SWEET COMEBACK by Simone's Closet

Girlfriends,

My friend and colleague, Denise is having her new collection on her shop SOON! Check out how she styled her items plus, my accessories!

This is my fashion. This is my statement.

Love,

BellaDonna

WHERE'S THE HORSE RACE?

It's one same question asked by my colleagues. I arrived at the office wearing my sister's sandals. I didn't want to break them because they felt a bit smaller than my feet. There's my boots of 9 years sitting beside me after I lend them to a friend for her photoshoot and I thought, "Well... I'm giving them another try. Anyway, I only used them only for parties and didn't really hold much in my previous corporate ventures as they always get those stares."

Not only I was asked where's the horse race but I even got teased the whole day like "You look like Nora Aunor in one of her movies." Christ! Nora Aunor. Greetings like "Hey, Cowgirl. I think you forgot your hat!" Oh, I realized that! "You're like Mikee Cojuangco, the equestrian." Oh, thank you! I wish I was that rich too. Hahaha. "Your sevice vehicle is waiting for you - a horse! Haha, I wished they also remembered Vice Ganda as they teased me but they didn't. Anyways, I got their attention and it was just all laughs.

In advertising, not only it is a matter of corporate rat race but also of a horse race. Those who advance are those who stand out, look good (eccentric?), and not afraid to try things out of the ordinary. So I guess wearing this kind of boots is still out of the ordinary even if a shoe shop like Mendrez already toned the design down for Philippine setting. But I can accept this better than wearing uggs! I was at the mall last week and I don't know what it was that day but I've seen about three people wearing uggs! in the mall! in the Philippines!

Beige blazer - Space
Brown inner blouse - Bargain find
Faded jeans - Crissa
The boots - Unlisted (Mendrez)

Today that I got teased and I laughed with them. Makes my heart healthy. Because I know, they will never forget the day I wore these boots.

This is my fashion. This is my statement.

Love,

Bella Donna

OVERWHELMINGLY LUCKY AND HAPPY... AND POURING!

Last week, I wrote about an opportunity coming at me and how overwhelmed I was. That didn't stop from there.

This week, another opportunity came to me and it is equally great as the first one. I have spent a few days deciding which one to accept with much consideration. I even came up with a list of advantages, disadvantages, long term and short term goals and I felt like I'm doing this kind of analyzation for real for the first time in my career! Much much more, it seemed that the skies has showered all the love that all the seeds that I have sown are finally bearing their fruits! My oh my! Truly overwhelming. If only I could have everything - all at the same time! But you know, that would be glutony! Haha.

80's top - my sisters' (Thanks sis!)
Black leggings - Quiapo
Pink jelly shoes - Rusty Lopez

I'm just so thankful that so much opportunities are laid upon me and really, within my reach! For the first time, I am truly happy with the job I am doing and the career I am building. Not everybody can have those great opportunities - with "IES" - and I hope something like this would also come to those people who are close to me.

This is my fashion. This is my statement.

Love,

BellaDonna

THERE'S A SMILEY IN MY TUMMY

You may find this post (or me) brave, or gross, or funny, or humiliating, or all at the same time for I would be really insane to put something up that will put me in a bad light in the name of my so-called "fashion blog". But I thought, hey, that's what my blog is all about. My fashion statement. So whatever it is, be it a fab outfit or a not-so-palatable-to-the-eyes post as long as it is me, I don't have to be concerned.

Apple green vest - Simone's Closet
Moss green tank top - Robinson's Dept. Store
Black harem capri pants - The BellaDonna Shop
White platform heels - Popstyle

I sported this outfit today only to realize how my love handles has become so obvious. I pigged out last night and I pigged out today at lunch and the result: a very heavy tummy. You may notice that I have that big fat smile on my face when my colleague took this photo. That's because my tummy was smiling at the camera. Imagine my round belly and my belly button forming a smile. Too bad the camera wasn't able to capture that or maybe it's because of my dark top (thanks to God!)

Up here, you'll see that the skin is trying to come out. You didn't see me today that everytime I take a sit the tank top curls up and the round belly peeks while I try to pull it back constantly. This is what I got when I violated my vow not take too heavy dinner. Now, I have to start all over again. Imagine, from pigging out earlier I still feel full today. That's how bad I become since last night. I have to blame someone or something for devouring such a heavy lunch. Maybe my hormones? Hahaha.

This is my fashion. This is my statement.

Love,

BellaDonna

WHAT'S IN MY NaRaYa BAG?

I never really had the chance to thank NaRaYa for giving me this goodie bag during an event where I was invited to a few months back. This became an instant favorite. I haven't been using this bag until another event came up and it was actually the first time I used this tiny little bag. Or I thought so, because I'm loving it for its spacious benefits!

This doctor's bag-designed piece contains my Victoria's Secret pouch aka kikay kit (Thanks, Mommy Anne!), where I put my make up, my Animob cellphone case/coin purse, my passport pouch, comb, Biogesic tablets (they're my savior when I get headaches!), my brother's Canon IXY, my Samsung Corby phone, and my MyPhone Qwerty.

And this is how I sported this gifted bag on that event:

With my colleague and friend, Denise


With Monica Ordona-Sangalang, Brand Manager for Accessorize


Gray top - Popstylye
Black Leggings - Quiapo
Black & white animal print poncho - Thrifted
White platform heels sandals - Popstyle
Cross necklace - Gifted
Bangle - Bangkok

So there you are. Thanks very much, NaRaYa!

This is my fashion. This is my statement.

Love,

BellaDonna

SOAKED IN THE RAIN

It's a lack of outfit post. I thought I left my Canon IXY digital camera at home. Only to find out that it was actually in my other bag.

So I just decided to take photo of my ever reliable gladiator shoes.

I wore these to go to a seminar in Quezon City. Just as when I was near the site, suddenly, a gush of strong rain fell and I was so scared I would slip and the shoes won't hold on 'til I get to the venue. I was soaking wet and so were the shoes. I was even more worried that they would fall off because the rain rushed like waterfall. I think the sky was crying out loud!

But I was wrong. I arrived in one piece on these footwear (but, really really wet). Since I am always out in the field, I don't expect my shoes to have a long life. I drag them, wear them, tear them and only my shoes know what else what I do with them.

I really need a few extra pairs! I'm working on it.

This is my fashion. This is my statement.

Love,

BellaDonna

(I THINK I'VE FOUND) MY PLACE IN THE SUN

Not so long ago, my career was tumbling down the drain. Derailed, shackled and ruined. I was job-hopping from one time to another. Jumpship here, jumpship there. Not to mention I was broken hearted - twice! And most of it, lost something that I think most women look forward to have.

Now, almost two years ago, I found this job in advertising - my dream job of ten years coming true in a small full-service marketing agency. Here, I had my own share of best experiences in my so-called (late) blooming career. I met Denise, who influenced me into blogging and online selling. And, after that as they say, the rest is history.

Hand-made thread earrings - gifted (Thanks, Madel!)

So why am I writing about my career? I guess because for the most part of it, I wasn't truly fulfilled. I may have been happy financially in the past, yes. But I have never really unleashed the creativity that's bursting from every inch of me. I found that in advertising, in blogging and selling stuffs online. Met a few younger friends online, offline and in advertising. And truly, how short life is! Because I ache to accomplish so much with so little time! I may have aged in numbers but I still have the same passion of a twenty-year old firing up.

Mocha vest - S&R

Saffron floral tank top - Robinson's Dept. Store

Chocolate cowboy skirt - Thrifted

Gold flats - Tomato

Black tote bag - Naraya (Thanks, Naraya!)

And now, at this point, I must have done something really good to be considered in an aggressive organization that's cooking up real soon in the Philippines! This is an opportunity coming at me. What can I say? I am overwhelmed!

This is my fashion. This is my statement.

Love,

BellaDonna

WHILE I WAS BLOG HOPPIN'

I stumbled onto this blog of Gabriel H. Mercado (from Cecile van Straten's tweet) and was appalled from what I've read. I'm relatively new in blogosphere and it's just embarrasing that some people (or entity) would have such a nerve to treat a blogger like that - especially this guy who, I think from reading his site, has been influential and credible in what he does. Anyway, this reminds me of a job interview wherein I was asked a hypothetical question by the panel: "What if the client requested you to ask a blogger to take down a post, can you do that? How will you answer it?" Well, a blog is a personal property and I don't think it would be respectful to anyone to be asked to take down or even edit a post just to please an advertiser. A common norm (redundant!) dictates most Filipinos not to say something bad about someone (or something) face-to-face, but things are changing and so does the behavior of the consumers. I personally think (as an account planner in advertising) that if brands want to improve their product, they should be open with criticisms. I think most brands know that, they are not stupid. But I'm surprised to hear that there maybe some which maybe sensitive to get negative comments or reviews. And if you air such negativity as a blogger, you might as well be charged! Goodness gracious! In sales, we believe that every NO is a YES, thus everywhere else, every negative comment is reasonable and a perfect room for improvement. Personally, I think these guys are just crazy.

Pink blouse- bargain find

Black skirt- thrifted

Gladiator shoes - gifted

Earrings-my sister's

As for my outfit post, I had this on during the day. I had a very busy one. Been out on a client call in the morning, came back to office to send dozens of emails, dialed thousands of numbers I can't remember, and ended up beating a deadline for an ad placement. The day slipped just like that and I don't even remember me taking a break. At home, while taking a shower, I was wondering how can I ever have the time to read more novels and write a couple more of blogs. I have this one most active but I've been meaning to put my food blog into action too. I also have one idea in mind that I meant to execute but only if time permits me. I just wish I have time so I won't have to be in hurry. That's it for now. Yay! Such a long post.

This is my fashion. This is my statement.

Love,

BellaDonna

HOW DO I BRAVE MY PLUMPING FIGURE?

That has been my question all mornings of twenty-ten and I guess even on the first two weeks of twenty-eleven. Sounds a bit cruel but it was actually a sort of self-motivation. I know I've been gaining weight and it shows that I've been popping slowly like a balloon. But I never really take notice. I actually didn't care at all. If they said that "the best things in life are free" then, I say, "the next best thing should be good food." I've always been a food lover and I enjoy eating. Not necessarily a pig-out who devours every food on the table but man, it's just so comforting. So, every morning before I go to work and put on an outfit, I ask myself in front of the mirror: my, oh my! How do I brave this plumping figure? And I always have the same answer to myself: "It doesn't matter for as long as you are comfortable in your own skin, you still feel good about yourself and don't look like dumb, you're gonna be fine! I guess I put it through the whole time. And I would totally agree on Honey Andrade's post about loving yourself. I think it is the key to being sexy and lovable in the first place.

Mocha vest - Tomato
Pink tank top - bargain find
Black leggings - Quiapo
Pink Jelly shoes - Rusty Lopez

And although I bought a pair of rubber shoes last year, I haven't been working out just yet. I have started taking a very small amount of food during dinner for two weeks now and perhaps in the next two weeks, I will start off with morning jogs. I'm not hurrying myself. Just trying to put some pacing. Until I get used to it. Meantime, I'll enjoy this full figure as long as it's here. I'd like to think plumping gracefully is tantamount to being sexy.

This is my fashion. This is my statement.

Love,

BellaDonna

I'M STILL A CANCER

The cancer sign
Image from http://www.zodiac-signs.org/images/cancer-2.jpg

I'm supposed to entitle my post as "I STILL FEEL CHRISTMAS-SIE" because I feel it on the color of my outfit post today. But then, on my facebook wall I saw a friend's status update about this frenzy panic caused by this astrologer, Parke Kunkle declaring the 13th zodiac (or constellation) called Ophiuchus. Ophi--- what? May 13th month din pala ang zodiac??? I can't even figure out how to pronounce that. Upon browsing upon other SMNs (social media networks) I realized how freaked the reactions were. Googling it, lead me to about several pages. I bet, there's going to be a wiki for this guy in a few days.

Anyway, I was born a Cancer and I think will die as one. I mean, I'm not a fan of zodiac and astrology (well, I used to be when I was a crying baby!) but I believe each and everyone should have their own star to serve as a guide and to follow. Not literally like the north star or the zodiac but something that you believe in as you are, right?

Well, so much for the messed up zodiac signs. Here's an outfit post: I still feel Christmas-sie because of the color of my blouse and my shoes. Aren't they colors of Christmas? Hehehehe. Or maybe, I'm like a Christmas tree.

Blouse from SM Department Store, Leggings from Quiapo


Ring from Quiapo, Bracelet-gifted


Puka Earrings - gifted

By the way, thanks for bearing with my series posts. I really didn't want to dress up after the holidays so I figured just to collate all my outfit posts and put them in one series. Looks like, I have to ditch a few of my outfits because I've been gaining weight! Argh!

And as Victoria Beckham always say on her tweets: "Have a great weekend, fashion bunnies!"

This is my fashion. This is my statement.

Love,

BellaDonna

BLACK IS POWER

That LBD (Little Black Dress) has been with me for over a decade now. I have bought another one over the years and thrifted one more just recently. The other few black pieces are just supplements for "just in case" events. Nevertheless, I only maintain a few black wearables. I don't wear black during the summer as it absorbs the heat. But it's very convenient most especially if you have to go out and you don't have anything to wear for your gimik (tagalog slang for night-out). You'll never go wrong with black. Black is popular among fashionistas as it makes one look slimmer. Though it is somehow sexy to wear, black is also considered the color of power and authority. Imagine: sex, power and authority.

Wow, you gotta be careful with your LBD :)

This is my fashion. This is my statement.

Love,

BellaDonna

FRUITTY OR VIBRANT?

Both.

I only have a couple of pieces of this color and I learned wearing it in college. Again, another thought that it won't match my skin color but I was wrong. I like the shade whether it is bright or pale for it brings out a good aura. And, I never have to worry to look dark because it compliments my skintone.

This is my fashion. This is my statement.

Love,

BellaDonna

Y-E-L-L-O-DOUBLE-U! YELLOUU!

Our Cheering formation

It's a funny spell-out by my former colleague and friend, Emcie. We had this chant for a cheering competition back in the days at DPC Yellow Pages for our company sportsfest and she was making fun of it. You should hear her do the chant!

Yellow Cheering Team with pom-poms

We didn't win the competition but we were the most cheerful team. Maybe because we were too bright? As bright in the eyes of our team color, yellow. Hehehee.

Anyway, yellow to me is one relaxing color just as light blue. It's the color of the sun. For most Filipinos, it's the iconic color of freedom from Martial Law.

I like wearing the color as it compliments my tan most often. The mood usually shifts to a very positive, happy and optimistic disposition. I only have a few pieces and it's one consideration to add up a few in the closet.

This is my fashion. This is my statement.

Love,

BellaDonna

BROWN IS TO EARTH (OR DIRT), I FEAR NOT ANYMORE

Aside from fear of wearing pink, I also got over the fear of wearing the shades of brown. It's like the color of the earth (or dirt) to me. And since I'm a tan, I felt that wearing such hue will only make me look more dark than I already am. Not until a friend of mine gave me a chocolate-brown spaghetti strapped top. She said wearing chocolate brown will bring out the color of the skin whether it is fair or dark. This is also what I've picked up years back when I was watching Oprah. But I never really paid attention to it. Until I discovered and learned how to do the mix-and-match thing, wearing any color became easy without fearing it will leave you in the dark.

This is my fashion. This is my statement.

Love,

BellaDonna

WHAT GOES WITH BLACK?

Aside from white (see my previous post.)? Just about anything. Black is one of the basic colors that I have. It varies from skirts to tops, blouses, pants or shorts. You can mix and match anything with black. And since it has a long life, you can have a piece for a long time. Like a skirt that I have for years. I've been using it for a lot of purpose: corporate, ordinary day, night outs. It just basically touches any color. Just don't splatter your black with bleach, you'll ruin it!

This is my fashion. This is my statement.

Love,

BellaDonna

LIKE A CHESSBOARD TILE

Wearing black-and-white is like a walking chessboard tile, if you know what I mean. They're the most accessible color match I have in my closet and I found myself wearing a lot of them. Imagine, a black-and-white chessboard. Which color would you be? Black or white? Me? Neither as I don't know how to play that game. Haha!

This is my fashion. This is my statement.

Love,

BellaDonna

HAPPY AND GRAY

I have missed my yesterday's blog entry. I've been in and out of this chilling feeling and suddenly, being feverish. I had to sleep early last night in hope that I'd feel better. But it was the same feeling when I woke up this morning. Subsided during the day but as soon as I got home, I'm chilling! I checked my body temperature, it's 38 degrees celcius. Took a couple of tablet of paracetamol and went to bed. This is me having my period. Or maybe, it's also the weather. I really don't know now.

Anyway, going back to my series post, whenever I feel that black is too strong for me to wear, I have my second best alternative: GRAY. I only have a few pieces and I hope to add up a few more this year.

Okay lovies, my brain isn't working the way it should be. All it's saying is for me to go to bed. Have a great evening, everyone!

This is my fashion. This is my statement.

Love,


BellaDonna

WEAR FOR PRODUCTIVITY

Working in advertising is such a great intellectual challenge. (Sometimes - if not, most of the times - it makes you feel like dumb and stupid). It is not just a matter of doing a sales job by charming your clients with a smile or keeping up with their demands and requests, or pushing them to their limits to get the sale. It is actually, as our headmaster at Raw School said, a job to persuade our clients. Persuade in a sense that we have to sway them towards an idea that's better for them even if these clients feel otherwise. It's convincing your client that your idea is what they need in order for them to move their brand. So there goes the never-ending brainstorm meeting with my colleagues just to come up with the best idea we could pitch. Sometimes it's just nerve-cracking, brain-draining and nose-bleeding (all of the -ing, I must say!). It even affects my getting up in the morning, thinking what to wear best to effectively set the mood for producing ideas.

There I go with the greens. I realized, when I was collating pics for this series post, that I've been wearing greens most especially when we have to go out for brainstorming or product research or just simply walking along Tomas Morato while we chat over our brief. And shortly after that, we would end up noting a lot of ideas on a yellow pad, trying to glue them all together significantly.

It's fresh, it's new but on the flipside, it's also inexperienced. Personally, it gives me the same calming effect of blue and actually my second favorite color.

This is my fashion. This is my statement.

Love,

BellaDonna

STARCH AND WHITE

My kumare thought of white as my favorite color. "No, marsie," I told her. It's just that white is fresh, very neutral and it's easy to wear. You can pair any color or any print you like. I have a lot of them in my closet. Some I have outgrown over the years but I didn't want to let go, hoping I could shrink back to my old body and my old weight of hundred and ten pounds. There is only one thing though that I don't like when wearing white color: it gets dirty so easily. But there's also one secret to keep your white clothes clean all day long: by starching it. Be it old school starch using Liwayway Gawgaw, a local brand in the Philippines wherein you "cook" the starch in hot water before soaking the cloth and hang it dry; or with the convenient use of starch spray such as Niagara. My mom used to starch my school uniform and it's really nice. Because even if I rumbled with kids at school, my clothes stand still. Hahahaha! There you go lovies, I know starching could be some kind of a job but it pays off well!

This is my fashion. This is my statement.

Love,

BellaDonna

TO CALM MY RAGING SOUL

As I write this, my mind is fighting between my being sick and my desire to finish and publish this post. Yes, I am chilling. In a way that's not cool but chilling like sick. I just got this feeling this afternoon and I thought it might be because this is a symptom of dysmenorrhea. You won't believe how sick I could become when my period is approaching. I could get a flu, migraine, muscle pains all over, gastrointestinal flu and sorts of thing. I took two tablets of Biogesic for my headache and hopefully, the chill-feel will be gone in a while. It's like something's raging inside of me that I could not comprehend.

Speaking of rage, such a feeling overcomes my being when I get so passionate with my job and I could not perfect it, when somebody wastes my time, and when a situation feels so dumb and stupid and you know the right thing to do but you just can't do it because it's out of your hands. Calming myself could be challenging sometimes but it's a virtue that you will learn in time. Maybe that's why I find color blue to be one of my favorite colors. I'd always slip in something blue as much as possible. For I know it will remind me how I should take things one step at a time. Besides, blue is the color of the sea and the sky; which I found both amazing and romantic since I was a kid.

Well then, I hope this rage that makes me chill would subside. I needed to get back early to work tomorrow. And I mean, REALLY EARLY! For I have always been running after the bundy clock hoping I could punch in time. I want to be ahead this time and I don't want to rush anymore. Have a good-night sleep everyone!

This is my fashion. This is my statement.

Love,

BellaDonna

STARTING WITH AN END, ENDING WITH A START

New Year to me is a cycle. It starts with an end of the previous year and the latter, ends with a new bang. They can never be together. One has to leave while one is just about to start. Both the ending and the start gave me a lot of pleasant surprises. And I've never been excited for the coming year since the time I can't remember. So, thank you for that.

I might be a bit narcissistic with this but, I'm giving myself a few days of the month to put in together all the picture posts I've done in the past year. I'd like to know what worked well and what didn't. Afterall, New Year means new beginning. Everybody gets second chances.

According to Chinese Zodiac, 2011 is the year of the rabbit. It is a lucky sign. Wow, let's see, eh? I think I've been lucky enough for what's in store for me now and I just can't wait!

My first lookback will be this:



I've always found pink color to be a perky one. I never wore pink until recently for I believed it's only a color for faired-skin. And since I am born tan, I never braved the color or its hues and shades. But hey, I don't think it was bad afterall. It's actually hot! Maybe I'll consider some more lighter shades of pink or even another fuschia piece!

Have a perky new year, everyone!


This is my fashion. This is my statement.

Love,

BellaDonna