*more* behind-the-scenes: Furious Rose by Shopyapi.com

xxx more behind-the-scene photos of the Furious Rose photo shoot. xxx

(from left to right) laiza carmel raagas, philip lapinid, louise kim nuyda, aoi miñoza, me and eden villarba

bear with me for posting more Furious Rose shots for the rest of the week. very very busy with work and taking care of our second clothing wholesale installment. hope all of you are doing well!

don't forget to join the Vanilla Ice Cream and Shopyapi.com giveaway. runs until July 4, 2011. ♥

behind-the-scenes: Furious Rose by Shopyapi.com

Music: "Do You Realize" by The Flaming Lips

Videography: Philip Lapinid

Photography: Jonathan Carlobos of VEATA

Styling: Gizelle Faye Sembrano

MUA and Creative Direction: Eden Villarba

Styling and Production Assistance: Laiza Carmel Raagas

Shot on Location at Family Park Cebu

BOOM! 2011 x Furious Rose by ShopYapi.com

when i decided to open up shop, my market in mind was always students and yuppies. i used to draw sketches of outfits when i was young and contrary to what other aspiring designers loved to do, i was already into ready-to-wear clothes. i love couture but i always thought realistic and applicable to the real world is better -- it can be worn in many ways and is affordable. 

so when Philip Lapinid of Fashion Toy Gun asked me to sponsor clothes for a small Model Competition for their school, USJR, i couldn't say no. it offered me an opportunity to expose my brand to students. in perfect timing, my stocks for the 2nd collection of Shopyapi.com arrived last week so i whipped up 10 outfits and came up with a simple concept. Furious Rose is the name of this collection and it's an ode to grunge girl style. Furious Rose by Shopyapi.com will launch on July 1, 2011.

xxx Behind the Scenes xxx

xxx the Models wearing ShopYapi xxx

 

the first and last model on the photos is Beatrice and she won the competition. she's obviously statuesque and could have easily beaten the girls but what made her more amazing is her professionalism and humility during the whole process. she never complained, didn't act vain and when asked to tease her hair for an out-of-bed look, she took the character by heart and spent the next 10 minutes of waiting time, in front of the mirror, disarranging her hair. Congrats Beatrice!

don't forget to join Vanilla Ice Cream's giveaway that will be running until July 4, 2011. get a chance to win a green hand bag, a pleated dress and matching turquoise necklace and a graphic swimsuit. ♥ ♥ ♥

Cebu Fashion Bloggers: Starting a Community

inspired by recent get-together that the Manila bloggers had just a few weeks ago, we decided to get our asses moving and actually build a community here in Cebu. the brainchild of this whole event, Eden Villarba of Chic in the Tropics and i contacted everyone we could possible know who blogs about fashion and personal style and planned an intimate dinner, where everyone can get acquainted. the venue was at Veranda, in Park Mall and the night ended with of course, lots and lots of photos. we missed a few people though and we really do hope they could join us next time.

Toni Pino of Perfumed Red Shoes, as pretty as ever. my style muse for Shopyapi.com who's leaving for Cali in a couple of days. i'm happy for her but now i have to look for another model. lol.

the amazing Pino sisters with their equally amazing necklaces. i die!

(left-right) Gillian Uang of Detail by Details, Eden Villarba of Chic in the Tropics, yours truly, Issa of  Little Black Sheep Fashion and Vanessa East of Being Miss East

 Eden and her blazin' red hair!

Me and Lyka Raagas of Crazy/Beautiful. we've been friends since 2006 actually so it was awesome to have someone i knew that long, that night.

Maan Cajipe and Liezyl Gomez of The Red Diary

 Check out Neil San Pedro's awesome skull ring that he personally customized and hand-carved!

Gillian Uang and Neil San Pedro of NFBlogs

 Gillian Uang, Vanessa East and Me

this photo was supposed to be a candid one but Eden's camera's flash kept flickering  that we got conscious. lol.

the very pretty Vanessa East

Eden Villarba and Me

the gang! Philip Lapinid of Fashion Toy Gun, Eden Villarba, Yves Camingue of Yvestyle, Toni Pino, Lyka Raagas, Me, Maan Cajipe, Liezyl Gomez and Vanessa East

Lyka Raagas, Me, Maan Cajipe, Toni Pino, Liezyl Gomez and Andrew Sincgo of Non-Active Euthanasia (who just recently jumped on the blogging wagon)

printed sheer top - thrifted

black layered electro-pleated skirt - thrifted

studded open-toe wedges - ebay find

cerulean blue belt - shopyapi.com

teal clutch bag - borrowed from sister

cutout cuffs - shopyapi.com

tassel earrings - DIY

GIVEAWAY: Shop Yapi & Vanilla Ice Cream Gives Back!

it's really been a while since i've hosted a giveaway here so as a comeback, i'm giving away awesome items (yes! it's prural) for my blog readers and Facebook followers, locally and internationally. this is also a way to give my gratitude to my 900+ Facebook followers. i started that page to get to know equally awesome people outside my personal circle and i never expected to have such a following there. so for everyone, here's my way of saying THANK YOU!

general giveaway mechanics:

as this is a giveaway to thank followers, 

you must be a follower of Vanilla Ice Cream on facebook and/or the blog. ♥

giveaway runs from June 13 - July 4, 2011

FOR MY LOCAL READERS:

Facebook Giveaway: 

A GIGI Pleated Floral Dress with matching INEZ Turquoise and Wood Necklace 

how to join:

♥ must be a Vanilla Ice Cream follower on Facebook. 

♥ post a statement on your wall tagging @Vanilla Ice Cream. something like: 

"i want to win a Shop Yapi dress and necklace at @Vanilla Ice Cream"

(make sure i can see your entries on the Vanilla Ice Cream Facebook page)

For Blog Followers via Google Connect or Bloglovin': 

a YEDDA Green Handbag and a 20% Discount Card for Shopyapi.com. 

how to join:

♥ must be a follower of the blog via google connect or bloglovin'

♥ leave a comment indicating: your name, e-mail address and blog site where i can contact you and how you followed Vanilla Ice Cream. here's a sample comment:

name: gizelle faye

e-mail address: gizellefaye(at)yahoo.com / www.gizellefaye.blogspot.com

i follow the blog through Google Connect

extra entries: tweeted about the giveaway [link] and posted the giveaway on my FB wall [link]

extra entries -- make sure to give me the link of your entry: 

♥ follow me on twitter and tweet about the giveaway 

"i want to win a #ShopYapi YEDDA bag by @gizellefaye"

♥ like the Vanilla Ice Cream Facebook page and post the giveaway on your wall tagging @Vanilla Ice Cream

"i want to win a #ShopYapi YEDDA bag at @Vanilla Ice Cream"

INTERNATIONAL READERS: A Paige Triangle Swimsuit

how to join:

♥ must be a follower of the blog via google connect or bloglovin'

♥ leave a comment indicating: your name, e-mail address and blog site where i can contact you and how you followed Vanilla Ice Cream. here's a sample comment:

name: gizelle faye

e-mail address: gizellefaye(at)yahoo.com / www.gizellefaye.blogspot.com

i follow the blog through Google Connect

extra entries: tweeted about the giveaway [link] and posted the giveaway on my FB wall [link]

extra entries -- make sure to give me the link of your entry: 

♥ follow me on twitter and tweet about the giveaway 

"i want to win a #ShopYapi PAIGE swimsuit by @gizellefaye"

♥ like the Vanilla Ice Cream Facebook page and post the giveaway on your wall tagging @Vanilla Ice Cream

"i want to win a #ShopYapi PAIGE swimsuit at @Vanilla Ice Cream"

oozing with 90's goodness

i've had this blazer for a while but never had the chance to photograph it til' now. i love that it's linen so it's not too warm and that it oozes with 90's goodness because it's over-sized, shoulder-padded and has these awesome bronze buttons. just perfectly reminiscent of the original 90210 and Saved by the Bell, huh? would you believe i got this blazer for only PHP 50? That's $1 for you. i planned to write another thrifting entry following the art of thrifting post i did last year that illustrated when i started thrifting and my experiences that came along with it. i wanted to write about good spot for thrifting or ukay-ukay here in Cebu but decided against it. after all, even if everyone does it nowadays, there are still those secret spots we'd like to call our own. if you do want to really know, hit me up with an e-mail and i might just tell you. ♥ ♥ ♥

speaking of the 90's, don't you miss the original X-MEN and ninja turtles series with the deliciously sketched characters? i don't know about you but nothing beats the good ol' cartoons. the digital version of X-MEN right now just doesn't do it for me --- just lacked details and color depth. just saying. LOL.

and ooh, i'm brewing up a giveaway for all of you, especially my 900+ Facebook followers. thank you is not enough to tell you how grateful i am for continuing to follow my blah blahs. wait for it. i might post the giveaway on Sunday! ♥

navy blue linen blazer - thrifted

leopard-printed chiffon dress - bangkok find

brown studded wedge booties - shopyapi.com

studded bucket bag - bangkok find

rings: turtle connector - shopyapi.com | armor ring & skull ring - carbon finds

necklaces: elephant tusk - bangkok find | angel wing - DIY

courage + acceptance

although summer was supposed to be the time for taking breaks, i hardly had the chance to because of the back pains from my spinal disc bulges + work + nonsense questions to myself + i don't know. so last saturday, the boyfriend and i took a much need break from everything and just disconnected ourselves from the world. i think it's definitely healthy to have those much-deserved alone time with each other and just have fun without worrying about anything else. 

now, you all know i've been feeling utterly disappointed at myself because i don't know exactly i want to do with my life and have been all over the place. i've realized though that it's just the fear talking and that i can take on anything i set myself to. everything happens for a reason and we just need to be courageous enough to accept it. of course, i need to make sure that i set my priorities straight. 

i've hated waking up for a routine everyday, whether it be school or work. even as a child, there wasn't a morning where i didn't drag myself out of my bed. i wanted to be in control of my time and didn't want to have to follow a certain schedule that constrained me. although i was scared as hell, i finally decided to take control of my time. i've decided to dedicate my full time on our wholesale business and have writing jobs on the side and that i'll now only be working part time for the advertising agency that i've been working for. so far, i'm on my 2nd week of this arrangement but i am loving every minute of it. i decide what time i attend work as long as it's 4-5 hours and i get to spend most of my day, in my room and writing or sorting out clothes, shoes and bags for my store and our wholesale business.

they say i might get bored with this arrangement. i fully understand that and recognize that someday, i might decide to find work that's structured or even decide to be a stay at home mom. it took me a great deal of courage to admit this but life is unpredictable. i am unpredictable and i don't know what's going to happen to my life or how to get to what i want in life.  but to hell with it, for now i'm gonna do what i enjoy and do what i want..RIGHT NOW!

printed mini-dress used as top - thrifted

white pleated skirt - thrifted

teal belt - robinson's dept store, dumaguete

nude suede wedges - gold dot

bangles: purple wood - bangkok find | orange polka resin - gifted | 

red coral - boracay find | pewter bangles - carbon finds

rings - bangkok finds