Some Sort of

{Wore: thrifted Cardi and Dress, DIY Floral Crown, Primadonna Platforms, FRILLS belt, Furla bag, and Leglove tights}

Some sort of... Experimentation.

Both in Style and in Photo Lay out, I am trying to be cool.

Trying --so don't expect High Definition.

I noticed I have too much Grey in my wardrobe, not considering that I also have a lot of Autumn-ish colors (like moccasins and oxblood). I don't know why, but I'm still not in Summery mood; although the weather has been scorching. Well I'm weird, so there's no use arguing. 

Hellooo! I'm wearing leggings in this temperature. 'Nuff said.

Love,

Weird Girl

One Fine Friday Afternoon

Pattern for Paneled Serpentina

Cheater!!

My toes are censored.

The only dish I can't screw up -- Instant Noodles.

Hey,

This was my afternoon today. It was Fine.

And that is thanks to God.

Love,

Cham Gumin

Blue Valentine

{Wore: Thrifted dress & belt, Gifted Clogs & Clutch, Specks from SM Kids Fashion}

Good dolly Morning,

Blue Valentine is what was on TV one Wednesday Morning.. and that is it.

A bit of a segue: I don't believe in Valentine's day anymore. Sorry.

That day was spent on errands and a lunch date with my boyfriend. I have always seen (since 2010) my boyfriend growing up like the male lead in Blue Valentine because he used to (used to) have the same way of arguing - I actually secretly call him the Philosopher stone (I doubt he reads my blog so unless someone spills the coco then I can keep calling him that in secret) - but my boyfriend changed and matured by a century eventually. I guess he was just in a Phase where unnecessary knowledge were spewing out of his ego and his brain can't handle that. Some would call that teen angst or arrogance, but I'd rather call it unnecessary knowledge.

I'm glad I gave him a chance to mature because that's what some people need in this world -- Chances.
And not just 2nd Chances, mind you.

Love,

Cham Gumin

P.S: Dear boyfriend took these pictures <3>

Contained Brightness

{Everything: Thrift}

Hey,

Oh look! The first time, I think, I’m posting a pony-tail hairstyle without fringes.

FYI, I won’t be cutting my hair anymore. Literally. Even a small trim is not acceptable. This is a promise that I made last June 22,2012. The decision was not done out of impulse like what I did back in 2011 where I promised not to eat McDonald’s for a Year (I succeeded btw).

It was because of this:

So no more fringe for this long locks, and also no more hair color other than black. At the moment I’ll conveniently use this as an excuse to get a cheaper alternative for an ombre hair. After I’m board with that look, I’ll go Black and never go back. This is as true as the chicken came before the egg.

I am as happy as I'll ever be. Happy with my new found understanding.

Love,
Cham Gumin the Happy

Everyday is "ME" day

Hey,

Did you know that “Lazy” has a new name? – It starts with “M” and ends with “E”. Well, actually, that’s not really something new.

With some recent disappointments, I can actually say that I've come to a standstill. How did I know that? A few days ago I told my boyfriend that "I think I would like to be a full-time house wife". Those words that I did not dare pertain to me, ever, gushed out of my mouth like a geyser, and It even caught Paul off-guard. Maybe a year ago the thought would totally give me the creeps and would push me to be productive, but ever since I've been an active member of the Church of God I now have a new way of looking at things or sort of like a change of perspective in a less irritable way.

After all, just because the word “house” is literally next to the word “wife” doesn't mean that I have to take it in physical-literal form. House is a “noun” and not “ verb” so I’ll take that as a reassurance that I don’t have to be inside the house all the time talking to trinkets (which I don’t seem to mind at all).

Anyway, I’m like this now because my sewing machine is being a b*tch and kept snapping her needle thread at me so it’s affecting my behavior. Toodles for now.

Love,
“ME”

P.S: I'm totally bothered by my wrinkled cover-up just now.Oh, this is heart wrenching -_-

If you can't afford one;Make one

{Pa-sweet Clothing dress, Random peach corset, and DIY Jil Sander Inspired lunch bag}

Having your own sewing machine and knowing how to pattern and sew has its BIG benefits, 1) Custom Fit clothes 2) Create any dress you want for less 3) Free Clothes! and 4) Imitate Jil Sander's infamous Leather Lunchbags; However, 'Imitate' is such a big word (not to mention being subjected to a lawsuit), don't you think? Let's use DIY instead.

Instead of using leather, I opted for a fabric and print that speaks Cham Gumin a.k.a Pa-sweet Clothing - What else but vintage pattern. Friends would ally me with florals, but please, I'd rather be associated with damasks. Don't get me wrong because I still like floralsl.

I'm planning on experimenting with different fabrics and prints for the lunch bags. My next choice would be Gold, and also one with a foil-y character, but just like how I can't afford the original one, I bet gold leathers are as expensive. Woe, is me who is stingy.

Love,

Cham Gumin

Utilitarianism

{Pa-sweet Clothing Jacket, Vans PHFW giveaway shirts, and thrift Drop-crotch pants and shoes}

Hey,

I find Drop Crotch pants (NOT JEANS) and Over sized jackets convenient lately. It saves the effort to keep the underneath bulge free, especially when my family decides on a spontaneous dinner outside the city.

Considering that I've been crazy-busy these past weeks, I can safely say that I'm beginning to love being a Utilitarian. And as soon as I thought I can finally relax... this happens.

Not that I'm complaining, mind you, but time seems to fly when you're on a deadline. FYI, I'm bad with deadlines.

Anyhow, Join me on the said date if you're around the area. I might sell this jacket there and might (meaning there's a big chance) be giving away some free stuff. You read right, this sentence is holy -- Giving away some free stuff. 

Love,

Cham Gumin

P.S:
But then there's the word "MIGHT".

Preserving Inspiration

As a designer , and in fashion at that, it is important for me to be knowledgeable about my field. Although I have a (very) bad habit of forgetting names and faces, I never forget a style when I see one.

Ever since I studied at SoFA, my fashion glossary has grown a lot. Before entering fashion school I never knew who Yohji Yamamoto was or that Chanel is run by the coolest Karl Lagerfeld (honestly I did not even knew who Coco Chanel was, what I do know then is that a Chanel bag costs 4 digits the least and it's in dollars). Next, I also learned about Philippine's fashion heroes and the legacy they left, and let's not forget the living veterans such as Josie Natori, Randy Ortiz, Inno Sotto and many more.

But I found foreign hotshots much easier to remember than the local ones. It could be because I'm not familiar with their aesthetics or I've never heard their brands before; even their most accomplished works, I'm oblivious of it. FYI, This is me complaining about the lack of information about local designers back in 2009. Now I' am quite familiar with who they are as I'm an avid stalker. (Does that sound humane? Avid - Stalker?)

All i can say is the future kids of fashion sure are lucky. Not only are inspirations just a spit away (literally, if you dare), they will also have access to a complete compilation of Philippine Fashion Week history dating from 2011 to, hopefully, the end of time. Yes, it all comes down to this: An annoying thought that the forthcoming fashion students will have it easy making a report about our fashion history. 

Runway Report, why are you only published now? haaay.

Anyhow, with Runway Report a flip of a page will take you back to past seasons where Michael Cinco expressed Philippine drama, the international way, through Danica Magpantay; A flip of a page, 5 years from now, and you'll be inspired by Ezra Santos's breathtaking and heel clacking creation; A flip of page, 15 years from now, and you'll know what designs to avoid for your next collection, what execution to never neglect, and learn from the mistake of the past. Runway Report has all these benefits.

As what I've said to my ex-colleague when she was making a company proposal for this magazine. Runway Report, would not only be a fashion magazine, but a compilation of Philippine Fashion History. Which we really should preserve. What also separates Runway Report from other Fashion Magazines is that the content is not based on any author's perspective. You are free to judge and closely study a designers collection without being swayed by an editor's opinion. Ha!

The information is not limited to local designers, Runway Report also include shows from Milan, New York, and Paris Fashion Week. So this book is really a must have for any aspiring designers, fashion enthusiasts, and anyone who falls under the category. See? to have a collection of Global Fashion Week in one book, which will not eat any space of my already photo crowded lap top, is beyond fashion convenience.

Runway Report is available at any Fully booked, Power Books and National bookstores near you. Now I only wish that they have a subscription of these so I don't have to check the stores every now and then for a new issues. Also, for the people across the border to grab copies of this awesomeness without flying to the Philippines or waiting for a punta-ibang-bansa box (opposite of balik-bayan-box). 

We Were There

Today was spent procrastinating. Finally had the time to watch Bokura Ga Ita live action movie at dramacrazy. 

I've been a fan since 2008 when I first watched the series and eventually read the manga version. I swear, the story line is so deep that it would mess you up if you just reached puberty.

Conclusion: Finally, a closure after 4 years. I'm so happy for Yano and Nana <3>

12.2.2012 crafty craft

Preparations for this Sunday. I do hope everything goes well.

I used garters instead of Felt. I don't know why, but Santa Rosa doesn't seem to have any Felt. Why?

It appears I need Two more roses because the sides look a bit empty.

 On another note, I have confirmed my love-hate relationship with a Glue Gun. The feeling seems mutual -_-

Brush Strokes

{Pa-sweet clothing midi skirt, Sabella top. Gifted bag(Dad) and Shoes (Boyf) and Ribbon band made by me}

Hey you, 

I don't know why, but these days I lack the enthusiasm to tell something about what I was wearing, because essentially that would make me look like a personal style blogger rather than ... something else I've yet to figure out.

If I was aiming to talk about my personal style then I would probably go on about how I wore this outfit to do an errand at my daughter's school; how I made it look like I'm the older sister again; and make a made-up story of how this outfit was inspired by "Paintings" hence the title "Brush Strokes".

But that isn't so. This outfit was a last minute thing - another fail-proof outfit of mine that's consisted of a Basic Shirt and a midi-skirt. I just saw the ribbon band (that I made a long time ago) lying around and grabbed it out of impulse. The 16 year old in me took over.

Life used to be simpler, not only for me, but for everybody else. When did the world began to be so ...  artificial? Reading other blogs - It's all marketing. Even my most favorite blogger has gone over to the dark-side (but I'm still part of her cult, I love her too much not to follow). I noticed that only the pioneers and the relevant have truly stayed through the course of honesty. 

Actually, my frustration is that that I want to blog, but not to the point that it will be my money source. If there are opportunities, I don't mind, but as long as there will be NO GIVEAWAYS or Manipulation of writing content; because that will kill the unicorn, babe. What's probably eating my system is that I don't want to be labeled as a fashion blogger wanna-be (So far no one has spilled the devastating news yet), but the IFB badge on the right side of this post is very unbecoming of me. I have my poser moments, but I'm no quack if that's what you're thinking. 

Why am I being all mellow? I'm , genuinely, usually like this. Most of the time I'm thinking about non-fashion stuff such as the coming of the end. Anyhow, This type of writing is the original content of Hey cham (notebook). All rants; No Glory.

Love,

Cham Gumin

P.S: So hey all!! Visit Pa-sweet clothing we got new Items and I'm selling this skirt for only P299.00 :)

Project Golden Age: part1

Today is November 23, 2012 and it's official -- I'm being Productive.

I designed this for an event on the 29th, but since I wasn't able to finish this in time, because of much procrastination (what's new?), in the end I decided not to join the historic event. haaay. I'll probably regret this for the rest of my life but that's prolly for the best since I don't want to do something half-hearted.

Anyway, while making the pattern for this project, I had to estimate the measurements of a size 4 model. But because I don't keep a copy of anyone else's body measurement (not because I think it's creepy) I just took note of my size -- a 6 --and adjusted it from there. Good thing I didn't have to remake the pattern or even the muslin sample. I hate that part most. 

So far so good. I've made my cousin who came to visit, who has a slim and petite figure, to try it on. It fits her well. . . Actually maybe I have to add a 1/4" allowance when I transfer the pattern to the actual fabric. Just to make sure. 

I'm so excited to start sewing and see the end result.

Also, I still can't get over how productive I've become and it's not even 2013 yet :)

Romanticism on my pants

{Wore: Pa-sweet clothing (thrift) shirt and pants, Rustan's bag, DV head accessory and thrift shoes}

Hey you,

Is it a crime not to talk about an outfit post?

What is that I hear? 

I'm not a fashion blogger? 

I'm not even a blogger at all, but a designer?

Whoopie! Saves the effort to blab. 

We all know that the title is self explanatory, but if you don't know Romanticism then you should educate thyself by clicking here. 

And that is all. I'm quite busy today. It may sound unusual because I'm practically always online, but It's the truth. If it matters to anyone, I'm actually selling this outfit on Pa-sweet clothing so if you can drop by for a visit and a purchase that would be awesome ♥

Sincerely,

Me (I'm sincere)