How to Roll Up Your Sleeves

Ever since ex-President FVR folded-up the sleeves of his barong to appear more like a hands-on President, wearing the sleeves folded up has been an acceptable thing in the workplace.

I really believe rolled-up sleeves gives a guy an immediate air of “I’m ready to get down to business.” A guy with rolled-up sleeves is the go-to guy - the one everyone turns to when things get hectic and tense. Rolled-up sleeves give the impression that a guy is quick to act, no-nonsense and respected. Now below are some guidelines on looking cool while you keep the "I'm a hands-on type of guy" aura about you.

STYLE 1:

1. First, unbutton your cuffs.
2. Flip the cuff over, then pull it up toward the elbow, smoothing it as you go. Stop when the cuff is just above the elbow.
3. Evenly roll the inside-out material hanging below the cuff up until it covers half of the cuff.
4. Leave the rest of the cuff visible, so that it peeks out of the roll.

STYLE 2:

1. Unbutton your cuffs.
2. Fold the cuff up to the same width as the cuff.
3. Continue folding the cuff, making sure that the folds are the same width as the first cuff fold, until your sleeve is the desired length.
4. Be sure to smooth the fold after each roll to prevent lumps and wrinkles.

STYLE 3:

Italian Style

1. Unbutton your cuffs.
2. Flip the cuff up, then pull it up until it reaches the middle of the elbow.
3. Fold the shirt material below the cuff up either once or twice, depending on your length preference and how thick you want the roll to be, until it reaches the top of the cuff.
4. An Italian fold never goes past the elbow. The roll is always tight and flat, without any bulk.

Chinggay Andrada

I've always been a fan of Chinggay Andrada. From a Monster Radio DJ, an FHM Cover Girl, host, model to television fitness guru, Chinggay has reinvented herself countless times and has succeeded in everything she set her mind to.

Last year, I had the chance to work with her while still handling part of the Marketing of Skechers as we tapped her to be one of the fitness brand ambassadors. After the launch of Skechers PROSPEED in Fitness First Trinoma, she actually asked me to do exercises in the Trinoma hallway in full view of everyone --- I couldn't understand what she wanted me to do!

But to my surprise, she got down on the floor and demonstrated to me what I was supposed to do while some curious onlookers were actually there calling out her name. I suppose the people realized that Chinggay is the same Coach Chinggay in the Biggest Loser Philippines --- I mean what they see on TV is actually how she is in real life --- the way she would bark orders, how strict she was and at the same time how she always has a ready smile to put you at ease.

Hopefully sometime soon, I do get the chance to work with her again.

By the way in the photo, am wearing my loose jeans (A BIG NO NO!), my too tight Fred Perry copycat bought in Greenhills (some said tama lang ang fit) and my size 11 Skechers Prospeed which I do use for running, and my SOMA watch (feeling sporty again).

How to Wear Jeans - Basic Guide

Wearing jeans are the most normal thing for us Pinoys as the national casual wear is jeans with a sports shirt or a plain tee. Below are some very basic guides on how to wear jeans.

1. Baggy jeans are a no-no unless you're going for a slim shady, hip-hop look. Chances are if you're reading this blog, you do own these baggy jeans for comfort because of your size --- but wearing them makes you and I look fatter! Go for the straight cut my friend.
2. Wear your jeans just below your waistline. I've seen guys wearing them too high and they just look downright silly.
3. As for the fit, AskMen.com gives this advise: A good tip to know if your jeans fit properly is to try them without a belt; if they fit and stay on without having to wear a belt, it means they will look even better once you slip one on. Also, be sure you can still breathe when you have them on, because having extremely tight jeans looks as silly as when they are hanging on your knees.
4. I've also seen a lot of guys sporting what the British call "turn-ups" --- folding the cuffs of the jeans from anywhere between 4 to 10 inches. If you don't like the look, just have them altered to your length.
5. As for color Dark blue is the way to go. Dark-colored jeans easily match with most types of shoes, and can be combined with a variety of colored shirts and sweaters.

Gaby dela Merced!

Veering away from fashion for a while, let me just share with you one of the people who have inspired me the past years, Gaby dela Merced --- actress, race car driver, and all-around nice person (by the way, she's Godmother to my baby girl).

I've had the chance to work with her before when we got her as a brand ambassador to one of the online games I used to market called Crazy Kart in Level Up. Read more about Gaby here.

Oh, did you notice the shirt I'm wearing? It was a shirt we designed to give away to players of Crazy Kart (similar to Mario Kart). This is my favorite design in the set.

The picture on the right is the Crazy Kart Game Management and Marketing team (aka Steamroller, DriftKing, RaceBoss-me-, Slingshot) with Gaby.

Happy Weekend!

Should I buy the PUMA Easter Basket?

I just love sneakers!

A friend of mine, Andy Smith is selling a PUMA Easter Basket. I don't know what's so special about it except that they do look pretty neat. Researched a bit and found this on the web via http://sneakernews.com.

The Puma Basket might not be as famous as its similar siblings the Clyde and Suede, but there’s little doubt these are the best fit for this pack. The Puma Easter Basket is a play on words that translates well to the lowtop silhouette.

The black joints feature icy greenish-blue and deep purple accents. It favors an Easter egg design in lieu of the Puma logo on the heel tab.

Hmmm at Php2,500 it does seem like a steal. So what do you think?

Sporty

I do try and lose weight by running and by walking most of the time. SO after doing a 3K around the neighborhood or if sometimes I get the chance to run laps in ULTRA, I want to keep that sporty feeling the entire day so I end up wearing this set.

Putting Collezione Back on the Map

Had the chance to be a consultant once for Collezione C2 and one of the things I said was we needed to get the brand back on everyone's fashion radar --- a distinctively young, fresh and nationalistic idea or take on the designs and collections --- this was the time that the youth was decidedly very pro-Pinoy.

And fashion designer and now Collezione C2 creative director Rhett Eala stepped-in and did his magic of coming up with the Philippine Map designs.

Oh this did wonders for the brand but then again after a few months and after getting so much acclaim for the designs, Collezione C2 suffered the most flattering insult --- it got copied by everyone! How hard was it to put the Philippine map on a shirt right?

If I were still the consultant, I would be asking and finding a solution to this question: SO after the Philippine map, what's next?

Anyway, three things the copycats didn't do right were the "burda" of the map --- it was downright sloppy unlike the one made by Collezione C2; and another thing was the quality of the polo shirt itself. The quality of Collezione-made polo shirts is, really for me unequaled since the 80s (kudos to Mr. Joey Qua and family).

The third and last is the most important --- the cheaper copycat versions didn't have OUR size!

As I wrote before, if your waistline is somewhere in the vicinity of 40 to 42 inches, get the 2XL from Collezione C2.

By the way, they still have sizes up to 4XL. GREAT!

Pa Ulit-ulit Favorite

Just my favorite when going to the office whether with meetings or just sitting on my desk thinking of Marketing stuff.

No Meeting Mondays

I rummaged through my closet and decided I want to wear this on Monday when I have no scheduled meetings of any kind.

Disclaimer: The more fashionable readers may not agree with my choices but hey, please feel free to recommend what else to add or change.

Hold That Tiger!

One of the funniest commercials involving women chasing men (even before the AXE commercials gained notoriety) was aired sometime in the 80's here in the Philippines for a clothing brand with the basic lyrics of "Hold that tiger" in its catchy jingle. The clothing brand was and is LE TIGRE.

(Wikipedia) Le Tigre is an American brand of apparel designed to rival Lacoste in styling. First offered in 1977, Le Tigre polos sported a leaping tiger in lieu of Lacoste's signature crocodile. The brand made a comeback in 2003, after being out of production through the 1990s. Le Tigre had become popular during the later 1980s.

I'm not sure if they

ever did disappear in the Philippines since up to now an outlet store that sells Le Tigre is still up and running along Shaw Boulevard Mandaluyong in the building beside Puregold Liberty Center.

TIP: If buying a Le Tigre polo shirt and you have a waistline of roughly 40-42, buy the XL. It's at Php500.00 (for all that cloth!).

Aside from Lacoste and Le Tigre, the Philippines had its own version of aclassic, vintage brand called Collezione (the logo is the famous key; now it has the key and the Philippine map). More on Collezione later.

I know some of you weren't even born when this brand hit the shelves but hey, Vintage really is back in style. If you don't believe me, what are the supposed modern brands still in use and being bought by Pinoys nowadays --- There's Lacoste, FOSSIL, Collezione, Sebago, Keds (the first sneaker), Sperry Top-sider (the world's original boat shoe), LEVIS, etc.

Over or Under the Tummy?

This is a quick post being a Sunday and all...word of advise from FAT MAN FASHION TIPS:

Wear your pants just below your gut not over the top of it. Your belt should be below your belly not running over the top of it like they did in the old days. Your belt line should be at the point just above your ass. Think of it as your belt separates the moving part of your lower body from your upper body. That is why fatter men that wear there belt too high look so foolish. Yes, you should make an effort to lose some of that gut. But in the meanwhile, wear your belt at the proper location. By the way, for the thin men reading this, this location applies to you also. Thin men look stupid wearing their pants too high also.

Happy lazy Sunday everyone!

Untucked

I've always tried to get away wearing my tops un-tucked since I do believe that the mirror doesn't lie at all when I see how wide I am. I've always been big but the problem really is not that my gut sticks out whenever I tuck my shirts in, it's more of how wide I look.

So how does one wear an un-tucked shirt whether they be polo shirts or button down shirts?

A good friend of mine gave me these two tips:

TIP NUMBER 1: An un-tucked shirt should sit in the region from a little below your belt line to halfway down your ass. Any higher and your butt crack will show. Any lower and it is way too long.

A good measurement really is, the hem or bottom of the shirt should sit either right above the top of your back pocket or a little under the top pocket.

TIP NUMBER 2: If you are going to wear your shirt un-tucked especially in the office, try and go for the square-hemmed shirts as they offer a more finished, more sophisticated look than normal curved shirt hems.

Sleek Shoes Make Fat Feet Look Sexier

I've always loved shoes because no matter how big you are, shoe sizes tend to be pretty standard and one need not worry about the sizing too much --- if you're a size 11, chances are you are a size 11 for all shoe-brands. I saw this Nike sneaker in the COMPLEX LIFESTYLE STORE in Eastwood. I shunned NIKE sneakers for a time since they have a bad habit of breaking apart if you don't use them often enough --- the glue that holds the uppers to the sole just turns to powder - but hell, if I get this then I'll just wear it more often.

The Nike Flyclave, is a no-fuss sneaker which is very similar to the Nike Flash. What I love most about it is the ultra slim profile that makes my fat feet look sexier. It features a combination of leather and suede on the upper, a super sleek EVA midsole, perforated Swoosh, and a rubber outsole --- simple enough to wear in the office (if you do work for a no-uniform, casual company that is). By the way it costs Php3,495. (Hopefully my friends from COMPLEX can give me a discount).

Boat Shoes are Back In Style

Let's talk about shoes for awhile...Just came from Trinoma and saw once again the Sperry Top-Sider that I so badly want. So I'm reprinting one of earlier blog posts to remind me and everyone else that the boat shoes are back in style!

Had the chance to be with Martin of Sole Movement and a number of other bloggers way back (last August 31) in the COMPLEX LIFESTYLE STORE sneak peak of SPERRY TOP-SIDER in Eastwood Mall and what an experience it was.

I was quite amazed at the feeling I got when I first entered the store and saw the rows upon rows of Sperry Top-Sider --- happy memories came rushing in. Memories of my carefree high school days, Saturdays in Greenhills with family and friends, anticipated mass in dela Strada Parish, merienda at Shakeys Katipunan and soirees with girls from Miriam, St. Paul and Assumption...all because of what greeted me as I entered COMPLEX --- the Authentic American iconic Sperry Top-Sider (in brown leather).


Kind of hard to imagine that Sperry, the originator of the boat shoe has been around for 75 years.

Back in 1935, Sperry was out for a sail with his dog, Prince, when he noticed that Prince had no trouble navigating the cold, wet, icy decks. Paul took a look at Prince’s paws and noticed that there were several cuts and ridges going through the pad on the bottom.

Prince inspired Paul, and he went home to create shoes with rubber soles that looked just like the bottom of Prince’s paw. And, thus, Sperry boat shoes were born!

I still see friends and relatives wear this style in various permutations. Nephews and nieces boast of their latest finds and how boat shoes are the rave these days, how my uncle refuses to part with his ages-old navy blue Sperry Top-Sider bought in Cartimar, and how my youngest brother got cited for not wearing socks with his boat shoes to work.

In spite of falling in love all over again with the leather "Tops", one new Sperry-style caught my eye and it's the Bahama. It has a modern look yet almost retain the silhouett

e of the classic Top-Sider that I love. It really is a wonderful cross between sneakers and Top-Si
ders.

Sperry now comes in a variety of styles and designs for both men and women that ranges from the Authentic Original leather Top-Siders that we all love to vulcanized soles and canvas tops.

Lissa Kahayon

I had the chance to meet up with another stylist-fashion blogger who at 20-something has inspired so many and has demystified fashion for the youth --- Lissa Kahayon.

See her work at http://www.lissakahayon.com/.

Fashion Tips for Fat Dudes

Seriously, the best way to look great in the long term is to shed some of those excess pounds. No need to enroll in those expensive classes or spend for gym time. Your best bet is to put on some running shoes and run, walk, hike --- just move --- take the stairs instead of the elevator, walk instead of taking the jeep, any activity that will get you off the couch or in front of your computer.

Anyway, here are some more tips for us larger-than-life fellows from ASKMEN.COM:

1. ENSURE YOUR CLOTHES AREN'T TOO TIGHT

Wearing clothes that are too tight will showcase the lumps.

2. DON'T WEAR TOPS WITH SLOPED SHOULDERS

Draw attention away from your midsection by wearing tops that have more squared shoulders.

3. WEAR LOW-RISE PANTS

4. WEAR V-NECKED SHIRTS

As my friend Daemon Frost told me a few days ago, wearing V-NECKED tops makes it seem that you still have a neck. I laughed but seriously thought about it and then I saw this tip on ASKMEN.COM and lo and behold he was right all along.

5. WEAR PANTS WITH A LONGER HEM

For more tips visit ASKMEN.COM

Laureen Uy

Had the chance to meet this wonderful twenty-something stylist-fashionblogger-actress last Saturday.

Laureen Uy is the younger sister of stylist Liz Uy and Vince Uy of Preview Magazine. She in her own right has made a name for herself in fashion through BREAK MY STYLE and STYLEBREAK.

By the way I'm wearing a ten year old NAUTICA raglan sleeve shirt in 2XL. See, this brand ages well.

The List PART 1

Here goes...in no particular order --- the polo shirt list of where we, the horizontally challenged can get our fashion fix:

Polo Shirts

1. Greenhills Tiangge (Ralph Lauren/Polo overruns where XL is roughly chest size of 48" at Php800 per polo shirt)
2. Le Tigre (80's classic with the tagline HOLD THAT TIGER) warehouse outlet along Shaw Boulevard, Mandaluyong in front of Liberty Center and Puregold where Le Tigre polo shirts are at Php500 for the bigger sizes starting at XL --- if you have a waistline of 42, the XL is perfect for you, the 2XL is waaay to big.
3. Collezione and Collezione C2 (in major malls for boutiques and in department stores) - 80's classic again made famous again a few years ago with the introduction of Rhett Eala's Philippine map design sadly copied by the cheaper brands. Price is around Php375 to Php650. Sizing is a bit smaller than the Greenhills Tiangge export overruns XL and the Le Tigre XL so if you are a size 40-42 waistline, get the 2XL polo shirt in pique (but this depends whether the design is classic fit or slim fit).
4. Nautica - Pricier at almost a grand per shirt but quality is stupendous. They have sizes ranging from XL to 3XL. The 2XL is roughly 47 inches at the chest.
5. Lacoste - sure to have your size (until 2XL I think). If you're above a size 44 waistline last time I checked they no longer have the 3XL to 4XLs polo shirt. (You can try the class A one's in Greenhills though they may have much bigger sizes.)

I will add to the list soon. Last piece of advice, there is no harm in trying on the merchandise. Fit it, feel it and look at yourself in the mirror --- you are probably thinner than you think your are.

My New Best Friend

Shoes have always made me happy and would reward myself with a pair from time to time but when this "gwapo" watch came along, I just had to have it.

My TWSTEEL Icon watch is great for us "big-boned" individuals as these watches are huge.

Their tagline says it all: "Big in oversized watches". I got the 50mm (it also comes in 45mm) size, the biggest in their arsenal with a black face (dial) and black soft leather so it can match most of the clothes that I wear --- looks good when wearing jeans and exceptional when wearing a bit more formal clothes.

Some TIPS from Pinoy Guy Guide

PINOY GUY GUIDE posted tips on how to buy clothes if you're sorta chubby way back. AM re-printing it with some of my comments.

1. Don’t buy too loose or too fit.

When chubby guys buy clothes, they have a tendency to buy either clothes which are too fit or too loose to prove that they are not too big. However, I think this is a wrong move in choosing clothes.

If you happen to be a chubby guy, go for clothes which are one size bigger than your actual size BUT choose a slim fit version.

Confused?

Let’s say you go shopping for a shirt. You know that you are a size XL. So what you need to do is to find nice clothes on size XXL which are SLIM FIT. Once again read: SLIM FIT! So what will happen is that you will end up buying clothes which are just about right for your size and since it is slim fit, it will make you look slimmer.

TOOFAT4FASHION SAYS: Know your measurements. Shoulder, chest and waist. There is no standard sizing in the clothes found in the Philippines. An XL for one brand may be an 2XL for another brand.

2. Vertical Patterns

If you have attended Psychology 101 you should remember a topic their called visual illusions. During my freshman year in college, I clearly remember my Psych professor teaching us how to wear good clothes which will make short guys appear taller, fat guys appear slimmer, skinny guys appear bigger and so on and so forth.

I will not go over all of them. But what I remember is that, if you are a chubby guy, you should avoid horizontal prints on clothes because it only will make you look bigger and yes, fatter. Instead, what you should do is to wear vertical prints because the length of the prints will produce an illusion that you are taller and slimmer than you actually are. Choose a variety of vertical prints and not just plain stripes. I’m sure you wouldn’t want to find your wardrobe full of vertically-striped clothes would you?

TOOFAT4FASHION SAYS: I've been hearing this a lot of times but hey, horizontal striped shirts look great especially the Ralph Lauren (POLO), Lacoste and Le Tigre designs. No matter what you wear, if you're plus-sized, you are plus-sized. Wear what is comfortable, wear what looks good --- basta walang masyadong bilbil na visible. If you must wear horizontal stripes, try to wear more tapered pants (not the baggy hiphop one you have in your closet or loose slacks).

3. Buy from shops like…

…Jag, Lee, Penshoppe, Bench, Human, RRJ, Tribal etc. They have tons of stylish and inexpensive clothes available up to XL (and in some cases even XXL). I also recommend that you go shopping for clothes in department stores rather than stand-alone shops for variety and for size availability. And if you can find American and foreign brands like TopMan, Van Heusen, Izod and Von Dutch – it would be much better because American sizes are naturally bigger.

You mentioned in your email some brands that you like. However, People are People, Folded & Hung, Refill, Mint, Oxygen and other similar brands rarely have BIG sizes. Yes, their clothes are very modern and chic but their target market is for slim guys. So I suggest you go for the previous ones I have mentioned.

4. Try MaxWear at SM Department Store

If you have some time, try to drop by SM Department Store one of these days. They have a section there called MaxWear and they have a wide variety of inexpensive clothes for big men.

TOOFAT4FASHION SAYS: Sure they will fit you but the quality sucks big time.

Whatever happened to BIG MEN?

There used to be a great store for plus-sized guys in Shangri-La EDSA mall and SM North EDSA Annex called BIG MEN up until 2008. Sadly they're no longer in existence.

The quality of their clothes really was exceptional. I've been using all the stuff (slacks, jeans, polo shirts, button downs and short sleeved polos) I bought from them for the past ten years and they're still great give or take a few pieces that got worn out. I followed the advice of my friend who told me to stick to classic cuts and designs so they never grow old in terms of look.

Nowadays it's a challenge really to find the same quality of clothes for us BIG MEN. The SM Department Store version called MAX WEAR really isn't up to par in terms of design and quality (more on MAX WEAR later on).

Whatever happened to BIG MEN? Tsk tsk tsk...

I'll soon be publishing a list of the brands as well as the boutiques that are "fat-friendly", so check back from time-to-time.