Canadian Tuxedo

Tee and denim by Uniqlo, Shirt by H&M, Shoes by Whoop-De-Doo
This is what I wore yesterday. It seemed pretty appropriate for the morning commute. The sun was shining, but there was just enough breeze to need coverage. Apparently many other people had the same idea because I was seeing denim on denim on denim on douche bags my entire way to work. I think I even saw a jumpsuit not unlike J-Lo's. However, I have an edge: Thanks to Jackie Chan, Asians in the 90's totally owned this look. So instead of looking like a total victim, I looked like...

BIG TIME HONG KONG ACTION MOVIE STAR
The "American Pop Art" shirt is one of my favorites. It is Keith Haring inspired as part of a collaboration with Uniqlo. I picked it up in Shanghai. The design on the front is actually embroidered, which is a really nice touch for such a cheap shirt. I also like having my fingers crossed, just in case.


I desperately hope they will open a Uniqlo in San Francisco. Also, the PS1 would look mighty fine with this (or any) ensemble. So please vote and tell me which color I should get in the poll to the right :)

- jerome

Rock the Vote: Proenza Schouler PS1

I have been known to talk myself off ledges right before major purchases. Picking between two jackets, bags, or what have you, can be like Sophie's Choice when the only difference is the color way. Such is the case when I fantasized about the Proenza Schouler PS1 bag. I think I am finally ready to purchase one, but my preference in color and size keeps changing. Remember when I narrowed it down to 3?? Everything has changed again. The large size is perfect, but I find myself second guessing my need for the second cross body strap that is exclusive to the extra large size. Then there is the matter of choosing a color. I first fell in love with the Midnight color when I first discovered the bag years ago. However, the Smoke color captured my heart and has been my number one choice for the longest time. But then the Military Olive color was released, stirring up the debate once again.

I HAVE NARROWED IT DOWN TO THE LARGE SIZE IN ONE OF THE FOLLOWING COLORS:

If you or someone you know own a PS1, I would love to hear your feedback. Please let me know what color and size you think work best for your lifestyle. So exciting!!

VOTE NOW IN THE POLL LOCATED ON THE RIGHT
(under my silhouette)

- jerome

Holy Heatwave, Batman

What are the rules for showing skin when you're a guy? Does it change when you're a gay? There is a wicked heatwave hitting SF and I almost cried walking to the bank on my lunch break wearing a wool suit. In trade, I am opting to wear this Brian Lichtenberg tank. Too gay much??

Tank by Brian Lichtenberg, Denim trousers by Hussein Chalayan, Bots by Burberry Prorsum
I think trousers offset the fact that my chest is falling out of this shirt. But nothing will protect me from skin to skin contact on the bus on a hot sticky day, so I have to be careful. And another thing: remember to wear some sunblock in this heat. Being of Filipino descent, I thought my skin was genetically adapted for island-nation living. I was sadly mistaken, and this is what happened the last time I wore this tank without sunblock.




I really need a haircut.

- jerome

Traveling Acquisitions Part 1

Shirt and boots by COS and Khakis by J.Crew
Ever followed a brand but could never get your hands on the merchandise because there were no stockists in the US? This was the case for COS. I long for certain pieces every time the new lookbooks are revealed. During my stay in Munich, I was finally able to grab a pair of boots and a shirt. I thought long and hard about getting a jacket or two, but stuck to the basics since it was just the beginning of the trip. A shirt is always great to have, and I adored the boots. The SA called them "Gumi Boots" when he was ringing them up. My new favorites!


If you ever wondered where or how I take these pictures, they are on my balcony. I wish I had my own personal photographer, but I am incredibly self conscious if photographed from bad angles rarely comfortable with pictures I don't have 100% control of. The poster board behind me is used to focus the lens while setting the self-timer. I wonder how other bloggers get such good pictures of themselves...

- jerome

Vacation Motivation

I had mentioned earlier that my trip was inspirational. The original plan for this post was to give y'all a blow by blow, but the more and more I recapped I realized my favorite moments were pretty much "had to be there." Let me instead explain the nature of my trip to Munich, Oberammergau, Salzburg, Vienna, and Prague.

This family vacation (starring my entire family including significant others) was a 10 day long Catholic Pilgrimage to holy places around Eastern Europe. My parents love to travel around the world to see sacred sites where miraculous things happened according to their faith. I was raised Catholic, but my partner wasn't so we were a little nervous going into the trip. However, going to church for the first time in a grandiose and famous cathedral in Germany has to be more interesting than anything else. The cathedrals and architecture we saw were pretty much what any regular tourist would see, only our group got to see extra chapels behind the scenes with beautiful murals and statues. This was my second time seeing these cities but I think I was able to learn and absorb more this time around. The days consisted of visiting church, celebrating mass, then loads of eating and SHOPPING.

I found it amazing/necessary that many of the places we went to were located approximately 4 blocks from a Louis Vuitton. Our tour bus was not allowed in many of the narrow streets, so walking was mandatory. There was a lot of cardio to even out all the bratwurst and the rest of the local food that got to be way too rich for me. Imagine everything fried and/or drenched in tons of butter and oil - sounds amazing, but it gets old fast. Going to any country with a long, rich history is so visually stimulating. The architecture and cobblestone really add to the experience for Americans (or me anyway) since we don't see classic design as much here. Travel is the best reset button when you are in any sort of slump. Check out some of the pictures from my trip.



1.Beautiful gardens in Salzburg 2.Private chapel in Melk Abbey 3.A mummy 4.A stray cat 5.Try picking this ancient lock/ 6.Modern art meets religious artifacts (a common theme in these parts) 7.The most beautiful library EVER that holds one of Eastern Europe's oldest texts - Beauty and the Beast status 8.A view of the house tops of Salzburg 9.Sweet statues 10.Market finds at the Getreidergasse 11.Red door realness 12.Alphonse Mucha's stained glass window at St. Vitus Cathedral in Prague 13.The Astronomical Clock

See the rest here.

- jerome

I'm Stickin' To It

Reminiscing of a tweet by Harper's Bazaar Accessories Editor, David Thielebule
When someone asks what I do, I am not so sure what the answer is. Maybe it is because I refuse to let retail define me, but saying I am a blogger (which is the only other thing I am actually committed to) sounds a little pretentious gay premature. But I am enjoying sharing things with all of you, so I am stickin' to it. My recent vacation has been a large source of inspiration. Somehow, I managed to capture so many shots that are perfect for mood boards. Here is a link to the pictures if you can't wait. I'll break it down for you later.

- jerome

Back in the Habit

Hello, everyone! It feels good to be back in the USA. As much as I love traveling (especially in Europe), I hit the point of homesickness that made coming home such a relief. I will re-cap things from my trip in the coming days but let me first say that my return flight was a nightmare. I think the death toll sounded when I sat down and saw that there was no personal TV. This 10.5 hour hell ride had everything I could possibly hate on an airplane:

- No personal television system, as previously stated
- I sat next to someone with an awful cold (p.s. I am a hypochondriac so I took 4 Airborn)
- Said sick person still made out with her eurotrash husband when she was not sleeping or sneezing
- 2 small children screaming and kicking my chair almost the whole way while their parents just laughed and took pictures of the monsters
- Embarrassingly rude American complaining about his seat

The ironic thing is that while Europeans hate us Americans for the way we act, they are incredibly rude themselves. I suppose I should not generalize, but I just hope I never have to fly out of Frankfurt ever again.

It is not my wish to mislead you. I HAD AN AMAZING VACATION. My body and mind are recharged and inspired again. Though the street style was lacking, it may have been a combination of locals vacationing and my tendency to end up in tourist areas. A more detailed recap of my trip is soon to follow. But I missed SF; sometimes you have to leave it to love it again. One night I watched Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit in German. The language didn't matter since I know the movie by heart (it is one of my favorites, and I am being sincere), but I suddenly wondered why Fran-K had a Brooklyn accent even though the movie was set in San Francisco. Whatevs. There is so much I have to catch up on, like all the shows from fashion week thus far (jet lag might come in handy here). There is so much to be excited about from what I've already seen. The occasional mix of menswear in the womens shows is particularly delightful... as is any time you can get a glimpse of Lasse...



More to come soon. xo.

- jerome

Bon Voyage!

I am leaving for a quick vacation to Germany, Austria, and the Czech Republic. PLEASE NO SPOILERS FOR TRUE BLOOD, PROJECT RUNWAY, MADMEN, JERSEY SHORE OR FASHION WEEK. I'll be back on the 22nd. ♥

- jerome

All for You EDIT

Leather Jacket by H&M, Tee and Jeans by Uniqlo, Hat by H&M x Comme des Garçons, Vintage Boots, Bag by Louis Vuitton
Most people know that I worship Janet Jackson (Ms. Jackson if you're nasty). In most of her music videos, there is always an "edit" section where she does a dance break more technical than the rest of her thrusty/sexy moves. The "All for You" video is still one of my favorites, and while tragically styled, the ending ensembles featured one sleeved motorcycle jackets that stuck with me for a while. I started wearing my leathers with only one sleeve on; this came in handy at bars or parties when it was too hot to wear your outerwear indoors and I didn't want to pay for coat check. To refresh your memory:



I truly miss that album. It reminds me of sunny days and simpler times. I really don't care who knows that I enjoy good pop music as much as obscure/classic house/rock music. It really shouldn't be a problem, but if you don't like Janet then I can't help you.

- jerome

Sack is Such a Good Word

I love a good rucksack/backpack/bookbag. I am still in search of the perfect shape and quality leather. Essentially, I need something that will have clean lines, drape well even when stuffed, and develop a beautiful patina over time. I am pretty picky too: I want a top handle that is large enough to use as a tote carry. The following are excellent candidates, especially when paired with these preppy collegiate looks!!

Photos from the September Issue of Interview

I leave for my Eastern European vacation in 2 days, so hopefully there is a Bree store that will have a full vachetta rucksack somewhere. I am excited for some time off. Travel is like a reset button for me, filled with endless inspiration and food!!

- jerome

MOON GORGEOUS MEDITATION

Hold on, I have to HENSHIN real quick.
I often wonder where my sense of style comes from. If psychology has taught me anything it's that some of our tastes are shaped at an early age. As a young man I was interested in mostly anime and cartoons, so fashion (and indie music) was probably the first interest of mine that was considered "cool." Recently, my brother kuya from another mother, Matthew, brought something to my attention that explains so many things... NAOKO TAKEUCHI,

THE CREATOR OF SAILOR MOON WAS THE ULTIMATE FASHION FORECASTER.



See how shockingly similar these designs are to today's most popular contemporary creations. View the rest of these mock advertisements here.

- jerome

Hand Me Down

Motorcycle Jacket by Bukta, Shirt by Chloë Sevigny for Opening Ceremony, Jeans by Uniqlo, Hi-Tops by Raf Simons
Meet my new favorite jacket. This beauty was given to me by my partner. He was sad to see it go, but he no longer fits in it. He gets bigger muscles and I get new clothes please don't push me down the stairs♥. He acquired it on a trip to Osaka, Japan and while he was about my size now, he still needed to buy the large. That's Japan's sizing for you. It is made of stretch neoprene and remains structured but form fitting. I love the color and clean lines!!


- jerome

Hello, Old Friend

Star shirt by H&M, Tank by Dior Homme by Hedi Slimane, Jeans by J.Crew, Harness by Zana Bayne, Shoes by Whoop-De-Doo
I love when I stumble upon forgotten pieces in my wardrobe that used to be staples. I think this Dior Homme tank was my very first piece from the brand. I was obsessed with the Bee logo for its silhouette and placement. This tank served as a staple for years, but somehow got lost in the shuffle. Hello, old friend.

In other news, I am not quite sure how it came to pass but the fashion cholo is in full effect. Button ups done up all the way is just pleasing to my eye, so it was only natural that this would happen. This outfit might have been repeated one too many times because it has been photographed at various parties and I am embarassed. This is a valid excuse to go shopping and proof that excellent design and quality makes getting dressed a lot easier.




- jerome

Red, White, and Blue

Shirt by Black Fleece by Thom Browne, Belt by Levi's, Khakis by J.Crew, Shoes by H&M

Even though all the forecasts say it will be short lived, the slight heatwave that has hit the Bay is an absolute blessing. I think my choice in bottoms is telling. Choosing to wear bermudas and khakis over black shorts and draped dhoti pants proves my new commitment to American sportswear. I love the colors red, white, and blue together. I even like stars and stripes. KEEP ME AWAY FROM EBAY. Soon I will be leaving for an Eastern European vacation with my family, and I wonder how much cash I should allot for shopping what essentials I will be taking. My flight is on 9/11. The heat and sunshine are a welcome guest that I wish could stay longer, but all of these

ALLERGIES CAN GO TO HELL

- jerome

CONFIRMED!!

UPDATE: GET READY FOR NOVEMBER 23RD. H&M ♥ LANVIN!!



- jerome