Layering

Note: This is an old entry reposted from my old blog called Boudoir Angel on Tumblr. I’m reposting all of these old entries because I plan to delete my old blog and consolidate everything to this one. Some posts may have its text updated and/or reformatted slightly according to the platform change.

Sometimes I learn something, sometimes, I learn to do some things better.

I’m actually a huge fan of layering though I’ve never really been all that good at it. If you’re like me in that sense then you’ll love the January 2011 issue of Cosmo (Philippines) which as three samples of layering for tropical weather.

And er, no, I don’t work for Cosmo or Summit. I’m merely a fan who’s learning from the experts on how to look good and feel fabulous. I just happen to prefer Cosmo over most other local and localised magazines. ^_^

Originally posted as Boudoir Angel on Tumblr, 24 January 2011





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Underneath it all

Okay, it’s an issue when one is not pregnant, and an even bigger issue when one is.

I professed in my former vanities blog that I was like every other regular girl on the planet who’d always assumed my bra size would stop changing upon achieving full body development/maturity.

Right.

I used a semi-traditional method of measuring myself when I first bought my pregnancy bras. By “semi-traditional” I mean I measured my rib cage, measured my bustline, calculated the difference, and started fitting bras. This same method is the one described here on this site.

I know some women do the whole plus-minus thing. I don’t because I really couldn’t understand why. Anyone who knows the reason why is free to leave a comment to explain this to me. Please.

The method worked quite well for me, to be honest, and pre-pregnancy, I enjoyed the utmost comfort in my undergarments. And then the early pregnancy body changes.

Here’s a new method I found via BabyCenter.com. “New” in that it adds a third measurement: the chest. Their instant Bra Size Calculator will do the job for you. I found a similar one here. It came up with a very different bra size for me compared to the bra size I would normally get from the method I mentioned using before though the HerRoom.com site does say that their method becomes unreliable with bigger sizes and while I don’t fall under the bigger sizes they mentioned, my sizing has become…well, strange. In my opinion anyway since my rib cage didn’t grow an inch bigger but everything else did. Again, if you’re reading this and had the same experience, please let me know I’m still normal!

I need to go in for another round of shopping soon and I think I will give both measurements a try just to see which one fits me better. To be honest, I like the Baby Center measurement a great deal better because the size that came up, while still larger than the average, is a more common size and therefore easier to find.

And just for a little extra knowledge, here are Baby Center’s Six Signs of a Good Fit and Five Signs of a Bad Fit. Also, if you’re at that point I was at before—whining about having to spend hours finding a good fit again after already finding my perfect match—here are some basics on Maternity and Nursing Bras.

Happy hunting!




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Mommy Bliss

Or perhaps calling it “Pregnancy Bliss” would be more appropriate?

Okay, it should probably have been my first clue that something was up when I realised my clothes were getting a little tight around the chest. Admittedly, I hadn’t measured myself for nearly a year by then but having just come from a trip abroad, I figured, “Oh, it’s travel fat.”

Right. Of course it was.


Naturally I was dismayed to find that I gained weight after our trip to Ireland. You could say that I was very much relieved to find out it wasn’t simple weight gain that happened.

I’d heard that first time mothers don’t start showing until late in the second trimester which I took as a sign that I can slack off on the attire adjustment. A very foolish assumption since nature dictates that, despite the lack of obvious outward signs of pregnancy, the body does begin changing, beginning with chest expansion and the loss of a waistline.

Dealing with the clothes was easy. If the zip didn’t zip, it was set aside. Immediately, my repertoire of jeans, shorts, and half my skirts were out of the running. Thankfully, even before pregnancy, I did take to a good deal of maternity dresses I saw on sale at the department store—the colours and prints were so pretty!—giving me a fair head start, plus, shirred maxi dresses have become a lazy day wardrobe staple.

Oh but the worst cut of all: underwear.

Yep, a year after I’d celebrated finding my perfect match in Marks & Spencer, I found myself in search of a brand new support system. Again.

I found one match in the M&S Maternity Line but the styles were limited and to be honest, the stitching made me feel like I’d gone back to the 50s with the silhouette it gave me. I love the 50s for the clothes but not necessarily the shapes.

Enter Multiply.com and this particular online store: Mama.Baby.Love. Oh of course there are a lot of others out there but this was the first one I discovered with the widest range of options. And that’s what I like most: having lots of options, especially since it’s an online store.

I ordered two items: the Fabulous Mom Sleep Bra, and the Blissful Babes Bandeau.

Whether it’s the speed of the seller’s processing or the speed of the delivery service itself, both items were at my doorstep within 24 hours after I’d sent in the payment. (Thank you, my wonderful husband. :3)

I wanted to open the package immediately after I’d gotten it, but we were due to leave the house and I wouldn’t have had the time to try the items on or take photos which I really wanted to do.

So when we got home from the day’s errands, and after I’d had my dinner, I began unwrapping the day’s best treat.

For those who might be wondering, yes, that is my cat on the bed, eyeing the plastic bag as though I’d mistakenly claimed something of hers to be mine. To be honest, I had to ask my husband to distract her several times during the course of taking pictures of the products so that she wouldn’t a) get in the way of the shot and b) damage the products.

I love you, my little black snow kitten (her name is Yuki), but those are mommy’s things, not yours.

After dodging her claws as I cut the package open to pull out its contents and arrange them reasonably nicely on the mattress, Yuki made one final bid to own the merchandise.

Thanks to her daddy, it failed. But not before I captured her stretching out her little paws to hook both items and draw them closer to her.

Pet parents, believe me: most cats will never outgrow wanting to play with plastic bags. It will be up to your vigilance to stop them from suffocating in these things.

Anyway, first product up: the Fabulous Mom Sleep Bra.


Looks like an ordinary racer-back, non-underwire bra—feels like second skin.

The material is so thin that I have no idea how it gives just the right support for bedtime. And because of the thin material, it’s very cool and comfy to sleep in—definitely much better than attempting to sleep in my M&S nursing bras. (And they don’t offer the right nighttime support either, despite being excellent for when I’m up and about.)

It doesn’t look like a nursing bra at all, but it is. The cups pull down easily and comfortably whether it’s the front or rear bit and, anticipating the lack of two free hands when the time to nurse comes along, it’s easily done with one hand.

The straps are wide and hold the breasts up to where they should be (aesthetically, I read somewhere that the height of the nipple should be in line with the midpoint of your upper arm) and the garter band stays put whichever way you stretch and/or move.

If you’re wondering how I know all this when I’ve just received the package, it’s because I made sure to try out both items as soon as I’d opened the package to check in case there was a need to exchange either of them for a different size or product.

You will, of course, want to give this a wash before really wearing it. ^_~

This one, now, is the Blissful Babes Bandeau. In Blush—there are several other colours available but I just thought this one is really cute.

I honestly think that this is pure genius. It actually makes me want to try and see if I can modify the bandeau tube top I already own so it becomes a nursing bandeau as well.

But of course we all know my sewing skill = zip. And I’ll likely damage pretty much everything.

Anyway, back to this one.

I took a huge risk with this one, mainly because under normal circumstances, my sizing is already kind of iffy. A little deviant from the average for my build, if you will.

But Jenny of Mama.Baby.Love. said it’s very stretchy and I’d had experience with this type of bandeau before (see above). So I decided to take a chance.

First of all, let me show you why this bandeau is so cool.


As with the regular bandeaus say, from Genevieve Gozum or YRYS, this comes with padding. Not to increase size but to cover up what ought decently be covered up. (See left image.) On the right side, you’ll see the plus, as illustrated by my slipping the padding underneath the inner part of the bandeau.

Yep. Cut-outs. Meaning yes, this is definitely a bandeau that can be used for nursing. I figure, paired with the Transition Tubes (also by Blissful Babes) this will turn any regular shirt or top into a nursing top. Win. Win.

Okay, the fit: super comfortable. Or maybe I’m saying that because I’m used to wearing bandeau tops. Admittedly, it felt strange to have to arrange it so that everything was where it was supposed to. Truthfully, I felt a little naked. But again, thinking forward, it still has that one-hand manipulation going for it, and despite the feeling of nakedness, future use says “Quit complaining; it’s functional.”

I can’t say I’d wear this beyond my nursing period, but if I’m to use most of the tops I already own well into my nursing period, then a little bit of sweet sacrifice would be in order, correct? So I think I’ll be ordering more of this, and the above sleep bra, from Jenny.

Note: This latter product and the Transition Tube are also available via Indigo Baby, though I got mine from Mama.Baby.Love. I’m not trying to pit one against the other; I’m merely saying that there is at least one source aside from the one I used. At the time of posting, Mama.Baby.Love. is the only local online reseller that I know of who stocks Fabulous Mom.

As always, any new information regarding these products (other resellers and whatnot) are welcome. ^_^






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You never realise how important it is until…

Note: This is an old entry reposted from my old blog called Boudoir Angel on Tumblr. I’m reposting all of these old entries because I plan to delete my old blog and consolidate everything to this one. Some posts may have its text updated and/or reformatted slightly according to the platform change.

I was eight when Mum took me to buy my first training bra. Later, when the further development of my breasts stopped, I became like most women who assumed the size they stopped developing at would be their size. Forever.


I would honestly credit Oprah Winfrey for opening my eyes to the fact that bra sizing is actually more complicated than taking one last measurement and sticking with it, increasing and decreasing band sizes (and possibly cup sizes) as I lost and gained weight. In fact, I very clearly remember that from the time I was a high school freshman up to the time I became a college freshman, I actually wore the same size bra, never questioning why there were strap marks on my shoulders or band marks around my rib cage, sometimes even cup marks across my chest.

However, that wasn’t the only issue I had at the time. There was also the fact that the sizes available then were really woefully limited and store clerks weren’t as well-informed and could not provide as much help as they should have because they weren’t equipped for it.

These days, however, I’ve been on a quest to fit and re-fit all my brassiere to ensure maximum comfort and support at any point during my cycle and as my body mass changes.

Image found via Shutterstock.com
I’ve learned that simply measuring and calculating your proper size isn’t enough; take the time to try everything on and should the sales clerk give you nasty looks for the constant requests for different styles and sizes, ignore them or go to a higher-end store where they are swimming in perky juice and would gladly assist you in your quest for the perfect fit. (My favourites for this kind of service are Marks & Spencer and La Senza.)

It’s a very liberating feeling to wear the right size bra; it’s actually almost the same feeling as not wearing one except you know gravity isn’t working against you. And considering how unusual my size is for a Filipino of my size and weight, I totally support importing brands as it’s the only way I get the right fit. (Sorry, local industry.)

If you’ve never thought about it, I suggest you do. As so many fashionistas have said, a fabulous outfit begins with the right underwear.


Originally posted as Boudoir Angel on Tumblr, 17 January 2011




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Fun with Feathers #2

Note: This is an old entry reposted from my old blog called Boudoir Angel on Tumblr. I’m reposting all of these old entries because I plan to delete my old blog and consolidate everything to this one. Some posts may have its text updated and/or reformatted slightly according to the platform change.

These plumes from Genevieve Gozum were my first feather headbands.






I was actually trying to look flat and doll-like in this photo but this is nothing compared to when I masqueraded as a doll back in 2009. Apparently, I did it so well (and I didn’t blink at all!) that people were so freaked out by my appearance.


My showgirl feathers! I love wearing this, it’s so eye-catching!


This gets the least mileage as it feels very formal. Must be the peacock.


Originally posted as Boudoir Angel on Tumblr, 15 January 2011





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Fun with Feathers #1

Note: This is an old entry reposted from my old blog called Boudoir Angel on Tumblr. I’m reposting all of these old entries because I plan to delete my old blog and consolidate everything to this one. Some posts may have its text updated and/or reformatted slightly according to the platform change.

A little backlog entry reflecting my jumping on the feather bandwagon. Because feathers look so formal I’ve rarely used my feather headbands but I adore them.



This is actually my most casual feather headband, photos taken on my birthday in 2010.

Make-up was very minimal: just Max Factor’s False Lash Effect, and The Face Shop’s PP403 lipstick. Again, that is not powder blush on my cheeks: it was just hot.

Originally posted as Boudoir Angel on Tumblr, 11 January 2011




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Foot(wear) Fetish

Note: This is an old entry reposted from my old blog called Boudoir Angel on Tumblr. I’m reposting all of these old entries because I plan to delete my old blog and consolidate everything to this one. Some posts may have its text updated and/or reformatted slightly according to the platform change.

I never really cared much for shoes until recently when I realised that there are so many shoes in my shoe closet that need replacing. Now, I’m obsessed. Well, not entirely, perhaps, but I have been going on this hunt for the perfect footwear, finding the most comfortable and flexible shoes I can manage to get.

One of the best shoe brands I’ve ever encountered is Via Venetto, a high-end local brand for women’s shoes and bags. Even they admit that they’re really pricey, but the quality is well worth every buck spent.

These shoes, for example


have been with me for ten and eight years respectively.

The black pumps hail from my high school graduation and were actually victims of disuse as for most of my first year at uni, I didn’t feel that I could actually use pumps and promptly forgot about them. They saw daylight again when I needed them as part of a costume. Unfortunately, the leather had toughened in their years of storage and refused to adjust/yield to my feet resulting in four battered toenails (read: purple-black bruises under my toenails with the nail close to falling off).

The tan, discoloured sling-backs were actually used to run around the University of the Philippines Diliman campus—during the time when the sidewalks were still of (faux) cobblestone. Most people couldn’t believe I could run in them but really, both pairs are just about 2-inches high and very comfortable.

These two pairs of shoes represent my favourite styles which I find to be really flexible, especially for someone who picks what are generally just the most basic shoe styles and colours. I spent about a year and a half trying to look for a pair or two that would come close and these are the closest replacements that I found.


I am so in love with these shoes!

I’ve already broken them in and though the size 6 of the nude was too tight, the pair I got was just a touch too loose so I do have to put a cork in but otherwise, they are just so perfect. I promised myself, too, that I will learn to wear stockings with these shoes so I don’t blacken the insole the way I did with my old pair.

This has been the official goodbye to my old pairs of shoes and a welcome to the new ones that will suffer similar abuse in my hands. Or on my feet, whichever way you prefer to look at it. I’m sure both will last just as long.


Originally posted as Boudoir Angel on Tumblr, 9 May 2010




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It’s only the fairytale princesses that are the lucky ones

And the more I read into my Tudor biographies, the sorrier I feel for these ancient princesses (and I use the term “ancient” very loosely as their time was not all that far away) and wonder at the lives they had and could have had if they were but common citizens.

Being currently immersed in the period of Anne Boleyn’s rise as Queen of England—apparently, she had been crowned Queen Regnant, not Queen Consort which gets my goat realising now how horrible her attitude was—part of me wonders about Catherine of Aragon ever considered what her life might have been like if she were a commoner instead of having been born an Infanta of Spain. Then again, a three-year-old child “married” off and raised to live and breathe a destiny selected for her…

I need at least one dedicated biography of each of Henry VIII’s six wives.

AND I STILL WANT THEIR CLOTHES. Even if I have to take a bruising from those corsets.

New Addictions

I believe I am getting it.

I was never so obsessed with accessories before in fact, I remain almost completely ignorant of the proper use of various accessories.

In general, my accessories involve:

  • One carry-all bag that I use for the entire week, whether or not it matches my outfit or my shoes
  • Diamond stud earrings—simple, classic, goes with everything
  • Diamond solitaire ring—again, simple, classic and goes with everything

Lately, alongside my growing obsession with make-up, I have been drooling non-stop over shoes, bags, and various types of accessories.

It’s vanity on a scale that I have never ever seen in myself before.

The point of today’s entry, however, has more to do with saying goodbye than showing off a good buy.

Last week, I bought two pairs of shoes from Via Venetto. They came with hefty price tags (in my opinion anyway—others may argue otherwise) but they also come with a one year warranty (shoes with warranties, go figure) and, based on experience, a minimum of five years of use and abuse.

These are the shoes that were replaced by the new shoes:

These black pumps are from way back in 1999 and were used very rarely since then, which is why they look practically new. However, because I used them so rarely, the leather toughened to the state that it is in now. The last time I used them was for Pangarap, Panaginip o Bangungot, and effectively battered four toenails in the process because the shoes were so uncomfortable and I was literally running around in them.

They will now go to my secret “Hall of Fame” stash for sentimental reasons.

This one, in contrast, was indeed very well-loved as is obvious from the staining on the insoles (I have very acidic feet) and the discoloration and wear on the upper bits of the shoe. I am honestly very very sorry to see this pair go as they go with EVERYTHING and I mean EVERYTHING. Not just because of the colour but because the style is just so neutral and classy that I could wear them with jeans, skirts, shorts, and dresses and they just make the outfit look fabulous.

These are the new pairs of shoes:

I was actually going back and forth on this quite classic pair of shoes as I couldn’t decide whether I wanted this pair or the alternate colour which was a fabulous sort of muted fire engine red. Since I needed a nude pair of shoes, however, I opted for these pumps. I realised that although the size 6 was too tight on me, this pair is slightly loose at the heel so I may need to get some form of cushion-y thing to help fill up the gap.

This black patent leather number I fell in love with instantly because they are just so sexy. The heel is a bit too high to comfortably run around with (though I can) so it will mostly be used for evening/formal affairs but they’re also fantastic for any kind of dress up occasion.

(The heel: )

Now, these are the only shoes I really need (though I need some in other colours including white, red, pink and green) but every time I pass by a shoe store or the shoe section in the department stores, I keep drooling over the shoes and thinking “I NEED A BIGGER SHOE CLOSET.”

I find it disturbing, a little embarrassing and funny all at the same time.

To feed the new addictions, though, I think I might go a bit more active on Chictopia. I need an outlet for all of this bingeing.