my pretend closet: L&S travel purse

Am still hung-over from our recent trip. And I realized I still haven't found the perfect travel purse. Over the years, I've experimented on my collection of purses - mostly the cross-body ones or the ones with handles long enough to hang from my shoulder. But none of them has proven to be the perfect travel purse. I brought my nylon Prada on our recent trip. It rained a couple of times so I was thankful for its water-resistant material. It was also lightweight and surprisingly roomy, allowing me to stuff 3 sets of hats, gloves & scarves, among my usual purse essentials. But searching for things inside it made me feel like a talent-less magician pulling out the oddest non-rabbit things from his hat. I must have unnecessarily panicked a million times, thinking my sunnies or camera was missing after wading through my bag's contents over and over. I did bring a bag organizer - used it during the flight to hold our passports, e-ticket, boarding passes, etc. But I felt it made my bag overly bulky that I took it out during our daily sight-seeing.

So I was ecstatic when I discovered the multiple compartments of the OG bag by Lo & Sons! It has a compartment for EVERYTHING!

Seriously. It has a padded pocket for a laptop, another padded pocket for a tablet, almost 10 other compartments (some zippered, some open)...

... including a pocket for shoes! Yes, shoes!

You can wear slip-on flats during the flight (so it's  easier to go through the x-ray inspection and more comfortable during the flight) then change into sneakers or oxfords with laces or heels when you land! I can also imagine packing a pair of heels in there while I go out & about during the day's sight-seeing then slip them on for dinner & drinks in the evening.

Watch this video of how you can pack all your carry-on essentials into the Lo & Sons OG bag.   

I also love the idea of the key leash! Is it obvious I dig through my purse often for my keys?

And what makes it the perfect purse for going through airports is its adjustable back panel that allows you to secure the bag over your trolley luggage's handle! 

And yes, its nylon material is water-resistant! No need to worry if it rains or if Shamu splashes water on you with his tail!

And despite the extreme functionality of this bag, it still looks stylish and chic! It isn't shown here but it also comes with a detachable messenger strap which I imagine will look effortlessly chic as the OG hangs from your shoulder and your arms can swing freely as you walk (vs. clipped like the leftmost photo below). 

I love that it's a structured bag. Slouchy bags just force you to dig through your purse to find your things (I talked about my Cole Haan crossbody here with several compartments that currently makes it the best-for-travel purse in my non-pretend closet. It is quite slouchy though so I still end up wading through the big compartments.). I also love how the OG's nylon material (and army green color) tone down the structured shape for casual travel days. 

Gosh, I so want to bring the army green one into my non-pretend closet, but sadly, it's still out of stock. The black one is in stock though and I am quite smitten with the lavender lining.

Plus, one of my fave blogs, http://homesuppliesset.blogspot.com/, is offering a 15% discount code in time for Mother's Day (you just need to have it shipped to a US address)!

But I really looove the army green version with the black leather trim (as you know from here, I am so drawn to this color but would prefer if the lining were pink as I posted here. Admittedly, the camel lining the army green OG actually comes with is pretty too)!

I've decided to sign up for the wait list for the slightly smaller OMG.

After all, I'm pretty tiny (5'1") and the OMG can also pack a whole lot of stuff!

Isn't it the perfect travel purse? 

Sadly, it has to stay in my pretend closet until it comes back in stock. Derek Lo of Lo & Sons did email that they "usually give a discount for those who are patient and wait". So for now, I will be patient and wait... :)

Photos from deliciouslyorganized and lo&sons.

Click here for previous posts from the My Pretend Closet series.   

unlikely black pairings

It isn't intuitive to me to pair pastels with black - like seafoam green is effortlessly paired with black in Mango's January 2013 Lookbook. Even though Michelle Williams inspired me here, I still haven't been able to actually do it.

Moreso, spring floral prints. I've paired them with stripes (inspired by this), but not with black. Not yet.

Maybe I need these pieces the Prabal Gurung for Target Collection as my training wheels.

He incorporated black within the floral pieces - via the collar, neckline, arm & waist bands...

... so I don't need to struggle with breaking old design sensibilities by pairing a floral with a separate black piece.

Love this colorful print called Nolita with the black details! Gave the print an attractive edge.

Also love these shorts! 

It's funny that the very reason I struggle with pairing pastels or florals with black is precisely what makes the pairing so striking. While in my head, feminine, delicate colors & prints don't go with masculine, tough black, my heart says yes to the edginess that black gives the otherwise old and somewhat Stepford Wife feel of pastels & florals.

Okay, I resolve to try harder to break my ancient style sensibilities and mix my pastels and florals with black this week. Maybe I can start with pairing my florals with a small black piece - like a black belt?

Will you mix things up again with me?

Prabal Gurung for Target Collection will be out from February 10 to March 23, 2013. Hoping I can score these pieces via Target.com. View more of the collection with prices via nitrolicious.

Photos from nitrolicious.

Click on the following links for previous posts on breaking ancient fashion rules:

... mixing gold & silver and gray & brown

... mixing prints

... mixing glitter & knits or basics

... mixing gray & yellow

... mixing brown & black

... mixing florals & animal print

... mixing army green & feminine prints

... mixing stripes & florals

a different kind of Christmas lights

Remember the delightful surprise of the heart-shaped red light on Valentine's day in Bonifacio High Street here? Well, they're now Christmassy!

A Christmas tree for the green light and a star for the red! Aren't they the cutest?

They're quite different from the customary sparkly, twinkly Christmas lights. But I have to say they are adorably charming! Certainly made me smile (and circle a High Street block a number of times to get a good picture).

BHS folks, I <3 you!

Photos are my own.

Color Obsession: rainbow row of colors

I love this Kate Spade board covering up the store renovations in Shangrila Mall! With the purses, shoes & clothes lined up according to color - in rows resembling a rainbow!

It reminded me of other everyday things I've seen lined up according to the colors of the rainbow. Like books...

More books... This time on a bookshelf...

Pencils... Yes, my colored pencils are always arranged this way.

Bridesmaid dresses (which you might remember from here)...

Rainboots...

Stilettos...

This growing trend of pretty rainbow cakes...

And even people! Haha!

Isn't it so much fun?

Photos are my own and from sparklesandpretending, pinkwallpaper, blackeiffel & annnniegirl.

Click here for previous posts from the Color Obsession series. Click here for previous posts on rainbows (of which, my fave is Windshield Art). Click here for the downinthedots version of this post.

P.S. Like I warned you here, this is one of those long overdue posts. So by now, the Kate Spade store in Shangri-la Mall might already be open!

Color Obsession: army green

 

Lately, I've been charmed by army green.

 

 

Whether it be in solids like this Emerson Fry Fall coat... 

 

 

... Or in these oh-so-military camo print.

 

 

The only army-greens I have in my non-pretend closet is a set of tapered cargo pants and a button-down shirt. Inspired by A Mischmashed Life's Mikka's fantasy closet, I am excited to add more charm to my army greens with feminine pairings.

 

 

I just loooove how Mikka dolled up the manly vest with sequin shorts, a floral skirt, a printed maxi and bling. I adoooore that stripes+floral pairing and love how the army green vest pulls off the mix of prints just beautifully! (Check out more of Mikka's expert styling here. Am so smitten with her work-looks, am feeling a tinsy-bit sad that I'm on sabbatical.) 

 

What about you? Are you just as charmed with army green?

 

Photos from acupofjo, heritage and amischmashedlife.

 

Click here for previous posts from the Color Obsession series.

summing up this summer

The kids are back in school. Summer has officially ended. It was a great summer so I'm paying tribute to it via selections from the Accessorize Spring/Summer 2012 Lookbook (which you might spy in Accessorize shops in the malls of Manila today).

Let me start with this summer's colors... Spring's pastels especially seafoam green and baby pink from here, here, here and here. And black as Gwyneth Paltrow wore here.

It was also a great summer for my family.  

Isabella took advanced ICE-skating lessons. Among other summer activities like these, Noah created HANDMADE magic all summer (will post about this soon). Best of all, we went on so many road trips (though not in what looks like a VW Kombi in this lookbook) which led me to many captivating tunnels like the ones here.

And of course, I captured them all with my cam.

Yes, it was truly a wonderful summer!

Hope you had a great one too!

Photos from here. 

Color Obsession: tough pink

Of all the pastel hues, pink is usually at the bottom of my list. I'm not much of a fan of this soft, dainty color because I find it too saccharinely sweet for my personality. But lately, I've been drawn to sheer pinks. Or even really, really light pinks. 

I am drawn to baby pink dresses these days. The translucent pink drinks look so refreshing to me. And if I weren't allergic to nailpolish (see related post here), I'd be going for such sheer nails.

But I'd toughen up this soft, feminine hue somewhere else in my ensemble. Combining it with gold or silver hardware helps, I think.

But my favorite way to toughen up pink is by pairing it with olive green.

Let me leave you with my latest sheer pink discovery. I love it because it looks so purrretty in my bathroom.

And the best part is it's quite a tough pink because Neutrogena's Deep Clean technology effectively removes 99% of dirt, oil, impurities and dead skin cells. And with anti-oxidant pink grapefruit extracts, it helps stimulate healthy cell renewal. So it's not just purrretty for your bathroom, but also makes your skin purrretty and younger-looking too!

Photos from i'mjustsaying, pinkwallpaper, polkadotshoppingbag, polyvore and here. Polyvore picks are as follows: Reiss Kelly sequin top, Polo Ralph Lauren mill olive chinos, Alexander McQueen Skull leather belt, Mango two-tone pleated dress, Rigby dress, Barbour Gold Label devon quilt jacket, Diane Von Furstenberg Elena sunglasses.

Click here for previous posts from the Color Obsession series.  

Found: Celine-ish Box Bag

Remember how I was lusting after Celine box bags here?

Well, guess what I found in SM department store yesterday? Isn't it pretty Celine-ish?

Oddly, even though I've been drawn to these authentic camel Celine box bags...

... I decided to get this gray one.

Too bad it wasn't available in more colors like the real thing. Would have wanted a blue-green one or that almond color I've been swooning over here.

But I have to say, at P629.75 (about US$14.50), I wouldn't mind letting undesirable, damaging things - more rainwater, than a cigarette though for me (see related post here) - near my Celine-ish box bag.  

Can't wait to use my Celine-ish box bag!

Photos from manilafashionobserver, baghagdiaries, heritage, here, here, here, here and here.

spring color finds

Coincidentally, the colors of these pastel rings are the exact same colors of my recent Spring color finds!

Inspired by eyecandy here and still unable to shake my seafoam green obsession from here, I trotted to SM to find a seafoam green belt.

The one I found wasn't as pretty as I hoped. With its gray tinges, it wasn't as light & cheery as I wanted it to be.

But I found a lot of other belts in pretty spring colors!

And I was weak. I couldn't resist buying all 5 belts!

But it's okay because 3 of them cost just P149.75 each. The pale yellow one was even cheaper at P129.75 and the grayish-green one (the one I wasn't so happy with) was (ironically) the most expensive at P179.75. Still, not bad, right?

I also satisfied my seafoam green craving with this wallet that I got for only P499.75.

It puts a smile on my face every time I look inside my bag! :)

Loving my Spring color finds!

Photos are from acupofjo and my own - edited with pixlr.

Color Obsession: seafoam green

I am loving the seafoam green in this year's Spring collections. Particularly these Zara pieces...

And even these from Tibi...

I wouldn't have thought of pairing this pastel green with black, but this Dior looks fabulous with the black belt - on the runway and on Michelle Williams! Gives the soft pastel an edge...

The truth is, I was first attracted to seafoam green when I saw Celine's window display with this (they call it almond) green box bag.

I usually love a pop of color so typically, I'd be attracted to the orange (they call it poppy) & pink (called hibiscus) ones. But for some reason, the pastel green Celine box bag just drew me in. Loooove!

And then I started seeing this green everywhere. On shoes...

On macarons...

Even on carousel horses' hair...

And bikes!

Ooohh, I just love, love, love the colors of Spring!

Photos from garancedore, here, here, here, here, Celine and annnniegirl. 

Click here for previous posts from the Color Obsession series.