take risks -- start with your hair!

meet my hair that's a result of an utter sense of freedom and relief that the wedding planning is over and i get to do anything i want that will not do injustice to my beautiful wedding dress. last july 2012, when i got my roots retouched for my engagement session, i had my hair stylist promise that she'll do my hair ombre after the wedding. 

i was wed on December 22, 2012 and on the afternoon of December 31, to greet the new year I made true to that promise of changing my hair drastically. it's the craziest thing i have done appearance-wise and because it's crazy, it's all the more reason that i love it. every time i look at the blond roots, it reminds me of my vow to do the things i love and with passion. to embrace life freely and take risks. 

the photos were taken prior to our cut & style activity with islands souvenirs. i initially planned to wear denim cut-offs which has recently been my go to closet item but decided against it knowing that Eden will be there --- we have a standing joke of dressing simply every time we get together which we somehow can't manage. what can we say, we've learned a lot from Chanel -- we dress up every time we go outside because we never know we'll have a date with destiny. right? ♥

floral cropped top with cutout shoulders - traded with sister | jersey maxi skirt - props | mustard platforms - zalora by centropell | oversized leather bag - R.A.F. by plains and prints | rings: blue stone ring and cross connector ring - downtown finds | butterfly ring - gifted by a friend | bracelets: brown and pink stone bracelets, green spiked bracelet, chain and braid bracelet - downtown finds | wooden bangle - bangkok find | angel wing necklace - downtown find | black watch - gifted by sister

pit senyor! x islands souvenirs cut & style your sinulog shirt

my hectic schedule (and not being able to blog for days) might not show this but it was truly an honor being one of the ambassadors for Islands Souvenirs Cut & Style Your Sinulog Shirt project. headed by Kryz Uy and together with Eden Villarba, Marco Diala and Gillian Uang, we were all given a chance to show our creative side and style the popular Sinulog shirts from Islands Souvenirs. 

each of us were given shirts and were tasked to create two styles. one pair, they display on the Islands Souvenir shops and the other, to be worn by us. the event took place last week and i couldn't wait for Sinulog day and had to bring my shirt to the beach, last weekend. here's my first design: 

DIY shirt - Islands Souvenirs | white cut-offs - thrifted | yellow beaded necklace - props | elephant tusk necklace - bangkok find | bangles with beads - braids and bonds | red bangles - WAGW | beaded bracelets - downtown finds

it is very easy to make actually and here's a guide on how you can create this style:

♥ first, cut off the edges of the shirt -- from the hem, the collar and the sleeves. you can go sleeveless or like me, cut it shorter to cover your arms a bit. i also cut the collar deeper in the back. it is Sinulog after all and the streets will be swamped and you'd need to breathe from all the partying.

♥ dip-bleach (if it's colored) or dip-dye (if it's white) the shirt and prepare a small bottle of bleach or a packet of colored dye

♥ dip a smaller part of the bottom for 30 minutes then dip the shirt halfway and leave it for 4 hours (or until you reach your desired shade). 

 

♥ when you reach the desired result of your shirt, wash them in water and soap and hang to dry.
♥ once dry, begin cutting the shirt in fringes.

♥ for a more stylish effect, you can cut the front strips thinly and braid every fringe or so.

you still have tonight and tomorrow morning to style your Sinulog shirts! and as an added treat, if you wear your Islands Souvenirs shirt to VUDU's Sinulog Party Series, you get free cover charge!

see you all on the streets! pit senyor!