Kicking Yule Cat’s Ass This Year: Christmas Shirt for 2014

Icelandic legend has it that anyone not dressed with brand new clothes on Christmas Day would be devoured by the ferocious Yule Cat.  Though my family is not from the Nordic country of Iceland, we do observe the tradition of wearing new clothes during the festive Christmas Day.

More than five years now, my family has kept a somewhat different variety of tradition in terms of wearing new clothes on Christmas.  It is because we opt to be wearing the same design of clothing every year during Christmas Eve.  Call if uniform, call it a costume or call it regalia but this tradition has kept us in a way to be more bonded as a family.

And every year, it takes weeks before the final color and design will be agreed upon.  Knowing how liberal and outspoken each and every member of my family is, it comes not as a big surprise that there were lots of funny debates, hilarious deliberations and side-splitting discussions on how the style and design would look like.

A way of kicking the Yule Cat’s ass this year, my family opted for a vibrant baby pink color shirt with a somewhat retro chocolate brown design print.  Here’s how it looks…

cool!

i love it!

Sino ba ‘yan Yul Kat na ‘yan? Pusang gala lang yata ‘yan!

Capricho of a Caprichoso at Comme Des Garcons

I admit.  I have considerable volumes of shirts in various colors, prints, styles and designs.  My mother even consider my living quarters as nothing but a humongous cubbyhole of articles of clothing.  She would often allege and accuse me of storing some inside my fridge because my closets and boxes of garments are all so choked-up and full to its brim.  That is why the last thing I need is another piece of tee shirt.

But because of my caprichoso-ness (capriciousness), I know that I simply have to satiate my capricho.  That is why when I was planning my little shopping in Osaka, my odd obsession was focused towards buying a simple yet over-priced piece of shirt.  The Comme Des Garcons Play t-shirt.

I was so determined to acquire one, I even googled where in Osaka a Comme De Garcons outlet is. Good thing my nephew Denden knew exactly where in Namba Parks the store is located.  Armed with unbendable willpower and fortitude, I, Nengkoy and my niece Erika trekked to the high-end portion of the mall.

caprichoso at comme des garcons osaka

As soon as we found the outlet, I selected from among the limited designs and supplies hanged on the racks.  And since I look broke and penniless, the shop attendant did not allow me to wear and test fit it.  I got infuriated I wanted to buy the shop attendant himself.

But since I was so focused on my target, I brushed him aside.  With irrational conduct, I procured a piece.  And with closed eyes, I paid the somewhat unreasonable worth as printed on the price tag.

my proof of purchase…

what i had…

Erika and I went back to the apartment with satisfied and happy faces.  Nengkoy however was perplexed, maddened and enraged!  Not with the shop attendant but with my capricho and being a caprishoso.

Awtpit pamalengke… Hahaha!

2014 FIFA World Cup Best Jersey Goes To…

While everyone has gone so gaga on cheering for their favorite team at the ongoing FIFA World Cup, let me extend the biggest applause to the team with the most worthy jersey design.  I know that design wise, athletic uniform companies has not much can do.  But when they come up with awesome designs, it would of course worthy to be praised about.

viva argentina! (ezequiel lavezzi & lionel messi)

Argentina is my favorite team to win in the World Cup this year.  Though team Argentina sports the most classic design (the iconic blue and white stripes), for me the best uniform this year goes to Team Ghana.

Best In Costume!

I chose Team Ghana’s uniform because of the stylish neckline inset.  It is so remarkable!  The use of Kente cloth design which is indigenous native patterns of their country is so smart. This subtle tribute as done by Puma gives you a deep-seated feeling of pride and passion for the country that you represent.  Aside from paying homage to the rich culture of Ghana, another unique feature of this print design is that it beautifully frames the wearer’ face.

Team Ghana may unlikely to clinch the coveted trophy but still their jersey is undeniably true fashion worthy.

Manalo, matalo, best in kostyum kayo mga ‘tol!   

Arabic Calligraphy Names: A Bright Idea

While I was searching and relying on the powers of internet for an idea on what would be my suggestion to my family’s uniform t-shirt design for Christmas (which by the way has been part of my family’s tradition to wear on Christmas Eve), I stumbled upon an awesome Facebook page.

I wanted our t-shirt design this year to bear our beautiful family’s surname in Arabic calligraphy.  I surfed on through the internet but there seem to be very limited source where I could adopt my surname written in classic Arabic calligraphy.

Thanks to Arabic Calligraphy Names, a Facebook Community Page, developed by an artist and graphic designer named Nihad Nadam.  By “liking” this amazing community page through your own Facebook, you can actually have the chance that your name be chosen and written in Arabic calligraphy form.  What is more remarkable is that Nadam’s work is FREE of charge.

My surname was luckily picked (since I accumulated significant numbers of “likes” on my request/comment) to be written in calligraphic form.  And in just a couple of hours Nadam, the Genius, had it published on the community page for me to see, download and adopt.

Here is how it looked like…

Through the help of my officemate Frankie (who is an equally awesome graphic artist), this is how my first t-shirt design suggestion looked like which I presented to my crazy relatives…

 Thanks Mr. Nihad Nadam! I tremendously adore your work…

Galing ‘di ba?!