halfwhiteboy

Ah, Christmas in the tropics. No matter the slight drop in temperatures, we're still far from the snowy white holidays etched into our minds. But at least we can enjoy the beach with no problem. And I get to wear shorts and a tropical print shirt any time I wish, just like in the photo above, taken in 2018. Meanwhile, face-to-face Christmas parties are back and our department chose a luau theme . I personally would have wanted something that entailed a bit more effort (yes, it's way too easy) but there's no point in sulking. They say happiness is a choice and I chose to be happy and just enjoy the theme, so much so that I decided to wear luau-themed office wear for two weeks leading up to our party (Caveat: We're on a hybrid work arrangement, so I wasn't at the office all throughout those two weeks) .

I know it's supposed to be a religious occasion but realistically speaking, Holy Week here in the Philippines means vacation time for a lot of people. And since it's summer, trips usually involve sun, sand, and sea. Unfortunately for me, I'll just be at home for the third straight year. But while I sorely miss trips to the beach, I can at least dress up as if I were on one. Tropical print shirts will forever be a summer staple and the designs are endless. Here I picked one in a light peach hue and paired it with shorts in a darker peach shade . Matchy-matchy but not quite. So I may be indoors but I can certainly feel the summer vibe outfit-wise. How about you, any plans for Holy Week?

Messy hair, don't care. Week's almost over. Went with some summery vibes again today with another tropical print shirt that I paired with khaki shorts. Normally I would stick to a fit that's closer to the body but I'm slowly embracing all these loose-fitting shirts of late. Comfy!

Gloomy weather in this part of the world today. And it's a Monday. Not a good combination. So I thought of channeling some summer vibes today with this tropical print shirt . Hopefully it inspires cheer and a sunny outlook to get me through the day and the rest of the week. 

Summer ain't letting up just yet in this part of the world, another reason to take yet another printed short-sleeve shirt for a spin. This one is fun because it's got pirate ships, octopuses, fish, and other marine life. You'd think it's an ocean-themed print but no, because it also has flowers, palm trees, and colorful birds. But who cares? All these make for a collectively striking visual set against a dark blue background.

Cliché as it may be but wearing tropical print shirts for summer will always be a thing. And there never seems to be enough of these prints each time. And why limit it to the beach when you can very well wear them to work?

It's January and already I'm dressed up for summer . Temperatures may be a wee bit cooler now in this part of the world but it's no winter for sure. It's forever summer in the Philippines, y'all!

I know, how odd, right? When we say Christmas we most certainly think of snow and pine trees and all that. Yet here I am in full tropical gear-- tropical print shirt , linen shorts , and boat shoes. And what a major mismatch with the backdrop! Haha!

I realized that this tropical print bomber jacket is one jacket that's not very easy to wear. Yeah, the print is very eye-catching but it seems to clash with almost everything I try to put on. Black is obviously a safe bet but it can't always be black. Here I tried red. I took a cue from the red stripes around the jacket's collar, cuffs, and waist, so I guess it would work.

Who says we all need to dress up dark and dreary during days when it's gloomy and rainy? We could all use some color or summer element to usher in some cheer, couldn't we? Here I'm taking my tropical print bomber jacket for a spin. Aside from the green, the pops of orange and smaller streaks of blue provide much needed color for the rainy days. It's all still anchored on black, though, so I'm not completely out of touch with the weather.

Cliché as it is, tropical prints are so summer that they're meant for the beach. In fact it's a shame that it's only now that I've worn this shirt to one. Buttoned shirts have always been city wear for me, like this time when I paired this tropical print shirt with white pants while strolling around The Henry Hotel Manila and felt like a haciendero . I even wore it to the office with light blue seersucker-like pants for an all-blue ensemble . From afar it looks just white or a very light blue but up close you'll see the fine stripes, which makes it safe to pair with a loud printed top. Come to think of it, save for the shoes, it's the exact same pairing I'm sporting on the beach right here. But office or beach, what's the difference?

I sense an entity behind me. And boom, there were two!