Anie Writes: Style

In Style,

What's In My Bag? {Literally Just Some of the Stuff I Got From Christmas}

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, by Anie Ordillo

In Anie Reviews, Style

Paint Them Nails

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, by Anie Ordillo

In Anie Reviews, Style

Miss Sab Toting Her Longchamp Le Pliage

Sab Miranda is a recurring character in my blog stories having been my co-teacher since 2010. She is the second-in-command when we took over the Children's Ministry leadership at Humphrey Center in 2013 and basically a soul sister to me. Some of you may also see her gracing my {If} Instagram album on my Facebook, ever so willing to pose time and again, whilst rolling her eyes at me in the process but completely understanding of my social media weirdness. She is one of the many awesome INTJs I've known in this lifetime, who stuck out with me through thick and thin. Today, she will be writing a review on Longchamp Le Pliage because productivity on Christmas break is her middle name! DUH! 😅

When Anie asked what writing style I have under my sleeve, I'm not quite sure if I even have one. But, if you really have to read through this review, I can promise that you'll pick up nothing but clarity and directness on I'm about to work on. So, here we go!

It has to be said that I'm not exactly particular in owning branded and expensive things, especially bags. I'm a teacher and if there's anything I value about something, it has to be its QUALITY. Give me a durable, brandless bag from Divisoria that can haul all the things I have to bring, then I'll be just fine. Practicality, in my opinion, outweighs trends. In all honesty, I was unaware of Longchamp until one of my students' parents gifted me with a garnet Le Pliage medium tote bag in nylon canvas for my birthday last November. True to its claim, this lightweight tote can literally carry everything. It is very sturdy and resistant to the unpredictable weather condition I'm so used to, being nested in Angeles City. Now, I'm no jet-setter, mind you, but my usual commute to my home province in Natividad, Pangasinan every now and then {sometimes the occasional visits I make to some of my closest relatives in Magalang, Angeles and Makati} made me appreciate Le Pliage as an overnighter, on-the-go bag.

Once, I got to a two-hour commute from Angeles for a family event in Makati and brought with me my Le Pliage with its detachable shoulder strap. When I got to the venue, I removed the detachable shoulder strap, hand carried it after and was quite amazed how it complimented my outfit. I can completely forgive its lack of interior pockets for its flexibility of use in different occasions, making it both aesthetically charming and sincerely practical.

I understand that most women own this tote bag. I'm not one to follow trends and all but sometimes, some products/items are generally well-known because they're, in point of fact, amazing. Longchamp Le Pliage, I can say, rightly is.

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, by Anie Ordillo

In Anie Reviews, Style

It's Cath Kidston

'It's a what?' I asked rather lamely.

'Cath Kidston', my sister replied almost impatiently.

'Who?', I bid yet again, feeling with my fingertips and palm the texture of a Cath Kidston cross body satchel in deep blue and red spotted pattern, hanging ever so nicely on a display rack. 'Twas the first time I've heard about Cath Kidston. I know, right?! What have I been doing with my life? Don't even ask. 😆

For those of you who, like myself, are living under a rock and are completely oblivious about Cath Kidston, it is a brand that produced great range of homeware, clothing and other accessories. Cath Kidston is regaling costumers for more than twenty years with its vintage prints injected with a modern twist but they are perhaps particularly known for their bags that seemingly shouts quintessential English rose prints with a whiff of wistfulness. I'm an absolute fan of the chic vibes it can add to your outfit and the overall modern vintage and nostalgic feels it gives off from every unique patterns and prints. Cath Kidston bags come in wide range of sizes: from tote bags, to day bags, saddle bags and luggages. You just have to decide whether you're a big or small bag kind of girl. Being one who likes to bring half of the house with her, Cath Kidston day bag works for me with out question. Love in Paris print is absolutely 👌🏼!

You'll be surprise how spacious these bags are and space is important especially if you're a teacher like me. Some are even PVC coated cotton so, it's waterproof! In addition, these bags, more often than not, come with matching wallets and travel pouches that also features the same daintiness and femininity their hand bag counterparts exude, which, of course, can be sold separately.

So far, there are four Cath Kidston stores here in the Philippines {as far as I know. Feel free to correct me on this one though}, most of which are in NCR {Active Fun - Fort Bonifacio, Taguig, UP Town Center - Katipunan Ave., Quezon City, Trinoma - North Ave., Quezon City and Greenbelt 3 - San Lorenzo Makati City}. But for my fellow Cath Kidston lovers based in Angeles City, fret not because you can actually order online via trusted local dealers that can bring you all the authentic Cath Kidston products you can get your hands on! At Calliecutes, we have on-hand Cath Kidston bags in stylish prints, pretty pastels, and florals designs.

Whether it's for personal use or present for your female friends, sisters and even your moms, I'm pretty certain you can't go wrong with Cath Kidston.

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, by Anie Ordillo

In Style,

What and WEAR

It’s been half an hour since the program has concluded. Flashes of distant cameras were still evident from the center stage where the very event took place. Family and friends gathered around in celebration of victory and delight as Earl Jane, Karl, Josh, Kim, Joyce and Vince takes pleasure in their triumphant stint as pageant winners. Across the canteen table, I sat down on a monobloc chair, finishing my egg sandwich. In nonchalance, I watched the spectacle from afar as the hollering and hooting continues.

Heading to my direction were Ate Sha and Ate Ann. In haste, I swallowed my food, gulped down my drink and went to my feet to engage in an after-event conversation.

“Kids” I muttered, pointing to the boisterous display in front of us. Both of them smiled.

“Love the outfit, Anie” Ate Sha said out of the blue.

“Don’t tell me you got that from the thrift shop again” she inquired.

“As a matter of fact, I did” I replied, quite pleased with myself.

“For a hundred and seventy-five pesos, no less” I went on and gave them a quick carefree twirl.

Photo from https://fuhrigg.wordpress.com

I confess I have been one of the boys for quite too long and slipping into short dresses is a preference I’ve recently got the hang of. When it comes to dressing up, I resort to an Ukay-Ukay to procure an inexpensive and stylish outfit. Ukay Ukay is actually a Visayan word that means “to rummage”, a term generally used throughout the Philippines to describe how people pick out garments from an imported second-hand clothing outlet. Yes readers, most of the dresses I wear once belonged to someone else. My dear Ate Ann wouldn’t consent to this and so as my pastor, but Ukay is just so addicting! There’s a sense of thrill in unearthing something fabulous amidst racks and racks of clothes and the best part is, you hardly ever get the same thing twice!

Nowadays, I go for dresses mostly for the comfort it offers, adding a dash of feminine touch to my short hair and accentuating it a little comes in second. I hardly consider myself a fashionista, truth is, that word irks me and I don't give a rat tooth about brands either, I'm all for comfort, wearability {if that's even a word} and the reasonable price that comes with it. I'm an advocate of Ukay not just for the big thrift that I am but for the STYLE OF CLOTHING that you won’t easily find anywhere else in Angeles City. I roll my eyes at people with the impression that Ukay are for the less fortunate or for the cheaps, because it is not. Lately, even the ones with fashion cred has done it at some point, so why the prejudice? Think BRANDON BOYD. I love him. Furthermore, Ukay is for the unpretentious, who’s unaffected by anyone’s opinions and I honestly think no one can be classier than that.