Not Quite the End of Styling Class

The last two months flew by pretty quickly and my styling class at the Tan-Gan Designer Fashion Workshops finally came to an end last weekend. I felt a bit relieved to have my lazy Saturdays back, but a big part of me felt a little bitin – there’s still so much to learn! Aside from the one shoot I did for class, I didn’t get many opportunities to do actual styling. My internship with Liz Uy was also surprisingly light; she was probably nahihiya to ask me to really work because aside from sourcing props, she didn’t request anything else from me. She’s a very nice and considerate person though, and I feel honored to have worked for her, however briefly.

Blouse: Ukay Manila (I may end up keeping it though lol)
Shorts: Promod
Tights: eBay
Brogues: Shoeology
Boater hat: Sock and Sole
Ring: Eastwood bazaar (a measly P60!)

On a more personal note, I feel that this class made my sense of style grow up a little. I’m still driven by vintage-inspired motifs – I think that’s something I can’t get rid of, no matter how hard I try – but I now wear a lot of stuff I normally wouldn’t have looked twice at. This blouse, for instance, is something the old me would have easily ignored at a thrift store. It’s white, it has long sleeves, and is otherwise boring – nothing like the loud patterns and bright colors I usually go for. But now I realize that interesting garments don’t have to be in-your-face about their uniqueness; it’s understated details like the lovely embroidered collar and boxy silhouette that make a piece stand out. (I briefly thought about getting rid of the shoulder pads, but I don’t have a seam ripper and I would have ruined it if I used scissors. In the end, I decided that I wouldn’t like it as much if it didn’t look as boxy. Screw what everyone else might think.) I don’t mean to say that loving neutrals is a sign that one’s tastes are “growing up”; it’s more like the ability to look beyond your biases and find beauty in the least likely places, rather than sticking to the tried-and-tested-and-safe. I’m really glad that the class opened up my mind in this sense.

In any case, it’s still not quite the end of my styling adventures! I’ll be honest – I don’t have the commitment or patience to make a real career out of this, but I’ll continue to style as a creative hobby. The learning experience isn’t quite over, either; I got to help Millet style a TV commercial yesterday, and she says she’ll keep us all in mind for small jobs in the future. I’ll also style for free as long as I can use the photos for my portfolio. Drop me a line! :)

I’m really glad Jessica Gan gave me the opportunity to take this class and that I decided to give it a go. Prospects for my non-writing-related career are still pretty hazy at this point, but having Millet as a styling instructor was a priceless experience. Unfortunately, she’s too busy to teach next term, but Noel Manapat of Bench will be handling the styling class. Check out the Facebook page for more details on next term’s Tan-Gan Designer Fashion Workshops.

Still looking for creative entries for my Levi’s I Believe contest. Surprise me with your most interesting and unorthodox beliefs!

Related Posts :

Outfit: Statement Flats

Outfit: Secret Garden

Outfit: I Do Not Love You As If You Were a Sa...

Cebu: Pre-Sinulog Adventures