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Showing posts from 2014

Welcome the year with up to 77% off!

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Oh yes, what best way to welcome the year than with an extra 25% off on items that are already on sale? Online menswear shopping site East Dane is offering this special sale on a limited time only, as it will run until 11:59pm PT on Jan. 1, 2015, so you better hurry!

The beauty and comfort of knits

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Yes, the weather's still going to be cold ahead. And what better way to keep warm than with knits? Oh yeah, the comfort they provide, I know. Here are but a few nice and stylish picks from East Dane: Left to right: Gansey cable tunic sweater from Inis Meain . Yup, you got it. The brand specializes in knitwear. Rolling turtleneck sweater from Our Legacy . Tap knit pullover from Cheap Monday .

Treat yourself with style (at a discount)

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Missed out on East Dane's " The BIG Event " last month? Worry not for the online menswear shopping site always has something--no, make that a LOT--to offer for less. There's dozens upon dozens of shirts, pants, jackets, suits, sweaters, shoes, bags, and accessories whose prices have been slashed off considerably. And I mean up to 70% off! Just look at these: Shirts you say? Left to right: Chambray sport shirt from Steven Alan . Trail shirt from Rag & Bone . Benny shirt from Hentsch Man . Selvedge shirt by Burkman Bros.

[Throwback Thursday 12.11.2014] Decked the halls

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Our workplace, Dec. 9, 2011. We all need a little Christmas, don't we? To cheer us up perhaps. I just miss this time back in 2011 when we held a department-wide Christmas decorating contest at the office. Cubicles were clustered together to form groups and people were basically given free rein on how we wished to spruce up our respective areas for the season. It sure was a lot of fun and I must say I really enjoyed the resulting vibe at work. We invited some respected individuals from other departments to judge our work and determine the top 3 based on a set of criteria. Here's a look at what people have come up with.

[Lookbook 11.28.2014] P is for...

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Just before we were leaving the office tonight I had a couple of shots of me taken at the parking area. Maybe it was all the yellow on that floor that enticed me. But whatever, today's outfit was simple and very relaxed, today being a Friday. It's just jeans, a sweatshirt, and some kicks. Even if it's not the dominant color, it's the green that's tying everything together.

Make your wishes come true with East Dane's 'The BIG Event'

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Identities have been concealed and wish lists have been submitted. Now everyone at the office has already drawn his/her "baby" for our department Kris Kringle. How I wish my wish list looked a little something like this: Left to right: New York City map throw from Faribault Woolen Mills . Rollbahn A5 spiral notebook from Delfonics . Shine activity monitor (wearable tech: fitness and sleep monitor) from Misfit . Sentry chrono watch from Nixon . Black stone stainless steel insulated water bottle from S'well . Back flash refurbished Polaroid 600-Type camera kit, Instant Lab (which transforms digital images to analog Poloaroid pictures in seconds), and black and white instant file, all from Impossible . Leather strap watch from TID Watches . Oscar necktie from Alexander Olch . Bakelite hanging pendant lamp from East Dane Gifts . Well, with a very limited amount set as the minimum, it could be--no, it is--very, VERY far from the truth. But then maybe I

[Lookbook 11.19.2014] Plaid-tie

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Forgive me for the corny title; I was suddenly thinking of pad thai . Anyway, after ogling over some really nice neckties and bow ties yesterday, I promised I would wear a tie today. Now that I've made good with that promise, I hope I could sustain this thing and not slip back into my uniform of pullovers, which I often refer to as " tamad (lazy) outfits."

Tie it up

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While I made good by wearing suit jackets the entire 5 days last week, I must admit that I haven't worn a tie in a quite a long time. The good thing is I miss wearing them, much so when I saw these handsome pieces over at East Dane : Clockwise from top left: Wool woven tie in navy by Drake's . Slub silk necktie in acqua grass by Marwood . Milan tie in black and cream combo by CAMO . Cashmere woven necktie in navy and ecru combo by Drake's. I'm really digging these woven beauties. Because they're woven, I kind of appreciate the added amount of detail involved here. They don't look too restrictive and affords the wearer a more relaxed vibe.

Redefining street wear

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Okay, enough with all my Halloween reminiscing. It's time to move on from my Voldemort Halloween costume , Gomez Addams look and all that, and get back to some real-world fashion. And how best to get real than with street wear! Sesam felt hat and sweatshirt by Études Studio . Shirt by Lbt-Lbt . Jacket by Alexander Wang . Richard Pants by Robert Geller . Shoes by MSGM .

Custaroon Poppers: Delectable bite-size goodies

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Custaroon Poppers. Going through my phone gallery I was reminded of--and am now craving for--these Custaroon Poppers from Gigi Gaerlan Custaroonery we had almost 2 months ago now. Custaroon poppers are bite-size custaroon balls coated with chocolate powder. A play on custard and macaroon, a custaroon is just that: a smooth and creamy flan topped with a chewy macaroon layer. Sounds yummy enough? You bet. Besides, it's always sheer joy when you get to discover a new food item every now and then, just like when I first got acquainted with kashi maki .

[Lookbook 11.10.2014] Double-breasted casual

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Blurred lines. It's been a busy day and I'm looking forward to even busier days ahead. But just right before we were about to leave the building, inspired by all the chaos that I saw at the parking area and envious of My Bibe taking selfies, I thought of an unplanned smartphone "shoot" for an outfit post. I'm wearing a pinstripe DB suit jacket after all.

Halloween hangover | The Addams Family

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Gomez and Morticia Addams. Okay, just one more. I know Halloween is long over and it's Christmas that's in everyone's head right now but I just couldn't move on without posting this. A day after I sported a Voldemort Halloween costume , we had a little get-together with friends over wine. It was supposed to be a 90s theme but it turned out that My Bibe and I were the only ones excited enough to wear a costume. Anyway, instead of going all Backstreet Boys and Spice Girls we took to the movies of that decade and stumbled upon the delightful The Addams Family .

Halloween hangover | A Hogwarts Halloween

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A feeble attempt at recreating that 8th Harry Potter movie poster. I can't say it enough that I love Halloween and this year was probably one of the best, if not the best. First off My Bibe and I took leaps in the dressing-up department with her donning a Maleficent Halloween costume and me transforming into Voldemort . Yeah, they do make a good couple. Second, our department decided to join our HR's workplace decorating contest for the first time since it came to be 3 years ago. Interestingly, our building's 16th floor won this thing 3 friggin' years in a row. I showed my colleagues photos from last year where they went with a carnivale Halloween theme  and told them this is what we're up against. After firming up our collective decision to join, I pushed for a Hogwarts theme. We transformed our workplace into the famed witchcraft and wizardry school from J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter books. Or at least we tried.

Halloween hangover | When Voldemort met Maleficent

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Halloween is one of my most favorite occasions and I'm personally glad that it's becoming more and more widespread each year in this part of the world. All the costumes and trick or treating were not really existent when I was a kid, so I guess I'm more than making up for that deprivation right now as an adult.  Since 2008 I've been dressing up for Halloween at the office. No, not for any party, just the office. I've had my costuming debut as The Joker , then put on much easier stuff like a devil-turned-angel and The Big Bang Theory's Sheldon Cooper . Later My Bibe would also join me in playing dress-up and so far we've done Goldilocks and the Three Bears (with our cats) and Alice in Wonderland , where she was Alice and I the White Rabbit. This year, we sort of leveled up. She was Maleficent while I was The Dark Lord. I did Voldemort to coincide with our Hogwarts-themed workplace decor. Anyway, here's us. Voldemort was instantly smitten

[Throwback Thursday 10.23.2014] Memories of Azkaban

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Expecto Patronum you say? Throughout my years of stay in this job, I've seen how Halloween has evolved into one of the most-awaited occasions here at our head office. From simple trick or treat activities organized by small groups many years ago, Halloween celebrations have since grown in scope that later involved decorating office areas and which have only become grander each year. Our HR has even been handing out prizes for the "best floor" for the last 3 years. Zooming in on our department, we first tried our hand at serious decorating 7 years ago in 2007. We held a contest where cubicles were clustered into teams, competing for cash prizes donated by our bosses. At the time we fondly called our area " Azkaban " after a floor re-layout that left us feeling we were in an enclosed pen or something. Anyway, we stuck with it and used it as our theme for the decorating contest.

[Lookbook 10.22.2014] Gray, brown, and a touch of red

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I realized I've been too busy with a lot of things both at work and at home, and that I haven't even had the time to post something in a week. Now an outfit post should at least address that. Today's look is purposely casual because I was going out to a different office for a meeting. And since that meeting was basically with engineers, I felt I would be totally out of place if I dressed up. Besides, it's not like the venue was within the business district. So I wore jeans. Leggings jeans as Uniqlo calls it.

[Lookbook 10.14.14] Purple delight

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I thought of wearing a proper office shirt today--you know, that simple, classic, long-sleeved, buttoned type that's best worn with a necktie. But then I ended up not looking very business-like.

[Lookbook 10.10.2014] Blade runner

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It was the last day of our week-long #OurSmartStyle wellness fair at the office today. Aside from it being our last chance to score some discounted stuff, it was also our last chance to exploit the photo booth. Unfortunately for my teammates and I, others had the same thing in mind as well, so our time in front of the photo wall was limited. And unfortunately for me and my narcissistic tendencies, it meant I couldn't use the mini-stage for my outfit post. Nonetheless I took to the "sidelines" and made use of other backdrops and props. Haha!

[Lookbook 10.09.2014] Color-taming

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Despite all the deadlines and the gazillion more things to do, it's fun times at work this week as our HR is holding a wellness fair for us with a particular focus on style. Dubbed #OurSmartStyle, the week-long event features booths from various partners like Robinsons Dept. Store, Belo Medical Group, Fitness First, G2000, Basic House, and more. There's everything from discounted apparel and fragrances to free hair and makeup. So my colleagues and I checked out the photobooth at the lobby. But since 4 shots and 1 print clearly ain't enough, we also brought our own camera. And of course I got some shots for this outfit post.

Team building fun at Gratchi's Getaway, Tagaytay

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The threat of rain that never came as everyone was huddled inside one of around 3 or 4 "tents" at Gratchi's. My colleagues and I enjoyed a fun-filled Friday last week as we all trooped to Gratchi's Getaway in Tagaytay for a cascade and team building session. Technically it's in Silang, Cavite but as with a lot of other establishments, it chose to adopt the more recognizable Tagaytay as its location. Set along a rolling and hilly terrain with wide open spaces, Gratchi's specifically caters to groups and companies looking for a venue for their team building activities. So what do they have here? Let's take a look.

[Lookbook 10.03.2014] Sleek but chill

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Our department had a little cascade and team building yesterday in Tagaytay. It was definitely a fun day for all of us, capped by a very filling dinner. For the most part of the day I was just clad in shorts, t-shirt, and flip-flops. But before we left the team-building site and right after a good shower, I changed into walking shorts and a turtleneck top. I chose this long-sleeve top supposedly in preparation for colder temperatures at night but unfortunately it didn't get that cold. Good thing the turtleneck is light enough that I didn't sweat.

Shop at Nordstrom.com for less

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Yeah, I know, top model Sean O'Pry looks dashing in that suit that he so comfortably dressed down a bit by going tie-less. It's an Armani suit, no wonder. But just how can I possibly afford $2,195, you might ask. Well, for many of us who don't belong to the 1%, we can save up but unfortunately that will take time. But how about if we can slash a couple hundred dollars off that, say, 15%? How about 25%, or even 60%? That would definitely lessen the time it will take for us to save up on the right amount, don't you think? And yes, that is very possible through Nordstrom coupons . Every time I go flipping through GQ's April and September issues--fashion magazine-dom's biggest--I always go slowly over those Nordstrom ads with wishful thinking that I could own such exquisite pieces.

[Lookbook 10.01.2014] "Button-down" buttoned up

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"Hooh! Who's that guy?" our little girl Thordis mused. I'm not trying to be some snooty menswear guru but I get irked every time I see posts advertising "button-downs" when they're all simply referring to a buttoned shirt (or button-front shirt, if you will). I see them everywhere, ironically even on local men's fashion magazines and from local brands themselves. I've long learned that a button-down is a shirt whose collar tips are fastened to the shirt's front panel with buttons, hence the name. By no means does it refer to any shirt with buttons on the front as a lot of local brands and magazines purport them to be.

10 random coats that make me wish for fall

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There's really something about fall fashion that captivates me. Maybe it's the layering. I don't know if it's the pieces themselves like sweaters and coats. Or maybe it's the fact that I simply cannot wear them here in this climate, hence the feeling of deprivation, that longing for such wear that it already becomes aspirational to me. Oh well, pardon me for such repeated musings because it's these 10 coats here that got me all started again. At least those of you with four seasons can use one or two of these as temperatures start to drop. (L) This floral jacquard overcoat is love. Wear this and you easily stand out amidst a sea of blacks and grays in the fall. From Our Legacy . (R) Brushed knit, cool stitching details. What's not to love about this Wings + Horns Chesterfield jacket?

Wearing colored pants: Maroon, wine, bordeaux, whatever

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Wearing darker-hued trousers leaves a man with much less trouble in picking a shirt and jacket to go with it. Now colored pants--much so bright ones--can be a little challenging at times. But then it's nice to wear some color, even on occasion. I previously showed some ideas on  how to wear green pants  and how to wear orange pants  based on how I've worn such items in the past but now let's turn to something that's much safer in my opinion. It's called by many names--bordeaux, maroon, wine--but however you call it, here are a few personal experiences with this pant color. Pair it with brown Black is probably the safest to use with maroon pants but try adding some brown into the mix. In this look I put on a brown plaid blazer that just happened to have some nice maroon lines that easily anchors the blazer to the pants. But with or without those lines, most shades of brown will work on their own.

East Dane's 1st anniversary capsule collection

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Now ain't that a lovely pile? Southern Field Industries waxed canvas backpack (perfect for fall since it's waxed), a pair of very handsome Grenson G Lab brogue boots, Marc by Marc Jacobs Martin wallet, and some über stylish Miansai jewelry. These items are but part of an exclusive capsule collection in celebration of East Dane 's first year anniversary. Brother site to Shopbop.com , East Dane is an online menswear shopping site that features more than 200 designers and brands both heritage and new. Navigating the site is a breeze. Apart from affording customers several different ways to search and filter items (from clothing type to brand/designer, size and even color), it also allows you to personalize your shopping experience. You can tag which pieces and designers you like best, which items should go on your watch list,  or even write a review. Now here's more of their collection:

[Lookbook 09.24.2014] Keen for some sheen

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It's my third day this week wearing old trousers that fit me again. That feeling like you just scored a lot of new clothes, it's great. After wearing plaid pants 2 days in a row, today I felt the need for something shiny.

East Dane's latest brands to watch

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One of the things I love about menswear online shopping site East Dane is that I get introduced to some really fine brands I've never even heard of. I admit that my knowledge of fashion, particularly of brands and designers, is not much. Just recently the site came up with Ones to Watch , a list of 5 brands it says should be on our radar, and I agree. 1. Han Kjøbenhavn The Danish label blends innovative and classic Danish design. Its fall collection is characterized by minimalist styles, a neutral color palette, and nuanced details. Apart from jeans and trench coats, you'll also find a few pastel colors in their buttoned shirts and tees, though.

[Lookbook 09.22.2014] Glad to be in plaid

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My birth month's almost over but I'm glad to have some "new old clothes." They're basically old clothes I've set aside to be given away because they don't fit me anymore. However, as I was sorting a pile yesterday, I discovered some of them fit me again--much to my delight, of course, that I had to reconsider giving away all of them. I kept a few, including the pants I'm wearing today. It was like having a bunch of new clothes, only they're really old ones.

[Lookbook 09.17.2014] A touch of 80s

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The morning after I turned another year older...picked up the cats and did an impromptu lookbook shoot with an S5 while waiting for our ride. Cats being cats, they naturally weren't too pleased about it.

Cuff 'em and brace for more

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It's a given that unlike women, men have much less to work with in terms of accessorizing. But thankfully accessories designers have been pushing the envelope--however gradually--in providing guys with much more options. In this post I'm taking a look at some really cool cuffs and bracelets. Okay, I'm ogling at them. Fishing hook cuff by Miansai . A bracelet in malleable sterling silver that takes the shape of a fishing hook of all things! Now how cool is that!

Fall fawning and winter wishing

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If there’s one thing good about living in the tropics, it’s that you get to enjoy the beach almost year- round. And with that, you get to wear the lightest of clothes from t-shirts to tank tops and shorts. However, there’s always that yearning somewhere for layering, which would only most likely result in beads of sweat trickling down my face. This is when I wish I were in a different climate where fall and winter come each year. I don’t necessarily long for snow; just the cooler temperatures that give me the perfect excuse to wear clothes on top of another. These are but a few of the stuff I’d love to, and wish I could, wear this season. So here goes. 1. A double-breasted coat Oh, wouldn’t it be great to saunter down the city streets in a DB coat, with its tails flipping graciously in the cool autumn wind as you take a sip off your Starbucks cup? It’s sartorial elegance at its finest. Double-breasted coat by Dolce & Gabbana . 2. A cape As if the flapping hems of a c

[Throwback (Travel) Thursday 09.11.2014] A sampling of Siargao Island sans the surfing

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 The winding wooden walkway at Cloud 9 in Siargao Island.   With the Siargao International Surfing Cup drawing near – which is now on its 20th year, by the way – I'm taking a look back at that one time I visited the lovely Siargao Island in Surigao del Norte, Philippines. Dubbed as the "Surfing Capital of the Philippines," Siargao first came into my consciousness after I chanced upon an article from our company employee newsletter. It was about a certain international surfing competition where our company was one of the sponsors. I got intrigued. Fast-forward to February 2002, I found myself in Surigao City for a work assignment. With Siargao just 3 hours away by slow ferry and about 1.5 hours by fastcraft, the chance to visit the island was just too good to pass up even if rains are expected in the area from January through July. Undaunted by the weather, I embarked on this little journey of mine – alone – and sailed for three hours while huge waves rocked our

[Lookbook 09.08.2014] Clean and khaki

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So this is what greets us in the morning when we're about to leave the house: cats giving us some curious and judging stares. It could be "What's taking you so long? Go now and leave us in peace!" or "You're late. What are you looking at?" But then it could also be "That outfit's horrible!"

Rediscovering old school at Back Alley Barbershop

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I've always been a salon kind of guy. As a kid it may have always been a trip to the local barber for haircuts but once that "consciousness" arrived in my teenage years, I graduated to salons. I guess it had to do with this perception that they're more attuned to current hairstyles than old barbers. But then not all salon-based stylists are good. Anyway after twenty-something years I found myself at a barbershop again just yesterday afternoon. Following a failed call for an appointment at my go-to salon, My Bibe suggested I try Back Alley Barbershop , which she'd been following on Instagram. Alright, I thought, time to try something new by going old school (ironically). As old school as this place can get, they play music from vinyl.

[Lookbook 08.28.2014] Militarized

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Military jackets were once the toast of designers a few seasons ago. But just because they're no longer in vogue doesn't mean we can't wear them anymore, right? At the end of the day it's still a jacket anyway. So today I found the perfect excuse to wear one. I think it's because I woke up feeling cold. It was raining and the slightly cooler temperatures outside were further intensified by the air conditioning in the bedroom, which, as expected would be the same in the office.

Back to school in style

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The end of summer in the Northern Hemisphere also signals the start of something that a lot of people surely dread: school. Good thing I've already graduated ages ago. But for the rest of you who will once again be facing the daily grind of books, homework, boring professors and whatnot, maybe school can be a little more bearable if we think of what to wear on those long schooldays. Yeah, we probably need to be a little shallow sometimes. Online menswear shopping site East Dane has put up a special selection of stuff that's perfect for all you school-going guys. Here are but a few of the items you'll probably need to face the tiring months ahead. A Jansport backpack. The backpack is every guy in school's go-to bag to stuff everything in.

[Throwback (Travel) Thursday 08.28.2014] Sauntering through the Batad rice terraces in a loincloth

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An Ifugao warrior wannabe. Or better yet, an Ifugao warrior poser. This was taken back in April 2005 in Batad , a small village in Banaue, Ifugao, famed for its amphitheater-like rice terraces. I was with a group of four other friends to catch Banaue's Imbayah Festival that year. After the festival we proceeded to Batad and spent the night there. The bahag , or loincloth, is mine, by the way. I got it from a shop in Banaue while everything else from the headgear, the spear, and the wooden shield were lent to me by the inn's owner. I guess he was amused by this half-white guy in a bahag.

Bootie call

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I just finished cleaning up two of my boots. I haven't worn them in a while so I decided to check them out, planning to wear them soon because it's been raining again lately. But to my horror I found molds on them. Ugh! I like boots. I feel like they lend me some degree of badassery. But of course they come in different shapes and styles, not just the usual leather lace-ups. Here are a few of my picks for you: Clockwise from top: (1) Dearborn NYC wingtip boots by John Varvatos Star USA . I love the contrast between the formality of the broguing and the casualness of the aged leather. (2) Leather lace-up boots by Viktor & Rolf . This is simply badass. (3) Richmond boots by Bespoken . It's a classic design that I like given a touch of attitude with some camo canvas trim.

Wearing colored pants: Bright and rusty

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I do admit that wearing darker-hued trousers leaves a man with much less trouble in picking a shirt and jacket to go with it. Now colored pants--much so bright ones--can be a little challenging at times. But then it's nice to wear some color, even on occasion. After showing you some ideas on how to wear green pants , let's see about bright, rust orange jeans this time. They're jeans, so t-shirts are a no-brainer, even polo shirts. But it's not about them, right? It's more about what colors go well with orange. For starters, white, blue and brown go nicely with orange. But putting on more colors, like this graphic print shirt here, can also work. While there's blue, yellow, green, and red on this tee, there's also some orange on it, which conveniently ties everything else to the jeans's color. For footwear, it's brown high-cut sneakers here because like I said, it goes well with orange.

Dancing baby Groot

Still hung up from the fun-filled Guardians of the Galaxy, I so want a dancing baby Groot toy for myself, maybe something in this mold:

Wearing colored pants: It can be easy being green

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I do admit that wearing darker-hued trousers leaves a man with much less trouble in picking a shirt and jacket to go with it. Now colored pants --much so bright ones--can be a little challenging at times. But then it's nice to wear some color, even on occasion. Take, for instance, green. Just what do you wear it with? Here are a few ideas that I've pulled off myself, extracted from my lookbook archives . Bright green I don't know what shade of green this is but pairing it with a white shirt is your safest bet. White belt, why not? The bold color just screams casual, so loafers are in order. A dark blue jacket probably wouldn't hurt but if you're feeling a little adventurous, why not put on a madras jacket like this one? Even if it's a patterned jacket, it still works because the dominant color is blue. Besides, it's also anchored on the little blue, red and white details on my loafers.

Dog days: There's still time for swim shorts

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While monsoon rains and the occasional typhoons are upon us this part of the globe, it's the dog days of summer elsewhere in the Northern Hemisphere. Oh how I envy you guys because I so miss the beach already. Now while most people pick up their swimwear early on at summer's onset, there's still pretty much lots of time to grab a couple more. It doesn't hurt that a lot of them are also on sale. Now let's take a look at what's still in store. How about some swim shorts that could pass off as regular shorts? It doesn't sound like a bad idea to be sauntering around town in them and then in some spur of the moment decision take a plunge into the water. Clockwise from top left: (1) Thigh-length swim trunks with front-seam pockets, chino-style top block, and adjustable waist tabs, from Swim-Ology . (2) Mid-length swim trunks in a gingham pattern, with a lace-up waist, Velcro fly, and adjustable side tabs, from Parke & Ronen . (3) Mid-length

To Hong Kong and Macau via Schick's Smooth Lee Promo

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I've been growing my facial hair for a while now but I guess it's time to pick up that razor once again and enjoy a nice clean shave because Schick is offering us all a chance to win a trip to Hong Kong and Macau. Oh yeah, it's a 4 days / 3 nights trip with free Ocean Adventure and Hong Kong Disneyland tours, not to mention USD 500 in pocket money! All you have to do is join Schick's #SMOOTHLEEADVENTURE promo where participants will be asked to create their own Schick TVC using the Smooth Lee Adventure mobile app. The app is available for both IOS and Android phones.

Upgrade that backpack with some leather

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Yes, it's hard to let go of a backpack. It's functional, it keeps your hands free, and it's just plain easy to carry around. But sometimes the backpack can look a bit out of place if you're in an office attire, let alone a suit. It could even ruin an otherwise stylishly casual outfit. You can't be in jeans or shorts and sneakers all the time, can you? But still, you just don't want to trade that backpack with a briefcase or something. Fortunately designers of late have found ways to give that trusty backpack an upgrade that it won't look out of place in a business suit. The use of leather, of course, comes as no surprise. Here are some gorgeous leather backpacks that you can consider for those days when you just can't be too casual. J.W. Hulme Co. Continental Backpack A gorgeous rucksack design in a fantastic color, this backpack has 3 pockets and a padded tablet sleeve inside.

Philpop 2014 Top 12: A belated discovery

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While everything else was drowned out by The Voice Kids Philippines finals last Saturday night, the 3rd Philippine Popular Music Festival (Philpop) was happening elsewhere at the Meralco Theater where 12 finalists competed for the Php 1million top plum. I watched neither of the two shows but my online meandering led me to an article citing that the winning song " Salbabida " (by composer Jungee Marcelo) was interpreted by Kyla, who's making a comeback of sorts in the local music scene. It got me interested because I kinda like Kyla's voice, so I watched the video, which led to many other clicks until I was done with all 12 songs. While Salbabida (a life buoy or floatation device) to me deserved the win, there were a couple other nice songs in the list, and it was particularly refreshing to see a lot of fast-paced entries in the mix. I don't know what Philpop's criteria were but here are a few of my personal picks (in no particular order): Qrush On Yo

Crunch time: Additional 25% off on sale items at East Dane

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Menswear online shopping site East Dane is holding a 2-day special sale until Wednesday, July 23 at 11:59 PM PST. Already in full swing as of this writing, the sale entitles customers to an additional 25% off on items that are already on sale to begin with! Just enter the promo code "25EXTRA" upon checkout. The offer discount will be allocated proportionally among all promotional items in your order. Check out this page for more details.

Care for some Scotch & Soda?

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Cliché as it may sound, white and blue works for that bit of nautical feel in your outfit. It's been around since the 80s but since its rebirth in 2001, Amsterdam-based Scotch & Soda has seen an explosion of style that's high on quality, detail, and affordability. The brand usually takes inspiration from classic and vintage styles of yore infused with modern inspirations from around the globe.

In and around the church at Samboan, Cebu

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The little angel is bored, waiting for the Flores de Mayo service to start. Last May, after enjoying the lure of eco-tourism in Aloguinsan , checking out the heritage richness of Boljoon , and then making a quick stop at the town of Oslob , My Bibe and company also dropped by the church at Samboan . Samboan is a fifth class municipality with its own share of history and is home to a couple of waterfalls and a marine sanctuary. My Bibe wasn't really able to check any of these out, just the church. Nevertheless I had a peek into this town's simple yet arguably charming life through her Instagram photos.

Oslob: Beyond Sumilon and the whale shark frenzy

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Remnants of the Baluarte at the town of Oslob. I haven't been to Oslob , a fourth class municipality in the southern part of Cebu province. But I probably know Oslob because of Sumilon Island and regrettably, the whale shark feeding in Tan-awan, of which I'm totally against. Little did I know that the town also has a few historical places of interest, thanks to My Bibe's Instagram photos from her Southern Cebu trip some 2 months ago. And might I say they made me want to check this town out myself.