Nice to meet you

MANILA, Philippines - So you’re going out on a date. “Just be yourself.” It’s a hollow piece of advice that begs another soul-seeking conundrum, “But who am I?” If you were to be truly yourself, it would be a mess. You know you’re a hundred million things cooped up in measly, mortal flesh. It’s tacky to let all that out at once. Faced with the likelihood of floor-sweeping romance, it’s inevitable that you put up a proverbial façade—or one with a beastly bearing that you can buy at a toy store. More than how you can be yourself, maybe we can better help with what to wear. Nothing overtly flashy. Pretty or gentlemanly, but rough around the edges, is fine. It’s a legit trend, what with the resurgence of transfigured grunge and punk references from the arbiters of high fashion, seasons now and past. In any case, just put on something nice. And don’t forget to order dessert. 

Produced by Jed Gregorio and Patti Sunio, Photos by Cenon Norial III, Modeled by Linn Oeymo and Chris Ian Baclig