Live(stock) Repair

Sometimes a DIY project isn't just an enhancement on a current piece, an unfortunate event such as damage or loss of a part of the piece can necessitate a do-it-yourself repair job. Case-in-point: my Ann Demeulemeester-esque Topman feather necklace and I were inseparable for nearly two weeks until an incident involving mixed drinks and a zip-up parka damaged the necklace beyond wearability.

Topman feather necklace. My coat zipper ate the feather up and frayed it way too much for it to be charming.

Devoid of the incredibly complete art supplies store I go to in Boston, I had to be a little more creative in sourcing for materials. Fast forward to Christmas day, when I found out we were slaughtering two hens for dinner. (You have got to love the Philippines and our affinity for food with eyes and feet... and feathers.) A bulb went off in my head.

So I picked the hen with the prettier feathers

and cut off a few of her plumes to replace my frayed one. I did ask nicely before snipping away!

I took an assortment of feathers so that I have a few replacements should the one I use get damaged again. I chose the white one, but I have my eyes set on the brown, black, and white dappled one for next time.

I shaved off the end of my chosen feather with a knife to make it fit into the pendant clamp. After a few minutes of fumbling with pliers and miscellaneous implements to pry the pendant open, I finally got the new feather in.

So here is my necklace now, which has literally taken on a new life with a white feather against the silver chain fringe.

While the rest of the blogosphere DIY's their duds with studs, The Dandy Project personalizes with poultry.

Zipper Pulls and Christmas Eve Supper

Christmas eve with my family is dinner at a fancy restaurant and presents bought and given way ahead of time. We had dinner at Aubergine, my favorite patisserie in Manila, and this is what I wore:

Marc Jacobs necklace, Topman LTD club collar shirt, Mangrove pants, Bottega Veneta loafers

I recently developed an affinity for club collars soon after I got over the Dr. Robert Rey stigma they once had. I'm seeing a tailor-made club-collar shirt of my design in the near future.

close-up of the Marc Jacobs zipper-pull necklace, my latest favorite conversation starter

Some photos from that night:

butter and and a surprisingly addictive tuna brine spread

focus on the foie gras

Sideswept bangs run in the family.

iced gingerbread souffle that tasted more like semifreddo

with my sister, on the way home

P.S. To all my blogger friends who greeted me, I apologize for not being able to reply to you one by one. Happy Holidaze to you too!

Red, Gold, and Green

red shoes, green pants, gold watch

Christmas or Culture Club (Karma Chameleon!) reference, you decide. I'm just glad to be home in Manila for the holidays where one layer of clothing is all you need to wear to step outside.

Ray-Ban wayfarers, Dean and Trent t-shirt, J. Crew anchor belt, Casio calculator watch, H&M green jeans, Timberland lug-sole boat shoes

Contrary to the always dressed-up image this blog portrays of me, I do step out of the house in jeans and a t-shirt. But when I do, I try to make it nutty enough so as not to bore myself into depression.

acting a fool

My new Timberlands looking out the balcony of my parents' new flat. The Dandy Project wears 'lands, believe it.

The Velvet Goldmine

Velvet slippers have been there since forever. Is it so backward of me to be blogging about wanting them just now?

embroidered green velvet slippers by Shipton & Heneage

They give off that air of being extremely high maintenance. I would love to wear them with holiday party suits as much as i would with the most casual of clothes:

slashed jeans

This photograph of stylist Keegan Singh almost singlehandedly drove my search for the perfect pair of velvet slip-on shoes.

and shorts.

via The Sartorialist

I haven't made up my mind whether I want mine embroidered or not. Right about the time when Gucci's ad campaigns featured a model with a "G" carved out of her pubic hair, the Italian brand churned out this pair of velvet slip-ons embroidered with the word "suck" on the right shoe and "me" on the left. What I would give to have a pair of those shoes right now (let alone a photo of them) just so I can garishly wear my Tom Ford-era Gucci nostalgia on my feet.

I tried on these velvet slippers at Topman in New York but decided against getting them. I felt iffy about the squared-off toe and the gaudy gold fleur de lys.

Topman velvet slippers

the same pair in wine red

This pair by Barker Black appears to be sumptuously embroidered, but never in a million years would I be willing to fork over $800+ for a brand that is mostly GQ hype.

Barker Black skull and crossbones velvet slippers

I might have found the perfect pair of velvet slippers: Cole Haan at Gilt.com, elegantly plain, handsomely shaped, and made more comfortable by some hidden Nike air footbed.

Cole Haan velvet slippers from Gilt

No thanks to the holiday online shipping frenzy, their earliest shipping date was way past the day I fly out of Boston, so it was a no-buy. Sigh, the search for my velvet goldmine goes on.

the abbreviated necktie and other novel neckpieces

Bow ties don't seem to turn heads today as much as they did, say, two years ago. Enter Volkan Celic, a Turkish-German designer and recent graduate of Esmod fashion school in Berlin, who just launched a neckwear collection with a handful of pieces that piqued my interest.

The most graphic in the collection I think, this bow tie reminds me of those DIY velvet-ribbon bow ties, only stiffer, inversely proportioned, and upside-down.

This one's more sober than the others, but different enough to keep things interesting.

I'm seriously considering rocking the abbreviated necktie: necktie in origin, bow tie in spirit!

A festive candy-wrapper bow tie in black and gold lame.

And the piece de resistance, a semi-stiff neckerchief adorned with a black silken fringe "waterfall": part dramatic, part ridiculous, 100% The Dandy Project approved.

And speaking of fringe, I think the model's randomly curved blunt bangs are noteworthy. I'm in the market for a new haircut, any suggestions?

via The Fashionisto

YMC Spring 2010

For Spring 2010, London-based label YMC (You Must Create) presents a collection that is part-work wear, part-dandy, and part-grandpa and very reminiscent of Comme des Garcons, all modeled by an odd-looking lad with the coolest haircut.

The fit on this workwear-inspired jacket makes it more dignified dandy than dowdy.

Up on my list for Spring/Summer 2010 must-haves are the perfect pair of Huarache sandals, to be worn with or without socks. I'm thinking black or tan leather, or perhaps even sage green suede?

The buzzed-sides long-top coif has been there for years already (and I'm still not ready to give it up!), but brush it sleek to the side elementary-school nerd style, and leave a lock of hair toward the back brushed the other way, and you've got something intriguingly fresh!

I find the combination of these two star-like prints engaging.

The club collar and shorts provide a soft contrast to the tough work boots and tattooed legs, tattooed legs sold separately.

via ModeMan