Film & Fashion: Under the Tuscan Sun

credit: alanjasonb on YouTube

Forget about the little black dress. After watching "Under The Tuscan Sun", I am on the lookout for a little white dress.

In the film (based on a memoir), Diane Lane's character - Frances - goes through a painful divorce and impulsively decides to buy a villa in Tuscany and settle there. Who wouldn't want to do that? Well, minus the divorce part, I really want to go live in Tuscany too.

It's like you're stuck in a painting or something... So beautiful.

Photograph by Bob Krist

Between vineyards and ricotta farms, a field of bright red poppies dazzles those lucky enough to drive along the undulating hills of Tuscany. According to author Frances Mayes, Tuscany is "the sweetest countryside I know, where inviting roads wind off into fields punctuated by abandoned stone houses." (Text adapted from and photograph shot on assignment for, but not published in, "With Frances Mayes in Tuscany," May/June 1999, National Geographic Traveler magazine)

In one the scenes, Frances' Italian lover tells her through a letter that he had a dream about her wearing a white dress. Of course, she had to go and get herself a white dress - not that any girl needs an excuse for shopping. And, boy, did she find a dream dress or what?

I just can't find a full shot of this dress. :(

Even if it's just a simple white dress with a black belt, it's just so classic and so romantic. I'd love to wear it with those big black sunglasses and floppy brimmed hats.

Check out these white dresses perfect for summer. Tuscany is still a dream right now, but I guess they are still perfect to wear under the Manila sun.

 Marni by Bayo. Php 945

Nichelle by Kamiseta Php 1,999

LIMITED EDITION White Asymmetric Wrap Dress by Topshop £68.00

Threads & Chains

I met a friend of mine the other week and I promised to make her a bracelet next time we meet. This was perfect because:

1. The latest season of The Vampire Diaries has wrapped up and I can finally start to have a  watching/creative marathon;
2. I can de-stash my boxes and boxes of beads and findings;
3. It will get me to try out this awesome D.I.Y. by Erica from Honestly...WTF that I've had my eye on for months.

The results thus far...

 This one's going to my friend.

For color combo inspirations, I go to Design Seeds. For example, this bracelet is inspired by Color Hunt.

Color Hunt from Design Seeds

This is pretty easy and really cheap to make. For full instructions, go to Honestly...WTF. Just a tip: when choosing the chain, make sure you have the one that have the links lay flat. I've had a hell of a time trying to weave through another kind of chain before I realized it was a lost cause. XD

I've still got a lot of thread, chains, and television shows left, so I'm probably going to have a bracelet-making binge... Again.

Have a great weekend!

***

Honestly...WTF
Design Seeds

Product Love: Hello Kitty Sweetness Tank

 Hello Kitty + Watermelon + Tank Top. What's not to love?  ♥

I think most girls went through a Hello Kitty phase. I certainly remember collecting my share of stationery and stickers when I was younger and swapping it with my friends.

It amazes me that Hello Kitty is as popular today as it was back then. Here we are, years later, and my "inaanak" (godchild) is also a fan. It's my go-to gift during her birthdays and celebrations.

But this Hello Kitty Sweetness tank from Forever21 is so sweet and so cute that I think I'll keep this one for myself. ;)

If you can't buy 'em... Make 'em.

The downside to knowing how to make jewelry is that you hesitate over every accessory purchase. Well, okay. That's more of an upside. But sometimes you just want to shop without thinking about how something was created and how you can easily make one yourself (and for a cheaper price, too!).

I've been looking at leather cord bracelets for a while now. I guess I've seen too many of them being worn by Dara and the whole YG Family that I began to covet them. But since I don't think I can afford those Chrome Hearts bracelets, anyway... I decided to make them on my own. And what do you know? I have all the materials I needed just gathering dust, literally, on a plastic box on my bedroom floor. I haven't got time to do some tinkering nowadays. Sigh.

So while I was having my Fringe marathon, I was able to make these bracelets. Still sloppy work, but I don't think nobody will look that closely. Haha...

The first one I made. I love the 2-layerness of it all,.

Couple bracelets? Used a different material and technique here.

Sweet.

 My favorite.

I made more designs but wasn't able to take good pictures of it. I like them because they're so thin that I can pile and layer them on, but also just wear a single one for a simpler look.

Not bad, right?

Product Love: These aren't the droids you're looking for...

... But these are some of the cutest slash awesome (okay, mostly cute!) Star Wars merchandise you can find in the planet.

Darth Vader says, "I find your lack of faith in Steve Jobs disturbing." Darth Vader Decal for MacBook by Decal360.

Valentine's may be over, but I think this card from theWallaroo is as timeless as Yoda's wisdom. Love it, I do.

Sometimes we need a little reminder from Master Yoda. "Do or do not. There is not try." bracelet from spiffingjewelry.

Another item from spiffingjewelry, these would be the perfect couple rings for Star Wars fans.

These awesome swimsuits from Black Milk Clothing make guys forget all about Princess Leia's iconic slave girl outfit... Okay, maybe not. But it comes close.

Nothing says BFF more than this Chewy and Han print by mikiep.

Darth Vader, cute and cuddly? No other way to describe it with these crocheted creations by lucyravenscar.

Have a little fun with your books (or dvds). Star Wars trash compactor bookends from Star Wars Shop. (But it's sold out, I think.)

 

This might not be my Star-Wars-fanatic brother's cup of tea, but I think this mash up of Hello Kitty and Star Wars by hellowars is kinda cute. Aww, lookie the little Wookie wearing a big red bowwie. I'm going to stop now.

Technically, it's not an item... But this Civil War era-inspired Darth Vader portrait is just too awesome not to mention. This was done by Greg Peltz and you can check out his other Star Wars portraits at his blog.

Happy Star Wars Day everyone! And May the Fourth be with you, always.

May Day Hair

I've been meaning to go to the salon for the longest time. Unintentionally, my hair was following the ombre trend - two-toned tresses with a darker hue on top. See Rachel Bilson for an example of ombre hair.

Well, yeah. Mine didn't look that pretty. Mine looked like exactly what it was - the hair of a person who was too lazy to retouch her roots. LOL.

So I finally went to my salon and hair stylist today. Is it kind of elitist to call him hair stylist? I don't know what else to call him. The name card says 'stylist' so I guess we'll go with that.

My stylist's name is Rick. He's a senior stylist at the First Aid Salon over at Greenbelt 3. He's really great and he knows my hair well. I think I've been going to him for three years already? I think what sold me on him is that he didn't force me to have my hair rebonded or relaxed, like most tell me to do. Actually, I thought about it one time but he even discouraged me from doing it! And you know how expensive having your hair straightened can be. So, since then, I've been embracing my natural curls which he cuts so wonderfully that it doesn't look like my hair exploded around me.

 The end result:

Anyway, I'm pretty happy with my hair right now (Despite the non-smiling pic above!). It's all in one color now so I won't have to disguise it with hats and headbands anymore. I wanted to go a bit red, and I did tell Rick, but he said that it has a tendency to become orange. As much as orange is the trend right now, I think I'll keep my ash brown (?) hair color, thank you very much. I've been receiving compliments and questions about it so I guess I'll stick with what works.

Of course, the true test is when you lose the glamor of salon hair and shampoo it on your own. Nothing I can do about that. Until then, just enjoy it, right?

***

First Aid Salon

2nd Level, Greenbelt 3,

Ayala Center, Makati City

757-4976

Arabian Sky frame: maybemej