dress me up

fashionistas:

Fashion over here is...hard to pinpoint. My own style is very classic American, preppy bohemian, and compared to people over here, I'm a major minimalist. I usually wear what the Indians call "formals" to work- button downs and slacks, skirts, dresses, and high heels. By the way, you can always tell the difference between Pinoy and Indian men from the back by the way the wear their clothes.

For one example, Indians have a perfect mania for hiking boots/ crossover shoes, which they consider a *perfect* compromise between leather formals and sneakers. No matter how inappropriate it is to roll around in a pair of New Balance cross over hiking shoes and grey cigarette jeans and an Affliction tee shirt, they're down for it. Add a cigarette hanging out of their mouth and you've got Saturday at Sky, 3 am. (Not Ankit, thank god, one of his more attractive points. He does favor Doc martin style shoes, though. Only one step above, in my mind). Also, Pinoy men will wear their stuff tight, tight, tight, and their bodies are usually made for it: narrow and slender, dainty bones.

As one Pinoy innocently put it: "I guess you're not that into fayson, huh?"
Me; WHAT?!
Him: "I mean, you're usually wearing slacks, yeah?"
Me: rocked to the core. Speechless.

The typical look for girls is tight jeans (with the hem turned up and under, to avoid the dirt and water on the road) "fancy" flip flops or very feminine little sandals or flats, a long, shiny sheet of Jenny Kimura hair, parted in the middle, very little jewelry (sometime button earrings in pearl), makeup is a must, especially lipstick, and usually a tee shirt like you would find in the "juniors" dept at Macy's- highly colored, decorated, and young looking. This look is for ages 5-95. After age 95 you graduate to a mum mu.

For going out it's the tiniest shorts you can manage, usually in acid green with a sequined butterfly over the rear, and a black tank top. Also on the table: baby doll shirts, baby doll dresses, floral playsuits, acid- washed jeans, jeggins, super high club heels--your basic "SO- CAL cutie 101"- tight, body concious, bright colors, lots of prints, lots of super feminine barbie- style stuff. Mixing prints, mixing colors that don't actually match, and wearing layers is ok. So is pink and lots of bling for men.


These images are from "Freeway" shop- one of the independent, artsy shops in the mall.

Special for kez: that light pink dress is the one I'm thinking (if they have t