TOPSHOP : 1 Item, 3 Ways - functional workwear

Jacket courtesy of Topshop, watch - Emporio Armani, bag from Michael Kors, shoes from Topshop, dress from Zara 

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 Had the chance to get some photos taken with the help of my sister and friend David after work last night and I'm loving the one-light photos! I think it's time to do some chiaroscuro portraits soon... 







As much as I'd like to say that I get to design and sit comfortably on my desk the entire day, my job entails so much more than that, which is why I have to actually think about what to wear (ugggghhhhh). My wardrobe has always consisted of too many short skirts and bodycon dresses, and the opposite side of that spectrum is made up of loose tops, running shorts and warmers for climbing/yoga/running. I've realised that I have very few casual pieces decent enough to wear to work or for site visits/sourcing materials, which is why I've been loving cover-ups and outerwear for when I have meetings or super cold offices to be in. This is the last entry for my  1 Item, 3 Ways series and for the nth time I want pockets in everything! Can designers please start incorporating hidden pockets for women's clothes? I need to have my tape measure, phone, compact, keys, a pen and cards/cash on me all the time. Girls like me can definitely up their productivity with urban active wear that's functional and easily dressed up with their choice of shoes & accessories. Or maybe I should just start investing on vests, jackets and.. fanny packs! Fanny packs rule! (And that last statement is why I would never be allowed in the world of fashun). 

Thinking of posting more interior design-related things on here, because I seriously am loving my job! Even if interiors make me miss the outdoors! ;) 

P.S. Please pray for me as I get my eyes laaaazurrred (getting PRK, not LASIK) this Friday... I've had enough of losing contacts, breaking glasses and not being able to see underwater. Hopefully I'm not part of the 20% who experience dry eyes [forever] after the surgery. I'm so excited and nervous at the same time! 

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Topshop has 10 other branches all over Metro Manila and is located at the ground floor of Ayala Center Cebu. Get updated with the latest trends and exciting promotions by liking their Facebook page or by following them on Twitter  and on Instagram.

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TOPSHOP: 1 Item, 3 Ways - rainy sunday

Jacket courtesy of Topshop, watch - Emporio Armani

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As tweeted, my favorite word at the moment is nifty, and that's exactly the word that best describes this jacket thanks to the huge pockets. 2 Sundays ago my sister and I were tasked to lead worship for Church Simplified again, and as usual I decided to (sort of) dress up on the last minute. I figured it was best not to bring a bag since I had to walk 3 blocks from my place to 2nd's at High Street. Thankfully these front pockets were big enough to hold my cards, pressed powder, keys and some cash! Now if every piece of clothing I own had pockets, my dwindling love for handbags would finally obliterate.

I'm starting to realize that my tomboy side is resurfacing, with these bi-monthly trekking/climbing/camping trips. I swear, R.O.X. is becoming my new Zara... which should make you worry since outdoor gear isn't exactly cheap (plus I can't really wear them to work). It used to make me sad that I left a city surrounded by beautiful beaches for a place with resorts that just can't compare.. til I discovered that Luzon has so many good trails and mountains to climb! I can go on and on about this new obsession, but I'll leave all of that for my next post.

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Topshop has 10 other branches all over Metro Manila and is located at the ground floor of Ayala Center Cebu. Get updated with the latest trends and exciting promotions by liking their Facebook page or by following them on Twitter  and on Instagram.

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TOPSHOP: 1 Item, 3 Ways - Bloggers United 5 outfit

Jacket courtesy of Topshop, boots-Doc Martens, watch-Michael Kors  ❧
The days preceding the 5th Bloggers United bazaar went by real slow for me as I was practically a walking zombie each night thanks to work, seminars and then gigs at night. Each time I checked Twitter I grew more anxious since every other blogger participating kept tweeting about preparations and getting all excited, while I was in my growing bubble of stress trying not to burn out and develop spots overnight. As with any other hectic week I ended up scrambling to the nearest Topshop outlet the night before to look for something decent to wear for Saturday. I didn't feel like showing so much skin since I wasn't feeling my best, so I opted to get something really versatile. I think I get the badge of procrastination for also preparing my BU5 merch exactly 5 hours before heading to the venue. 
Like most girls, I think I will always have a corner of my closet for Topshop since they always come up with clothes that are super trendy but of good quality. I rarely say that about most chain stores nowadays,  but I think I will always go back to Topshop even if my aesthetic changes because it's not at all disposable. This jacket instantly got my attention because I know olive goes well with my skin's undertone and my darker hair colour, plus I am a sucker for outerwear. I can have a pool of basic tank tops, leggings, bodycon skirts and jeans but I try to update my look with coats, blazers, or any other form of outerwear. 
For BU5 I wanted to lean towards an urban-eclectic outfit... Actually, that is just a fancier way of admitting that I was too indecisive about what to wear again. I end up liking my outfits more when I really don't prepare for it anyway, so I figured I was going to come up with something on the day of the bazaar.
I paired it with my comfiest pair of studded Doc Martens and a printed romper from Zara since I knew it was going to be a long, tortuous day physically, but as with all my other BU experiences I was expecting it to be ultimately rewarding. There's no better way to get rid of the more flashy items in my closet (the basics/practical ones are donated) other than selling them for cheap (my clothes went as far as Php 20.00) while meeting lovely readers and bloggers! 
I can't really express how thankful I am to be in this community. The most important part of blogging for me is being able to share and document the things in my life that I would like to look back on, but I'm grateful that there are some people out there who think my opinions matter and trust me for recommendations on random things. I will never get tired of meeting those people at the Bloggers United bazaars, they're always so sweet! A big THANK YOU to you guys! 

Grabbed some photos from Twitter & Instagram. Thanks to those who tagged me! 

My first name plate from Gelo has my fave obnoxious line from one of the best YouTube channels ever, The Most Popular Girls in School
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Topshop is located at the ground floor of Ayala Center Cebu and has 10 other branches all over Metro Manila. Get updated with the latest trends and exciting promotions by liking their Facebook page or by following them on Twitter  and on Instagram.
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Topshop's 10th Anniversary

Kryz in MiuMiu

Her bib was what attracted people to approach her... cos they also wanted to see their reflections :))

They pitied me for not having anyone to go with, so they were forced to come :))

Megan

Caught in the act- catching up on the latest chika!

We were playing around with these new colosplash cards by placing them over the lens of my camera...

Kryz's shoes from SoFab and Laureen's is from Gold Dot. They were SKY HIGH wedges.

Loved the LED screen

Lookbook | Chictopia

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Didn't take a lot of photos since the place was packed! Went home early since I had to prepare some SkinnySweets orders for the next day plus had some schoolwork to do.I forced myself to go out since I wanted to dress up. I've been seriously CRAZY busy during these past couple of months.

I'll save you from the boring list of things I've had to commit to...

A lot of people say that it's always my choice to stay busy. I can always say no to job offers and projects. The thing is, I've never been the one to pass up an opportunity to learn and to work with great people. Growing up, I've always thought that being exhausted all the time was better than being idle and bored. I like seeing the results of my hard work. While it does take a toll on my health at times, in my mind I'm always saying, "It's going to be worth it in the end." And most of the time, my efforts do pay off. I also know when to drop things- and maybe that's because I know my capabilities and priorities enough to know when something doesn't seem right. I've never been the one to regret my decisions, but I know there are also times when I've regretted not having enough time to do a certain job.

My life's always been revolving around this work cycle, and at times when I'm given the chance to relax and regain my energy, all I can think of is "What else I can do after this?"

There's always something that needs to be done. There's always an opportunity to serve other people while learning and gaining from the experience.

My attitude seems crazy to a lot of people. Mom says this is the same work ethic my father has... But I have to work on organizing and having that sense of urgency to act on certain things quickly. I have to know which to prioritize and to PLAN things ahead. I am a bit carefree at times. I know I just can't wing it on certain occasions, but something in me wants to just allow things to happen naturally. I am slowly trying to let go of my old uptight and tense self. I want to stay calm and to remember to go with the flow of things. I trust in Him and what He's planned for my life.

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