How the kook stole Christmas

MANILA, Philippines - Elyoo Dela Cruz is perhaps best known by her web address, www.whoiselyoo.com. A BFA information design graduate from Ateneo de Manila University, she started a fashion blog in 2009 out of boredom and ended up winning Best Fashion Blog at the Philippine Blog Awards 10 months later. These days, if you don’t spot her at a gig (she’s easy to spot with her favorite red beret), she’s probably somewhere else working as a freelance illustrator and graphic designer. — Cai Subijano

YSTYLE: Which projects do you feel you are most known for?

ELYOO DELA CRUZ: I haven’t really done a lot of projects (that I’ve released publicly), so I would say my blog, which I haven’t updated for long time now.

How does your work as an illustrator and graphic designer relate to your being a fashion blogger?

I guess being a graphic designer/illustrator makes me more creative in producing the photos for my blog.

When you hear YStyle, what kind of images or ideas does your mind conjure up?

Young. Hip. Fun.

What was your concept for the new YStyle logo?

That time of the year when you start decorating your place for Christmas.

Were you listening to music while you were designing it? What songs? On purpose or on shuffle?

Yes. I was listening to the Christmas albums of Sufjan Stevens to get me in the mood.

Who/what inspires your art?

Anything! I try to be inspired by everything that I experience in life.

Who/what inspires your personal fashion sense?

My ultimate fashion icon is Coco Chanel, but I don’t think it shows in my personal style. (Laughs) These days, I mostly just go with my mood.

It’s the end of the year — how did you spend it?

With loved ones.

What upcoming projects do you have for the next year and beyond?

I don’t know yet. I’m not really the kind of person who makes plans. So I guess, we’ll just have to wait and see.