Muses

March 2013 Japan Trip Teaser: A (Long) Summary

Posted on May 10, 2013 in Featured, Japan Fashion, Muses, Thoughts, Travel Adventures | 2 comments

I love traveling even though I don’t get to do it often, especially going overseas to other countries. When you travel less with a mindset of a tourist and more with a mindset of an explorer, the experience simply opens you. It makes you invigorated and inspired, ready to see things both expected and surprising. Before March, 4 years has passed since my last overseas trip. After my March 2013 Japan trip, I pray that I will get to travel more often. You really miss out a great deal when you don’t travel and experience things. Trust me.

Amongst all countries in the world, I love Japan. Perhaps not as a country I choose to live in, but a country whose way of life, culture, and technology I admire so much. Before our March 2013 Japan trip, it had been 7 years since I first visited Japan. It was only 5 days, but since then I was patiently waiting for a chance to visit that amazing country, this time with the love of my life (you know who). As always, but maybe more so this time, he took gorgeous pictures that I am very excited to share with you.

Silvia Arguello on NBC’s Fashion Star and Her Upcoming Rosa Clandestino Online Shop

Posted on Apr 26, 2013 in Fashion Reviews, Featured, Muses | 0 comments

I have been a fan of NBC’s Fashion Star. I think the premise is brilliant and progressive; not only it gives the featured designers a great dose of exposure, it also builds immediate shopping impulse for the featured retailers.

Tonight on NBC’s Fashion Star (Season 2, Episode 8), my favorite Silvia Arguello was shockingly eliminated*. A Milanese fashion designer and Vogue Italia favorite, Silvia has made her mark on this season as the highest seller on the show ($905K record sales for NBC’s Fashion Star Season 1 and 2, successfully selling to all three retailers: Macy’s, Saks Fifth Avenue, and Express). Here, she discusses her shocking elimination, experience thus far, and positive outlook to launch her prestigious Paris-based clothing line Rosa Clandestino in the US market through the upcoming launch of her global e-commerce store.

My April (2013 Version)

Posted on Apr 25, 2013 in Thoughts | 2 comments

My April this year has been really tough on me. Just as soon as we finished immersing in our dream paradise of Japan (those travel posts are coming, I promise), Chris and I had been cumulatively drowning in illness, foot injury, apartment woes, and iMac hard drive issues. The last one hurt a great deal because without our iMac, we could not process our pictures.

And there’s also a future personal matter (I’d like to keep it abstract, it’s very personal for me) that perched its giant black wings onto my shoulders. I willingly entered a situation out of sense of duty, however the true burden of my decision slapped me hard in the face with fury and frustration. For about two weeks, I was agitated, inwardly angry, felt I have no control, and worst of all, I felt trapped.

The Future is Fashion Forward

Posted on Mar 8, 2013 in Muses, Thoughts | 0 comments

In just a few more hours, I’m going to leave the United States for three weeks. It has been 4 years since I left the United States, and I am anticipating some kind of a cultural or loss-of-familiarity shock when I go to Indonesia and Japan. I also know that it will all become a blur and three weeks will pass so fast and before I can process it all, I will be back here typing again on my laptop.

However, I will certainly do my best to enjoy my vacation.

Before that, I want to do a quick post of what I think is a very encouraging sign of the fashion world, and therefore I titled my post The Future is Fashion Forward. Fashion industry is known to be very tough, ambitious, but also at times close-minded and even cynical that it has trouble adjusting to progress (but then again, aren’t we all). Season after season, there is always a published opinion lamenting the…weaknesses, be it the unattainable standards of thinner-than-thin models, the crazy schedules of fashion weeks, what’s-behind-the-business matters, and so on.

The Art Wold of ILJA Couture and Ready to Fish

Posted on Mar 6, 2013 in Fashion Reviews, iWanna | 0 comments

In a very saturated world of fashion, one of the biggest challenge is to be memorable. I think the fashion weeks happening right now can silently speak volumes to that.

About one and a half month ago, I received ILJA lookbooks from THV PR, which just announced that Ms. Visser joined the roster. So when I remember AND raving about most (if not all) of looks from a Dutch designer Ijla Visser’s ILJA Couture and absolutely loving the shoes worn on all the looks of Ready to Fish RTW collection, Ms. Visser’s works are truly memorable for me.

SUCCARRA 2013 Lookbooks Favorites

Posted on Feb 18, 2013 in iWanna | 0 comments

To be honest, I’m not big on accessories. A couple of rings here or there, and maybe a necklace. I rarely wear bracelts or bangles, let alone earrings. My accessories collection is really limited, which is kind of ironic since I really like doing Accessories DIY Projects. But looking through all the SUCCARRA 2013 lookbooks earlier this month, I feel tempted to expand my accessories collection.

SUCCARRA’s roster of designers are solid, and it’s no surprise Hollywood’s celebrities have been sported wearing pieces SUCCARRA feature. My personal favorites from the 2013 rosters (so far) can be viewed below.

The Celia de Flers’ wishbone bangles are stunning, Gypsies + Debutantes’ bracelets and cuffs are so much fun, Jessie Lane’s snake rings are charming, Melanie Auld’s bangles and earrings are edgy and sophisticated, and Samantha Faye’s closet necklaces are quirky and sweet.

Cherry on the Bag: Will You Buy It?

Posted on Feb 11, 2013 in Fashion Start-Uppers, Featured, Product Review | 0 comments

The concept of “the first interactive bag you can scan with an NFC smartphone to access exclusive services” (taken from Cherry on the bag’s Kickstarter page) is intriguing, and I am sure some people will appreciate the unique features this bag has to offer.

The first Cherry on the bag line from this Belgian start-up team offers high-functionality travel and business accessories  with minimal design, made from 100% full-grain calfskin leather. The team partners with Belgian platform SELINKO who specializes in giving objects an identity. Moreover, the line features the following exclusive services (accessible via the NFC chip on each bags):

1. Bag Identity: you can view authenticity, model, description, owner, production place and date, name of the craftsman, among others.
2. One-Scan Buy: very convenient if you want to re-order products.
3. Cherry Club: you can access limited editions and special deals.
4. Anti-Theft: if the bag is stolen, you can have the bag’s certificate to be deactivated. A good samaritan that scans the bag can see a lost bag’s information and how to get it back to the owner.