Let’s roll call, Jazz

Hey stranger, fancy seeing you here!

This little intro to who we are was definitely both exciting and daunting to create—mainly because I didn’t realize how much self-meditation it would entail to learn more about who I am based on my aesthetic.

Though I have honestly come such a long way from my more timid and shier, younger days—having grown up performing—it is still more often that I will wait for people to initiate contact or conversation before I reveal my more extroverted side. So this is me, being an extrovert, making the first move, and drawing you into a conversation about my personal style.

I’m telling you now that I’ve flipped through tons of articles and editorials  just to figure out what made them all click together like some sort of crime investigation board in my head—a moodboard of everything that visually screams who the hell I am. I’ve come to conclude that personal style is an ever evolving beast that can’t be pinned and scrutinized in one glance.

Many people that personally know me are aware that I’m a very transparent person who just usually says what I think and feel at the moment and I find it interesting that it directly translates to my sartorial aesthetic value of genuinity and elevated chill-ness. Given that, you’d often can tell what I’m feeling based on what I’ve decided to wear for the day. It’s honestly not really one specific thing or another—so if I really had to give my style a labeled definition, it would be that my personal style is a very cool and effortless minimalism, with a dash of hubadera and statements.

LET’S SET MY HAPPY SCENE. If you sat with me for a day, we’d have a very late brunch after lunch filled with mimosas and fruits and pastries, hunkered down in a quaint cafe somewhere. As the breeze huffs, the mildest scent of cotton, sesame, and baby soap wafts through the air—I’m not one for complicated and fussy scents, not really caring for citrus if I’m not eating it. When the day begins to fold into night is my favorite time because of the softness of muted golden hour sunshine—the painless and heatless type of sun that I often crave to bathe in. When I’d finally let the night take over, I definitely want nothing more than bubble baths with a side of champagne or tinto de verano coupled with a book or a feel-good film rolling. Ugh, I’m grinning ear to ear just thinking about it.

THAT PARISIENNE AESTHETIC. Whatever you do, please do not limit yourself to the images of dainty dresses, mariniere tops, and baguettes; it’s definitely much more than that! From its neutral tones with bold pops of color to the overall “anti it girl” feel that it screams, I am so terribly fascinated with how effortlessly put together Parisiennes are and how much they value comfortability  without ever sacrificing style. It’s entrancing to have je ne sais quoi imbibed into one’s closet and still looking amazing. There’s honestly something so attractive and easy with just a white button down and cuffed up jeans that I find myself automatically grabbing for the combo whenever I’m headed out. This directly translates to how I usually decide to do my face as well, never leaving the house without opting for winged black eyeliner, natural brows, and a swipe of either lipstick—always a toss between, vino, nude, or bold red—or gloss. 

*If you want to know more about this style,I definitely reco How To Be Parisian Wherever You Are (Berest, Diwan, de Maigret,  Mas) and Dress Like A Parisian (Alöis Guinut).

STATEMENT POPS. Though I prize an understated (la discretion), effortless (la nonchalance) elegance (l’élégance), I am definitely not one to shy away from other influences and styles—particularly since Hallyu was such a big influence on my consumption of media. The 3rd generation of K-Pop idols have paved a more relaxed look for stage outfits that I get so excited to cop with my own spin. Mixing up trends is just something fun to do, especially when a blend that I’m able to achieve translates to fun outfits that still resonate with my personality. Patterned kimonos and silk robes are such a staple in my closet precisely because they off-set the neutral palette that I usually wear as well as are my go-to cover ups given how breathable the fabrics are in the unparalleled heat of this country. I also always make sure to bring or wear a statement piece—be it a bag, jewelry, or done something special with my makeup—to tie together my looks. So you might see me with a full black ensemble underneath a pleather fire truck red coat or in a striped linen blazer set with ginormous locally handmade earrings (that screams maharlika) and chunky white shoes. You never know really.

@sasha.mei

EFFORTLESS. Having been a dancer for quite a while now, I like the simplistic ease of just wearing what I feel but with a certain refinement. Also, I’m very conscious about my lines and what would make my body type look great and long, what would show off my best features and whatnot because it’s ultimately what’s going to be able to make me feel good as I go throughout my day

With that, I definitely value the freedom of motion and of skin especially with the heat constantly blazing down on us in Manila where the temptation to wear minimal fabric is a never-ending argument with the more conservative individuals of our society—aka my dad. To minimize the risk of looking like an unsavory girl, I tend to style my hubadera (skin revealing) pieces with items that can lend a cover up or are inherently more conservative (like jeans) to strike a well balanced look; which always makes me reach for my white sneakers (my wardrobe go-to) as it goes well for everything and doesn’t give me the hardest time running around to do errands or something to do for work.

My mother’s motto makes it to the forefront of my mind now that I think about it and everything makes sense: look presentable every time you go out, you never know who you’re seeing—but don’t let them know that you’ve made an effort. 

Julia and I honestly didn’t think this little introduction would reach this long. If you’ve made it all the way down here, then give yourself a pat on the back! I hope that I kind of made sense to you and you can visualize more of who I am—we are definitely not strangers at this point.

We’d definitely love to see you back here when we’ve got more things for you to find and enjoy (fingers crossed)!

✨ jazz

A 24-year-old writer, producer, and stylist who’s got the starry-eyes of a shopaholic with an irrefutable love-hate relationship with carbs and wine.