leather and lace.

spotlight on: Carissa

ladies and gents, meet one of my best-est BEST friends, Chinky. i hung out with her yesterday (from day to dawn). this is what she wore to school.

what do you think?

i love. it's the classic white-shirt-and-jeans look but with a luxurious twist. the shirt's ruffles and lace exude this elegant old-world charm that's just impossible to ignore. as it's paired with plain blue jeans and a small leather bag, the whole outfit transforms into this contemporary and sophisticated ensemble.

check out the details on her top.

the classic Chanel purse gives a delightful contrast to the dainty white lace. to me, it's just perfect.

top: thrifted

jeans: hippie bazaar - HK

bag: vintage Chanel

smooth and silky.

spotlight on: Erika.

ladies and gentlemen, meet one of my loveliest and dearest friends, Er. i don't get to see her much anymore. but during the few times we do see each other, she's always well put together. very simple yet extremely elegant.

this is what she wore to Agnes' house party. what do you think?

i've always known her to be quite the Topshop/Zara addict. in fact, she can easily be the poster girl for high street fashion. which, in her case, is a good thing. usually, when people become high street zombies, the clothes tend to wear them. and not the other way around.

but Erika completely owns any outfit. her subdued confidence and her fresh personality brings life to whatever she has on. which consequently, is the real essence of style.

although she's a fan of mainstream fashion,

she still manages to make every look her own.

which is wonderful, of course.

here's to you, bebegurr! i miss you!

dress: Topshop

shoes: Zara

bag: Louis Vuitton

studs and ruffles.

spotlight on: Maita.

ladies and gentlemen, let me formally introduce my good friend Maita. i can truly say she's one of the most chica girls in school. this is what she wore today.

what do you think?

the inspiration for this look are said to be the editors and stylists attending Fashion Week. they're known to wear black at runway shows, as not to clash with the designers' creations. it's supposedly the safest color one can wear at such events.

certainly Maita would've blended right in,

if that was the case.

sporting an all black ensemble could be difficult. on an ordinary day, the first challenge is to avoid looking dull. the second one would be to shun away from looking like a mourner. that's why it's important to have different textures in your outfit. as you can see, the soft shiny details of her top goes well with the hard tailored look of her jacket.

choosing the right accessories is also essential to the success of your desired look. the cosmopolitan design of her YSL bag paired with the offbeat style of her studded shoes gave her that edgy sophisticated appeal that i'm sure she was aiming for.

top: Topshop

jacket: Topshop

pants: Topshop

bag: Yves Saint Laurent

shoes: department store

to see more of her style, check out her blog.

plain and simple.

spotlight on: Malone.

i hung out with Loris and Maita today. while we were making tambay at the ACB lobby, this guy just happened to pass by. for some reason, he caught our attention. we liked how he looked.

what do you think?

his name's Malone and he's a freshman. 

it's not the outfit per se that made him stand out. there's obviously nothing special about it. in fact, it's pretty darn simple. but i guess that's what we liked about his look. it's easy and straightforward. there are no nonsense frills. a perfect example of uncomplicated style.

and with that blatant simplicity, he still managed to look sleek. let's give him and his skinny tie a round of applause, please.

glasses: Oakley

shirt: unknown

tie: Topman

pants: Topman

shoes: Hush Puppies

black and peach.

spotlight on: Tin.

ladies and gentlemen, meet my ever-so-bubbly friend, TinTin. i thought she looked incredibly cute today.

what do you think?

looks like she just jumped out of a time machine. as Loris points out, she could be one of the original Charlie's Angels. and she could be, indeed. i'm totally diggin' the whole 70's vibe of her outfit. how groovy.

the high neckline is perfect and her hairstyle compliments it really well. even her choice of accessories is flawless. the vintage timepiece and the diamond studs work hand-in-hand to create that whole retro-chic look. 

check out the details on the blouse.

wonderful job, Tin. so effortless.

top: thrifted

pants: thrifted

shoes: Zara

watch: vintage Coach

earrings: hand-me-downs

neat and cluttered.

spotlight on: Loris.

if there's one fashionista worth featuring, it would be this gal Rizzy. she never fails to surprise me with her outfits. this is what she wore today. what do you think?

this is actually her being subtle. wait until you see her in her crazy-bright-colorful-flamboyant attires! it's absolutely entertaining. it's either you'd get super duper irritated or you'd get entirely captivated by her pizzazz. depends how you see fashion. of course, as a friend, i'm obliged to feel the latter. haha! but really. you can't help but admire her personal style.

about this outfit. i like it. very much. in fact, i'd even say this is one of her best. i love the uniquely tailored pants paired with the sexy stilettos and the wala lang white shirt. totally in vogue. plus the socks made it even more stylish.

brava, Loris. brava.

and yeah. excellent choice of accessories. what a good way to stack trinkets. not too much. just right. but ultimately, hon, the bag pulled it all together.

top: Topshop

pants: Topshop

bag: Fendi

shoes: People are People

watch: Philip Stein

accessories: hippie bazaars, hand-me-downs, vintage

to see more of her outfits, check her blog.

long and hard.

spotlight on: Laureen.

you all know my buddy, Lau. i bumped into her again. this is what she wore today. what do you think?

this look is actually hard to pull off. i'm sure most of you will agree that the long skirt isn't for everyone. for one thing, it's not at all flattering to a woman's body (sex appeal, where art thou?). but you've gotta hand it to this girl. she wore it well. styling truly is crucial when it comes to odd pieces like this palda.

although personally, i think the entire outfit would've looked much better if the skirt was a lot shorter (show those legs!), i still think she managed to look cute. besides, if you're a schoolmate, you know how strict the university dress code is. that's why we kids need to be more creative!

what tied it all together? her accessories.

i love the Cartier-ish cheetah ring. just wonderful.

sunglasses: Mango

top: Zara

belt: Topshop

bag: Marc Jacobs

skirt: hippie bazaar - HK

sandals: hippie bazaar - HK

shapes and lines.

spotlight on Laureen.

ladies and gentlemen, meet my good friend Lau.

this is what she wore today.

what do you think?

i like it (obviously).

it's so contemporary. very chic.

top: Comme des Garçons

blazer: Modista by Elle

pants: UNIQLO

shoes: Kenneth Cole

bag: Philippe Charriol

watch: Baume et Mercier

notebook: Paul Smith