BASIC MATTER 25: THE PERFECT CANVAS BACKPACK

I have never considered myself a fashionista nor want to be called one.

No, I am not the man responsible for the proliferation of plaid shirts throughout the metro and, increasingly, around my circle.

Actually, I recently took a break from wearing plaid and got myself four new white dress shirts in cotton, linen and more cotton. In fact, to soak up from Manila’s damp weather, I just got myself a new one.

With all five new dress shirts (yes, I am a happy shopper!), I thought of getting myself a new bag to pair them with.

Last night while trying to score something online, I came across this nice bright green cotton canvas backpack with contrasting light brown leather trims from Seil Marschall.


Truly perfect, this backpack comes with drawstring and adjustable strap closure, adjustable shoulder straps, and zipped internal and external pockets. Need I go on?

THRIFT FIND : WAXED CANVAS TOTE

Olmayeyo? Tossan kot sun opsumnigga?

When you combine canvas with wax, you get perfection and this midnight blue waxed canvas tote I got at the Korean thrift shop over the weekend is just that. Choosing canvas over plastic, this tote is large enough to fit a great deal of gear for my everyday supplies like my laptop, moleskine, magazines and my camera.



For only $3.00 and without batting an eyelash, this ultimately is the perfect lazy weekend tote.

BASIC MATTER 21: THE PERFECT BAG

I feel naked if I leave the house without a bag. I am always on the move and it is important that I have my bag with me to hold my gear – a bag huge enough to fit anything and everything like my laptop, camera, moleskine, magazines, books and even a spare shirt in case I accidentally stain myself with coffee again.

Fossil 'Wagner Duffle Brown' Men's Holdall Bag and J-Fold 'Cargo' Brown Mens Messenger Bag

'Voyager' Brown Leather Mens Holdall Bag and Diesel 'Stronger' Men's Weekend Bag (all bags from Equip)

Bags are always a fantastic addition to any man’s closet. Being in a creative environment, I am lucky to have more leeway with regards to the originality of my bag (no boring suitcases for me, thank you). I have tons and I’m starting to get really bored. I like my bags unfussy as possible. No obvious logos or funky monograms, just something that is refined enough to wear to work or out of town.

Growing up, mum would always tell me that I should have at least a canvas tote for weekend errands, a good looking carryall for work and a sturdy weekender for traveling.

KICKING IT OLD SCHOOL

Growing up in the 80’s, mum taught me to wear traditional canvas and leather sneaks aside from the usual weejuns and tasseled loafers to parties and out of town trips - It was a preppy requisite in my neck of the woods.

Today, it’s all about thoughtfully acquiring items that can subtly spruce up a basic wardrobe and still look fresh a year later.

Being the hoarder that I am, I have five pairs of sneakers ranging from preppy staples like Fred Perry and Tretorn to unbranded $15 canvas lace-ups that I regularly wear to the weekend village market or around the neighborhood.

Mum would always tell me that what you wear south of your ankles always deserve a seasonal update and nothing says you’re ready for boiling equatorial temperatures and bespoke cotton shorts like a pair of refined classis sneaks from Veja.

(I’m in love with These pair of Taua’s and vegetable-tanned suede Indegenos)

Made out of chrome-free leather tanned with organic compounds and are cut, sewn and assembled in Southern Brazil, Veja shoes are the next best thing unlike the clunky mass produced ones available all over favoured by almost everyone. Veja shoes are streamlined and subtle and oh, they look great with seersuckers, khakis and even denim trousers.

And hold on, they have also launched “project numero deux” , its first line of ethical bags. I’m drooling now!

OFF TO SHIBUYA? I WANT A COTTON TOTE!

I'm in love with super-light natural cotton totes. The ones from Dean and Deluca are simple yet so chic - perfect for grocery shopping, the weekend village market, out of town, the beach or a trip down south.

I should really get one for myself!

BAG HIM! OOPATHAM RATANASUPA

There is something less masculine about a man carrying a bag – NOT TRUE!

I bring my laptop, mobile phone, wallet, house and office keys, my digital camera, my lined and plain moleskine for some random doodling and notes everyday and just where am I supposed to equip all these? There’s only so much capacity my skinny Viktors can offer.



Never underestimate the value of a good tote! Two months ago, I met Oopatham Ratanasupa, a Thai national who is currently based in Paris taking his masters in Urban Design at the Ecole Nationale Supérieure d' Architecture Paris La Villette carrying a nice black canvas tote with really nice leather straps. the bag was perfect for just about anything and can be used beyond the 9-5. Basically the type that you could just throw your stuff in and you’re good to go.



(It also never hurts when they’ve got just as much style to match. Oopatham and his bag collection - envy!)

Oopatham (Ome)also founded BKKER, an independent retail shop in Bangkok and is a professor at Silpakorn University in Thailand.

BASIC MATTER 12: L.L. BEAN BOAT BAG

I’ve had my L.L. Bean boat bag for six years now. Nothing fancy though but it does the trick of carrying a lot from notebooks to paint brushes, paint canvas, a mini easel, my moleskines and magazines maximizing a lot into one bag and can be suspended over my shoulder rather than having plastic cutting into my fingers.



Despite getting a lot of strange looks from the public, they’re also excellent for those Salcedo/ Legaspi Village weekend market shopping excursions too.


Superior Labor Paint Tote Bag and Port Canvas Clipper Bag from Utility Coop

Aside from L.L. Bean, I’ve also discovered pages and pages of work wear and totes at the Japanese shop Utility Coop. When in the U.S., you can also find great totes at Estex, Filson, Billykirk and Klein Tools.

BEABI BLACK NYLON BAG

Earlier, I dropped by Greenbelt and bought this simple nylon black bag out of impulse.

It comes with an easy storage bag which I converted into a pencil case

and you can fold it too.

Its form is simple and focuses on functionality over embellishment – definitely utilitarian! I have always been a fan of 'brandless’ quality goods and this will be my companion to go through lazy weekends at the village market and fabric sourcing at the mall.

BAG IT AND SOME CHANGE

My lack of posting is due to my lack of full brain function thanks to all the reports ,pitches and client mood boards that I have been busy working on the past four weeks. I swear, I can hardly combine sentences anymore. I hope this doesn't make me loony. I haven’t even had the chance to shop, like really shop shop and hoping I will be able to think in a straight line soon, paint, enjoy a glass of wine or even a glass of cold beer and all that crazy grown-up stuff.

Instead of telling you about today's adventure, here’s are two bags on my wish list this month…ok, next month haha. Photos from hyrcollective

bag from Tannis Hegan for THE and

W.M.J Mills and Co Ice Bag
----
Some trala las,I decided to go with a modern one-button black suit instead of the classic three giving the illusion of height which I need haha. Tweaking one thing is an easy way for us guys to modernize an outfit – try it!

Wedding in three weeks – must get myself a nice top and purple socks quick!

Yesterday, right after lunch at plant, my friend Gayette dragged me to go thrift shopping in Cubao and ended up buying this nice plaid suit like top for only Php 50.00 ( around $USD 0.50) – now, what to pair it with?

FAB GRAB - VINTAGE FIND

This timeless vintage bag that I thought looked a little speedy-esque caught my eyes last night at a vintage shop in Makati. Canvas and lightweight with great interior pockets, the inside is lined with military fabric and the size is just perfect for carrying my Moleskine, pens, coins, keys, mobile phone, my isus camera, etc.

I love how it expands as I fill it with all my stuff and it looks really great with either a pair of jeans or my trusty Bermudas, crisp oxford top and loafers.

BUDDHAS DAILY STATS AS OF NOVEMBER 2008

Number of loafers and lace-ups I happily destroyed due to too much walking since 2006: 7(OK, I'm rewarding myself tomorrow with a new pair of Suede lace-ups)

Number of days that I have not gotten a shower: Zero! I'm pretty proud of this accomplishment. Although, it's sad that maintaining basic hygiene is now the way that I define "accomplishment."
Number of bags I now use: 4. I keep rotating between my Jack Spade canvas, that brown bag from Powerplant I got 2 years ago, a new tan bag Pupie got in the US last week and my favorite Margiela canvas man tote I got on E-bay (truly awesome!!!!).

Record Number of Royce chocolate squares in one day: 2 boxes.

Record Number of Tissue rolls used in one morning: 3, I seem to be wandering around at work, sick, drenched in my own myriad of fluids and I still have a presscon tomorrow!

WHAT'S UNDER YOUR BED? Definitely not the green boogie monster

Here I sit, slumped in bed. It's Noon and I haven’t done anything productive--5 hours since Mr. Sunshine forced me to wake up – stupid blinds! I just want to think. And, do the right thing. I hope I'm doing the right thing. I should really start fixing my pad – what’s under your bed?

Under my bed: ( Details, Flaunt, Wallpaper, GQ, Esquire, Cargo, Garage, Imagine, Preview, I.D., a box of Biofit tea, my bag, an electric sewing machine)

EARLY CHRISTMAS SANTA LIST

I have not had a moment to myself. I see photos of bags throughout the day. I babble them to myself internally a few lines at a time, and they disappear into the closet, under my humble bed and inside my shoebox. I think many of them will hide from me forever, but I'm hopeful a few will make it into my list.

Here are five bags on my Christmas Santa list:

Mulberry Small Clipper duffel bag, $1395

Billy Kirk No. 166 Overnight Travel bag, $320

J.Crew Artisan's duffel bag, $495

Lambertson Truex Hughes duffel bag, $615

and a Sandstorm Canvas and cowhide weekender, $350

I miss the mall the most, as when I do have a few minutes to hastily window shop, I feel obligated to reward myself with something. I can already foresee the danger of burning the candle at both ends, as I'm also not getting much sleep since my knee injury. I'm not sure where I'm getting energy through the day---sheer determination and adrenaline, I suppose, as I know there is no other option but to keep constantly moving.

Paul Smith Swirled Isobel Handbag sighting!

Paul Smith Swirled Isobel Handbag sighting! A handbag of this size with a pattern like this walks a fine line between cute and kitschy, so it all depends on the owner’s outfit. It’s a bit psychedelic for most people, but that’s just part of its charm.

Bag Owner : Margaret Tipton
( proprietor, Tips and Toes Nail salon)
Photographed by: Ram Bucoy at Illustrado Café, Intramuros, Old Manila

WHAT'S IN MY BAG

Bag: Fred Perry Canvas everyday bag. This simple canvas bag is large enough to hold my notebooks, magazines, camera and even an extra shirt when necessary.

1. Kiehl’s lip balm #1: has SPF 4, tastes icky but it works
2. Burt’s bees beeswax lip balm : tastes yummy and it works too
3. Moleskin plain notebook: large enough for note taking at meetings and for polaroids. This is where I keep my lists of everything and notes of last Sunday’s service. Also great for quick sketches when bored.
4. Planner from my best friend Cheska: A pleasure to use every day

5. 1976 Rayban aviators from Dad: I like simple, well-made things, both of these have held up through endless travels
6. Fino orange leather card case: It is not huge, but is big enough to hold business cards, and all other necessities.
7. After coffee mints: you don’t really want to smell bad!
8. Orange and Green fluorescent markers: glow when you cant find them
9. Office ID
10. Silver Canon digital IXUS I zoom : I click when I see something nice ( and I mean it!) haha
11. My old Nokia N70

I IMAGINE green BAGS and NOSEBLEED

I get lots and lots of nosebleeds every time I see something FUN. When I was a kid, sometimes I would get a nosebleed while I was sleeping and only realize something awful had happened when I would wake up and find my hair glued to the pillow. As an adult, I've actually had to cover my nose with a cotton ball because I was experiencing endless nosebleed. Many people mark the first falling leaves as the indicator of autumn, but not I. It's my first nosebleed that always marks the turn of the seasons for me. So, get ready, folks---dry air and long-sleeves are imminent, so sayeth my sinuses.
(Ram after spoting someone carying a nice bag , where can I get one?)