YVANISM: Birthday Gift Gone Early (Sperry Top-Sider x Jeffrey NY Boaties)

Cho is the best. No going around it, cho’s simply the sweetest, especially with surprises. If you recall, I raved about these Jeffrey NY boaties weeks ago. We came across the very same pair while going around and I pointed it out. Next day, when I left for an early event, guess what I came home to? Go ahead, guess! Yup, it was an advanced birthday gift that's proof yet again of cho’s best-ever status. Truth be told, if it weren't for Face Time with cho everyday, I'd go home in a heartbeat! 

After a hard day's work, going home to this capped the day off well. 

Love the fact that such a preppy item can also carry 

a lot of street swag

About a year ago, Pharrell Williams declared that boat shoes were over. To his point, it was the exact same time when everyone and their mama started sporting 'em, shooting up demand and forcing most every brand to make their own uninspired versions. The mass acceptance actually hit me so hard that I stopped wearing my beloved white shoes altogether.

I'm usually wary of suede shoes, but this was a no-brainer!

Well, during our recent business trip to Hong Kong, I also spotted ‘tis Sperry’s at Lane Crawford. It was the lone item on the rack. Hah! Green all over, tasty suede on the upper, barrel-tied laces making for slip-on wearing - these were absolutely perfect! If Pharrell thought that boat shoes were dead, then this, my friends, is a damn resurrection!

Here they are in action at Power Plant Mall, Makati. :)

xo,

Jack

YVANISM: Where did you want to be at 21?

I have less than a month until my birthday, and like how each year goes, it’s time to look back and see how far I’ve gotten in one year. To be honest, I feel like this was the slowest year ever. And the least… I don’t know, impressive of all? It seems like I was exactly where I was a year ago, and in these times of self-making, that’s not such great news.

But when I think about it, I can list a few milestones that I was quite proud of. Could it be that I just feel like the hype from those things have died down and are no longer enough? There’s so much pressure to always do better than your last, and within the smallest time interval possible, that I feel like we just don’t give ourselves enough credit sometimes.

While chatting with my friend the other night, she told me about an ex-officemate who, at 27, felt that her career in advertising was going downhill and decided to pack her bags and try her hand in the medical industry instead. Kind of a wild jump, but what got to me was how she felt kind of already doomed at that age.

Then again, this is the time when you’re supposed to get up every morning and change the world before the weekend. In the timeline of our lives, we’re at the point where you work your ass off for a few years until you finally understand how you want your life to go. If you think about it, 27 is the age when a lot of people think they should be settling down, feeling more secure about where they stand. It’s all just sinking in now, a few weeks before my birthday, and it’s kind of crazy!

I guess my point is, a lot of people feel so stressed about where they are, and where they’re going, and their five-year plans. Keep things in perspective. Step back a little, and ask yourself,

 

“Is this where I wanted to be at 21?”

I think a lot of you would be surprised to know that actually, you are.

Well, maybe some people are a few steps behind. It happens. It doesn’t mean you haven’t gotten anywhere. At the same time, we’re all probably still far from where we want to be eventually, but I think it’s important to at least pat yourself in the back for achieving what you have today, just to keep you sane. 

Relish that moment. And then, get back to work, because remember, there’s only a couple of years ’til you’re 27.

xo,

Jack

Project #1: Upgrade your old tees!

Okay, I will be posting how I made some of my clothes in this section. Don't get too excited though. I don't really make my clothes every time. But enough of the chit chat.
 

So, I was going to attend a friends birthday party... And shockingly, I haven't got any clue on what I was going to wear that time. When I was going through my closet, the only thing that I found appropriate for the occasion was a plain Gray shirt. Well that is because the theme for the party was "relaxed"...and my clothes are no way suited for that theme. Ha-ha!
So at first, I was like, "Okay you can pull this look off. Wear some pants, a cap and your all-mighty Chucks with it then you're set to go". BUT, a day before my friend's party, I wanted to wear something else instead. The down side is, I don't have time to go to the mall and grab something (considering I only shop at Greenbelt and Rockwell coz it’s the nearest).
 

And so, the creative side of Jack kicked in again. I remember when I was in Zara Greenbelt a few months ago, I saw a faded blue shirt with studs on the shoulder. I so wanted to get that that time. However, upon much thought, the fabric used to make the shirt was not something I'm comfortable with. It's the kind of fabric that sticks to your body when you sweat. I'm not a fan of that fabric AT ALL and it’s too pricey for plain shirt with mini studs. So, with a broken heart, I left the store without buying it. 

But no regrets though, cause at least, I had the chance to make my own studded shirt. Here's how I made mine:

 

1. Lay your shirt on a flat surface and make sure everything is in place.

  

2. Measure your desired length for the bottom part of the shirt. Then leave a mark on it.

 3. Cut the front part of the shirt. Leave the back part to retain the original length of it. (It gives the shirt a more edgy look.)

 

4. Buy some inexpensive clip-on studs. Individually place them on the shoulder part of the shirt. Well you can place them anywhere you like actually. But I chose mine to be placed on the shoulders.

5. Add more studs on the bottom part of the shirt to give it that extra something.

 Then, after much anticipation, here it is!

I will post here soon how the actual shirt looks like when worn properly.
I hope you guys liked my first ever D.I.Y. post! 

xo,

Jack