Fall looks from Johanna Ortiz joining the Moda Friends Sale event! Secret's out, the Moda Friends Event sale is ON! Get 25% off selected Fall items (over 2,000+ items!) with code: PRIVATE25 and you can also sign up for M'O Rewards with a +500 bonus points today. For every 1,000 points = $20 reward. Moda Operandi is my favorite online place to buy. Not only can you pre-order items straight from the runway, get access to trunkshows and designs exclusive to M'O, but they are very generous with discounts and rewards. This sale event started yesterday (October 17, 2017) and will run for one week only and in just a matter of hours, items are selling out pretty quick so hurry!
Note: This sale is not advertised and you won't see it either in the website. This is an email sent to previous customers but If you sign up / register, you might get an email with a link directly to the sale page. If you don't, click the photo below to take you to the sale page.
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Here are the colors I used to achieve these two looks: Ethereal (Shimmering purples and pinks and blushing lips) Eyes
Summer (Red lips and gold and bronze eyes) Eyes
This is a fit review of Johanna Ortiz's two swimsuits from her resort collection that debuted pre-Fall 2017 exclusively at Moda Operandi. I'm making a review because prior to buying, I had to wait on other people to post their #bikiniootd and had to ask how they found the fit. Thankfully, the ladies in IG replied and advised that the swimsuits did fit true to size. I didn't want to spend a small fortune on a wrong size and for something that was not eligible for return. So I hope this can help anyone out who's deciding what size they will get. The first swimsuit is a blue number called Moon Light Printed bikini top paired with the Shelly High Rise bikini bottom. The second swimsuit is an orange polka-dot number called Pearly King bikini top and bottom. All swimsuits are sold separately as top and bottom. For the tops, they both fit true to size. I'm a size US 8 and only a US 6 was left for the Moon Light bikini top. Since it ties at back, I went for it and it did fit me anyway but it's a a little snug in the armpit area so I would say for a bikini top, best to get your exact size but if not available, next smaller size would be okay. Luckily I got my size with the Pearly King bikini top but even a size 6 would be okay too. The ties at the back are quite stretchy too and on the "loose" side. As for the bottoms, both feature a high rise waistline and ruched side details. I got both in size US 8 and although they have the same fabric composition, I found that the Shelly fits one size smaller to a true 8 (feels like 6), whereas the Pearly King bikini bottom is a true size 8 and has a higher waist rise by almost an inch (it's perfect for tummy control). On the models, both sit just above the natural waist but on a short girl like me (5 "2) with a short torso, it's a full waist coverage and sits at mid-rib. Worn together with the tops, it's almost like a one-piece with the space between top and bottom seem like a front cut-out detail (which I love because I want full waist coverage). In summary, I would say that even if both swimsuits have the same fabric composition (87% Polyamide 13% Elastane), the Pearly King bikini bottom and top is "more stretchy" and the Shelly bottom and Moon Light top is a little "tight". For both tops, the ties on back make them versatile to go between two sizes but the Pearly King top has more room for a bigger bust (more than a B/C cup) and the Moon Light top would flatter a smaller bust (below B/C cup). For the bottoms, the Pearly King bottom is true to size whereas the Shelly bottom fits 1 size smaller than my size. Value for price? It's absolutely worth it! The construction and design of the ruffles, the fit and materials used are by far the best among many swimwear brands I have tried. There are few pieces left available in Moda Operandi from this collection, but Johanna Ortiz debuted a new swimwear collection just this August 2017 in Moda Operandi's trunk show that is expected to ship out in October 2017. Just for me, the former collection is cuter than the latter. Beach season is currently OFF in the Philippines but I managed to take some pool photos. Check them out below. Hopefully we get sunny weather soon and take better pics to do these swimsuits some justice. *Update Aug 13, 2017 (Went to the beach and took pics when worn... Check it out!) ![]() If you're going to shop, might as well be smart about it. Shopping online on US stores (or worldwide) by Philippine buyers is thriving with the help of freight forwarding companies, Paypal and international credit card facilitators and worldwide shipping, and it's important to keep up to date with new technology and apps that allows you to save with deals and promos. I'll keep it short. Download Giving Assistant (https://givingassistant.org) - it's an app that you can download on your computer and allows you to earn cash backs (though your paypal account) from thousands of online stores whilst supporting charities. Once downloaded, It also auto-scours the internet for promo codes. But if you can't find a working code, Google is your friend. Simply type keywords like "(insert -store name-) promo code" and find codes from various few coupon sites. For shipping, I use My Shopping Box and Johnny Air. The good thing about My Shopping Box is that it can charge as low as US$5.99 per pound, delivers straight to your doorstep and you have the option to ship by Air or Sea (cheaper and recommended for bulkier items), whereas Johnny Air has a minimum charge of about Php1,000 more or less. The advantage of Johnny Air is that they have a New Jersey address which is Sales Tax free! It's now July and that marks end-of-season sales as good as 75-80% off. You have a few days left before July ends. I've written about apps and freight forwarding companies I've personally tried and recommend but please do share any other apps or freight forwarding companies that you've had positive experiences with! Happy Shopping! Go on and let the rain pour, the rain makes for great mood in photography anyway. Had a little fun in the rain last weekend and dressed up like a Spanish senorita for date night. Tulsi floral frill dress by Zimmermann Sandals by Mango Bag by Aranaz Dimsum for Saturday date night in the city. Wearing a favorite print from Zimmermann - "Winsome" tie-dye cinch dress and pairing it with gold accessories. "Aries" Earrings are by Christie Nicolaides, strappy gold "Lucille" sandals by Aquazzura and a classic canvas chain flap with GHW from Chanel. I have to thank my dear photographer for being patient with me tonight. You are now legit #InstagramHusband for showing extra patience. I told him I wanted to blog about it and we had to take more than one photo. Awesome photos as always. Love you! Summer has officially ended in the Philippines as we receive fits and bouts of gloomy skies and downpour starting today. But this February to early June have been the best summer so far. We traveled to places, near and far, and took a few (or a lot) of #ootd along the way. My summer wardrobe has been mostly white, but a few colorful pieces found it's way into it. I even wore pink! A color I've never really liked back then because it's too girly but now, depending on the shade I think it's quite flattering. Here's a round up of my summer this year. Thanks for letting me share! I have an obsession with statement earrings. There, I said it... The bigger, the more colorful, the better! But I can't sacrifice comfort that's why I love these ultra-light and festive hand-made earrings by Colombian jewelry-designer Mercedes Salazar. They are clip-ons and surprisingly, don't hurt at all. Made from a mix of resin, acrylic, beads, tassels, fringe and crystals in playful and artful colors... these earrings are exactly what their name says - aptly called Aretes de Fiesta, which translates to Fiesta Earrings. I had the afternoon free to take my small collection out in the garden, take photos and pair them with some outfit ideas like tops and dresses. I had fun clipping and hanging them on bushes and leaves, trying to think of them as flowers and baubles. I hope you enjoy the flat-lays and color explosion. How to get them? Check out the Mercedes Salazar international website. They ship world-wide! USA retailers like Moda Operandi, Shopbop, Intermix and Revolve also carry the brand. If you are a Philippine buyer, you can course your package thru MyShoppingBox for your USA purchases (been using them for years). LCP Store in Fort, Taguig (Manila) used to carry the brand a year ago. They have long sold-out and still hoping they will re-stock.
I am also selling one pair from my personal collection. Find out which and how to get it by visiting my Instagram shop @fortheloveoflabelsph (for Philippine buyers). Silk… sheer and sensual, is my absolute favorite fabric. It is light, fluid, prismatic and delicate but has a durable tensile strength which with proper care, would last you many years. On a hot summer afternoon in Manila, wearing a flowing silk dress, I found myself in La Maison des Carrés section of Hermès. The vibe of the store is warm and vibrant. An array of beautifully printed silk squares, scarves, twillys and shawls are on display. Clients, armed with champagne and hors d'oeuvres, go around choosing prints and were treated to a lesson in silk styling by Hermès sales associates and representatives. The epitome of luxury, Hermès scarves are made from 100% silk and is considered one of the world's most coveted fashion accessories. However, owning a piece is really more than just the appreciation of silk textile or the brand, more so, it is owning a piece of art, style and tradition. It is Art on a square. The designs printed on Hermès scarves are the works of commissioned and highly-sought artists from all over the world. It will not come as a surprise that collectors, would purchase Hermès scarves and hang it on their wall behind a glass frame. Some are priceless and do belong in a museum. Selecting through an array of scarf designs, is pretty much alike to art-hunting. Whether the art speaks of a story behind the imagery, or a design is a reflection of your personality, or simply because the color scheme or pattern is pleasing, the fun is in the find as a specific print catches your eye or "speaks" to you. It is Style in a square. There are myriad of ways to wear scarves at any age. A knotted head silk square for a touch of whimsy, a twilly wrapped on bag handles to add charm, a scarf turned into an alluring top, or simply as a stole draped over the shoulders for understated elegance. There are no rules, have fun with it! With that said, a beautiful silk scarf never goes out of style. Hermès shows you many ways to style your silk scarf which you can learn from their sales associates, from the booklet that comes with your purchase, or from the website La Maison des Carrés, a site dedicated to Hermès scarves http://all-en.hermes.com/. Lastly, it is Tradition in a square. Staying true to the tradition of silk screen printing, each piece is a masterpiece and a collective effort of several artists and craftsmen. Like all things Hermès, the painstaking process of creating a silk scarf entails several hundreds of hours (almost two years), from the spinning and weaving, to the printing and finishing process. It is simply craftsmanship and design at it's finest. Initially, the price tag for a scarf may come across as outlandish especially for just a small piece of printed fabric. However, an in-depth understanding of the intensive work on how the product is made, would give one an understanding that surprisingly, the price is actually fair and justified. There are several sources on the web that provide testimonies from visits to the Hermès workshops on how an Hermès silk scarf is made. I highly recommend visiting http://www.disneyrollergirl.net/studio-visit-hermes-silk-scarf-workshops-lyon/ for further reading. In Manila, a 90cm silk scarf is priced competitively at Php24,000 (as of May 2017) compared to the USA retail counterpart at US$400. May I recommend the 90cm sized silk square scarf for versatility and more styling options. To discover the collection, visit the Hermès boutique in Manila at Greenbelt 3, Makati, Philippines. |
AuthorI'm Anna and I will be sharing with you my Love for Three things - Fashion, Travel and Food. I hope you find this blog enjoyable as I feature Archives
October 2017
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