Top Gun

May5

Top Gun shirt (Forever 21) | denim boyfriend shirt | sequined shorts (People Are People) | studded boots (Cotton On – Rubi) | studded leather bracelet (Yhansy)

Marj Ramos fashion blog

Photos by Mark Clemente

If you haven’t seen the movie Top Gun, well, I don’t blame you. It’s a 1986 film and even I wasn’t born yet then. But hey, it’s a Tom Cruise movie and there’s a lot of action involved which makes it super awesome and worth your while. You can imagine my delight when I found its iconic Top Gun logo printed on a shirt that’s hanged inside Forever 21. I grabbed the last piece from the rack though it wasn’t really my size and I didn’t care if I’d have to alter it myself. I just HAD to have it.

It’s not that I am an obsessed fan, okay? I think the film is cool and all that, but I don’t have posters of it all over my bedroom wall. The thing is, lately my style is gearing towards more grungy and less girly. I have a continuously evolving personal style that is becoming more and more attached to leather, studs, denim, and grungy pieces. I think I’ll enjoy this fascination while it lasts. It’s always a good thing to explore, don’t you think? That’s how we get to know ourselves better.

For now, I’m loving the fact that this look has “Tom Cruise” written all over it! :P xx

Soldier

Apr21

Photos by Mark Clemente

I’m backkkk!!! Not with vengeance, of course, but with blonder hair and, err, probably a few extra pounds. ;)

I haven’t been blogging for such a long time that I honestly almost forgot my login password. I would say I’ve been busy after I started styling, but I guess there’s no need for excuses, is there? One day I woke up and all of a sudden multi-tasking seemed impossible. I gave up trying to juggle this and that and everything in between. But if there’s anything at all that I learned over the past few months, that’s that. Never give up on the things you love.

As human beings, I think it’s natural for us to be susceptible to exhaustion. But towards the end, what still counts is how you soldier on and keep going. The fashion industry is so big and overwhelming. It can drown you and turn you into someone you’re not. And I don’t want to be somebody else. Maybe I will always be a small town girl, but I don’t want to forget even the little things that are part of who I am. It’s necessary to find time for what you need to do, but I think it’s just as crucial to make time for what you love doing. And in my case, writing keeps me sane.

I hope you missed me, because I’m back for good. :) xx

I feel blue

Dec6

floral bustier (Sparkle Couture) | skirt (Cesa) | satchel (Cole Vintage) | shoes (AsianVogue)

Photos by Micah Ramos

Don’t mind the title. I am merely trying to be creative at an ungodly hour.

Time check: 5:15 AM. It’s too early to be typing anything in front of a computer, but I am not certain when I’ll ever find another time. Just when I thought I couldn’t get any busier juggling a previous job with a fashion course, today I find myself working for an industry where sleeping is a luxury. (Trust me, how I wish I’m only exaggerating.) I just came home from taping, and right now I only want to take advantage of whatever free time I have to update this blog. *Sigh* The things I do for love. :P

To start off, what’s been keeping me busy anyway? If the term stylist was never coined, I think I’d prefer to call myself a fashion slave, or better yet, a professional juggler. In what I do, fashion is the new carbs. It’s usually served for breakfast until dinner. If need be, midnight snack even. It’s an industry where size two is the new four. Despite the lack of time and sleep, the society expects you to dress well and do your makeup properly (or at the very least, choose the right shade of lipstick). Running in heels is also an art that needs to be mastered, so don’t think anyone will give a shit about your feet. No matter how painful, the sympathy vote goes to the shoes.

Don’t get me wrong, this is not me complaining. I have always been the small town girl trying to break in to the big world of fashion. Every single day that I am overdosed with caffeine trying to stay awake, or drained from circling the mall while doing pull-outs, or about to pass out from carrying ridiculously heavy garment bags and accessory crates, I feel like I am one tiny step closer to getting there. I do have my moments when I’m about to cry, or about to give up, or an inch away from strangling somebody (lol), but this is when I try to think of all the reasons why I’ve held on to my dreams for so long.

And yet again, I realize the things I do for love. :) xx

Boracay 2012 (Part II)

Nov13

Better late than never!!!!

I have been MIA in the blogosphere for the longest time, and now that I have finally found the time to post a blog entry, I will be bombarding you with my long overdue photos from my previous Boracay trip. :)

sheer maxi skirt (Sparkle Couture) | bikini (Cocomo) | sling bag (Mango) | sunnies (Michael Kors)

The weather wasn’t so good. We didn’t have much chance to enjoy the sun and the beach. But hey, Boracay is still Boracay, rightttt? So instead of coming back to Manila with a tan, we ended up taking home hundreds of photos instead. Not bad at all! ;)

Boracay was enchanting as ever, but the most important thing about having a vacation is not the place but the company you’re with. These “sexy ladies” are the best! As much as I enjoyed the food and the beautiful scenery, I had the time of my life with these crazy girlfriends of mine. <3

Check out my previous post about our Boracay trip here. :)

Ohhh, and by the way!!! I found my face scattered all over Kalibo airport. Finally got to see this, hahaha! Sign up now for free membership at Resorts World Manila, lol. ;)

***

I’ve been suuuuuuper busy lately. Still trying to get used to my new (most of the time indefinite) schedule, but I promise to try and blog more often. Cheers to fashion slaves and jugglers- and to jobs that pay the rent! ;)

Brave

Oct22

I was sorting out the files on my desktop last night when I stumbled upon these photos which I can’t believe I forgot to blog about. These were taken several months ago and the one thing which struck me most upon accidentally finding these old photographs, I realized that apart from my hair, so much in my life has changed since then.

I can literally say that all aspects of my life as of this very moment can be summed up in two words. Starting over. I have made the craziest decisions over the past months. Life-changing decisions, and some of these I swear I never thought I’d see myself doing in a million years. I woke up one morning and I see an entirely different person looking back in the mirror. I quit my job, renewed my faith, chased after my dreams, fell in love. Not exactly in chronological order, but this is what it is in a nutshell.

Now I don’t want you thinking that I’m a total emotional psycho. Soooo, can we just stick to that part about my career? :p

To begin with, I just sacrificed a stable-paying job to vie for a styling position. Fourteen months in Resorts World Manila, and I resigned in exchange for a chance to go after my passion. I want to be dramatic and say that it’s a job a million girls would kill for. But I’d be unbiased and tell you instead that it’s a job that a million girls can actually be killed doing. Being a stylist is not all about glitz and glamour, and that’s what most people fail to see. I did not give up my career in the corporate world for Coco Chanel and Jimmy Choo. I sacrificed my present bread and butter to follow my heart, because at one point or another, a girl’s gotta dream.

No one becomes happy settling for what is safe, the same way no one learns how to swim without the risk of getting drowned trying. Well, I don’t know how to swim, but I think you get the idea.

Sometimes you have to give up familiarity because it takes some guts to reach for the stars. I don’t want to spend my life being a mediocre in an industry I don’t belong to. I want to do what I love and be badass at it. ;)

“I hope you live a life you’re proud of. If you find that you’re not, I hope you have the strength to start all over again.”

-F.Scott Fitzgerald

Almost Nude

Oct7

top (Cesa) | shoes (Oasap) | shorts (Posh and Pretty) | bangle (Fashion Infinity)

Photos by Bryan Balco

Wearing colors almost similar to my skin tone. Neutrals are always safe investments to stock up in your wardrobe. It’s classy and it never goes out of style. More importantly, it looks good in almost everything and blends well with every color. Mixing and matching different hues can’t be any easier than when you’re pairing it with neutrals.

Speaking of neutrals, I fell in love with this sheer Cesa top when it arrived in the mail a few days ago. It’s the perfect sophisticated beige that complements any skin color. This is my first outfit post as Cesa ambassador and I couldn’t be any more glad to collaborate with an up-and-coming fashion brand that’s just impeccable when it comes to details. Cesa, by the way, is owned and managed by Chaley Tiu. She was my classmate in styling class last term and a design student from SoFA. That alone assures you of the top-notch quality that this stylish brand has to offer. :)

For more information about the brand, LIKE Cesa on Facebook, FOLLOW them on Twitter, and check out their BLOG.

Happy shopping, girls! xx

Legally Sporty

Oct1

Photos by Micah Ramos

You know my least favorite subject since grade school? Physical Education. I’ve been terribly bad at sports for as long as I can remember. I have always tried my best to steer clear from any physical activity that requires running, or dribbling, catching and kicking balls. But during inescapable times, I’d usually end up making a fool out of myself. I swear I can’t kick balls to save my life.

And you know one more thing I hate next to it? Intramurals. Intramurals and that big lumpy jersey that elementary teachers would require the students to wear all week long. I honestly don’t know why, but even the XS never seemed to fit me just right. Not that I needed one, because if there’s anything at all that I’d be playing, it probably would have been Word Factory or Scrabble.

For this blog post though, I think my grade school teachers would be proud. I’ve never tried styling a sporty look before, but I thought it might be interesting giving it a go. This is actually my boyfriend’s jersey, so I’m crossing my fingers that he doesn’t get the wrong impression when he sees this. (Babe, if you’re reading this, I can explain.) LOL!

I may not know football like the back of my hand, but I do know fashion. Soooo, this is as “sporty” as I can get! ;) xx

Lazy Bee

Sep28

floral bustier (Sparkle Couture) | studded shorts (Bubbles) | lucky necklace (Ombre Vintage) | oxford shoes (Finds)

Photos by Micah Ramos

Doing a quick outfit post because my backlog is starting to pile up! These photos were taken way before my Boracay vacation and I can’t believe I almost forgot to post about this.

Anyhow, this is me on a casual lazy day. People often think that fashion students and/or bloggers would always heavily accessorize and dress as if they’ll be out for a photoshoot everyday. The thing is, it’s a big fat misunderstanding. We all have our moments, and sometimes we also want to take a break from the stack of rings on our fingers, the layers of necklaces hanging on our necks, and the clanky sound of our high heels.

This is my take on lazy dressing without looking like I didn’t care at all. A floral top, denim shorts, and flats (yes, flats!). :)

How do you like my oxfords? I got the pair from Finds Department Store during our lookbook activity in basic fashion styling class. We were tasked to look for items we can include in a shopping page and I ended up shopping for myself instead. I’m not really a flats-and-sneakers kind of girl, but I don’t regret making this purchase at all. I’ve been overusing the pair lately because it’s very comfortable and perfect for walking around! :)

Had Sparkle Couture’s exclusive floral bustier plus a pair of studded shorts to go with my “lazy” look. Both have exquisitely pretty prints and details so I only went for minimal accessories to avoid over styling. Invest on unique pieces that you can simply pull out from your closet and then still be confident that it can stand out on its own. Go for interesting details, like studs, glitters or sequins. Might go handy when you don’t want to put in too much effort when dressing up.

Fashion ceases to be fun when you overthink. It’s okay to dress lazy sometimes, but if you’re going to be lazy, be sure to be lazy in style. ;) xx

Aloha, Bora!

Sep22

scarf monokini (Cesa) | sunnies (Call It Spring)

Hello!!! This is my first blog entry since I came back from the beautiful island of Boracay! As much as I’d like to try to summarize how enormously fun my trip went, I just cannot encapsulate everything in one post. Instead, I might be bombarding you with separate posts about my Bora vacation in the next couple of days. Hehe!

To start off (since this is a fashion blog, after all), one simply does not go to Boracay unarmed with a killer swimsuit. Thank goodness for Cesa Designs, I got this scarf print monokini that’s just perfect for a day at the beach. Prior to trying this on, I used to prefer two-piece swimsuits because they don’t make me look shorter than how I actually am. But this particular monokini from Cesa made me fall in love at first sight, I just had to get it!

On a semi-related note, I am so excited to announce that I will be an ambassador for Cesa together with Cebu-based fashion blogger Gillian Uang. I may be a terrible swimmer, but I’ve always been crazy about the beach, so collaborating with one of the most playful and fashion-forward swimwear lines is getting me all giddy! Expect more Cesa posts from me in the future. <3

Getting away from the city’s hustle and bustle was truly a breather! Travelled to this charming island with my awesome girl friends and it was beyond fun. The beach, plus the party, and the fruit shakes, and the cocktails and everything else. Boracay is all that and more!

Here are random snap shots of me and my friends at the beach. These are pictures from our second day at the island, and these were taken in between swimming, dancing and video-making. YES! We made a video! ;)

I am so excited to tell you more about my Boracay trip. But for now, I leave you with our equally awesome Oppa Gangnam-Bora Style video. HAHAHAHA!

I don’t think there are words to describe how incredibly crazy Boracay was, but our video might. Everything was spontaneous and purely fun. We all looked like lunatics and people were giving us weird stares while we were shooting this video. Hope you enjoy this as much as it got us all cracked up. :)))))

xx, Marj

Orange You Happy?

Sep10

For our final requirement in Basic Fashion Styling class, our task was to produce our very own fashion editorial. Initially, we were given a theme to work around with: ORANGE.

You’d think it’s a no-brainer, but this word can mean a lot of different things depending on one’s perspective. We were also advised not to take it literally, so in all honesty, I’d have to admit I struggled. I asked my friends, officemates, even Twitter followers. What is the first thing that comes into your mind when you hear the word ‘orange’? Then my boyfriend said, happy. It was the simplest answer I heard out of many, but definitely the most feasible one.

I built my concept from this idea. And to me, what encapsulates the word happy better than childhood, right? Imagine those worry-free days back when you were a little kid and all you had to do was run around, dress up your Barbie dolls, or play video games all day long. So, I filled my mood board with candies, vibrant colors, toys, a playground, and all thing summer-y. I wanted happy, vibrant, quirky, and candid. :)

Photography by Jeruel Pingol
Styling by Marj Ramos
Hair & Make-up by Crisena Ebol and Jennifer Gumban
Models: Karen Villamucho, Lianne Fernandez

You see, creating a concept is one thing. But the execution? That’s an entirely different process! This will not be possible without the help of a great team- Jeruel, Karen, Lianne, April and Jen. You guys are wonderful! Of course, dank je wel mijn lief for coining the word “happy” and for helping me land on the perfect shoot location. <3 And!!! I’ll make the most of this blog entry by giving special thanks to Ms. Rachel Lim of The LiST Group, Trunk Show, Cole Vintage, Cesa, and Sparkle Couture. :)

I am extremely satisfied with how my fashion editorial turned out. Being a stylist is actually not a very glamorous job, contrary to what most people are possibly thinking. It involves legwork, pressure, and unimaginable stress combined. But the fulfillment of working behind the camera and seeing your personal aesthetics transform into an actual work of art, that’s just priceless.

I hope you like this fashion editorial as much as I do, because this definitely isn’t going to be the last one. ;) xx