Oftentimes I find myself choking in the hands of my current situation. Unbearable is the word I'm searching for, I think. My lungs gasp for air as I suffocate on the indefinite sadness that lurks inside of me; the kind of sadness that's always even just a tad bit traceable no matter how hard you try to flush it out of your bloodstream. I've got to breakaway, I know. It's always been in the back of my mind. But that day's got to wait. For now, all I need to do is be patient, to nurture and let my strength grow. "One day", I keep whispering to myself, "one day"; those words reverberate through the shards of hope embedded within my soul that keep the flame from going out. Though somehow, at times, it might seem to me that I've got everything planned out, the truth is that only the beloved can truly tell. Only those who our eyes cannot see know of my true fate. The best I can do is prepare.

All of that aside, three-hundred-and-sixty-five days back was when I first settled into this place. It did take a little getting used to, but I think I'm quite at-home now here. Honestly, it completely surprises me that a full year has already gone by since I started blogging here, and I just want to thank you who is reading this right now for the support that you have given just by paying this blog a visit. Happy Holidays, and cheers to (hopefully) another year of Sartorial Lungs!

THE LION CITY

It was just a few weeks back when I had the pleasure to be amongst the clouds, and closer to the sun, on a plane to Singapore. The trip didn't come without nostalgia, as I'd already been there before. There was a certain familiarity in being there, and I liked it-- the familiar heat, the familiar rush that goes with crossing the busy streets, and of course, the familiar sights. Somehow it sort of didn't feel like I was a tourist anymore. Rather, it simply felt as if I'd bumped into a good friend that I haven't seen in a while, and we just picked up where we left off. You realize that nothing much has really changed, and that they're still the person that you knew a year before.

HAUL No. 6 (SINGAPORE)

Knits from H&M;

Skinny Carrot Denim Jeans from Topman;

Fox-print Shirt from Topman (Manila), Red Sweatshirt from Topman;

Burgundy-colored Chinos from H&M;

Printed Tees from Topman (Manila);

A beautiful pair of swim shorts from H&M;

Leopard-print T-Shirt and Floral-print Polo Shirt from Topman;

There's something about having new clothes that I'm sure every one of us experiences. It rushes through our heads, and bloodstreams as we stand at the counter of the store; the delight that overcomes us helplessly translating onto our faces even as we try and hold it back. A wisp of a smile plays on our lips because in our heart of hearts we know that we got exactly what we wanted. Well, I guess that's how I somehow felt a week ago as I was walking up and down Orchard Road, shopping with my mum. We took step after step, carrying a couple of plastic bags in our hands with the heat of the Singapore sun beaming from above. Yes, we grew hot, and tired, and our feet hurt, but we those things didn't faze us. It was great to be back. Though I missed quite a bit of schoolwork because of the trip (which I'll have to pay for this term break), it was definitely worth every second.

NEW LEATHER

LAS CASAS FILIPINAS DE ACUZAR Pt. I

HAUL No. 5

Navy Blue Striped Jumper from 21 Men;

Multi-colored Patterned D-ring Belt from 21 Men;

Two items I purchased a couple of weeks back when I visited the newest Forever 21 store here in Metro Manila.

THE LOCAL "SHOPPER" PROJECT

THE LOCAL "SHOPPER" PROJECT is a little thing that I decided to launch with this latest look of mine. I'd been thinking a bit about starting the project, and I guess I went ahead and followed through. The idea just popped out from the blue and into my mind when a bayong lying around the house caught my eye. It'd be great, I thought, if there were a rising movement that promoted a new trend of using an indigenous bag that would popularize even just a pinch of Philippine culture. A bayong is a durable, local/indigenous bag woven out of palm leaves (I think), and is mostly used as a sort of shopping bag (specially in wet markets where people buy different types of produce and ingredients for cooking like, fruits, vegetables, meat, etc.)-- hence the name "the local 'shopper'". The project is meant to urge Filipino bloggers to take the humble bayong bag, and use it as if it were a regular, ordinary bag, as well as to incorporate it in a "look". Fingers crossed, I really hope that this project catches on; it doesn't have to spread like wildfire; I just hope it ignites a spark-- a spark of appreciation for local products, and culture.

IN TOWN

Catherine

Hummus with a Pita bread

some sort of meatball with lamb in it

we didn't actually watch a movie

DIY PROJECT No. 3: BLEACHING

A pair of trousers that I didn't feel like wearing anymore (which I had cut into shorts);

A pail, and some bleach;

Unfortunately, the result you see above isn't what those pair of shorts look like at this moment. Someday, when the planets align, I'll give it my best and try to recreate that exact same color of pink on those exact same pair of shorts. I thought I already had it, but it faded away just like that tinge of infatuation that rushes through each and every one of us whenever we pass by the apples of our eyes. It was my fault. Over-thinking really can do horrible things, trust me. So when you find yourself in a place that is exactly what you've been searching for, set all of those thoughts free, and just live in the moment; cherish it as if it were a little child you cradle in your arms, because in a blink of an eye, that child would have grown up to be a fine young man or woman who would be ready to leave, and go out, and explore the beautiful world that he/she had been born in. Someday, I promise I will get that exact same color of pink back onto those exact same pair of shorts.

HAUL No. 4

A few weeks back, I got the opportunity to pay the very first UNIQLO store here in Manila a visit. Even from afar, I already started trying to take photos of the huge store. When I took my first steps in UNIQLO, a certain familiarity hit me. The feel of the place really reminded me of MUJI. There's no doubt that both of them exude the minimalist, Japanese flavor that a lot of us have come to adopt, and love, and make our own.

Red Chino Shorts from Uniqlo;

(finally) new Shopper Bag from Topman;

MOUNTAINS BEYOND MOUNTAINS

Luxury-print Button-down from Solo, Jumper from Zara, Carrot-fits from Bench;

Saddle Shoes from Bass, Satchel from U by Rustan's;

At this very moment as I type this, the sky is weeping rather fondly, as if it has bottled-up all the emotions that are bothering it, and couldn't hold it any farther, and has since released them in the form of tears since yesterday morning. The droplets of water fall against the windows that surround me, and like stars, create nebulae and galaxies that we can only dream to behold, and explore with our own eyes and bodies. The sun, with its blazing glory, is nowhere in sight, and the trees outside dance to the tune of the gusts of wind; sweater weather, you might call it. I'd say it's a rather gloomy time here when the typhoons knock on our doors; well at least for me it is, so I try to make it feel as if the sun has suddenly reappeared, and play songs that remind me of summer and all the things that go with it. Just because the rains a' coming, doesn't mean that the sun can't stay with you a little longer than it should.

DIY PROJECT No. 2: DIP DYEING

Transformation; that's what Doing It Yourself is all about. Alright, maybe not all the time, but a lot of times when it comes to DIY-ing. It's about taking an article of clothing that you own that's possibly  plain, old, sad, or ordinary, and turning it into something that'll put a smile on your face every time you wear it because you feel really happy with how it came out and you're proud to actually wear something that you "made" with your own two hands. Trust me when I say that it's genuinely fulfilling to venture into a little DIY-ing, even if you're only doing it just for fun, or whatever reason you might conjure up from the deep abyss of your head; it doesn't matter. What does matter is that you let creativity grow in the process.

Step 1: Grab the materials you'll need: dyes of your desired color, something you'd want to dip-dye (like say in my case, a short-sleeved button-down shirt), and of course a wash basin to do the dyeing in.

Step 2: Heat up some water to a boil, pour it into your wash basin, aquarium, or pot of choice, then add the dye. (Note of the instructions of the dye that you have because I'm not entirely sure if all dyes have the same instructions)

inspired by Dries Van Noten;

Step 3: Partially submerge your material of choice and keep doing so until you've achieved your desired look. Rinse, and ring well, then hang it out in the sun to dry. (Note that clothes are always darker when wet, so expect the color to lighten when your dyed material dries-up)