Bridesmaid Ka Lang

I remember this line from a famous Coca-Cola ad in the 90s.

I've been a bridesmaid so many times, pwede ako humabol kay Katherine Heigl sa 27 Dresses! Not really, but it sure felt just like that.

Somewhere between 2002 to 2008, girl friends of mine started getting married and quite of few of them got me as part of the entourage.  Unlike in the US where being a bridesmaid actually meant helping out the bride to be in the wedding preprations, here in the Philippines it's really mostly just about showing up for the gown fittings, the bridal shower and the actual wedding itself. 

On occasion, this may mean being part of the party who plans the bridal shower or paying for your own dress, which has become an "acceptable gift" to the bride. And yes, I've done both!

The project manager in me simply enjoys planning.  Writing this post just reminds me of the few bridal showers I've organized --- from a really small party of 5 to a couple wedding shower. 

And since I've accumulated so many dresses, I also try to make it a point to re-use them whenever I can (para sulit!)

Sharing with you some of my bridesmaid dresses:

Tey & Pat's Wedding September 30, 2004. 
I got to wear this again during a sales con where I played Kris Aquino
who loved wearing gowns in her shows before.

George & Vanessa's Wedding Dec 15, 2005.

Mehandro & Lorena's Wedding October 2006.  I was the Maid of Honor here.
I think wore this dress also to the Sales Con where I portrayed Kris Aquino. :D



Jay & Cheena's Wedding November 2006.



Jeffrey & Renely's Wedding.  March 2008.
I was a substitute bridesmaid for my sister.  It so happens this is the 2nd time
I became a substitute bridesmaid for a cousin.



Marc & Joelle's Wedding.  April, 28, 2008.
I've worn this dress twice to 2 other weddings and even lent it to
an officemate also for a wedding.



Albert & Eres's Wedding Dec 2008
I've worn this twice as well:  once for a wedding and another for a Filipinian theme event at our office.
Incidentally, beside me in green is the designer of this dress, HS batchmate, Joanne Duque (who also
made my dress for Marc & Joelle's wedding above.)

So how did I like being a bridesmaid several times?  I enjoyed dressing up, getting all made up and learning along the way the style I preferred.  But nothing compares to being the bride at the wedding!  Yep, my wedding is one of my happiest thoughts.

Fashion Begins at Forty

I'm not quite forty yet, at least not for about half a year more but that's not what this post is about.  It's about fashion or more precisely my lack of fashion. Ha!

For people who've known me longer than the past few months, you'd know I'm not really into fashion.  In high school, when I wasn't in school uniform, I would be content with oversized t-shirts (preferably black), jeans and creepers.  In college, I was still the t-shirt (not so oversized), jeans and sneakers type of person. 

When I started working and maybe til about late last year, my idea of work clothes would be a collared blouse and slacks.  Occasionally, I will be caught wearing a proper blazer.  Oh, I'd be wearing heels but would prefer flats.  It wasn't til about 5 months ago when I started "dressing up at work."  

URC Days, late 90s. Wearing jeans, shirt blouse and a borrowed oversized blazer.


So why the sudden change? Let's call it peer pressure.  (Kung kelan tumanda saka nagpa-peer pressure!)  Actually none of my colleagues were pressuring me.  But if your younger colleagues start looking better than you, baka mapagkamalan kang assistant nila!  Hindi happy thought yun.  Hahaha!

During a Singapore business trip in 2006.  Wearing long-sleeved shirt, slacks and slippers! 
(I can't remember if I just changed my footwear here coming from the session.  I hope so.)

My transformation started slowly and small.  I started my fashion change with shoes, that is, wearing heels.



I discovered 3 1/2" heel arch is still comfortable for me. Also, wedges and platform helps a lot! :D


Also, I started wearing blazers more often.  I found that wearing a jacket gave me a more formal office look even if I was actually just wearing a t-shirt underneath that jacket.

And lately, well, I've taken to wearing dresses!  I  actually have 3 dresses that I can wear to work in my closet!  ha!

First office dress I got at an export overrun store. Super sulit at P700! :D

It's still not a complete transformation.  Mostly I still wear my traditional collared blouse and slacks but this time I make sure I stop wearing them when they're all faded out.  :P