About
The Reluctant Stylista is a fashion and lifestyle blog written by Alex Lapa--a once tomboyish girl who suddenly discovered the joys and perks of dressing up. Original illustrations by Paolo Lazatin.
For questions, comments, invites and other messages, please leave them here.
If you're looking for my styling work, you can browse blog entries tagged "work" and other related keywords. Drop me a line and let's see if our schedules will allow us to collaborate! It may take me some time to reply, though, as usually there's a lot of other things I juggle and I need to be doubly sure about my availability and resources before I commit.
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We won!
The Reluctant Stylista is proud to be a finalist and winner for two categories at The Philippine Blog Awards 2010: Best Beauty and Fashion Blog and Best Blog Design. Thank you to all who rooted for us!
Twitter Updates
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Running on 2 hours of sleep over 48 hours x_X
posted 15 hours ago. -
Red bull and Toblerone. Sleep is for the weak!
posted 2 days ago. -
Room with a view part 2 http://t.co/6iwLQgPL
posted 2 days ago. -
Fishtail braid by @brent_sales http://t.co/ylVrdvzi
posted 2 days ago. -
Walang magawa sa dressing rm so instagram nalang. #xfactorph I look like a totoy. Carmi looks girlier than I http://t.co/3ABRDJM6
posted 2 days ago.
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Networks and Affiliates
I had my next post half-written before I left for Davao last Saturday, but I was bogged down with so much last minute work that I could only scribble in my Palm between tapings (more on that in future posts). Sadly, this also meant that I was going to miss the Philippine Blog Awards 2010, in which I was a first time nominee and finalist for Best Fashion and Beauty Blog and Best Blog Design.
But I couldn’t have asked for a better homecoming when news reached me that The Reluctant Stylista won in both categories last December 12! I couldn’t believe my luck–one is already incredible, but two?! You might think I’m making too much of this, but 2010 has been a rough year on me and I dearly wanted that pat in the back for something that I truly love and worked hard for.
The not-me photo from Azrael
My sister Bea was there as representative of The Reluctant Stylista and as finalist for The Otaku Fridge. You can read more about the actual event on her blog. I hastily reminded her before leaving for my long-awaited vacation to wear something chic in case I won. My sister is pretty much a jeans and tee kind of girl, so she scrunched up her face at that. If only I knew for sure that I would win, I would’ve taken time to pick out her outfit, and to hell with sleep deprivation! I kept nagging her through text what it was that she said for her speech, but I’ll tell you now that for someone insanely talkative, it’s hard to drag clear details out of her. I only know that she credited my boyfriend Paolo, who drew the different illustrations for my masthead, and that she was kilig over one ambush interview when she was told “Congratulations to your ate for winning!” Ate being Tagalog for older sister–and no, my sister is actually seven years older than I am, but she looks pretty darn young especially since she’s forever in sneakers.
So, had I been there, this is pretty much what I would have said, only a lot shorter:
It’s funny how I’m winning something like this. Six years ago, nobody would have associated the word fashion with me. I can’t help but wonder what people who knew me back then would say now. I was always one of the boys–getting broke over Counterstrike and Ragnarok, naively dreaming of working for Squaresoft, indulging in sports and eating two breakfasts like a hobbit everyday.
Now…
Okay, not much has changed. Except maybe this time, I’m probably the best-dressed gamer in our circle (and the only one who cares). Amusingly, the awards I got represent that fashionable geek persona.
Whatever The Reluctant Stylista is today, it was only possible through the help of many other people.
There’s my friend Alvin who was the first to push me to finally get the site up. This blog is operating on WordPress now, but until last month, it was running on his own content management system. Every function was made from scratch! It was all ready before I even had a design for it–which was the push I needed to get this blog started. So if it hadn’t been for him, I probably would’ve procrastinated for about 6 months more. He was the voice of encouragement during the formative months of RS.
My boyfriend Paolo worked on this WordPress version that you see now. He tried to replicate the functions from the old site and made it even better. He also drafted design version 2.0 and drew the beautiful illustrations on the header of this blog, which changes randomly. All this despite the fact that nothing about fashion interests him. I still ask him for help when I need to change something more complex, and he never complains. I am extremely lucky to be surrounded by very knowledgeable and giving people.
Thanks:
To my early readership (the boys aside), which consisted mostly of my sister, my friend Aliza, and at times, even my mom. Of course they were my number one fans (and during those first days, the only ones)! I’m eternally grateful to them for keeping my comments space going in the beginning. I didn’t feel much like a loser, talking to myself.
To Rowena of Animetric’s World, who was my guide of sorts when I started blogging for a local audience. I’ve known her since I was 13, back in 1997 when I was still making websites in Notepad and Adobe Photoshop 4.0. We were in the same fandom back then, along with my cousins and sister, and it’s funny how we’re sort of coming together again these days. Thanks to her, I got my first taste of blogging events and introduction to other friendly bloggers.
To the local fashion blogging community who are proving to be the most fun and fabulous bunch this side of the blogosphere; to SoFA and DFW friends; people I’ve collaborated with; people who have been following this blog and have been cheering for RS at the Blog Awards, thank you!
My favorite shout out in FB so far. Haha!
Congratulations also to the rest of the winners and finalists! I must admit I was already pretty happy being a finalist myself, and was very intimidated with the other blogs listed in my category (one in particular made me laugh out loud and backread her entries). Do check them out when you get the chance!
Irrational Fits of Beauty
Paddylast Inc
Shoppingera
Askmewhats
ME BUDDHA BANANA
Sosyalera.net
You can see the complete list of winners at The Philippine Blog Awards website or you can read the news at Inquirer.net: Top Philippine bloggers named.
Photo from Skysenshi.com. Aww, I wish I’d been there!
Aww. I am really proud of you. At sobrang happy for you! Naiyak pa nga ako nung nalaman ko. Haha. Can’t wait for next year. This blog is gonna be even bigger!
And yeah, number one fan mo ko! 
Well next year, I don’t want to compete anymore unless it’s for some other blog (which is unlikely). I’d like other blogs to be given that chance naman, especially those who are equally deserving but haven’t been acknowledged yet. My only regret is that the first and only time I’ve won, I didn’t get up on that stage. But I guess I can make my own ceremony here at home.
)
Congratulations again! I was certain you would win.
Aww, thanks Ro!
Grabe, Ro! This post reminded me of how long we have known each other. Hahaha! Nakalkal ko pa yung photos namin nung wedding mo in 1999! Kaloka!
waw! congrats! mukhang may manlilibre!
Thanks
Yes, I know, the coveted bulalo tour is at hand. Haha!
Paulit ulit, paulit ulit, paulit ulit? Ha ha ha, I don’t care, you really make us proud!!! ‘Day, humanda ka, mukhang bubulabugin ka na sa mga styling gigs n’yan!!! Super inggit ako!!!
See you tomorrow!!! A bit excited na ako, he he he. Plus, I was able to pull out a couple more kikay clothes, magtatahi na lang ako bukas (mag-tatahi? Mali ata, magpi-pin is more like it.
Thanks Nio! Oh goodie! Haha, that makes me less praning, I was doing last minute shopping yesterday. Also, I really hope you get that internship..I’m crossing my fingers for you!
I actually told them that I was waiting for your speech via text messaging. I was only able to text you right after my category has been announced because everything went by so fast. Nataranta ako, actually, when your name was called. Tapos magkasunod agad yun.
Congratulations! Philippine Web Awards naman next year
OH yeah, I was kinda hesitant pa to climb up on stage and Cris had to nudge me repeatedly before I did. I was really nervous eh.
AHA! So you had no faith in me! Tsk tsk, didn’t even prepare a speech. Haha!
Gags. Of course I had faith in you. While I was not sure you would win the Fashion category — because of Askmewhats and Sosyalera — I was pretty sure you’d bag the design award. LOL. Halos ipagsayaw pa kita sa arawan. (Charot!) Lam mo naman how I feel about the design category.
Ayaw ko lang umakyat kasi kinakabhan ako. Hahahahahaha!
When you came before freshman orientation sa La Salle wearing that very loose Polo shirt (that is actually mine, which I still use by the way) and if someone had told me you would write a fashion blog someday then I would probably punch the guy kasi it would be too freaky to even be funny.
Kung nandito ako dapat ako na pinag receive mo ng award… I would have brought power point slides of our family photos with me. hahahahaha
Seriously (as much as I can manage), congratulations!
You will forever remind me of those polo-wearing days, anubah! HAHA!
Spoken like a true, loving brother. LOL!
“Kung nandito ako dapat ako na pinag receive mo ng award…”
Hallo, brother dear, mukha ka bang Reluctant Stylista? Reluctant siguro, oo. Bwahahahahahahahaha!
Don’t care if nobody among the office people have any idea of what blogging is – but they all know RS won (my daughter I mean) in the 2010 Phil. Blog awards. They know though about your ‘career change’ – that one is ‘extra-ordinary’, considering it’s only been a year. Proud me…. hehe
Congratulations!
Thanks Ria!
Congrats ulit! I viewed the photos from your ate’s blog and OMG totoong parang ikaw yung ate mo dun sa isang photo na malayo yung shot! Ha ha.
Congrats Alex. It’s a well-deserved award.
Congratulations Alex! I’m so proud of you! Ikaw na ang big time haha! Can you please sign an autograph on my shirt? Hehe!
Hahaha sira ano ka ba! Ikaw lang ata tinutukoy ko dun sa SoFA friends eh LOL Shoot naman tayo ulit!
Hahahaha! Onga noh, ano nangyari sa mga classmates? Yeah, shoot tayo uli, cheap naman imbitahin. Hehehe! May bagong professional photog group akong nameet
what i meant was, cheap naman AKONG imbitahin. isang text lang, handa na agad hahaha!
Congratulations!!!! Things may start small but yes, everything you did here is all built from scratch and with passion. You deserve it! Props to Paolo too! His illustrations were great!
WAAAAAAAAH! ANG GALING GALING!!
So proud of you woman!
Well deserved dearie! Mwah!
Thanks Faye
Congratulations gUrl! It was a well-deserved win
WeRk!
Thank you!
Wow! You played Ragnarok? Are you still active? Recently, fellow bloggers like Jehzlau-Concepts, Batang Yagit and I returned and made a guild. Join us if you have some time, New Chaos, that’s the newest server. I hope you can take a visit again!
I used to, but I don’t anymore…I’m more into Steam games nowadays. I was pretty much addicted to Left 4 Dead and still play with some friends when I have free time.