notes – bithia

Overdressed > underdressed

Published on January 22, 2018January 22, 2018 by reyesbithiaLeave a comment

Can’t believe I’m reliving this memory.

I’m pretty sure we’ve all had our inappropriately-dressed moments, this is mine: The opening night of the Ramon Valera exhibit coincided with Filipiniana day in school. I was wearing a stripped wbebfiwufuhwe with a matching panuelo paired with dark grey jodhpur pants (that have wire buttons). Along with a woven basket bag and silver flats.

27265279_1713288212050606_662623457_o — AKA: before the mess up. Also, the only decent photo I have of that day.

Now while dressing up for the exhibit I thought that it would be the same as the other exhibits I’ve gone to (mostly empty). Hence, I kept my top, replaced the panuelo with a necklace and changed into worn out jeans instead. I also kept my bag.

Lo and behold, the exhibit was chock full of people. Important, well dressed people. And I was wearing a 4 year old top with unraveling threads.

To further emphasise my point: even the people are art but I can’t post that here because privacy. This one girl was wearing pants wherein one pant leg was black while the other was printed denim and there were huge slits on the sides. Kinda 80’s but now. There was this other girl who was wearing this simple black dress with the most wicked shoulders: pointed upwards like demon horns and knee-length boots. She was sporting twin buns with pinkish-red streaks (Something I’m not usually a fan of because when you color your hair too much it looks dry as a dust bunny but she pulled it off).

27048899_1713288172050610_574255927_o — So I took photos and caught her. I didn’t realise it was a dress.

27044995_1713288058717288_1810628956_n — The polo with lace sleeves under the black corset top was supposed to be white.

27044532_1713288068717287_1457640659_n — All of that gray stuff is supposed to be white actually. Whoops.

This was the first time I’ve ever been underdressed and overdressed is so much better – at least then you’re better looking than everyone else.

Or if you’re uncomfortable with standing out once overdressed – you’re going to stand out underdressed too. At least when you dress too much you can edit: you can do so by adding a jacket, removing jewelry, lots of options. But making yourself look more extravagant? Good. luck.

xoxo,

Bithia

P.S – had a similar experience? The opposite experience? Know of a way to change your outfit without reach of your closet? Comment. Especially on the last question. SOS.

#valeraxbenilde – exhibit, picture dump and fun facts

Published on January 3, 2018June 12, 2018 by reyesbithia1 Comment

In 10th grade, I had to choose a National Artist to report about. Obvs., I chose Ramon Valera, the only National Artist of the Philippines for Fashion.

I was impressed with the work I was able to scrounge up online but I wasn’t in awe. And I didn’t know I wasn’t in awe until I actually saw his work.

It was p h e n o m e n a l. His technique was inventive and clever, the attention to detail was astounding!

“I don’t want to be popular, I just want to be famous” — same

The photos were taken at the Ramon Valera opening night exhibit in CSB (College of Saint Benilde). I got to attend opening night because my art teacher invited me (i love her). The theme was Modernism and there were bits of his story written on the walls, quotes and so on.

I think the exhibit was great but I’m naught but a fashion enthusiast so my judgement is moot. Luckily, the people attending the event were professionals (not naming names but there were some big names) and I could see they loved it so you can take it from them.

Sadly, the exhibit’s only open till October 2017 (This is such a late post, sorry)(petition to have another exhibit? :D).

Weddings

Formal wear

Apparel

Fun fact # 1 : butterfly sleeves are a symbol of emancipation. It started when Filipino women were able to go to college in 1908 so it’s like a power suit. Parallel to us, America got into pantsuits because in the 1950s a lot of women gained jobs.

Still formal wear but without the butterfly sleeves and more colourful:

how

It looks like print but

beads!!

Getting some real funky vibes I love it

The necklace is part of the neckline

So is the bracelet — I didn’t realise till I looked closer. The detail is really cool I wish they’d let me lift up the sleeve 😦

Fun fact # 2 : Fashion is such a great indicator of the times! Valera’s time was shortly after the war so the Philippines craved something fun, modern and, admittedly, excessive (after all, economy was thriving then so why not).

P.s. – kudos to Valera for identifying what filipinos wanted and acting on it #goals

Illustrations

Fun fact # 3 : @all those wanna-be designers who can’t draw. Valera couldn’t draw, or he didn’t want to, so he described what he wanted to his go-to guy. I read this on a plaque so I can’t remember the name of the illustrator. I can’t seem to find it online either. If you know, do tell.

I’m posting this because I got a fire burning in my soul after attending that exhibit. I started reading up and I wanted to share the 3 most fun facts I could find. Those^ aren’t it. But I really wanted to share those so too bad. If you want to know the much nicer facts that I didn’t include here, then you’ll just have to click the link at the bottom of this post.

Also, in 10th grade, the photographic records of Valera’s work was kind of shady. Here’s my token to those other kids who need to write a paper about him 😀

I got something wrong? Want to share your own fact? Pls tell me: comment or something I love learning 😀

xoxo,

Bithia

Curious about the Philippines’ national artist but hate research? I’ve got you covered:

Intro to his life and work (This is the link I was telling you to click) — I tried to find the shortest, most accurate article about him. This includes the important bits except the fact that if he didn’t like the garment, even if he’s almost done, he’s willing to restart from scratch.

If you want to know about the terno (its importance especially) and the fact that Valera didn’t invent it –— read this. Not as short as the above but a good read.

Melbourne Central

Published on May 14, 2017May 16, 2017 by reyesbithiaLeave a comment

Hello

First off, the Emerging Artists Market at Melbourne Central. I have to say, one of the best malls I’ve ever gone to! Second only to Dubai Mall, which had a legit Diplodocus longus dinosaur and shark tank, among other things 😉 Each sector of that mall had different themes too so it was super fun to explore.

I’m not here to talk about that though; maybe in a different post? In the Emerging Artists Market, there were about 4 booths, all with different styles of course.

I was with my best and we were on a tight schedule so I was only able to talk to the people from Grandma Funk; Which was a-ok because it was swell! Apparently, the leading lady of Grandma Funk did not take up a fashion course but instead took up journalism. They’ve been at work for I think, 7 years? Not all that sure about the last part… The product quality at G.F. is great and the design is inventive and young. Really funky and a must visit 😉

Goodness, I sound like an ad. but I speak of naught but the truth! Sadly, forewarning, the stuff’s expensive. My glasses alone cost 35 dollars

and this top?

Around 200 dollars ;-; (Then again, they said this was the last of its kind so it’s understandable). There were sales, around 10% ? But even so, my wallet is empty now haha

If I had more money I would’ve bought this necklace from the neighbouring booth next to G.F.

But this necklace cost 22 dollars. Not much better. The other two booths, I was not able to check because tight sked. and Lizzy wanted to go back to this, admittedly adorable and cozy, hole-in-the-wall library.

The thing here is, you can get a book and borrow it for however long but you need to return it or return another book in its place. I got a book titled, “The Problem with Single Women” and Liz got, “I hate myself”. I can’t remember if she kept it or not…

Little Library at Melbourne Central

At 3:00, this happened:

They emerge from the clock every hour 🙂

Thumbs up for this mall. Even if you don’t have money, you can still find things to do 🙂

**I was not able to take a photo of the Little Library so I got the photo online. I’m a good noodle so here’s the link: http://www.weekendnotes.com/melbourne-central-little-library/