never too old for sinulog

the Sinulog festivities have grown over the last years. more and more people flock to Cebu from different parts of the country to venerate sto. nino and of course, to experience how it is to party in Sinulog. the first photo below is how Sinulog looks like in Cebu. imagine that volume of people and multiply that by 100. now imagine, half of these are inebriated and are most likely to splash water (or beer) on you or paint your face with poster color or worse, black oil. don’t expect to go home clean and untainted — especially if you’re intent on partying. be prepared to give your Sinulog shirt a good funeral because you will never be able to wear it again. this year, we even saw everyone sharing the love, holding placards saying “free hugs.” Sinulog is indeed a happy time. 
when Harry and I were asked what we’ll be doing this year for Sinulog, we figured we’re too old for the street party and planned on staying at home. after all, we’re an old married couple (or we feel like one). admittedly, after last year’s tragic incident, Sinulog has scarred me. good thing we went out though because that was one of the most fun we’ve had in a long time. it was also a great time to spend with my sisters — as we danced crazily, not caring what other people would think. 

neon striped top (which died at the end of the day) – props | denim levis cut-offs – thrifted | grey flats – solemate, sm dept store | tan fringe bag – urban originals | black hat – cotton on | feather necklace – downtown find | oversized sunnies – urban outfitters | bangles and bracelets – downtown finds and braid & bonds
where is my Islands Souvenirs cut&style shirt? i wore the pink at the beach and gave the other one to my cousin after her pleas. LOL. 

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pit senyor! x islands souvenirs cut & style your sinulog shirt

my hectic schedule (and not being able to blog for days) might not show this but it was truly an honor being one of the ambassadors for Islands Souvenirs Cut & Style Your Sinulog Shirt project. headed by Kryz Uy and together with Eden Villarba, Marco Diala and Gillian Uang, we were all given a chance to show our creative side and style the popular Sinulog shirts from Islands Souvenirs. 

each of us were given shirts and were tasked to create two styles. one pair, they display on the Islands Souvenir shops and the other, to be worn by us. the event took place last week and i couldn’t wait for Sinulog day and had to bring my shirt to the beach, last weekend. here’s my first design: 

DIY shirt – Islands Souvenirs | white cut-offs – thrifted | yellow beaded necklace – props | elephant tusk necklace – bangkok find | bangles with beads – braids and bonds | red bangles – WAGW | beaded bracelets – downtown finds

it is very easy to make actually and here’s a guide on how you can create this style:

♥ first, cut off the edges of the shirt — from the hem, the collar and the sleeves. you can go sleeveless or like me, cut it shorter to cover your arms a bit. i also cut the collar deeper in the back. it is Sinulog after all and the streets will be swamped and you’d need to breathe from all the partying.

♥ dip-bleach (if it’s colored) or dip-dye (if it’s white) the shirt and prepare a small bottle of bleach or a packet of colored dye
♥ dip a smaller part of the bottom for 30 minutes then dip the shirt halfway and leave it for 4 hours (or until you reach your desired shade). 

 

♥ when you reach the desired result of your shirt, wash them in water and soap and hang to dry.
♥ once dry, begin cutting the shirt in fringes.

♥ for a more stylish effect, you can cut the front strips thinly and braid every fringe or so.

you still have tonight and tomorrow morning to style your Sinulog shirts! and as an added treat, if you wear your Islands Souvenirs shirt to VUDU’s Sinulog Party Series, you get free cover charge!

see you all on the streets! pit senyor!

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december diary: bloggers united FOUR x the airport

have i ever told you guys that i have this great fear of flying? in general, i have this great fear of heights. being in a plane that is thousands of miles up in the air (i actually don’t know if i got the numbers right) just makes me very uncomfortable. yes, travelling by air is quicker and saves you tons of time but just thinking of the entire vessel suddenly falling just scares the bejeezus out of me. i mean, i know how to swim so if a ship sinks, i can try to survive. but if a plane falls, i wouldn’t know what to do! okay so i’m being morbid and i have to stop myself. 
anyway, i had to face my fear of flying for the Bloggers United 4 event and i couldn’t be happier that i had my two sisters to accompany me. also if it weren’t for joseph gordon levitt’s funny performance on SNL, i wouldn’t have survived the flight. December began with a typhoon and after that, it was raining intermittently all throughout the month. so on the day of our flight, we had grey skies and the dreaded turbulence. to top it all off, we had the worst landing of all time — literally, our butts flew a feet from our seats when we hit the ground. kudos to the pilot — not! 

scarf print pleated maxi skirt – thrifted | violet tank top – thrifted | oversized knit cardigan – thrifted | polka gold flats – props | studded black belt – props | black floppy hat – cotton on | elephent tusk necklace – bangkok find | black and gold watch – gifted by sister | gold coral cuff – props

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look back once then move forward x cheers to 2013!

i’m in a bit of a panic here because not only is it another month, it’s another year and i’m still catching up with posts from december 2012. so i better hurry up then!
but before i proceed with my catch-up posts, here’s a quick look back into my 2012:

my favorite looks

it’s on this year that i have found a sense of style that is true to myself. over the last 3 years since i started my blog, i’ve been experimenting with various looks. this year, i’ve been more picky with my closet items when i shop and only get the ones that truly represent who i am.

          

       
               

falling in love all over again

i was civilly married last year however, it was only this year that Harry and i started planning for our Church wedding. we had our engagement session shot by the amazing Marlon Capuyan and it felt like day one with Harry all over again. 

how i took the risk and chose my passion

i may have spoken about resigning in October and choosing to do what i love but i don’t think i’ve discussed in detail what i actually do for a living now. my friend April and I launched Cuckoo Cloud Concepts back in October and as Harry would say it, “We’ve gone Cuckoo!”
cuckoo cloud concepts cebu wedding stylist cebu engagement session cebu wedding
Cuckoo Cloud Concepts specializes in styling and set design for engagement sessions that have a fun and quirky vibe. we love couples who’d like to tell a story with their engagement session and want to make a fun memory of their love story. we also style weddings for couples who want handmade elements in their wedding. so far, things have been unexpectedly good. we’re still starting a bit slow but there has been a lot of potential and upcoming opportunities. we are especially thankful for Marlon and Mildred for their support — as they’ve been there for us since the start. of course, our Mr. Cuckoos have been our number one fans. here are some of the work we’ve done — and you can check out our website and Facebook page for more details: 

what i did, resigning from a high-paying corporate job, is a great risk. honestly, i don’t have money to spend for personal stuff right now and my money is enough for day-by-day expenses but that’s okay. i’ve realized you have to undergo a bit of sacrifice to pursue something you love. i love fashion that’s why i have this blog but i’m also happy that i get to do a bit of that for the couples in their shoots. i’ve dipped my hands into DIY-ing again and it feels good knowing that i can create something beautiful with my hands. of course, i love weddings. am in love with weddings which makes this job all the more fun. so —

“hi, i’m gizelle. former sales and call center manager. now a happy stylist and set designer for Cuckoo Cloud Concepts. nice to meet you!” 

experienced Bloggers United twice!



a look back in words

in words, my twenty-twelve has been a roller coaster. it started really dark what with the tragedy my family experienced in january. we slowly had to move on from it to support my sister and i underwent hell at work, all while preparing for my wedding. i lost weight because i could only eat once a day due to work stress and my personal life almost faltered. but in the end, everything turned out well. the choices we make mold our lives to what we what we want them to be in the end. on December 22, i got married in front of God and our families in my dream bohemian wedding gown and to the love of my life, Harry. (and if some of you are wondering, i’m 28. not 22 so yes, it’s the right time for me get married. haha!)

happy new year everyone! 
here’s a year of fashion brilliance (or mistakes) and hopefully a whole wall of beautiful shoes by the end of year.

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december diary: styling for footzyfolds THE FASHION SHOTS

so as promised, here are the actual photos of the Footzyfolds shoot that i styled. i still have a few that i don’t have though but i’m just too excited and can’t wait to post the ones i have. 
Footzyfolds are chic foldable shoes that are great alternatives to painful killer heels. the Footzyfolds pack comes with a pouch for the flats and a bigger pouch for your heels. the fashionable foldable flats, which have been featured on Oprah’s list are now in Cebu — available online here and in SCHU Ayala Cebu. 
photography by Dan Douglas Ong | hair and make-up by Ramil Solis, assisted by Chris | fashion styling by Gizelle Faye of Cuckoo Cloud Concepts | ready-to-wear outfits by Props | accessories by Tseng Jewelry by Noreen Tseng and SEPA Cebu | MAC models: April, Raceene and Sue | special thanks to Valeriano Tomol III and Roger Alferez
 SPARKBURST in gold footzyfolds | Cary Santiago gown | stylist’s earrings
 SPARKBURST in silver multi footzyfolds | Cary Santiago dress
SNAKE BALLET in red and BOSTON in red footzyfolds | Umberto couture | stylist’s earrings
SNAKE BALLET in red footzyfolds | Arcy Gayatin dress | Tseng Jewelry by Noreen Tseng necklace
SPARKBURST in black footzyfolds | Arcy Gayatin dress | SEPA Cebu earrings
TASSLE in black footzyfolds booties | Arcy Gayatin dress | SEPA Cebu earrings | stylist’s cuff
OLENA in blue and BOSTON in red footzyfolds | Arcy Gayatin dresses | SEPA Cebu beaded necklace | stylist’s collar necklace 
SUGAR in gold footzyfolds | PROPS ready-to-wear apparel | stylist’s hat
FRESCA in black footzyfolds | PROPS ready-to-wear apparel | Tseng Jewelry by Noreen Tseng necklace
SUGAR in silver footzyfolds | PROPS ready-to-wear apparel | stylist’s accessories
OLENA in blue footzyfolds | PROPS ready-to-wear apparel | SEPA Cebu turquoise necklace | stylist’s accessories
OLENA in red / camel footzyfolds | PROPS ready-to-wear apparel | stylist’s accessories
there are still more photos from the outdoor shot that the footzyfolds team did. styling was still done by me however, i had to prepare the outfits beforehand because i had to fly to Manila for Bloggers United 5 on the day of the shoot. 
you guessed it, the Bloggers United 5 photos are up next! ♥

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december diary: styling for footzyfolds

the month of December started with a typhoon (both literally and figuratively, for me). 
typhoon Pablo blew through our country starting from the south and claimed a hundred lives. my heart goes out to the victims and their families. 
on another note, December was crazy good for me despite the natural catastrophe and the unpredictable weather. it started with a styling stint for Footzyfolds Philippines, a project for Cuckoo Cloud Concepts — styling an engagement session for a couple who just got in from Dubai and will be having their wedding in 2 weeks, flying to Manila for a 2-day Bloggers United (4!) bazaar and finally, meeting Harry down the aisle in our dream bohemian wedding. 
aside from frantically preparing for our wedding, my good friend Karla Bautista-Siao called me up to ask if i could style a photo shoot for Footzyfolds Philippines. it was really short notice and my logic told me that i shouldn’t because it was so near our wedding and i still had so many things to do but my heart told me not to pass it up. 
it was truly an honor styling for Footzyfolds and working with the most amazing people. amazing Cebuano designers lent their designs for the shoot and when i say amazing, i mean Cary Santiago, Arcy Gayatin, Rey Humberto Villegas and Hadju Godinez from the House of Salvador Malto. 
photography by Dan Douglas Ong | hair and make-up by Ramis Solis, assisted by Chris | fashion styling by Gizelle Faye of Cuckoo Cloud Concepts | ready-to-wear outfits by Props | accessories by Tseng Jewelry by Noreen Tseng and SEPA Cebu | MAC models: April, Raceene and Sue | special thanks to Valeriano Tomol III and Roger Alferez
here are some behind-the-scene shots. actual photos of the shoot will posted soon. 

MAC models discovered a new model on this shoot as well. she’s the sister of Footzyfolds’ operations manager and happened to visit the shoot that afternoon. suddenly my 5’2″ frame was buried amongst the tall and gorgeous models. 
did you catch me trying to steal an outfit shot by the mirror? i was completely covered up that day because not only did December begin with a typhoon, the shoot took place on the day of the typhoon. anything for the love of styling. 
next post: the actual photos of the shoot. 

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cramming like my life depends on it x BU4 pass winners!

harry and i started planning for our wedding in early february this year and i can’t believe that it’s literally just days away from our wedding. i sat up in bed the other night with only 5 hours of sleep from a drunken night from my bachelorette party and my mind is running like crazy, very much paranoid about all the things i still need to do for the wedding. see, i’ve opted to DIY my wedding reception — so the decor and ambiance will be a reflection of us. DIY-ing a wedding is hard, especially if it’s your own. so wish us luck. right now, my nails are blue from paint and my legs are smeared by glue and food coloring.

floral long-sleeved top – thrifted | denim cut-offs – thrifted | silver glitter flats – rubi, cotton on | neon pink belt – props | silver collar necklace – downtown find | camel fringe leather bag – urban originals | boho laptop bag – thrifted | bangles – braids and bonds


anyway, on to great news — here are the winners of the bloggers united 4 passes:

Tintin Olavia
Hazel Ann Uri
Kate Barretto Mira
Patrick Noel Genio
Daphne Villasin

congratulations and make sure to drop by our booth — can’t wait to meet all of you!

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boho chic on the down low

i’ve been wearing more flats lately and they’ve invaded two-thirds of my shoe rack. there’s something about cute ballet flats that i can’t resist. if not for the non-existent cash in my wallet, i would’ve gone ahead and bought myself two more pairs at the department store early today. sometimes, not carrying cash is a good thing. 
these wide-legged palazzos are very tricky to wear. they’re very comfortable but the wrong styling can make you look like a balloon. do you think i styled it well? you, how would you style a pair of palazzos? 

white top with lace sleeves – props | teal wide-legged palazzos – props | gold flats – solemate, sm dept store | yellow green belt – props | light blue feather earrings – downtown find | black and white sunnies – downtown find | coral cuffs – props

i also blogged over at www.everydaysundaes.com — a style blog i share with my two sisters.  

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wardrobe necessity

they say that if you haven’t worn something for more than a year then it’s time to let go of it. good thing my mom didn’t let go of these black pair of Onyx jeans which initially was my sister’s. they were the perfect fit for high-waisted denim cut-offs and are perfect for my current venture. 
shorts (and cotton leggings in prints or colors) are one of my wardrobe necessities now that i’m not stuck in an office and am constantly on the move. i need clothes that are comfortable yet chic and definitely ones that doesn’t constrict me in any way because not only am i required to scour the downtown streets or move around but our eternal summer weather does not cooperate with more fabric on our skin. 
white embroidered tribal top – thrifted | black cut-offs – recycled jeans | leopard flats – parisian, sm dept store | fringe vegan leather bag – urban originals | braided belt – primal rave | fringed chain necklace – props | printed bangles – gifted by sister | black sunnies – downtown find

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the resuscitation of a social life

i haven’t been blogging because i’ve been so busy following my dreams that it’s crazy how time flies in a day. but honestly, i’ve also been cheating on blogger and having been seeing pinterest on the side. yes, i have finally jumped the wagon. i did have a pinterest account but never used it, afraid i’d get sucked into it and did not want to maintain another social media account while i balanced my full-time job, personal life and the blogosphere. man, was i wrong. pinterest is freakin’ awesome. okay, i have to stop now — i’m blushing. LOL. 

anyway, i met up with Eden and Chyrel over milk tea at Chatime for various reasons which will be divulged later, i promise. it’s really been awhile since i’ve actually gone out of the house and met friends. my sisters actually congratulated me for having a social life again — yes, it was that dead while i was slaving away in my past life. incidentally, Mac then invited us to raid her closet and we were happy to oblige. Isabeau was there as well and it became a quick blogger meet-up of sorts. Mac’s kid, by the way, was such a cutie and couldn’t be any happier with the attention.


on to the required outfits shots. when we agreed to meet, we agreed to dress casually and if it was 2 years ago, when “casual” was brought up i would have dressed in shorts, a t-shirt and ballet flats but i’ve learned my lesson. with these girls, casual is this:

overused chambray top – thrifted | green floral pencil skirt – primal rave (also available in orange, in size small) | blue tasseled belt – props | my “uniform” tasseled smoking slippers – rubi shoes | fringed leather bag – urban originals | multi-colored bangles and bracelets – braids and bonds | coral cuff – props | necklace – downtown find | bird ring – gifted by mom | black sunnies – downtown find

and ooh, remember when i told you guys about my sister Charm also blogging and that we’re working on a project together? well, here it is. Everyday Sundaes — a blog i share with not just Charm but also my little sister, Aimee. bookmark this blog on your browsers for 3 scoops of fashion.


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midnight ice cream runs

having to control one’s own time allows for out of the blue ice cream runs even at the wee hours of the morning when everyone in the convenience store is buzzed with alcohol while we’re fixated on getting that sugar high. 
of course, it doesn’t hurt to get that required outfit shot by the bright and colorful background of the convenience store fridge. must get another one when i get a better camera. LOL. 

salmon silk blazer – thrifted | white tank top – thrifted | faded denim high-waited cut-offs – thrifted | my “uniform” tassled smoking slippers – rubi shoes | camel leather fringe bag – urban originals | braided belt – props | leaf necklace – downtown find | elephant tusk necklace – bangkok find | claw cuff – borrowed from mom | rings – downtown and bangkok finds 

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time flies when you’re having fun

please don’t mind the undone face — this was taken after a super early morning mass. 
i’ve been very busy the past few days and i didn’t notice that two weeks has actually gone by since i resigned from my corporate job. my days are filled with hours of arts and crafts, trips downtown, meeting clients, photo shoots and discussing collaborations, among other things. i don’t follow a strict schedule and i think i work more than 8 hours a day. but you know what? all of it doesn’t feel like work. i guess what they say is right, it certainly doesn’t feel like work when you’re having fun. 


printed chiffon top – primal rave | blue maxi skirt – primal rave | camel smoking slippers – rubi shoes | ash teal belt – props | tan fringe bag – urban originals | necklaces: charm necklace and ethnic-style necklace – downtown finds, elephant tusk – bangkok find | bangles: pink rhinestones – gifted from india, brass and enamel bangles – downtown finds | rings: lion head and gecko – downtown finds 

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