hi leyn. i’ve been keeping a pair of vintage brogues and since it’s considered “in” nowadays, can i ask for suggestions on what kind of outfits would go well with brogues? thanks so much and more power to your blog!

veebee

Dear veebee,

I have to assume you’re a girl so I can answer this correctly…

Brogues (pronounced as browgs) are classic low-heeled shoes that usually have decorative perforations or holes on its leather surface. You’re right, brogues are really in trend now, and if you’re a flats person who’s allergic to girly shoes, brogues can be your friendly pair that can replace your sneakers. The key is to counterbalance the boyish feel of brogues. Aside from the shorts and t-shirt outfit, you can wear brogues with other styles like the following:

Jersey Dress
Particularly minimal styled jerseys, plain colored or printed mini dresses are good with brogues. Remember that not all dresses look good with these classic shoes so you have to be careful when choosing the right dress.

Playsuits
Playsuits are just the ‘more stylish’ version of shorts + tank top. Perfect fashion for this summer or if you simply want to go out for a weekend date with friends.

Cigarette Pants
Wear cropped or cigarette pants for your bottom to show off those brogues.

And here are some Hollywood celebrities’ lookbook for fashion inspiration:

Hope that helps!

Love Lots,

Leyn

You plan to go shoe shopping and decided to try designer shoes. Since you are the kind of person who simply cannot resist great pairs of shoes, you want to get a pair of Prada shoes. Here are the best reasons why Prada is one of the top brands to consider when shopping:

Because Prada is a brand of high fashion, the name is known worldwide. People resist the thought of buying anything that does not speak fashion. Since prada shoes shout fashion, it guarantees that a pair of Prada can turn heads. We usually want attention from people who look up to those who recognize high fashion and style.

Buying Prada is also considered an investment. You can be assured that your pair will last for years. For convenience, most shoppers usually do their shopping online. There lots of website that sells Prada Shoes that indicates each shoe description to guide the shoppers.

Hello Miss leyn!

Btw I follow you on twitter. And until now, I wonder about your real name. hahaha Anyway, gusto ko lang sanang humingi ng advice as to what to wear in school. I’m a college student, 5′5 mejo slim but morena (in short, dark. LOL). Gusto ko sanang maging fashionable but school policies hinder that. Kasi naman, we’re not allowed to wear sleeveless, shorts, and imagine pati leggings bawal. I hope I’m making my sentiments clear. Saka I’m comfortable with jeans, kaya sana patulong as to what to pair with them. I have another favor, pwede bang iba’t-ibang variations? Hehe. Sana matulungan mo ko.

Maraming Salamat miss leyn! More power.

- G

Dear G,

Yeah, Leyn is just my nickname but I’m not an anonymous blogger so my real name and pictures are all over the Internet. Pero dahil hindi naman kayo yayaman sa personal info ko, just forget about it. Lol. Moving on, I already have an entry about school outfits that you might want to check. But to help you more, here are some suggestions on how you could be fashionable with jeans.

First, shop for the right jeans. Since leggings aren’t allowed in your school, I advise you to wear either straight leg, skinny fit or stretch jeans. Dark colors, particularly black, can give you variations on your everyday fashion.

Instead of the usual t-shirt, skinny jeans are better paired with jersey tops (aside from girly blouses). Jersey style looks relaxed, casual yet stylish. It can also hide bulges and can draw attention to your legs (for girls who are a bit chubby). Trendy colors that complement your skin tone are neutral shades like gray, beige and taupe.

Keep aside your sneakers and flip-flops and invest on a pair of studded flats. From what I know, some schools don’t allow slippers or open sandals so wear something with straps and lock. Espadrilles shoes are also in and they look more chic than the usual bulky rubber shoes.

And of course, accessorize! A simple necklace with charm pendant is enough to complete your outfit. Make sure to buy accessories that you can match most of your clothes.

Remember to balance what you wear para hindi ka mukhang ‘commoner’. Boyish shirt + boyish pants + boyish shoes are so 1990s. You can still look fashionable even withough wearing sleeveless tops and floral skirts. Start from being creative with your jeans.

Entiendes? Happy schooling!

Love Lots,

Leyn

Hi Leyn! I’ve been reading your blog ever since! Your advices are indeed helpful and I am meaning to ask for an advice, too

2 weeks from now, we’re going to have this party at school, the problem is, I still don’t know what to wear. We are ought to wear formal attires, but sleeveless & above-the-knee dresses aren’t allowed. I’m petite, dark, super tall, long haired. just imagine an ugly bitch! I’ve been wandering the web but still can’t find what would fit me best. I’m a bit desperate now. I hope you can help me?

- PIA

Dear PIA,

What kind of party is that? No sleeveless and short dresses? WTF. You’re in trouble. LOL. Kidding.

I didn’t quite understand what you meant with petite then super tall? Mali yata. Don’t call yourself ugly because you will definitely feel and look ugly if you think like one. Anyhow, with your case, the styles I can suggest are draped skirt cocktail dresses with sleeves. Here are my picks:

Match your knee-length cocktail dress with a pair of black pumps to elongate your legs. I am thinking of suggesting Maxi Dresses but long gowns with sleeves may look overrated. You will never go wrong with the classic black high-heels.

For accessories, just carry a small purse for the formal-look and simple set of jewelries. If you want ala-Serena Van Der Woodsen look, maintain a down straight hairdo or tie your hair up if you prefer to look more formal.

Just a tip, if you’re doing a little fashion research on the web, do not Google search like “dresses for formal party” or “formal attire for petite girls”. You might be landing on styles posted last 2003. Be specific on the actual dress you want to draw idea from. You should check out decent fashion brands (Alexander McQueen, Vivienne Westwood, Juicy Couture, Chloe, Marc Jacobs, D&G etc.) and look at the updated collections one-by-one. From there, you will have an idea what are the IN styles, colors and designs.

And lastly, get yourself some confidence girl. You won’t ask for an advice if you don’t want to feel pretty.

Time to shine!

Love Lots,

Leyn

hello leyn,

good afternoon, im a big fan of your site, and im so happy that i always find something new here. i love your newest article bec i like the dresses in them. anyways, let’s go to The dilemma.

in our church, we are counseled to dress modestly. although there are no exact rules, most of us decide to follow knee length when it comes to skirts and blouses with sleeves. no short shorts or anything skimpy, no cleavage, (you get the point?) unless your going to have to go to the beach in which case,of course youd have to wear a swim suit. i really like this idea of dressing modestly. wala kaming problema dito, we’re proud of dressing this way. contrary to what others say, i do not feel restricted at all.

sa mga parties, successful naman ang halos lahat sa amin sa mga sinusuot namin. walang nabebreak na rules. pero pahirap na ng pahirap maghanap ng isusuot. grabe sobrang hirap humanap ng dress na maganda na may sleeves. uso pa rin ba ang mga bolero. i hope you could help me look for fashionable finds

sincerely,
mimi mouse

Dear mimi mouse,

Hey, I appreciate that you always check my site. I just hope you keep on supporting my blog. Hehe. Anyway, I do understand some religion/church dress codes but yeah, it’s not an issue. I just noticed that most people who follow such dress codes have the same manner of clothing (like denim skirt and plain shirt). It seems that you want to be more stylish than the usual skirt & blouse thing so here are some ideas for you:

If you’re patient enough to browse some of my responses, you’ll know that I’m a sucker for girly Sundresses as casual wear. So my first tip is for you to collect Sundresses with sleeves. Florals, patterns and geometric prints give life to a conservative looking dress so you also have to be particular with the fabric print.

Collect White Blouses or any light color so you can match them with any skirt you buy. Instead of picking dull looking skirts, why not try different styles like Pleated, Handkerchief or Gartered. High waist style and colorful skirts are really hip this season.

Another option is wearing Maxi Skirts. The style may look conservative but I believe it’s still on how you pick the prettiest design.

Boleros are not weather friendly especially for the following months. I also don’t recommend layering unless necessary. But if you have some sleeveless dresses then wearing a bolero is valid. Just make sure its color blends with your base clothing. Just a tip, super fit bolero tops looks horrible so wear something that fits your actual size.

Lastly, you can add flair to your entire outfit with fashionable pair of sandals. Pick sandals with laces, ribbons and fancy stones.

Remember, there’s nothing wrong if you experiment with fashion. Just take in mind your culture’s rules. Good luck~

Love Lots,

Leyn

Dear sosyalera,

Greetings!! I just received an invitation yesterday from a friend whos daughter is celebrating her debut on april 09. It says in the invitation that attire would be “strictly formal, any color except white”. my 1st problem is, im not used with wear formal attire because im just simple and i remember attending same occassion but with different attire such as beach, hawaiian attire. Please help me choose one which is fashion updated that i will be confident enough but won’t show too much skin. im one of the 18 treasures here. im 5′6 tall, morena, broad shoulders, shy type/not 100% confident, 31 years old. my second problem is I have some “peklat” above my toes so im not that confident enough to show my whole legs. But anything you will suggest would be greatly appreciated.

thank you and more power!!!

emz

Dear emz,

Since the debut will be tomorrow already, I’ll just answer shortly. As you pointed out, you’re not totally confident with dressing up. So based on your personality, you shouldn’t force yourself to wear mini-length dresses and tube tops.

Long Sleeves are valid for occasions like this. You can also wear a Maxi Dress. The key for looking sophisticated is choosing quality fabric and updated fashion. Just remember to avoid over-printed and colorful dresses for a more formal look. A conservative dress can still look stylish with details, drapes, ribbons and asymmetric cut. Black is fine but I think other solid color is better as a debut attire.

With regards to your leg scar, wearing skin tone stockings can help if you decided to wear a shorter dress. If the scar is bearable, ankle cuff or cut out shoes can conceal the flaws.

I just hope you still have time to look for the right dress. Thanks for dropping by.

Love Lots,

Leyn

dear ms leyn,

hi. its my first time to visit your site and im really interested about your fashion tips. I was really having a hard time kasi finding a graduation dress that fits my size and i think that i have an apple size body figure, but im not so sure about it. I have this big bust. 38-C. But, my auntie gave me this floral sleeveless knee-length dress. i dont know if it looks good on me (coz i dont know to judge myself) hehe. Anyway can u help me, and give me some tips on how to improvise it and make me look good on it. thank you sooo much.

-aj-

I’ve been receiving a couple of e-mails everyday about graduation dresses and I’ve been answering them repeatedly so please don’t hate me if I can’t reply to all. Hehe.

Anyway, dear -aj-,

All in all, your issue is having the apple body type. Thus, to keep your figure balanced as a whole, attention should also be drawn on the lower part of your body. So basically, the style of dress I’m suggesting is something that appears like an hour glass figure.

I have no idea what type of dress your aunt gave you but I hope it could be altered to a balloon skirt style. In case you no longer have the time to shop for dresses like cited above, wear a pleated underskirt for an A-line effect. Ruffles on the skirt hem can also add volume to balance off the dress that fits your body type.

In addition, wear high-heels (or at least 3″) to elongate your legs especially if you’re wearing a knee-length dress.

Even on your daily attire, take note of these basic tips so you won’t feel mindful with your body problem. Congratulations on your graduation!

Love Lots,

Leyn

hi leyn
wenk feeling close. haha.
i really like your posts, lalo na yung mga jologs pictures. thankfully sa friendster pose lang ako guilty. wahaha anyway, im graduating from college sa march, and i was wondering if you could help me pick the right dress and shoes and give me an idea on the right hair and makeup. im 5′4, 108 lbs. long hair, fair skin, chinita. 7am-12nn yung grad namin, so malamang sa oo e ako na lang mag me-make up sa sarili ko. :O ayun. thank you in advance

Hey there,

Don’t worry because most people who visit my site are up to the jologs ideas because everyone can relate, including me of course. I remember during my graduation, we were making fun of some girls who wore dresses longer than their toga. (Yes, I’m one of the mean girls back then. Lol.) Anyhow, because you’re graduating from college then I guess you’ll be in a black graduation gown. Let’s start from there.

You may think that it doesn’t matter whether you wear a spaghetti, tube, off-shoulder or with sleeves dress because you’ll be in a toga. But to avoid fixing your graduation attire all the time, pick a sleeveless or spaghetti strap type. A simple and straight cocktail dress is enough.

For shoes, wear the classic black pumps but not the common school shoes. It’s fine for you to wear sandals but it depends on your taste. I just find closed shoes apt for this occasion because it looks more sophisticated.

On your graduation day, everyone will look alike because of the standard toga. That’s why your look rely upon on your hair and make-up. Common sense na your hairstyle should be minimal because of the cap. So if you’re not hiring someone to do your styling, it’s either you do the soft curls or low-back up do hairstyle.

For make-up, quit the red lipstick and smoky eyes then stick with the natural shades. It won’t be hard for you to choose the right colors because you have fair skin. Concentrate on your lashes and practice putting on eyeliner and mascara for your chinky eyes. Contour your cheeks to add shadows and avoid a flat-looking make-up. Also bring a handy peach lip gloss for retouches. Here are some inspirations:

Lastly, don’t forget to wear elegant earrings. A pair of pearls or gold with gems can change your boyish aura to a classy chick.

Enjoy your graduation and congratulations!

Love Lots,

Leyn

hi leyn
wenk feeling close. haha.
i really like your posts, lalo na yung mga jologs pictures. thankfully sa friendster pose lang

ako guilty. wahaha anyway, im graduating from college sa march, and i was wondering if

you could help me pick the right dress and shoes and give me an idea on the right hair and

makeup. im 5′4, 108 lbs. long hair, fair skin, chinita. 7am-12nn yung grad namin, so

malamang sa oo e ako na lang mag me-make up sa sarili ko. :O ayun. thank you in advance

p.s. one of the boys pala ko. hahaha. hindi tibo no, boyish lang. dahil lalaki parin ang type ko.

Hey there,

Don’t worry because most people who visit my site are up to the jologs ideas because

everyone can relate, including me. Hehe. Anyhow, I remember during my graduation, we

were making fun of some girls who wore dresses longer than their toga. (Yes, I’m one of the

mean girls back then. Lol.) And because you’re graduating from college then I guess you’ll be

in a black graduation gown. Let’s start from there.

You may think that it doesn’t matter whether you wear a spaghetti, tube, off-shoulder or with

sleeves dress because you’ll be in a toga. But to avoid fixing your graduation attire

constantly, pick a sleeveless or spaghetti strap type. A simple and straight cocktail dress is

enough.

For shoes, wear the classic black pumps but not the common school shoes. It’s fine for you to

wear sandals but it depends on your taste. I just find closed shoes apt for this occasion

because it looks more sophisticated.

On your graduation day, everyone will look alike because of the standard toga. That’s why

your look rely upon on your hair and make-up. Common sense na your hairstyle should be

minimal because of the cap. So if you’re not hiring someone to do your styling, it’s either you

do the soft curls or low-back up do hairstyle.

For make-up, quit the red lipstick and smoky eyes then stick with the natural shades. It won’t

be hard for you to choose the right colors because you have fair skin. Concentrate on your

lashes and practice putting on eyeliner and mascara for your chinky eyes. Contour your

cheeks to add shadows and avoid a flat-looking make-up. Also bring a handy peach lip gloss

for retouches. Here are some inspirations:

Lastly, don’t forget to wear elegant earrings. A pair of pearls or gold with gems can change

your boyish aura to a classy chick.

Enjoy your graduation and congratulations!

Love Lots,

Leyn

first time ko lang magsulat dito, and i’m really hoping for your help para sa js prom namin. i’m very short, almost 4′8” lang height ko, medyo chubby din ako pero ok lang naman. i have my curves and di din ako flat chested. i can’t decide about the style, those dresses i found in the net are all appropriate for model-like girls. what type of dress can help me look taller, and how many inches of heels should i wear? i also want  to show off some skin, i don’t want to look so conservative. thanks in advance, more power.

-xoxo, F

Dear F,

I get that your main issue is your height but good thing that you’re willing to wear any style for that night. I’m going to make this short for you. Take in mind some helpful hints about fashion for fuller bodies when buying the dress:

• Mini length skirts/dresses can highlight the shortness of your legs so pick the 1-inch-above-knee or knee-length style when you plan to wear a short dress.

• Wearing high heels is the most convenient way to make you look taller. I just have to warn you that heels may feel uncomfortable after a couple hours so buy cushioned shoes to avoid swelling feet. Some girls can stand wearing 5-inches heels, which is better, but you can wear at least 3″.

• Avoid fabrics that are prone to creases and folds particularly on your bust and abdomen part.

Dress
You have to accept that 4′8″ height is really short and even though you’ll be particular with the gown’s length, that’s not enough to make yourself seem lofty. So I recommend that you simply have to think of a fashion that’d make you look catchy and classy instead of pressuring yourself to appear elongated. Why not try balloon gowns like the ones I’ve mentioned on a previous post.

Since you’re cosy wearing any sort of dress, a tube dress would be fine especially if the skirt is flowing, ruffled or layered. Wear a girdle inside your gown and flaunt your curves and bust line. It’s acceptable if you wear a long gown but I think a short cocktail dress is better to expose your legs and high heels shoes.

Shoes
Instead of trying hard to be tall, just concentrate on selecting a fashionable pair. Wearing 5″ shoes is okay but you might not enjoy the night if you’re not used with wearing super high heels. Avoid ankle shoes because it gives a division between your legs and feet. Pick flashy colored mules like red or cobalt. Below are sample of stunning heels though they measure 5”.

Don’t get intimidated by the gowns worn by models on the internet because they may possibly look good on you when you fit the pieces in actual. The best way to find the right dress is window shop. You can also check some of my past answers for Prom Dress ideas.

More power din. Hehe.

Love Lots,

Leyn

Dear Sosyalera,

If you’re going to look inside my closet, majority of my bottoms would probably be composed of JEANS. I’m comfy with jeans but I basically have troubles when pairing shoes with it. I’m just tired of using flats and slippers. I do know that when you wear jeans, it’s much better when you’re in heels but I just don’t know which style to choose. What can you probably suggest?

THANKS!

- Steppy

Dear Steppy ,

Jeans are comfort clothing so most of us pair them with our cosy flipflops. This fashion is very casual and laid back. I really admire girls who can manage to look stylish with jeans and don’t just stick with the usual pantalon porma.

Since you’ve decided to wear heels instead of the comfy flats, the next step is to choose for the right pair. If you want to reuse some of your (or your mom’s) stuffs, you might find these classic styles that don’t go out of date.

There’s nothing wrong if you still put on some of your old high heels but I think it won’t hurt if you’re also updated with the latest look on footwear. Gladiators, Platforms and Cutout sandals/shoes are still in trend.

Forget about your knee-length boots because Ankle boots look more appropriate in the Metro.

One good thing about high heels is that you can wear them even in a dress, shorts or formal slacks. And to all girls who are in a budget, allot a portion of your shopping allowance for 1 pair of classic high heels. At least you have something to use on formal occasions or parties and won’t have a hard time borrowing from someone else. We’re not in New York and dressing down is a culture so it’s a clothing to save on.

Lastly, make sure your attire matches your shoes. High heels sandals are recommended if your outfit looks modish and girly – though I think this is common sense na. Haha. As for the ankle boots, a pair looks good whether you’re in a boyish blazer or dress.

Well as for me, sa umpisa ko lang gusto mag high heels. I tend to become lazy with these shoes once my feet feel achy. Kaya don’t be like me.

Love Lots,

Leyn

P.S. I would like to apologize to people who sent their e-mails for the past 3 weeks. Something went wrong with my inbox so I might respond belatedly. Huhu.