If living abroad teaches you anything, it’s that season-appropriate clothing spells the difference between being stylishly garbed in a thermal coat and frostbitten in an imprudently skimpy ensemble on a winter’s day.
All of the women here found their groove dressing for the weather and the less-than-temperate transitional seasons while living abroad, whether it’s young entrepreneurs Kristel Cue and Celine Tang, who spent their post-college years tromping the streets of New York while working and interning for the likes of Rag and Bone and Donna Karan, or successful women like designing duo TC Alvarez-Sibal and Ana Alvarez-Laygo who found themselves in New York and Turkey, respectively, during their 20s, or established retailer Xandra Ramos-Padilla, who layered clothing like a pro for harsh winters while finishing her MBA at Northwestern.
But for locals who’ve never seen a snowflake — much less found a use for thermal coats except as a sleeping bag — the question is not what to wear, but how to wear the best of the fall trends.
YStyle tasked these five stylish women with translating the best of the seasonal trends for fall (while maintaining a few spring-inspired separates) in ensembles that won’t make you look as out of place as an eskimo in Rio — or a lady in an all-leather look in the middle of sweltering Manila.
Transitional trend: Graphic black and white
Xandra Ramos-Padilla, Purchasing director, National Book Store/ GM, The Ramp Crossings
Do you have a go-to uniform for work?
Right now, I’ve been wearing jackets to work, matching with a print dress or bottom. Jackets make you look professional and polished.
What looks from the spring trends did you find yourself wearing most often?
In my closet, it is always spring, or I always try to choose prints and colors that can transcend seasons. I have a lot of dark florals and digital prints.
How are you transitioning to fall trends?
I’m wearing a lot of black and white as a palette cleanser, but I’m buying some fall prints as well, like the chevron stripes of The Ramp Crossings.
Having lived abroad for a period, and having experienced the four seasons, what key pieces for fall would you covet?
I’d like to buy a printed coat.
With Manila’s steamy weather still on a steady incline on the humidity index, what transitional fall items do you wear here?
A Chanel little gold jacket.
Transitional trend: The boldpant
TC Alvarez-Sibal, Designer, Two Chic/ design consultant, Natori
Do you have a go-to uniform for work?
I sort of do. I have these embellished shift dresses I put on when I don’t want to think too hard. Or I’ll do an all-white ensemble. It’s easy but has impact and you don’t look lazy even if you are!
What looks from the spring trends did you find yourself wearing most often?
Love the peplum look. Been wearing it a lot. A lot of lace. And cutout embellishments on cotton. And a lot of all-white looks.
How are you transitioning to fall trends?
I love the printed pants. The bold pants, the embellished pants. So I’ve been incorporating that into my looks. I also love the unusual mix of prints like stripes and animal or graphic geometric prints with floral. And I especially love that the whole white trend is continuing in fall.
Having lived abroad for a period, and having experienced the four seasons, what key pieces for fall would you covet?
Little fur items and leather.
With Manila’s steamy weather still on a steady incline on the humidity index, what transitional fall items do you wear here?
A little leather detail is bearable in this weather. Booties are okay. The bold pant is definitely doable. The bold mixing of prints. Light oversized knits. Sharp pointy pumps.
Ana Alvarez-Laygo
Co-founder, Two Chic
Do you have a go-to uniform for work?
Yes, I usually choose a dress so it’s a no-brainer for me.
What looks from the spring trends did you find yourself wearing most often?
Lace and cutouts but mostly lace. I love lace!
How are you transitioning to fall trends?
Adding pieces with heavier beading and more embellishments of all kinds.
Having lived abroad for a period, and having experienced the four seasons, what key pieces for fall would you covet?
A leather motorcycle jacket.
With Manila’s steamy weather still on a steady incline on the humidity index, what transitional fall items do you wear here?
Just the boots.
Transitional trend: All white with texture
Kristel Cue
Co-Founder of Alex and Ani Philippines
Do you have a go-to uniform for work?
I wear a lot of shift dresses because I’m usually too lazy to think about what to wear in the morning and would rather get more sleep. Otherwise you can usually find me in structured jackets, relaxed tops and tailored skirts. I like classic pieces with a twist.
What looks from the spring trends did you find yourself wearing most often?
I wear a lot of black, so I really tried to insert vibrant color (and prints!) into my wardrobe for spring/summer.
How are you transitioning to fall trends?
Thankfully, the big colors for fall are navy, white and gray — and that’s probably half my clothes. But I love the soft, creamy winter-white looks at Celine and Isabel Marant, as well as the structured tux-inspired pieces sent down the runway by Victoria Beckham and Alexander Wang. So I’ll probably be mixing a lot of masculine and feminine pieces.
Having lived abroad for a period, and experienced the four seasons, what key pieces for fall would you covet?
I miss being able to justify buying outerwear to myself. Definitely a luxe, textured coat in charcoal or heather-gray.
With Manila’s steamy weather still on a steady incline on the humidity index, what transitional fall items do you wear here?
Lightweight layering is key since it’s so hot in Manila. Tailored blazers and cropped jackets are usually easy to throw over draped shirts or a printed sheath. Buying an understated wear-with-anything jacket for fall would be a good investment.
Celine Tang
Co-Founder, Alex and Ani Philippines
Do you have a go-to uniform for work?
For a formal meeting, I usually wear a fitted black dress with a cardigan. Sometimes it’s a shift dress and heels. On other days, a sweater, jersey skirt and flats. Recently I’ve been pairing sweaters with A-line skirts and heels — they’re flattering and easy to wear.
What looks from the spring trends did you find yourself wearing most often?
A lot of black and white pieces and A-line skirts. I like pieces that are easy to pair because given my crazy work schedule, I usually have to go from work to dinner and drinks without enough time to change. These pieces transition seamlessly from day to night.
For weekends my perennial outfit is distressed Levi’s cutoffs paired with a short-sleeved polo, and flats to balance the look. Perhaps the trend I used (and abused) was the arm party trend. I’d wear all my Alex and Ani bangles together with my thin leather bracelets and I basically just piled it all on.
How are you transitioning to fall trends?
I’ve been wearing more knit sweaters lately with skirts because the weather can get chilly when it rains. They seem to work quite well with A-line skirts. I’ve traded in my summer sandals for pointy-toe flats with dainty straps. For accessories, I’ve added chunkier necklaces and bangles (the Vintage 66 line of Alex and Ani has chunkier pieces perfect for fall).
Having lived abroad for a period, and having experienced the four seasons, what key pieces for fall would you covet?
I miss layering pieces like sweaters and cardigans and wearing chunky-knit scarves. I’d love to wear thick coats and outerwear again with textured turtlenecks and super skinny leather pants.
With Manila’s steamy weather still on a steady incline on the humidity index, what transitional fall items do you wear here?
Light sweaters and textured skirts. Anything thicker will probably be too much for Manila weather!
Transitional trend: The chunky yet lightweight knit
Celine Tang
Co-Founder, Alex and Ani Philippines
Do you have a go-to uniform for work?
For a formal meeting, I usually wear a fitted black dress with a cardigan. Sometimes it’s a shift dress and heels. On other days, a sweater, jersey skirt and flats. Recently I’ve been pairing sweaters with A-line skirts and heels — they’re flattering and easy to wear.
What looks from the spring trends did you find yourself wearing most often?
A lot of black and white pieces and A-line skirts. I like pieces that are easy to pair because given my crazy work schedule, I usually have to go from work to dinner and drinks without enough time to change. These pieces transition seamlessly from day to night.
For weekends my perennial outfit is distressed Levi’s cutoffs paired with a short-sleeved polo, and flats to balance the look. Perhaps the trend I used (and abused) was the arm party trend. I’d wear all my Alex and Ani bangles together with my thin leather bracelets and I basically just piled it all on.
How are you transitioning to fall trends?
I’ve been wearing more knit sweaters lately with skirts because the weather can get chilly when it rains. They seem to work quite well with A-line skirts. I’ve traded in my summer sandals for pointy-toe flats with dainty straps. For accessories, I’ve added chunkier necklaces and bangles (the Vintage 66 line of Alex and Ani has chunkier pieces perfect for fall).
Having lived abroad for a period, and having experienced the four seasons, what key pieces for fall would you covet?
I miss layering pieces like sweaters and cardigans and wearing chunky-knit scarves. I’d love to wear thick coats and outerwear again with textured turtlenecks and super skinny leather pants.
With Manila’s steamy weather still on a steady incline on the humidity index, what transitional fall items do you wear here?
Light sweaters and textured skirts. Anything thicker will probably be too much for Manila weather!
Photos by ROY MACAM
Makeup by Yciar Castillo and Emman Conception for MAC Cosmetics
Hair by ALEE BENSON