*Mermaid gown by ML Monique Lhuillier from Rent the Runway. Earrings by Bauble Bar.*

What to Wear to a Wedding: A Review of Rent the Runway

July 11, 2016 in Outfits

I love Rent the Runway. I also hate Rent the Runway.

*Candy Sequin Bodysuit by ASOS. Available in Shop My Closet. My hair and makeup are by Courtney McCormick.*

You're Toxic, I'm Slipping Under

July 05, 2016 in Outfits

When I found out I was going to be featured in the Baltimore Sun newspaper and it would be a cover story, I immediately ran out and bought this bodysuit.

Bikini by Calvin Klein. Sunnies by Quay Australia.

All About That Sports Luxe Life

July 04, 2016 in Outfits

I'm all about that sports luxe life even though I hate exercise and am actually the most unathletic person in the world.

*Bmore Babes muscle tee by Brightside Boutique and Social Decay. Earrings from Brightside Boutique. Peach high-waisted jeans from ASOS. Like Wow sunnies by Quay Australia.*

Brightside Babe: T-shirt and Colored Jeans

July 02, 2016 in Outfits

If you're going to wear a t-shirt and jeans, wear it like this to stand out.

Strange Fascination

June 29, 2016 in Outfits

Because this season's off-the-shoulder looks are so preppy (NOT MY STYLE), I decided to glam it up.

Thelma: Shae-Li LIang of 30th and Weldon. Louise: Tiffany Michael. Hair: Sarah Vitek. Makeup: Lisa Carr of LNC Beauty. Wardrobe Styling: Megan Larkin. Special thanks to Jason Bengson for allowing us use of his car for the shoot!

Thelma and Louise: The Ultimate Girl Power Road Trip Movie

June 27, 2016 in Photoshoots

How to look like a badass, Thelma and Louise style. Featuring model Tiffany Michael and 30th and Weldon's very own Shae-Li Liang.

*Romper, Asos.com. Sunnies, Asos.com. Thigh-high gladiator sandals, Jeffrey Campbell. Strappy black lace bralette, Urban Outfitters.*

A Tale of Two Rompers: How to Be Lazy and Stylish at the Exact Same Time

June 24, 2016 in Outfits

Since I only wear rompers on my lazy days, they have to pass a simple test before I decide to purchase them.

Welcome to Jamrock: Three Outfits to Wear to the Pool This Summer

June 18, 2016 in Outfits

Lounging at the pool is one of the easiest ways to feel like a baller. Here's how to look like one while you're at it.

*Clothing c/o Brightside Boutique. Creative direction, photography, and wardrobe styling by me. Models: Rory McFadden and Brianna Volatile. Hair and makeup by Courtney McCormick.*

Ultralight Beam: Aesthetic Distance x Brightside Boutique

June 15, 2016 in Photoshoots

I teamed up with Brightside Boutique for the launch of their exclusive new t-shirts.

Dog Day Afternoons and Selfies

June 13, 2016 in Personal, Outfits

I plan on hanging out by the pool and devouring book after book this summer.

Jawbreaker: An Ode to High School Girl Squad Movies

June 06, 2016 in Photoshoots

High school girl squads in movies are always the fiercest dressed girls at the whole school.

Purple Majesty: My Tribute to Prince

May 18, 2016 in Photoshoots

Prince's death forced me to think about what art is. It is an expression of ideas and emotions that is bigger than the physical, visual and aural space it inhabits.

*Nothing gets between me and my Calvins. Or my Jordans.*

93 Til Infinity

May 15, 2016 in Outfits

As fashion creeps closer and closer to the 00s (I'm trembling as I type this), I am ignoring all the signs and sticking to the 90s.

Words and images by me. Model: Andrea Chen. Hair and Makeup: Courtney McCormick. Wardrobe: Megan Larkin. Intern: Kate Christofano. Shot on location at the Hotel Monaco in Baltimore. Rosary, mine. Bra, Andrea's.

Cruel Intentions: Andrea Chen

May 09, 2016 in Interviews, Photoshoots

This shoot took a long time to produce. Then the Instagram gods introduced me to actress Andrea Chen.

*I went to NYC for the weekend and wore the same outfit from Friday to Sunday. I brought a garment bag, 2 duffel bags and another bag filled with shoes and then decided not to change.*

My Everyday Look: Weekend in NYC

May 08, 2016 in Outfits

I constantly get requests to post my everyday look so here's one.

*Words and images by me. Model: Tori DeFelice. Makeup and hair: Courtney McCormick. Intern: Kate Christofano. Special thanks to Amy Schwartz for allowing us use of her dance studio.*

Interviews: Tori DeFelice, Model/Ballet Dancer

May 07, 2016 in Interviews, Photoshoots

There has always been this thought about ballet not being a sport. Personally, I think ballerinas are the toughest athletes there are.

Purple Hair Don't Care

May 03, 2016 in Outfits

I did it for Prince.

*Words, images and creative direction by me. Makeup/hair by Courtney McCormick. Wardrobe styling by Megan Larkin. Model: Jovanna Haddad. Intern: Kate Christofano.*

Bell Bottom Blues: 10 Ways To Wear Bell Bottoms

April 04, 2016 in Photoshoots

Bell bottoms are back.

17 Summer Looks for Your Favorite Outsider

March 23, 2016 in Photoshoots

What to wear when you don't want to look like everybody else.

*Words and images by me. Model and makeup artist: Lexi Lazaro. Hair: Courtney McCormick. Styled by Megan Larkin.*

I'm Just A Girl: How to Do the 90s Fashion Trend for 2016

March 22, 2016 in Photoshoots

History tends to repeat itself, especially when it comes to fashion. Although the 90s have been back for a few years, I think 2016 is going to see it's biggest comeback yet.

Recent Posts

Featured

Feb 3, 2021

Unverified Accounts

Feb 3, 2021

I usually do a write up of the events I’ve organized or hosted and my most-read articles at the end of the year. This was an unusual year (obviously, there is no need to go into it here) so I didn’t bother. Instead I want to highlight a project of mine that I am particularly proud of — it’s my new podcast show, Unverified Accounts, that I cohost with my frequent collaborators, Chris Jesu Lee and Filip Guo. If you're a big movie/TV/book buff, have leftist sympathies, but can't stand 'wokeness' dumbing down our culture, then we're the podcast for you. So far in our 25 episodes, we’ve covered a range of contentious topics.

Feb 3, 2021

Dec 30, 2020

The Best Movies of 2020

Dec 30, 2020

This was an um…unusual year. Movie theaters shut down, every single film festival went virtual, all movies were released directly to streaming services, and I ended up watching more new releases since the summer of Moviepass. This year I watched 459 movies.

Dec 30, 2020

Dec 3, 2020

My 5 Favorite Books of 2020

Dec 3, 2020

This year I read mostly non-fiction. Mostly politics too. I learned more about the dangers of American-style democracy and liberalism. I also learned a lot about the CIA and how just much it has harmed the rest of the world. The books that uncovered the truth about the CIA were my favorites of the year because they allowed me to zoom out and truly see the American experiment for what it really is.

Dec 3, 2020

Nov 5, 2020

A Biden Win Is Not a Win For Democracy

Nov 5, 2020

The Biden presidency will be full of neoliberal austerity, censorship, technocratic rule, inverted totalitarianism, and the most anti-communist sentiment since the Reagan era. This is no win for democracy.

Nov 5, 2020

Oct 14, 2020

I'm Sharing My All-Time Favorite Scary Stories With You

Oct 14, 2020

IT’S SPOOKY SEASON AGAIN! My favorite time of the year (after summer, of course)! Let's change it up a little and have some fun.

Oct 14, 2020

Oct 1, 2020

Two Of My Favorite Filipino Horror Stories

Oct 1, 2020

A little something different since October is also Filipino American History Month! I LOVE horror movies (especially the ones from the 70s and 80s before CGI came along and ruined everything) and I LOVE reading scary stories, especially ones that are based on real life events. The truth is always stranger and way scarier than fiction, am I right?

Oct 1, 2020

Aug 16, 2020

You Will Never Convince Me To Vote Democrat Ever Again

Aug 16, 2020

The Democrat party is not on your side. It has never been on your side. I was just as angry when Donald Trump was voted into office back in 2016 but I’ve learned a lot since then. My politics were much more binary back then and I was naive enough to believe that though both political parties were bad, the Democrats were at least a lesser evil than the Republicans. I WAS WRONG. Ever since I was in college, I always believed that voting was one of the most important things you could do. I don’t believe that anymore. In fact, I’m not voting this year. Especially after finding out that Joe Biden chose Kamala Harris as his running mate.

Aug 16, 2020

Jul 13, 2020

I'm Sick Of The Pandemic Too...Because It's Killing Us

Jul 13, 2020

My 89 year old Auntie Milagros Romero Alonzo died of covid last Friday. She was alone in the ICU because nobody was allowed to visit her. Her nurse held up a phone so that we could all say goodbye to her via Facetime. Now we are planning a Zoom funeral. Take this pandemic seriously.

Jul 13, 2020

Jun 16, 2020

A Personal Post About Our 16 Weeks (And Counting) in Quarantine

Jun 16, 2020

This is a personal post about what my family and I have been up to in the 15 weeks (and counting) that we’ve been in quarantine. This blog has gotten more and more political in the past few years and I have no plans of stopping anytime soon. I know I haven’t written as much since the pandemic started but the truth is that it’s been hard to concentrate. The news cycle moves so fast that it’s hard to formulate any kind of commentary more than a tweet or a blurb in Instagram stories.

Jun 16, 2020

May 25, 2020

Just Because You're Sick of the Pandemic Doesn't Mean It's Over

May 25, 2020

Just because you’re sick of being in quarantine and you’re sick of not being able to go out to eat or go shopping, doesn’t mean it’s safe to go out again. It doesn’t mean that the pandemic is over. Far from it.

May 25, 2020

Apr 14, 2020

What The Hell Happened To American Journalism?

Apr 14, 2020

What the hell happened to American journalism? How did we get to a point where the news is no longer trustworthy? What happened to the fourth estate of government?

Apr 14, 2020

Mar 15, 2020

Shut It All Down

Mar 15, 2020

Allowing people to work from home and shutting down schools isn’t stopping people from going out and accelerating the spread of coronavirus. Warmly inviting people to practice voluntary social distancing isn’t working either. It’s time to take more drastic measures. SHUT IT ALL DOWN. STAY HOME. The only things that should remain open are grocery stores, banks, gas stations, pharmacies and hospitals.

Mar 15, 2020

Mar 12, 2020

What We Need To Think About During The Coronavirus Lockdown

Mar 12, 2020

Social distancing. Lockdown. If you’re like thousands — no, millions — of people around the world, you are most likely at home, avoiding physical contact with the outside world, in the hopes of escaping the coronavirus. This pandemic is bringing to light several things at once.

Mar 12, 2020

Feb 24, 2020

Bernie or Bust

Feb 24, 2020

A Bernie vs. Trump election is a centrist’s nightmare. Fifty years ago, Bernie Sanders’ policies were actually mainstream. That he and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (AOC) and their supporters are portrayed as "extreme" shows how insanely far-right U.S. politics are now. He and AOC shouldn't be seen as radical at all. They should be the center. Democrats have pushed the center so far to the right that people like Obama, Hilary, and Warren are considered left of center, rather than the conservatives that they really are.

Feb 24, 2020

Feb 2, 2020

On Landmark Movies, the Oscars and the Uselessness of Media Representation

Feb 2, 2020

I’m often not a fan of a first-timer winning Best Actor or Best Actress without a proven track record of great work. Too often, they go on to be nothing more than one-hit wonders. The fact that the Academy has frequently awarded one hit wonders that have no lasting impact is what makes people think of the awards as culturally irrelevant.

Feb 2, 2020

Jan 24, 2020

Cancel Culture Does Exist...And It's Wrong

Jan 24, 2020

The demand for moral perfection from everyone is ridiculous, especially when the goalposts keep changing. People who participate in cancel culture are just acting morally superior and self-righteous. It’s not progressive. It’s not at all liberal. In fact, it’s illiberal. And it doesn’t work.

Jan 24, 2020

Jan 21, 2020

Why Net Neutrality Is Something We Should All Be Concerned About

Jan 21, 2020

Net neutrality is a topic that we all should be concerned about, including those without a computer or internet access at home. Almost everything is done online these days so people without internet access are already at a huge disadvantage. Restricting or blocking the internet will affect every single one of us, which is why the debate over net neutrality is something to be closely followed.

Jan 21, 2020

Jan 20, 2020

Since 2020 Is An Election Year, Here Are Some Things To Remember...

Jan 20, 2020

Politics was once framed as if it might be removed from the stuff of our daily lives, like it was some sort of fringe interest. Declaring a lack of interest in politics was the norm, especially among young people. The last election showed us that every part of our daily lives is political. In November, there is a strong possibility that Donald Trump will be re-elected, that we will have our first woman president if Elizabeth Warren is elected or that we will have our most left-leaning, progressive president ever if Bernie Sanders wins. Whatever happens, no outcome will go unchallenged. Get ready.

Jan 20, 2020

Jan 8, 2020

You Guys, It's MEGXIT: Fuck the Royal Family

Jan 8, 2020

A couple of years ago, I was totally BASHED online for blogging that Prince Harry and Princess Meghan should run far, far away from the Royal Family, especially after seeing what they did to Princess Diana…I’m happy to say that that blog post has aged quite well.

Jan 8, 2020

Jan 2, 2020

2019 Was An Embarrassment of Riches For Movies

Jan 2, 2020

Today is the day that the ballots for the Oscars went out. We haven’t had this good of a year for movies…ever. Critics have long declared 1999 the best year ever for movies, and for a long time I agreed. Until now.

Jan 2, 2020

Dec 23, 2019

My Favorite Filipino Christmas (Pasko) Traditions

Dec 23, 2019

With the vast majority of Filipinos being Catholic, the most prominent holiday celebrated in the Philippines is Christmas (“Pasko” in Tagalog).

Dec 23, 2019

Dec 18, 2019

The Best Asian American Books of 2019

Dec 18, 2019

My favorite books by Asian American authors in 2019, in no particular order. I probably read about sixty books this year. Something that I’ve been thinking about a lot is that for all our fascination with technology, we’ve forgotten how transformative a simple book can be.

Dec 18, 2019

Dec 14, 2019

If We're In Late Stage Capitalism, Does That Mean the End of Capitalism Is Near?

Dec 14, 2019

At this point, the phrase is everywhere. Late capitalism, in its current usage, is meant to describe the stage of capitalism where things get so bad that a revolution happens. The term was popularized by a Marxist theorist and activist named Ernest Mandel in the mid-twentieth century. I think it sounds almost ominous because a “late” period implies that we are at the end of something.

Dec 14, 2019

Dec 4, 2019

Where to Find Me in December

Dec 4, 2019

After a relaxing Friendsgiving weekend bonding with my kasamas, it’s time to get back to organizing! Here are a few things coming up this month. Please check back regularly as this page will be updated as more events are confirmed.

Dec 4, 2019

Nov 30, 2019

Capitalism Sucks

Nov 30, 2019

Our free market is run by selfish, untrustworthy sociopaths. Corruption has become the norm. In the last 30 years, our checks and balances have been badly eroded. And it was only 25 years ago that the world celebrated the “triumph” of American capitalism. Is this a coincidence? No.

Nov 30, 2019

Nov 26, 2019

Only Colonizers Celebrate Thanksgiving: Saying NO THANKS!

Nov 26, 2019

I may not be a politician nor do I have a lot of power. But I will use my voice to humbly say that looking back on the twentieth century, I find nationalism and exceptionalism really creepy. Next week, our country will be celebrating one of the worst holidays of all. To Native Americans, Thanksgiving is a day of mourning because it is a reminder that in return for their help, they were repaid with the loss of their land and destruction of their people.

Nov 26, 2019

Nov 24, 2019

Decolonize Your Bookshelves with Randy Ribay

Nov 24, 2019

Yesterday was my third Decolonize Your Bookshelves event and once again, I felt rejuvenated by doing my part to bring joy into the art of resistance. At this event, we celebrated the work of Randy Ribay, author of Patron Saints of Nothing, and a 2019 National Book Awards finalist. Randy is also a convener for Malaya Movement and based in the San Francisco Bay Area. His work--which is exhilarating, harrowing, uplifting and redemptive--is a powerful testament to so many of our experiences, and it is deeply resonant for me personally.

Nov 24, 2019

Nov 12, 2019

Public Libraries Are Socialism In Action

Nov 12, 2019

The public library system is basically socialism at its best. It’s one of the few environments that doesn’t judge anyone or take advantage of anyone. It doesn’t try to sell anything and it can’t be bought. It offers people dignity and nobility.

Nov 12, 2019

Nov 4, 2019

The Diversity and Inclusion Industry is Complete Bullshit

Nov 4, 2019

Can you really train people to be more accepting of diversity after making them sit through a 2-hour seminar? No. Let's be realistic. It's too conceptual. And simply outlawing bias doesn't make it go away. Never mind that almost every single training facilitator will do everything they can to avoid actually saying the word “racism".”

Nov 4, 2019

Why Joining An MLM Will Ruin Your Life

Nov 4, 2019

Everyday, people get sucked into the lure of MLMs (“multi-level marketing” or “network marketing”) and I can’t stress enough the need to stay far, far away from them. I understand the need for flexibility, especially if you are a full-time student or are raising young children. Believe me, I also understand getting a job that allows you to create your own schedule and work remotely takes Hunger Games level competition.

Nov 4, 2019

Featured

Unverified Accounts

The Best Movies of 2020

My 5 Favorite Books of 2020

A Biden Win Is Not a Win For Democracy

I'm Sharing My All-Time Favorite Scary Stories With You

IT’S SPOOKY SEASON AGAIN! My favorite time of the year (after summer, of course)! Let's change it up a little and have some fun.

Two Of My Favorite Filipino Horror Stories

You Will Never Convince Me To Vote Democrat Ever Again

I'm Sick Of The Pandemic Too...Because It's Killing Us

A Personal Post About Our 16 Weeks (And Counting) in Quarantine

Just Because You're Sick of the Pandemic Doesn't Mean It's Over

What The Hell Happened To American Journalism?

What the hell happened to American journalism? How did we get to a point where the news is no longer trustworthy? What happened to the fourth estate of government?