The Guide: How to Get Sold in Style

If you happen to have a cool, budding surf brand on your hands and it just got sold, take a cue from these Newport Beach hipsters from Warriors of Radness. They took it pretty well, I think.

The Guide: Casio Watches at Mustafa

For those who've been e-mailing me for months, asking where I got my gold Casio watch, this post is for you. Yes, all of you. You see, I only have one go-to place if I want to get my cheap-watch game on in Singapore and that's in the forever open Mustafa Mall right smack dab in the middle of Little India. Whether you prefer flashy gold-plated goodies or sleek black plastic pieces, you'll quickly see that all the Casio classics are all here for the picking! I just wouldn't advise going on a Sunday though. It's the only time when even these great finds really aren't worth it.

Cheap thrills at its finest! Thinking of getting more in the coming weeks!

The Guide: Trusting the Classics

An essential video from Close Up and Private’s Sergei Sviatchenko. My sentiments exactly.

The Guide: My Personal Travel Essentials

Whether it be in Singapore or Manila, there seems to be a tourist uniform that men always follow. Yes, I'm talking about the raggedy shirt, baggy cargos, and flip-flop ensemble. While it may be most comfortable to go around in, one may find oneself at a disadvantage while sporting them. The world of no-shoes, no-pants, no-service still exists after all, and even beyond that, wouldn't you want to look good in all those pictures you're going to take? That's why I wanted to share my travel essentials for my trip to Hong Kong. No, I don't plan on dressing to the nines, but I don't want to go out looking like I just stepped out of my living room either. A middle-ground, I'd say.

So what's inside my diminutive suitcase? 1. Navy collared shirt (Lacoste) for those swankier malls. 2. Yellow V-neck (Gap) for those walk-in-the-sun tourist attraction days. 3. White oxford shirt (Uniqlo) for that fancy dinner date. 4. White logo shirt (Comme Des Garcons Play) for those artful, hipster-y places. 5. Striped shirts in navy and green (Uniqlo) for some harbour front strolls. 6. Tailored khaki shorts (plain + simple) to match with number 2. 7. Blue cardigan (Topman) when mall shopping gives you the chills. 8. Tortoise-shell Clubmasters (Ray-Ban) for every single day (sunlight optional). 9. Navy jeans (Muji) for everything else on this list. 10. Bag? You know it!

I think I'll be okay with these. As for shoes, that's in another post!

The Guide: Stripes, Definitely Fit to a T!

I've said it once, I'll say it again: If you want to make a statement, do it by not trying too hard. A lot of people have been asking me for style tips and the one thing I always say is to keep things simple. In no clothing article is this more applicable than t-shirts. Sadly, the whole scene in Manila is dominated either by tacky statement Ts or overly designed eyesores. My humble suggestion: striped shirts, sirs. They don't make that much of a fuss, but hey, look who instantly oozes nautical coolness? I got two here in Uniqlo for S$10 each (P350) and I couldn't be happier. In this blazing hot weather, they've become my go-to for days when button-downs just can't do!

The navy blue's the no-brainer and the green's a fresh alternative!

The other colors at Uniqlo. Fret not, though, I'm sure there are loads in Landmark!

The Guide: Perfect Summer Combinations

School's out, traffic's lightening, temperature's rising - yeah, you feel it. Summer's here, boys, and no better way to welcome it than by putting on some summer-friendly pairings that are as part of the season as a trip to the beach. For a leisurely day out, I put on some crumpled khakis, folded 'em and wore them with the most summery shoes of all - espadrilles (or at least something espadrille-y) from Toms. As destiny would have it, a man supported this post's sentiments by wearing slim khakis with another summer favorite - all white sneakers. Ah, this season may just be the most irritating cause of that damn heat, but at least your style can sizzle right along with it.

Sockless is the way to go, especially during the humid days of April and May

I love the slim cut of the guy's pants here. Again, khakis are summer essentials!

The Guide: One Item, Multiple Colors

Have you ever bought something in multiple colors? How'd you feel about it? A bit too indulgent, wasteful even? Well, I bought three oxford shirts from Uniqlo some months ago, and much to my surprise, I didn't feel a thing. Actually, if I'm going to be honest here, there was a hint of regret, but more because I didn't get the other colors I really wanted. Great move, as it turns out. I've been wearing every piece as much as I can and thinking about the others I didn't get non-stop.

Who knew? What I once deemed to be the ultimate rich-guy dick move has now become something that I endorse. I'm not loaded by any means, but once you think about it, this approach makes a lot of sense. When you find something that works well for you, you go to it over and over again. Get that sucker in every color and look good all the time, I say. And don't you worry about your dear wallet. You'll actually end up buying less in the long run because you'll be so preoccupied with the great choices you've already got. Yup, sounds pretty practical to me.

Find a shirt you love and have at all the colors!

The Guide: A Winning Combination

I don't wear socks often (well, not ones that show at least), but when I do, I go for the colored and more interesting varieties to keep things fun. But what color to use for those beautiful shoes you prefer? Well, for brown shoes at least, there's no beating red socks. There's just something about caramel browns and deep reds which bring out the best of each other. I wore it last week when I went to fashion week with light jeans, a white shirt, and a gray cardigan. The footwear pairing was easily the highlight of my outfit and I think it worked out pretty well, yes?

Caramel Loafers (Opening Ceremony), Striped Red Socks (Greenhills)
Light Jeans (Zara), Gray Cardigan Peeking (Topman)

The Guide: Getting Down with Down Vests

Ever since I put up a country counter on the blog page, I've been surprised to see that I get a lot more readers from the US than I expected. Well, for you Yankees out there who are now experiencing fall weather, I would just like to say I envy you, you lucky sons of bitches. Not just because you live in a first world country, but more because you get to sport those lovely down vests without sweating your asses off like we probably would here in the tropics.

Yes, as you may have deduced, I have admired those chunky sleeveless jackets for quite some time now. It's not really a problem during the rest of the year, but when the fall stuff start rolling out, oh boy. It's like brands such as Gap and Zara purposely taunt me by making them available here, knowing full well I can't wear them. A shame because it's such a great swagger-adding item that can be paired with jeans or nice trousers alike. I wonder then, would a weekly trip to Tagaytay with the family justify purchasing one? The thought, I admit, intrigues me to no end.

Gap has them in a multitude of colors. Some similar to these bad boys.

Chris Paul demonstrates how to down it most effectively

Hell, even Marty looked so Mcfly in 'em in the 80s!

Photos courtesy of High Snobiety, GQ, and Movie Store

Style I Love: Bow Tie + Windbreaker Combo

For some reason, I love tying bow ties. I own several with clip-on options at the back, but I never use them. There's just something about nailing that perfect knot every time that gets me. Aside from that achievement, though, another challenge I love facing is knowing what to pair with that neatly tied bow. Wearing it dictates so much formality on the outfit, so I do the opposite: I dress it down. Here, I paired it with a windbreaker partly because it's been raining, but mostly because of it's sporty feel. It's sort of like how those stereotype professors or grandpas wear cardigans with their bow ties, but way more fresher, as the very fly Jay-Z would say.

Browline glasses (Ray-Ban), Striped Bow Tie (Joey Samson), Oxford Shirt (Uniqlo)
Windbreaker (Giordano), Khaki Pants (Banana Republic), Weird Hair (My Own)

Photos courtesy of Justine Ferrer

The Happening: The Week of the Tie (Day 5)

Whoops, skipped a day. Sorry about that folks. It was quite the busy Thursday at the office so taking photos was pretty much out of the question. But we're back, baby, and on casual Friday no less! To have a quirky close to what has been the blog's most decent attempt at a style diary to date, I decided to go with something different for Day 5. I busted out my favorite bow tie, you guys, the one my girlfriend gave me exactly two years ago this day!

It's as awesome now as it was back then and the fact that it's made of knitted cotton makes it the perfect match to any casual outfit. Key here is to dress down the bow tie, so I went with plaid on the button-down to attract attention away from it and I wore jeans to dress down the look even further. I must admit, I'm pretty happy with how it all turned out. Ultimately, it shows you that rocking a bow tie can be done even without an occasion. You just have to live a little, bruh!

Bow Tie (Joey Samson), Plaid Button-down (Uniqlo), Watch (Timex)

Bracelet (Topman), Belt (Nautica), Jeans (Zara), Moccasins (Zara)

Photos courtesy of Justine Ferrer and Ivy Tan

The Happening: The Week of the Tie (Day 3)

Midway through Tie Week, dear sirs! Today, I decided to try something I've never done before: Go old school military and tuck my tie into my shirt. I've seen many an officer do it in all those war movies my dad loves to watch and thought, why the hell not? They looked handsome in uniform and there's no reason it won't have the same effect on me too! (Yeah, so humble, I know.)

To keep with the theme, I chose a military shirt as base instead of the usual button-down. I tucked my tie between the second and third/third and fourth buttons and voila: An authoritative yet sophisticated look all at the same time. The scarf-like aesthetic of the tucked tie is unusual and refreshing, but be warned: it requires confidence and the patience to point out that yes, the tie really is supposed to be like that. That little hurdle notwithstanding, it's another great reason to go the extra mile and rock a tie just for the heck of it!

Military Shirt (Gap), Tie (Original Penguin), Belt (Nautica), Trousers (Topman)

Photos courtesy of Justine Ferrer

The Happening: The Week of the Tie (Day 2)

For Day 2 of the blog's Tie Week, I opted to go for the opposite of Day 1's approach. Instead of donning a black and white outfit and making it interesting, I went with a pastel colored ensemble and muted it with this lovely new navy knit number I found at Forever 21. The pink of the oxford and the blue of the chinos were a match made in heaven. And I figured that the new tie was a perfect complement as the little dots on it were of the same color as my pants.

If anything, though, today's lesson is all about how awesome knit ties are. I'm glad more and more stores are adding them to their lineup because no tie could really merge the casual and the formal as well as these do. I already have three in the closet (from Bench, Uniqlo, and Forever 21) and I'm sure it won't stop there. Not if they're as cheap as this Forever 21 bargain which I got for only P615. There's one in white too, but as always, you can never go wrong with navy!

Oxford Shirt (Uniqlo), Navy Polka Dot Knit Tie (21 Men), Belt (Nautica)
Chinos (Uniqlo), Deconstructed Loafers (Band of Outsiders x Sperry)

Photos courtesy of Justine Ferrer

The Guide: Going to the Club in Style

I'd like to think of myself as a pretty laid back guy. My idea of a good time is simple: watching a movie with my girlfriend, eating out, strolling around the mall, and drinking a little bit with my friends. Occasionally, though, I fancy going out into the clubs, taking a few shots, and dancing the night away (yeah, dancing, what of it?). Just this past Friday, we found ourselves in Republiq - a fine place, but what some of the guys wore, sheesh. It wasn't pretty.

When it comes to what to wear on night outs, girls have it easy. Short skirts, heels, playful top - okay. But what about the guys? While by no means a regular, I observed that this was the current men's uniform: jeans, crisp long-sleeve shirts, pointy loafers/sneakers, and even sometimes, formal blazers. I'm sorry, but is this what guys wear to meet some nice girl and nothing but innocent fun? I don't know about you, but it all shouts "trying too hard" to me.

On these nights, a cardigan or thin pullover sweater can be your best friend. Whether it be over a short-sleeved polo or just a plain buttondown, these versatile pieces can bring your look to a higher level of cool without going overboard. Pair them with some nice slim denims or khakis and throw those pointy shoes in the trash bin. Simple sneakers and basic loafers will do. Just make sure they're the low-maintenance type. Believe you me, they will get stepped on. I, my friends, learned that the hard way.

Cardigans dress you up without trying too hard.

Ditto for a pullover sweater. Comes across as smart and totally harmless.

Pictures courtesy of J.Crew

The Happening: Ari Gold Ties It Together

When it comes to my favorite fictional characters on TV, Ari Gold of Entourage is way up there. I just love the way the world's biggest Hollywood agent seems to pull out witty offensive insults out of his ass every single episode. What I don't love as much, though, is the way his tie game looked earlier on in the show. You'd think he'd figure it out (he wore a suits and ties every episode), but he truly only got it right in the currently running seventh season.

The problem with his technique in the earlier seasons was that he was using super wide ties without buttoning the top button of his shirt. There was a disconnect in the look he was going for because he chose the formal power tie while going for the very casual unfastened top button. Not good. What's more, he chose a Windsor knot, which makes his already thick tie look more oversized than it is for an open collar. Clearly, this is not something Don Draper would do.

As the seasons went by, thankfully his ties became narrower and his top-button went fastened. (Maybe a function of becoming the head of the world's biggest talent agency?) He discovered the magic of the thinner four-in-hand tie knot too and now, after seven long seasons, he can finally insult the best of 'em while looking like the big power player he always makes himself out to be. Never too late for some cohesiveness now, so let's hug it out, Mr. Gold.

The tie almost dwarfs the powerful man in the suit (from earlier seasons)

Getting better but I'm not entirely convinced just yet (succeeding seasons)

Boom: four-in-hand knot, top button closed, and the pocket square doesn't hurt too

Style I Love: The Charm of the Tuck-in Look

I'm usually not the tuck-in type of guy. I just do it when I have to. I mean, in this ungodly heat, why close off more holes where cool air could breeze in, right? Thankfully, though, these Uniqlo oxfords came into my life and changed this previous take. They're somewhat longer than what I'm used to, so I had to tuck them in. Surprisingly, as I wore them with regularity, I noticed I was tucking in my other shirts too. Then I realized, I was slowly becoming a convert.

My friend and I were talking earlier about the allure of the tucked-in look and we concurred that it must be the neatness which pulls the aesthetic together. The lack of messy shirttails makes the wearer look more mature and refined than usual and the highlight of the belt also gives the outfit a whole new dimension with which to play with. All you need to pull it off, really, is a well fitting shirt and a nice belt. So damn easy. Look at me, even on the casualest of Fridays, I still found myself putting it in my pants. A simple style switch, but It's addicting, I tell you!

Oxford Shirt (Uniqlo), Braided Belt (SM Department Store)
Nylon Watch (Timex), Jeans (Zara), Shoes (Toms)

The Happening: Tsim Sha Tsui Shopping

Words cannot describe how I felt when we landed in Hong Kong. Just ask my girlfriend. I was literally foaming in the mouth in anticipation. What we've waited for for six months was finally here, and we wanted to hit the ground running to set the tone for the rest of our stay.

After a quick check-in at our conveniently located hotel in Tsim Sha Tsui (Butterfly on Prat St.) and lunch in a Chinese restaurant in Knutsford Steps, the games officially began. First up was the Miramar Shopping Centre on Nathan Road. It was small compared to the nearby colossal malls, but what it lacked in size, it made for in offerings. It housed favorites like Uniqlo, i.t, and Muji, giving me only about 30 minutes before I made my first purchases.

About a five-minute walk from the Tsim Sha Tsui MTR Station

While the goods of i.t and Muji were quite lovely in their own rights, my first cash-outs all happened in Uniqlo. I mean, how can I say no to a salmon oxford shirt, sky blue cotton chinos, and a use-it-with-anything striped shirt? How about all three items for only P2,000? Dear lord, I thought they were kidding me! Only that much for three pieces which will now figure prominently in my wardrobe rotations!

The home of classic pieces in a multitude of colors!

A fun oxford variation from the typical whites, blues, and yellows

Ditto, for this ultra comfortable sky blue cotton chinos!

A basic striped roundneck shirt: What's not to like?

Still hungry for more, we moseyed over to Silvercord Mall on Canton Road to check out what we could find. Their store lineup was much better than Miramar's with a two-floor H&M, three i.t stores (one designer, one youth-oriented, one outlet), and the Nike flagship store with a Nike iD Studio to name a few. I wasn't able to get anything, but believe you me, you're bound to find something good 'ere.

The men's department is quite small, so no go for me at this branch

You can customize Nike's trademark pieces as you wish here!

Right across Silvercord is Harbour City - the largest mall in Hong Kong - filled with high-end designer brands. Needless to say, I wasn't able to grab anything here, but window shopping at stores like Lanvin, Prada, and Louis Vuitton gave me a sneak peek into what could be (soon, baby, soon). Overall, shopping in Tsim Sha Tsui took us the whole day and while our feet hurt like hell, it left us excited to see what Hong Kong had for us in the coming days.

If you love premium brands, this is your place!

The Guide: The Milan Belt Knot

For several days now, Tommy Ton has been photographing the best Milan's men of style have to offer in behalf of GQ. Unsurprisingly, those goddamn Italians are holding it down unbelievably, with clothes that are so well-fitting, a play of color that is so refreshing, and an understanding of personal style that is so inspiring. Needless to say, we can all learn a thing or two from these dashing men of fine taste, and, true enough, I just happened to pick up a simple style trick which can add a little flair to any outfit.

Belts are often the most ignored item of a man's outfit, but not to these people. They made it a point to go out of their way and knot their belts so that all y'all can see them. A little effort and bam, instant eye-catchers. As you will notice, it doesn't matter if your belt is made of leather, canvas, or nylon, if it's too long, all the better! Actually makes me feel better that my recent bargain belt at Robinson's Department Store is a bit longer as it should be. It will be the first test to this belt knot phenomenon that's apparently all the rage in the legendarily stylish land of Milan.

Do it with muted leather belts...

...or sportier nylon or canvas numbers!

Those Italians, they know how to add that attitude!

Photos courtesy of GQ

The Guide: Wearing White Pants

They say in the States that you can't wear white pants after labor day. Why is that? When is labor day there anyways? Luckily for us, we care not for such silly rules. We can wear white pants whenever the hell we want, and as a confirmation of that liberty, I busted out my gleaming white trousers yesterday when I went off to work.

To many, white pants can be very intimidating. It easily dirties, it's hard to match anything with it, and yes, you can even look a ninny wearing one. I, however, would like to think otherwise. While you admittedly can't do anything but minimize the dirtying part (it's part of the fun!), you'd be surprised to see how easy it is to match said pants to a lot of existing items in your closet.

Start it off by pairing it with a soft colored button-down or collared shirt, something along the lines of what I'm wearing below - powder blue, pastel pink, ultra light yellow. This will make your outfit coherent without looking monochromatic. I know your trousers are like a blank canvass and all, but a light dab of color is really all you'll ever need. Subtlety, gents, is key, put those neon colors away please.

In terms of footwear, I believe classic pieces look best with white pants. White is by default a sporty color in itself already, so dress up your look with some tight loafers or oxfords to bring everything together. Black shoes with white pants can actually work like below, but if you're a bit apprehensive, brown is the way to go. Oh, and never, ever white with white. In this country where you can wear white pants whenever you want, that sirs, is my only restriction.

Powder Blue Oxford (Gap), Nubuck Straps (Topman), Braided Belt (SM)
White Trousers (Ralph Lauren), Tasseled Loafers (Bass)

The Guide: How to Wear a Brimmed Hat

Much has been made of the recent jejemon subculture that has emerged in our country. From Facebook status messages, to Youtube videos, to Twitter tweets, we've all seen them in their different incarnations. Hell, even primetime news shows ate it up. I, for one, found it quite amusing too and I still do actually, save for moments when I think we could spend our time better by actually doing something of interest. But eff it, let's ride it out till the joke becomes stale.

Anyhow, the reason I mentioned it is because it's apparently part of the jejemon lifestyle to wear their fake New Era baseball caps by just placing it on their heads. You know, just having it there without pressing it down, making it all too vulnerable to the advances of the wind. This in mind, it made me wonder if the rule also applies to brimmed hats (do they ever wear those?). Because if so, then dang it, I may just be guilty of wearing my hats jeje-style.

A lot of people have asked me about how I wear my hats (i.e. my straw trilby). Over and over again, I've mentioned that I just like to kind of put it on top of my head without applying pressure. Two reasons, 1) I like showing my beaming forehead all the time and 2) I hate hat hair (even though I barely have any). My primary reason for wearing my trilby anyways is too protect my head from the sun's heat and by pressing down, I am basically adding more enclosed spaces where the heat can seep in. I guess what I'm ultimately saying is, I'm with you on this one, jejemon brothers! Screw how Justin Timberlake wears his; I like your way better!

I wear my hat exactly like this, well, mnius the slouch and the tank top preference!

Photo courtesy of Selectism