Sunday, January 20, 2008

It's a Date!

Q: “It’s been a while since I’ve gone out on a real date. I finally had the guts to ask this girl that I like out. Any advice on what to wear that can help make a good impression?”
- Anthony, Marikina City

A: You failed to give me two critical information – (1) how old are you and (2) where are you going?

Always dress age-appropriate. The two extremes are young people trying to look older men (aka D.O.M.) trying their darndest to look hip and cool.
Where you’re planning to take her will obviously play an important part in your decision on what to wear. Some (but few) fancy shmancy restaurants have dress codes, which you will need to follow at a minimum.

If you’re in your 20’s and 30’s and are looking to go on a romantic dinner, say, iL Ponticello, capped with casual drink at, maybe, Fiamma, a slim, body cut long-sleeved polo shirt, with sleeves folded up just below your elbows, worn with a pair of low-rise, boot cut jeans, big buckle belt and leather shoes should do the trick.
In your 40’s? Go with a long-sleeved polo paired with dark grey, flat front slacks, silver buckle leather belt and your Bally or Florsheims.

Oh, and please, make sure you foot the bill.

Thursday, January 17, 2008

Anyhow



Okay, I know this has nothing to do with clothes and style, but I just have to share this with y'all. I got this flier from a new (and very no-frills) restaurant near our shop, wittingly called "Anyhow" (inihaw, get it?) so I tried it.

I didn't expect much so I was pleasantly surprised. I tried the tenderlion steak, you can't choose the doneness (i.e. it's only done one way), but it was tender enough. And, the gravy was very good! It can be "ulam" in itself. Yum! You have to try it to believe me.

What surprised me the most though was the sizzling litid. I do not normally eat "litid" or tendons, so I initially was not attracted to order it. But, the server said it was their specialty and insisted I gave it a try. My initial spoonful "tikim" was followed by another, and another, and another... there goes my cholesterol level. I still wouldn't eat litid -- EXCEPT if it's from Anyhow.

Now, just to stay in theme to what my blog is all about. What to wear when you go there? It's basically come-as-you-please. I'm still wondering though why their waiters wear cut-off jeans! I checked... they weren't on skates.

Wednesday, January 2, 2008

Waterproof Shoes



Q: “My pair of shoes became faded after it got wet from the rain. Is there still hope for me to revive them? How do I prevent this from happening to my other leather shoes?”
- Michael, Makati City

A: For your question, I asked my friends at Hush Puppies for their expert advice. According to them shoes that have been soaked wet lose their shine because the natural moisture in the leather has evaporated with the water. To bring back the luster of leather, apply good leather moisturizer. Check that the moisturizer has natural oils like coconut and jojoba because synthetic ones are not absorbed into the leather and just accumulate at the surface. To prevent this problem from happening again, apply water and dirt repellent on your shoes before you go out and expose them to the elements. This coats your shoes with an invisible and breathable layer to protect it against moisture and dirt, preventing them from seeping into the leather.

Better yet, get yourself a pair of waterproof shoes, like the ones pictured from Hush Puppies. These have been pre-treated with water-repellent ingredients in the tanning process, which makes the leather repel moisture. They also have their seams sealed to avoid water from getting inside the shoes.