Fitting for the post I'm typing up tonight. A somber ensemble in black and white, with a drop of icy blue. 

The silver and Swarovski necklace from Uno de 50 is the latest in my collection of icy blues, my love for which I think is rooted in my fondness for winter. I zeroed in on it the minute I stepped into the store.

Uno de 50 is a Spanish fine jewelry brand, one of many global retailers that hit Philippine shores this year. These are what I found when I checked out its Fall/Winter collection at the Mega Fashion Hall branch. I'll let the marvelous pieces speak for themselves.

                Exquisite, yes? Each Uno de 50 piece is designed and meticulously crafted by hand, using silver plated metal alloys, thread, leather, resin, stones or Swarovski crystals. Originally, the artisans only made 50 pieces per collection, hence the name. The brand has evolved to producing more than this amount as they expanded worldwide, but each Uno de 50 piece is still handcrafted in limited quantities.

If you would like to see these lovely works of art for yourself, visit Uno de 50 at SM Aura, SM Megamall, Mall of Asia and SM Makati.

I also got to drop by the first anniversary party of Skin Rejuve Elite at Timog Avenue. I discovered this last year while looking for a good skin care center near my office, and I've been going to the Ortigas branch since. It's a far cry from the more popular, highly commercialized clinics—for the same quality, the treatments and products are more affordable and the nurses go the extra mile to take care of you.  

With Ms. Leny Hernandez of Operations and Aya Toreja of Marketing. I wasn't able to meet the owner, Mrs. Prescy Yulo, who I believe was being awarded one of Manila's Best Dressed for 2014 at the time.

Treatment rooms are simple and minimalist, with soothing spa music piped in. Just right for my fuss-free approach to beauty! Everyone who dropped by that day enjoyed a free skin care or slimming treatment of their choice (Diamond Peel, Radiofrequency or Lipocavitation).

Another treat from Skin Rejuve—they're bringing in Neogen dermalogy, a brand that's been making waves in Korea and Thailand.

Crystal Skin Body Serum contains Vitamin B3, glutathione, pearl extract, and plant stem cells to improve skin tone and texture. It seems to be a mix of skin care and cosmetics, a brightening serum with immediate effects upon application. Some reviews call it instant Photoshop, but I have yet to find out for myself. I'll post a review up when I do! 

Outfit details: Dress, Candy Love Clothing. Jacket, Zara. Boots, Topshop. Bag, Vans. Necklace, Uno de 50.

   Hype it on Lookbook here, vote on Chictopia here.

And so it's sort of comical how you think that you've made a choice that exempts you from the fashion industry when, in fact, you're wearing the sweater that was selected for you by the people in this room. From a pile of "stuff.”

Meryl Streep as Miranda Priestly in The Devil Wears Prada. One of a few sets of movie lines that I know by heart and could more or less recite word for word. For context, the indomitable Editor-in-Chief delivered the above monologue to Anne Hathaway's Andrea Sachs for laughing during a styling session in which Miranda's fashion assistants were choosing between two blue belts that, to Andrea, "look exactly the same to me. You know, I'm still learning about all this stuff." Suffice it to say the newbie was properly schooled.

I have always loved fashion. Even in school when I was still figuring out my personal style, I would endure moments of taunting and mockery from classmates (and teachers!) for all my fashion faux pas. I was experimenting with outfit combinations that, in the days before the Internet got people warmed up to the idea that there is more than one way to wear something, just don't work. It was chalked up to different things: being a nerd (because gasp, smart kids couldn't possibly know about fashion, could they?), coming from the province (San Fernando Pampanga, a really backwards city so far away from civilization), and just having no sense of style.

And then a funny thing happened. After writing, styling, and producing shoots for the country's top fashion magazines for years, I shifted to television: the News and Public Affairs department of GMA Network where I wrote, researched, and produced segments for TV shows. What was funny? Well, in a sea of shirt-and-jean-wearing folks, I was deemed too fasyón. I was often questioned, for instance, for wearing boots instead of sneakers or flip-flops, or scarves and ponchos to the cold editing rooms instead of a "normal" jacket (isn't a scarf normal?). I got comments to the tune of "Oh, so you're not snooty/maarte at all!" or "I'm surprised you know about/can do (insert skill set or field of work here)." I remember one video editor who was substituting for our in-house guy. She asked me what my segments were about. I answered flats and rainy day gear, and she scoffed: "How relevant."   

Of course, Miranda Priestly's monologue came to mind. I didn't bother though, to waste my energy on responding. We spent the entire night editing, splicing interviews with social entrepreneurs who design shoes made of local materials from indigenous communities, and stylists giving tips to avoid looking like a sloppy wet puppy at work or school despite the rains. Towards the end of it, my editor said, "Fun. I learned a lot from that." Surprise, fashion can teach us a thing or two! 

So I guess I'll end with this. No matter how you dress, people can always find something to nitpick about you. To some tastemakers and inhabitants of fashion's upper echelons, you might never be dressed well enough. To some pragmatists and non-conformists, you might always be too dressed up. So dress the way you are. On one end of the spectrum, fashion is lifeblood and on the other, it is superficial. On my end? For people who love fashion, it is their voice for self-expression—but it is not their only voice. Stick around long enough, and you might just hear a symphony.  

Top, Dongdaemun in Korea. Skirt, Forever 21. Shoes, Call It Spring. Hype on Lookbook here, Chictopia here.