Merry Christmas Drindl...We're Apart That's True.

Ho! Ho! Ho!
Drindl Dress $0.??, that means I don't remember. Red Leggings Target$8. Rue 21 White Top. Vintage Red leather Belt, Charlotte Russe Black Boots. Cottage Purse fredflare.com $54

I am spending Christmas Eve with my family on the other side of the hemisphere through yahoo chat and webcam! I got to see them do their little presentation, open their gifts and eat Christmas dinner. I also got to see how my Nanay (Filipino term for mom) and I are almost dressed alike! She even has red leggings on! Apple don't fall far from the tree, I guess :-) Here's a blurry snapshot:

Nanay is wearing a black cut out top, red belt, denim tiered skirt with magnificent embroidery work and red leggings.

Cottage Purse Detail

Work is making us stay till 3:30...yes, that's the holiday spirit for ya. I have a splitting headache, this weather is nasty...but I'm not going to let all that dampen my Yuletide mood. Thad and I will have a little Christmas dinner of shrimp asparagus and angel hair pasta and lemon pepper chicken in mango salsa. We'll have fire in the fireplace if it gets cold enough while we watch movie marathons. Gotham will be somewhere in close proximity...then we open pressies at midnight as we traditionally do in the Philippines.

I know my blog hasn't been around for that long but thank you friends, readers, visitors, subscribers for the constant visits and delightful comments. I am so happy to share with you something I feel strongly about...frugal fashion! Please continue to check my new posts in the days to come. I hope to be able to inspire you guys to come up with your own wardrobe combinations as well.I wish everyone a wonderful blessed Christmas full of merriment and love. God bless us all.

Have Your Elf A Merry Little Christmas

Today is my department's (Design and Product Research) Christmas Cookie Exchange. I was dreading this day because I don't bake cookies. The only thing I know how to bake is clay. I tried making brownies once but they turned out tasting like sea cakes because I accidentally put salt instead of sugar. The second was a half baked birthday cake for my Uncle Marvin. I guess he was so touched that he didn't mind the gooey-ness. Anyway, I was able to bring some cookies to work and they are now sitting on my desk waiting to be exchanged. They're Raspberry Choco Ripple Butter Cookies. Here's the recipe:

1 qt. tank of gas
a set of keys
some money

Get in car. Turn the ignition. Drive to store. Buy cookies. Et voila!

Onwards to my Christmas outfit...I bought that vintage velvet blazer in Soho, New York. A lot of people don't know that I lived there for a while before I moved to the happiest state, Louisiana. It was rather big so I waited till I got back to Cebu and have my fellow fashionista friend, Kate Torralba who had a little shop back then, fix it for me. Kate is now a super famous fashion designer in the Philippines with a very impressive clientele and she is still the same the Kate I know. She still cracks me up with her brutal, honest impish ways. I bought the silvery grey top from a little boutique in Ayala Mall, Cebu. The leggings, crap...I don't remember where I got them. I was rummaging my drawers and there they were. The olive wedge boots are the same boots I wore yesterday. Necklaces were thrifted so they were probably like $1 a piece. The Santa hat was from Target...circa 2003, I think.

Blazer, top and necklace detail

I have the tendency to ramble so I have to end this before this starts getting kilometric. I wish everyone a blessed Christmas. I hope you guys get everything you want that money can't buy...

How To Wear A Band Shirt

Knitted Cardigan Rue 21 American Apparel Eisley Band Shirt. Nudie Rodeo Shirt Old Navy. Refuge Olive Boots. Paris Blue Jeans. Gadzooks Armor Necklace

I think band shirts are dorky. Don't ever be that guy who wears the band shirt to the band concert. It's over-dork. But I must say this Eisley shirt doesn't exude dorkiness...or maybe I am just biased but look at it! It's brown! The print in dull gold! The artwork...bizarre as only Sherri's twisted brain can produce! This is a shirt not a vest. I'm just wearing it like it is. You know you want it. You can't have it...but fret not! You can score one from the Eisley website.

In lieu of a jabot, I opted for a necklace that kind of reminded me of a knight's armor. I wanted something outlandish to pop out in this emsemble but still relating back to my shirt. If you are familiar with Eisley music, this idea wouldn't seem far-fetched.

Ok here it is, shameless friend promotion...for those of you who have no idea who Eisley is, that's ok. They seldom cavort with mortals. They live in the faerie dell and they only come out at dusk. But do check them out. Their music will take you on an extraordinary journey of peculiar myths and fantasies...things you stopped thinking about because you grew up.

First Photo: L to R: Eisley! Chauntelle DuPree, Weston DuPree, Stacy DuPree, Sherri DuPree and Garron DuPree 2nd photo me and Sherri on her dreamy wedding day.

Bibi, It's Cold Outside

Fur boots that I've worn before. Rue 21 Olive Hoodie. Forever 21 Heritage Smock. Rue 21 Maroon Sweater. C-Pink Jeans

Bibi is the endearment Thad and I call each other. It is short for Bibikeef Pinanggaroo. True story. It was 32 degrees when I woke up this morning and it will be 64 later. Wet cold weather is not the way to start a Monday but it's a good Monday because it's Christmas week!!! Woooot! Actually, what am I wooting about? I'm not even done with gift shopping...But it's Christmas week!!!

Oh trying out to see how my photos look with or without Flash (both the superhero and the built in camera lighting) and the difference it makes on the colors. The one with Flash is the truest color but the one without has the right tone.

My iphone tells me it might snow Thursday but since Louisiana weather doesn't really follow weather reports, we will be wearing shorts on Christmas.

Happy Monday! (is a good band by the way)...

Necklace and smock detail

Eiffel In Love With France

Hydraulic Denim Culottes $30Cathedral Stockings Rue 21Vintage Grey Blazer

Drape Daisy Chain Necklace Rue 21 $12 Tommy Girl Wedge Sandal $40ish
Necklace, blazer, stockings and shoe detail

I decided to go Le Parisienne today...avoir l'air de Parisienne! I'm pretty sure French people don't dress like we imagine them with the black beret and the black and white striped shirt. My wardrobe is just inspired by colors I see when I think of Paris, the timeless elegance of neutral grey, white, black and then the splash of bold passionate red that makes you think of only one thing. L'Amour...as Paris is the City of Love.

I decided to use our guest bedroom for a photo location because I have decorated it in French boheme theme. The Paris postcard was a freebie from a Nick Bantock novel/art book. I absolutely love the over sized black flower pin that came with the blazer. The draping necklace somehow makes me think of authoress Colette and the stockings, is Anaïs Nin: sexy, volatile and complicated. They also remind me Montmarte's ornate architecture.

Mon Dieu! c'est vendredi enfin!

Fa La La Lunch!

Ralph Lauren Cardigan.Charlotte Russe Dress $25. Silver and black striped leggings gifted from Teasigh Murillo.Charlotte Russe Boots from Thad. Ceramic Holly Necklace from my mom-in-law,Marilyn. Vintage Gold Elastic Metal Belt

Today is Christmas lunch at work, that's why I appropriately dressed up like a Christmas tree. My multi-tiered dress bespeaks for a pine tree, yes? This is not the only pose I know. I have my camera on time variant mode which means I have to stay still for 10 seconds before it takes a shot. I need a sturdy support or else my photos will come out shaky as evidenced on the second photo below. I am too lazy to take more shots. I wanted to wear a prettier dress today but I had to take my dog, Gotham to get snippity snipped. I was afraid he might fuss too much or houdini himself out of his leash and I can't deal with all that in a pretty frock. I'm going to miss him for a day. I might even miss the incessant whining...or not. Well, it's almost Friday. I can't wait for the weekend and go riding around with Thad in his X-Terra that he christened Zura-Janai-Katsura-Desu. It's Japanese for "My name is not Zura. It's Katsura". We'll call her Zura for short.

Let's just pretend this photo is crisp and clear. Here's a detailed
photo of the ceramic holly necklace for my friend, Govinda

Hell Hath No Furry

Dollhouse Jacket $29 Prairie Cream Dress Rue 21 $8 GoJane Rabbit Fur Boots $30 Net Scarf $7

I feel like going frozen tundra trekking because I'm damn well-dressed for it! Instead, I'll be in my charming little cube all day drawing snowflakes. I'm not being sarcastic. I do have a charming little cube, it's full of toys and artful inspirations and I draw all day. Snowflakes for today.

I snagged that jacket about 4 years ago from Marshall's. I love the creamy lace overlay on the back, it goes well together with the cream prairie dress. The maroon velvet trim just jovially screams Victorian Christmas to me. The fur cuffs ties the fur boots together with the whole ensemble and gives it a bit of a sasquatch flair. Gwaaargh on! Lovely eyelet detail on dress and scarf that doesn't really shield me from freeze rays