute, the weather, the event or situation I'm going to, and so on.

At the end of the day, just have fun with it! Fashion is a philosophy. Every time you step out in a certain outfit, you let people know of your very own kind of story, even for just that day. You make a statement, an expression of things that mere words cannot contain. Make sure it's a story worth telling. Make sure it's worth your own while. ;)

Dress: Thrifted, Mossimo

Cardigan: Thrifted

Flats: Parisian

Watch: Swiss Military

Braided bracelet: from Quiapo

Wheel earrings: from Quiapo

Special thanks to my Mom for taking these photos!

Hope you had a great day! :)

Love,

SGT <3

Bloom in Business

Bloom in Business by adjkinai featuring collar jewelry

Rose print dress / Blazer / AX Paris suede platform shoes / J.Crew vintage leather tote / Dannijo collar jewelry / Lauren Conrad button stud earrings

Dress for Success

Dress for Success by adjkinai featuring a gathered skirt

River Island floral top, $47 / Vince jacket, $245 / 3.1 Phillip Lim gathered skirt, $240 / Platform wedge heels / Zara bag / Leslie Danzis zircon jewelry



Wore an ensemble that resembles this set, to a job interview. Wasn't able to take a picture of today's outfit, so I'll leave you with this. :) What do you think?

Love,

SGT <3

Pastel Pretty

Pastel Pretty by adjkinai featuring a cashmere blazer

Top, $48
Giorgio Armani cashmere blazer, $1,139
Miss Selfridge floral print skirt, $57
Beige leather pumps, $87
Christian Louboutin genuine leather handbag, $1,895
Kate spade necklace, $278
Stretch jewelry, $72
White flower ring, $12
Stella mccartney sunglasses, $225

Punch of Blue

Punch of Blue by adjkinai featuring strappy sandals

Topshop metallic top, $45
Chloé corduroy blazer, £420
Silk skirt, €139
Vince Camuto strappy sandals, $110
Prada leather bag, £1,160
LK Designs braided jewelry, €80
Peace sign jewelry, €27
Feather earrings

I might just be wearing this ensemble very, very soon. ;)

Oh, and these are all items that are already in my closet (well, not these exact same ones but stuff that look very similar). I didn't have to buy anything. ;)

I learned something very valuable. And I keep forgetting this lesson: You don't always need to buy new clothes to put together a decent outfit. You just need to dig deep into your closet and into your creativity to make what you already have work for you. ;)

Love,

SGT <3

Call of the Wild

Call of the Wild by adjkinai featuring crop tops

Crop top, €28
Miso elastic waist pants, £10
Jeffrey Campbell lace up platform booties, £145
H M genuine leather handbag, £60
Plastic bangle, $13
Miss Selfridge yellow gold jewelry, $25
Miso feather jewelry, £6
Carven flip sunglasses, £235

Off Duty Rebel

Off Duty Rebel by adjkinai featuring a leather shoulder bag

Uniqlo short sleeve top, £15
Mango skinny leg jeans, £30
MICHAEL Michael Kors platform heels, $122
Gucci leather shoulder bag, $3,300
Alexis Bittar punk rock jewelry, $2,200
Dannijo collar necklace, $129

Cotton Candy

Cotton Candy by adjkinai featuring round sunglasses

Cropped tank top, £12
Printed skirt, $64
Giuseppe Zanotti platform wedge heels, $695
Envelope clutch, £18
Neon jewelry, £130
Karen Walker round sunglasses, $276

Minty Fresh

Minty Fresh by adjkinai featuring pave jewelry

Haute Hippie hi low dress, £399
Marni collarless jacket, £649
Luna pumps
MICHAEL Michael Kors michael kors handbag, $498
Burberry leather strap watch, £395
Lisa Freede pave jewelry, $98
Gorjana tear drop earrings, $53
Mango bracelet, €15

Fashion Inspiration: Tough Cookie

Perfect for those nights out, for chilling with friends on a Friday night, or better yet,

for heading out to your favorite band's concert! Hope you like this look! :)

Tough Cookie by adjkinai featuring graphic tee shirts

Graphic tee shirt, $25
Balmain zipper jacket, $6,680
DVb Victoria Beckham zipper jeans, $161
Jeffrey Campbell black bootie, £120
Boho handbag, $40
Amrita Singh clear jewelry, $120
Bracelet, $70
Elie Saab chiffon shawl, $208
Ray-Ban wayfarer shades, £140

Love,

SGT <3

Fashion Inspiration: Beach Babe in Blue.

Beach Babe in Blue. by adjkinai featuring a pleated dress

Forever 21 pleated dress
$20 - forever21.com

Bruno Premi flower shoes
£90 - julesb.co.uk

Stella Dot stretch jewelry
$20 - stelladot.com

Peacock feather jewelry
£3.99 - axparis.co.uk

Melissa Odabash wide brim hat
$160 - stylebop.com

Mango square sunglasses
£18 - houseoffraser.co.uk

This outfit makes me look forward to summer! I've never worn a bikini (without a cover up) 

and perhaps this summer is the right time (oh no, love handles!) Anyway, here's a little
inspiration for a cool summer get-up. The color is just so soothing and it just makes me
envision a lazy day by the beach with a good book in one hand and a tropical smoothie
on the other. How nice is that?!

Hope you like this look! :)

Love,

SGT <3

Fashion Inspiration: Nude Now

Nude Now by adjkinai featuring sparkle jewelry

I'm starting to appreciate cleaner lines in outfit combinations. Gone are my crazy punk days (we've all been there, don't deny it!) and I'm beginning to explore are more streamlined side to fashion. I'm not saying that I'm  through with experimentation, because I'm so not. You'll still see me in my quirky clothes, crazy patterns, and all that. It's just I always envision myself wearing something classic, simple, and elegant. Perhaps I'm growing up? We'll see.

Oh, and you'll have to watch out for when and where I'll be wearing an ensemble that resembles this one. It's coming soon. :D

Love,

SGT <3

Vintage Queen

Ukay-ukay. It's the one place in the world where you can test your determination and taste, as well as your budget. When times are tough, or if you're just looking for a fresh take on a whole new outfit and if you don't mind wearing hand-me-downs or surplus goods, the ukay-ukay is the place to go. I like going to vintage shops for new old clothes because I find them charming and each piece has its own history and character.

Thrift shopping is definitely a must-try if your wallet's running dry. There's almost always one in every corner! I guarantee you, 500 bucks will go a looong way. Whilst a single jacket may cost you 500 pesos in stores (even more, for sure!), you can get about three good pieces of clothing in ukay shops. However, it's not for everyone. If you have an allergy to dust (like me), you'd want to steer clear or take extra care when shopping. Also, if you don't think you can part with branded, designer duds, ukay might be a poor man's trade for you. Trust me, it wouldn't hurt to try. You might find it enjoyable in the long run! It's like a treasure hunt... you'll never know what great pieces you can pull out from the stacks and the racks, stuff which you CANNOT find in department stores, and are truly one-of-a-kind!

What's even better is it's all up to you to work the outfit and make it look like you pulled an arm and a leg to pay for it. Confidence is key! Everyone will be surprised that you got your clothes from the underestimated ukay-ukay if you carry it with flair and attitude, trust me!

There are a few reminders I would recommend when trying out ukay shopping for the first time...

• Bring wet wipes or alcohol. Ukay clothes can get really dusty and dirty.
• Carry a messenger bag (or a small sling bag). It's much easier to navigate when you have both hands to work with.
• Take a friend with you, that way you won't overindulge in the dirt-cheap goodies and maintain class and taste in your picks.
• Bring a mask, if necessary, especially if you have allergies. Air-conditioning units can make the dust situation (inside the ukay shops) worse.
• Try to fit your picks. Don't even bother dressing up when going ukay shopping. Wear comfortable clothes so you can try on outfits in a breeze.
• Check the clothes for holes, discolorations and stains, and other faults or tears. Keep in mind that quality need not be sacrificed for the low price you're going to pay for the clothes. 
• Just have fun and keep an open mind! You'll never know what gems you'll unearth from the piles of clothes, bags, and shoes!

Here's a sample of a dress I bought yesterday for Php 80. Stay tuned for more outfit posts (of clothes that I got for Php 200 or less!) and try to make them look anything but cheap and worn out. 

I got this dress for Php 80, believe it or not! The jacket's from Bangkok, the shoes are from Parisian (another great brand of affordable and fabulous footwear), the accessories are from my own line, Luxe and Luster, and the bag is from Sophie Signatures.

Credits to my dad for taking the pictures. <3 He's a budding photographer!

 

Tell me all about your favorite vintage finds!

Love,

SGT <3