Fat Cheeks, Big City

I have the fattest cheeks in the whole, wide world.

Yes, I am one of those few fortunate souls. Let me eat a platter full of rice, pasta, fried chicken, cake, ice cream and pizza every meal daily for a week without any form of exercise and my body wouldn't show a single evidence of weight gain. That is, if my face is covered by a paperbag. Everything I eat seem to always go to the healthiest part of my body--my cheeks. Ugh. Now all of you understand why I'm such a poker-faced blogger in photos. :|

Of course, I had to put that "facial expression" to use again during my collaborative shoot with another Iloilo-based online shop -It's Vintage  Darling a few weeks ago. Because it took the whole afternoon for the collection to be photographed, I decided to loose up a little and smile as I wore my normal clothes back. Cheeks were still chubby but thanks to Russel for taking these photos! :)

This plaid dress with drapery here and there may have stood on its own already but I just feel naked being minimalistic. Hence, the colorful neon add-ons! It wouldn't hurt brightening up an already bright and sunny day, right? Just one piece of style advice though, never leave your house empty-handed, errrr, unarmed. Your arms deserve to be prettified, too! Complete that colorful look with arm candies from Superb Finds. Skulls, spikes, chains, braids - name it and they have it. How I look and feel extra fun-loving with my arm in these circles! :D

|skulls, spikes, and metallic arm candies - Superb Finds | rubber bangles - SM Accessories | colorblock wedges - AsianVogue | makeup by Em Trava and Russel Mendez | photos by Russel Mendez |

Make your arms happy with free arm candies and more by joining this giveaway:
WWW x Superb Finds and TheCoupleStore
Have a blessed Sunday, everyone!


Much love,
Mela

Follow me on TWITTER: @meladelfin
INSTAGRAM: @wearismela

From The Beach To The Runway

Merry Christmas everyone! 

I am back from the crazy buzz of medschool and the holiday rush with this super late intro/outfit post on my first ever Philippine Fashion Week experience last October. To those wondering how I got flooded by invites (with a total of 10 free shows to be exact), I've really been persistent (and prayerful!) since June. Searched online and connected with both designer and blogger friends from Manila just to get into this big fashion event until I landed over philippinefashionweeklive.com. They launched an online raffle in August and I got picked! 

I was never lucky with raffles and giveaways but I guess this one was just meant to be. Our family trip was packed hence I only got to attend one show. Cheers to extra invites, there was more than enough for me and my mom!

Preview Magazine's Daryl Chang in electric blue. Just look at those shoes! She's drop-dead fashionable, I'd trade my entire closet to take her place even just for a day. Front row in fashion shows, all-day, everyday, gaaaah! Me and Mom were given second row seats--good enough view for first-timers, eh?

Mom in a ruffled turtleneck peplum top. Proud stylist/daughter here! 

What do you think of our black-and-red mother-and-daughter combo?

The best things are hidden at the most unusual places! Got this ombre dress for only P899 from SM Ladies' Fashion's resort line, Coco Cabana. Yes, yes, yes, I am wearing a beach dress! Lesson learned? Never underestimate the resort wear section. Their maxi dresses are way cheaper and they look absolutely fit for formal events, too.

And my luck didn't just end there. I was also spotted by the Style Bible team! Oh that night was certainly a dream come true! I finally have a photo with the StyleBible.PH logo on it. View it here: http://www.stylebible.ph/gallery/popup/parties/4330#18_1351570201103012

A lot of good things happened to my blog this year because of all your support. I believe it's just about time to stand alone and get my very own domain. What do you guys think of wearismela.com? I'll be posting the runway photos plus all the other backlogs next. Happy holidays!


Much love,
Mela


This giveaway is extended until January 3rd!
WWW x Superb Finds and The Couple Store Giveaway
 Join now while you still can :)

Follow me on Twitter: @meladelfin
Instagram: @wearismela

I'm With The Band

I love roadtrips! I don't mean the usual Iloilo-Roxas route I take on free weekends. It's the kind where my Dad drives and Mom's on the front seat magically handling us unlimited food whenever we feel like eating. So I spent two days of the long weekend on the road like that and ah, I must have gained at least 3 kilos from nonstop pigging! I'm no skilled traveller/driver, but I have to say that the Sapian-Aklan-Antique Highway is the best yet here in Panay. I didn't feel motion-sick, at all. 

It wasn't so tacky pulling a travel outfit off with all the comfy, interesting pieces that GIFI Clothing sent over. This sleeveless top is one of my favorites. I couldn't have achieved an androgynous look without it (and the fedora, of course!). Hand me an electric guitar and I can count as a musician on-tour. Haha, I wish! What do you think?

| top: GIFI Clothing | shorts: Forever 21 | bracelets: The Couple Store | bag: Guess | socks: SM Accessories | boots: random from Hong Kong |

Love the bracelets I'm wearing above? I'm giving away similar ones plus more neon arm candies! Click this to join: WWW x Superb Finds & The Couple Store Giveaway
I couldn't stay longer because I just sneaked out from my patho review. Wish me luck on my exam tomorrow!


Much love,
Mela

Follow me on Instagram: @wearismela

Twitter | Chictopia | Lookbook

WWW x Put It On Giveaway Winners

CONGRATULATIONS to the two winners of the WWW x Put It On Giveaway, Jessie and Kim!

Please check your mail for details on how to claim your prizes.To those who did not win, you can try your luck again and join this giveaway: WWW x Superb Finds and The Couple Store :)

Thanks to everyone who joined and to Put It On for sponsoring this giveaway!

Much love, 

Mela

Wonka Nerd

I'm always on a rush and when it comes to last-minute styling, my mantra will always be "When in doubt, colorblock." With the color-loving person that I am, color-blocking is something that I have already mastered. Just a tip: On occasions when you don't really need to be dressy, why not sport a top and skirt in the same color family and leave the print-on-print trend on your bag and shoes? That would be like hitting two birds with one stone!

I love how this ensemble made me look a little grown-up without compromising my fun, youthful side. I feel like I taste so sweet and sour a la Strawberry and Grape-Flavored Wonka Nerds. Childhood nostalgia but yum! This is definitely something that I'd wear when I go on hospital rounds 5-7 years from now.

(top,skirt,sunnies : random SM Dept. Store brands | bag : Gap | photos by : Ralph Delfin)

And I am finally on Lookbook.nu! I've been receiving a lot of queries about why I don't have one. With the kind of schedule that I have, a blog and three or more social networking site accounts is just too much to handle. Chictopia has been the home of my outfit photos for over two years now and starting all over again with Lookbook.nu is a step out of my comfort zone. This is just my second LB post and I will be archiving my previous looks there. I hope to meet more amazing fashion inspirations and get some support too. Cross your fingers with me, please? I'd love to check your LBs out, send your links over! 

Also, thanks to everyone who stayed up late and took time to vote for me 247295627461846x just so I'd be StyleBible.PH's My Style Star for November. You're efforts were all worth it because I WON! Yiheee! *happy dance* Really, I am just a microbe in the blogging world but I wouldn't be who I am or where I am now without your support. So from the bottom of my heart, THANK YOU SO MUCH! May you all be blessed a hundred more times the votes you shared.
Happy weekend, everyone!

Much love,
Mela

Follow me on Instagram: @wearismela

Join my giveaways:

WWW x Put It On

WWW x Superb Finds and The Couple Store

WWW Giveaway Alert: Superb Finds x The Couple Store (CLOSED)

My love for anything colorful is beyond obvious. And what further joy can a blogger like me have than to be given the opportunity to share that love to her readers. Yehey!

Superb Finds and TheCouple Store collaborating with my blog to offer you guys a colorful treat is such an early Christmas miracle! :D  

Three winners will each receive a bunch of colorful goodies from Superb Finds and TheCouple Store!

Winner 1: 

Nine assorted neon arm candies from Superb Finds 

One neon pink braided necklace from TheCouple Store

One neon pink braided bracelet from TheCouple Store

Winner 2:

Nine assorted neon arm candies from Superb Finds 

Two neon braided bracelets from TheCouple Store

Winner 3:

Nine assorted neon arm candies from Superb Finds

One neon pink chain collar necklace from TheCouple Store

Here's how you can join:

1.) Add Superb Finds on Facebook.

 Like TheCouple Store on Facebook.

2.) Download and post the giveaway banner above on your Facebook wall with this shoutout:
"Neon accessories from @Superb Finds and @TheCouple Store are to die for! Win them over at What, When and Wearabouts blog! http://wearismela.blogspot.com/2012/11/www-giveaway-alert-superb-finds-x.html"

Make sure the sponsors are tagged. Plus +1 entry for every two(2) friends tagged on your post. You can tag as much ten(10) friends!

3.) Follow @SuperbFinds, @LowBuys and @meladelfin on Twitter and tweet: 

"Who wants free neon accessories? @SuperbFinds and @LowBuys are giving away yummy eye candies on @meladelfin's blog! http://wearismela.blogspot.com/2012/11/www-giveaway-alert-superb-finds-x.htm"

Additional entries:

1.) Follow What, When and Wearabouts via Google Friend Connect.

Click this to go directly to the follow page--Follow WWW (+1 entry)

2.) Follow camillae on Chictopia: camillae (+1 entry)

3.) Follow @superbfinds and @wearismela on Instagram. (+1 entry)

4.) Re-blog this if you have a blog. Don't forget to link back to this post! (+2 entries)

Leave the steps that you have accomplished using the following format on the COMMENT BOX below:

Name:

Email address:

Facebook username, link to your wall post, and no. of friends tagged:

Twitter username and link to your tweet:

GFC Username:

Chictopia username (optional):

Instagram username (optional):

Link to your blogpost (optional):

This giveaway is open to Philippine residents only and will run until December 21, 2012 and announcement of winners will be on December 23, 2012.. Winners will be chosen via random.org.

Good luck and thank you so much Superb Finds and TheCouple Store for believing in me! 

Much love,

Mela

P.S. Friends, I am currently one of the November 2012 My Style Star Nominees on StyleBible.PH.

I need your support to win it. You can vote for me here: http://www.stylebible.ph/style-star/

I'm the one in pink on the top rightmost column. Thanks in advance! :D

You might also want to join this giveaway: WWW x Put It On

Hurry, you only have two weeks left! :D

Outfit Repeater

If you happen to be a 90's kid like me, you could have also watched Hillary Duff's The Lizzie Mcguire Movie in your teenage years. Remember how she was humiliated by Kate Sanders for wearing exactly the same powder blue dress from the spring dance? Dreadful. Or Jamie in A Walk To Remember--mocked for wearing the same ugly sweater since kindergarten. Just typical mean-insecure-it-girls-bullying-the-class-nerds high school scenes, uh-huh, but those kind of stuck on me.

 As much as I want my closet to be an endless pit, it just isn't. There will always be that favorite dress or top that I will never get tired of wearing over and over again. Or that only pair of leather jeans I have that does magic to whatever top I pair it with. We all have our own outfit-repeating stories to tell. In fact, we're all guilty of being outfit repeaters once or twice or even a dozen more times in our lifetime. And guess what, nothing's wrong with it! 

Now let me tell you a little secret. The sad part of personal style blogging away from home (as I always say) is not having a camera and a brother (who patiently takes my photos) handy. It's attending events and wearing blog-worthy outfits and not being able to document them.  

I celebrated my birthday with a few friends and classmates last October 13 and as a yearly tradition, I get myself a new dress, a.k.a. birthday dress. So on that same day, I searched for April and ambushed her on a party just to take my photos. How desperate! Anyway, it took her a while to send me the photos (no worries girl, I totally understand!), so I re-wore everything from eyewear to shoes during our vacay just so I'd have my birthday outfit taken. Good thing, my hair's digipermed already (yes, yes, yes, I am now curly!) and I forgot some accessories at home; thus making outfit-repeating a little more subtle. Oh, what a hairstyle-change can do! XD 

And finally, the original birthday outfit photos! Thank you so much, April!

| eyewear: SM Accessories | necklace: Mizar Clothing | dress: SM GTW | bag: Guess | shoes: AsianVogue | First 5 photos by: Ralph Delfin | Last 2 photos by April Garcia of Sugar Plum Studio |

Call me outfit repeater or whatever label you want, but I will surely wear this dress again. It's just so pretty not to! :D

To those wondering why I still haven't posted the PFW photos yet, I'm sorry I forgot to bring them over when I left my hometown after the break. :( I hope this makes up for my forgetfulness in the meantime. Besides, I'm also very excited to share with you guys that the Style Bible team approached me after the show to take this photo!

 

Click this link to view it on their website: http://www.stylebible.ph/gallery/popup/parties/4330#18_1351570201103012

Check out the other photos in the gallery as well!

Have a blessed Sunday, everyone!

Much love,

Mela

P.S. Have you joined this giveaway? Giveaway Alert : WWW x Put It On

I'll be giving away loads of neon accessories soon, so keep posted!

P.P.S. I am finally on Instagram! Because I shall be busy in the coming weeks, I might update it more often than my blog! Follow away: wearismela

Style Watch: Women's Shoes

Autumn is finallyhere and with it comes cooler temperatures, warmer clothes and sensible shoes.So pack away those flip-flops: it’s time to purchase comfortable, enclosed andsturdy shoes for the chilly season. Yet, this doesn’t need to mean the end of fashionable footwear.

This season, thehigh street and designer stores are packed full of stylish, chic and elegantstyles. For anyone preparing to buy some new shoes, here is the low down onautumn’s best footwear trends.

1.      Ankle boots

In a lot ofways the ankle boot is pretty much the ideal shoe. After all, how many footweartrends are comfortable to wear, stylish and well suited to just about anyoutfit? The ankle boot ticks a lot of the boxes and manages to straddle thatelusive line between stylish and practical – a hurdle which many winterfootwear trends fail to navigate.

Lipsy Sapphire Wedge Ankle Boots

Love Label Arquette Platform Biker Ankle Boots

Love Label Stewart Sporty Wedge Ankle Boots

Ted Baker Ezika Zip Ankle Boots

As always withnew trends, the real test is to see just which celebrities have picked it upand whether the fashion will sink or swim. With A-List names like Gwyneth Paltrow, Blake Lively and Jennifer Lopez all jumping on board with the ankle boot, it looks like it’sa sure fire success. Ankle boots are great paired with both skinny jeans ortights and a skirt.

2.      Wellies

Now thiscertainly isn’t a shoe for every occasion but it’s fair to say that the humblepair of wellies certainly has its time and place. British autumn isn’t exactlyknown for its cheerful weather and chances are there will be the odd puddleover the next few months. Having a stylish pair of wellies can therefore meanthe difference between soggy feet and comfort, making them the perfect commuterfootwear item.

South Animal Print Ladies Wellies

South Knit Cuff Ladies Wellies

Joules Junior Floral Girls Wellies

They are also,of course, the must-have festival fashion item and will add a bit of style to anyautumn walk in the countryside. Wellies don’t need to be the chunky boot ofold, with TedBaker Shoes from Very.co.uk bringing out the best in the style with theirequestrian inspired Mareda Wellies.

3.      Court shoes

If you’re ahigh heel kind of gal, chances are you’re not going to let a bit of grimweather get between you and your shoe of choice. Yet it doesn’t hurt to lookfor a more practical version than the precarious skyscraper stiletto.

Daniels Platform Court Shoes

Love Label Carol Pointed Court Shoes

Love Label Toe Cap Platform Court Shoes

Court shoes aremore enclosed than a peep toe, meaning warmer toes for chilly conditions. Theyare also much more stable around the ankle, meaning easier walking on slipperyand wet surfaces. 

Do not compromise your style this season. Stand up and standout with fashionably comfortable autumn footwear from Very.co.uk

Much love,

Mela