Dr. White

Q: “I’m a doctor and I have to wear a white coat while I’m on duty. Is there a way I can be more stylish or are doctors doomed to look like clones?”
- Dennis, Makati City

A: Treat your doctor’s coat like a white sport coat. For starters, nobody said that your coat should be made of gabardine or those cheap polyester blends. Consider light wool or a cotton-linen fabric and have your tailor cut it like a sport coat. White has made a real come back and there’s no reason why you can’t use this to your advantage. Like black, it is a versatile color that can pair with almost anything. “Almost” means staying away from pastel colored shirts (like yellow, pale green, etc.) so you don’t end up looking like a popsicle – could work well on kids though, if you’re a pediatrician.

Barong or Suit?

Q: “I’m going to get married this year and have not decided on whether I should wear a barong or a suit. What do you think?”
- Vince, Pasig City

A: I’ve always liked the elegance of a well tailored piña barong Tagalog and how it pairs perfectly with any bride’s wedding gown. The barong tagalong is also better on pictures because the style is more timeless and less trendy vs. suits or tuxedos. If you don’t believe me, look at your Dad’s wedding picture. He was most likely wearing a suit and see how obviously old the picture looks just by the style of the suit (not to mention the hair). That’s how your wedding picture will look like 10 years down the road. On the practical side, a really nice barong tagalong will still cost much less than a suit. It will also make it easier for the rest of your male entourage to stay in theme.