paper dolls

Cooking new project idea. Grinning. Keep up. Look out.

old yum.

This was my thing way back in 2004.

I miss those yummy beads and

shimmering hairbands-turned-bracelets.

stylefaerie interview: CHAD MANZO

is looking stylish important to you?
In terms of the current trend, not really. I believe style is something very personal. What makes you look good, makes you feel good. To each his own poison.:)

do you have style influences?
The japanese. They're a race born with style.

what are your fave places to shop?
Favorite......hmmmm....internet, thrift shops, ukay2, basically anywhere I can get my hands on things i like to own.:)

what's the story of your tattoos?
My flies stand for nothing. They dont have a meaning or whatever, I just figured it would look good on me, so I got it. The ones on my arms symbolize the equated value between hardwork and successs.

do you think anyone can have tattoos?
It's anyone's guess I think. Some people look good with it, and some just dont. Depending on what the tatto design probably, but like I said, it's anyones guess. If they feel good having it, why not?

are you a trend maker or a follower? or does trend mean anything at all?
I do not feel i belong to both. Hahahaha. I just do not like looking like everybody else. I do not believe in trends, in terms of fashion and I do not like to follow or be followed. I think a trend is just there to represent the current generation. It's a fact of life, merely a rite of passage to young people. The necessity to belong gives birth to trends.

do people like what your wearing?
Hahahahaha. That i do not know for sure, but I do receive compliments from friends and I am thankful for that.:)

what's your favourite accessory? why?
Shoes. I know they're not accessories, but they're in a league of their own. They either make you look barbaric, or they make you sophisticated. Shoes have a way of telling others what kind of person you are and make for good bragging rights to others. Hahaha!

do you prefer brands or no-name goodies?
Both. I guess it all depends on what type of item youre looking to buy. There are just some items that call for an investment. Like shoes, sure the fakes are easier to buy, but in the long run, you're sacrificing quality on something you will use on a daily basis.

everytime i see you, i caught you in a different wardrobe. Of all the shows, what was your favourite?
Most favorite? Whenever i am home. No one gives a f*ck about what youre wearing. Hahahaha.

x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x

Chad Manzo is a graphic artist by day and musician by night.

old-looking photos

What's up with the trend of making photos look vintage?

Whatever it is, I'm loving it!

blast from the past!

My bestfriend had fun posting a set featuring her "look" while working at Bigfoot. We had great times then, of course that was when our friendship sparked. It was never dull working with her, we were a crazy duo, single and full of comic acts.

So I created a new set featuring my look way back in 2005. (Except that the sandals were red and the beaded bracelets were colorful)

Blast from the Bigfoot past by ✩GOViNDA✩ featuring American Eagle Outfitters

And this was the old Tingbats:

blast from the bigfoot past by tambolbee featuring J Crew

new discovery: DESIGUAL

I haven't been INSIDE the store (because I am halfway catching up with my 3yo running in the mall) but I fell inlove with their window display. How it carries itself, how it presented itself, calling me to come in and have a taste of their shop. Desigual just caught me.

But you know, catching your boy must comes first. Still, I grab my camera and took a quick picture just so I can keep it and show you guys. Their prints are amazing. I can't wait to visit again. Hopefully I can have my time inside the shop. Yum.

Born to be a Faerie

Born to be a Faerie by ✩GOViNDA✩ featuring GAP

Ok, so I had to do one more set for the challenge. Why? Because I just had to. Addicted? Well...

I just had to complete the whole bunch of me's. the designer, the mother, and the faerie. This time, I sprinkle happy thoughts, to inspire... and maybe make the world a little happier. :)

The GAP Jeans Challenge

What were you born to do?

This is GAP's challenge to Polyvore fanatics - to create an outfit inspired by whatever we think we are born to do. A set must use at least two of items from GAP and should showcase their denim.

Instantly I thought I am born to be a mother - born to rock my boys. I have always felt that me and the boys are made to fit each other in a messy and soulful way. But then I realized I am "me" first before I became a someone to another being. And so... I had to make two sets for the contest. This is my first entry as a creative and a doodler - born to create and doodle away!

Born to Create and Doodle away! by govinda featuring GAP

The second entry is me being my boys' mama.

Born to Rock my Boys by govinda featuring GAP

Hope I win! It's going to be a crazy show knowing that there are at least 1,111 entries (and counting) so far. View all entries here.

The Dreamy Details

Anybody who knows good sense of style knows that everything is in the details. And what could possibly come more exciting in choosing the right hints and tints for your wedding?

From choosing the dream wedding gown to making the wedding really about their love story, my friend Tisha, a detail-obsessed wedding planner herself, shares her wedding's dreamy details. Follow their story here.

I have also been a part of her dreamy details as I would like to think, when I accepted her offer to do her a doodled wedding album. These are some happy flower bits I did on my sketchpad...

And turned it into...

View more doodled wedding album here.

Perfume: The Story Of A Murderer

How do you keep smell?

That thought is from the movie "Perfume: The Story of a Murderer". There is an answer of course, go on and watch it.

It is a story of a man who has an extraordinary ability to smell EVERYTHING and cataloging each scent in his mind. His possessive attitude towards a certain scent brought him on a journey to finally capture and lock the smell of beauty and created the most exhilarating perfume ever.

What I love about the film's style is it's simplistic approach. Because I would have imagined special effects of smoke, colourful trails to capture the essence of the story which is mainly focused on smelling. But it didn't. There's no need really if you have the perfect casting. I adore Ben Whishaw's effortless performance, making him my new favourite "hero".

Here is the last narration of the movie. Moving and beautiful:

"There was only one thing the perfume could not do. It could not turn him into a person who could love and be loved like everyone else. So, to hell with it he thought. To hell with the world. With the perfume. With himself."

And lastly:

"Within no time, Jean-Baptiste Grenouille had disappeared from the face of the earth. When they had finished, they felt a virginal glow of happiness. For the first time in their lives, they believed they had done something purely out of love."

midnight blue

midnight blue by govinda featuring Roberto Cavalli accessories

Midnight strikes. Mixing mystery and dark obsessions.

for the queen of my life

happy birthday Momi. This set is for you :)

for Momi :) by govinda featuring Monsoon accessories

I got most of my taste in fashion from her - maybe because we rock the same boat. Way back in college I remember using her vintage hippie all-leather bag. Or at some days, I can always use her tops as long as it's not too big on me. She's the ultimate ukay-queen too. She can take a day off and spend it forever in the ukay stores in cebu. So there's no wonder I got the habit from her. You can't name an ukay store that she's never been to.

I love you Momi, thanks for the inspiration.

how do you do, govinda?

I miss having to play around with my closet now that i have a very domestic-dedicated life. I'm idle and busy - roughly caught up in one room. A very sleepy combination. All I got is a website, two blogs, the 'waiting' time, and an aching back. And I have no idea why I won't go to sleep.

Or maybe i miss my cebu routine. Or maybe it's just the dusty skies outside.

Say, do you like my doodle?

bike lovin'

My friend Bevlee and I were chatting about how lovely it was for our friend Ruki who had a bike for her pre-wedding pictorial theme. And so she showed me her dream bike:

Ohmygoodness. A Gucci Bicycle (that "only" costs $3,420) with bold red double GG leather. I mean seriously? Would you really buy that bike?? But she got away from buying her neighbor's bike instead. Now I think that's bolder. I bet it is a vintage beauty. I hope she can send me a photo of her bike with her dogs.

I later found out that this was part of The Gucci Limited Edition for the Olympics last year.

And so, I created a set pretending I had a bike. (Not that I want to ride one here in Dubai :P)

happy bike by govinda featuring Fendi bags

the chopstick solution

Problem: I can't be reading a book all the time, but I love my Tori Amos Bookmark so much. So how do I make the most out of it?

Solution: I turn it into a hair chopstick! I get an instant hair make-over.

Go try it for yourself *wink!

The Bike and The Bride-In-Green

The bike that says "just married" makes me all tingly-happy for the couple. It was the most humble, child-like-feel, sweetest wedding photograph I've seen. When you decide to get married, to others it felt like you are no longer free, but to most of us - who believe in marriages and love and the magic it brings to complete the you-ness of you - freedom it is! Freedom like riding your bike on a cool morning breeze.

She decides to wear green and her girlfriends to wear white. Why? She beamed, "why not!" And who would have thought that a bride in green looks just as perfect as the typical bride in white. I cannot wait to be with her church wedding next year. See you soon bestbuddy!

Check out the Bride, aka Josephine's story here.

photo credits: bike - Tet, bike with couple - Josephine Sicad-Minerva, couple in green - Bontic