Miss Merie on Instagram: February

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As mentioned, it was just like a passable month of February for Miss Merie. I had to decline prom clients (sayang =( I know) and some other clients, too, as the dressmakers are in full swing making two set of entourage dresses. Three of the above photos are clients, including moi, wearing Miss Merie pieces way back from our summer 2014 collection. The mother-and-daughter printed terno dresses are orders in January which just got handed last month. March started quite really good for this passion project of mine. The coming days look promising. =)

Miss Merie on Instagram @missmerie_online and @mSheng12 for the more personal stuff.

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Miss Merie on Instagram: January

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This year, I wish to talk and blog more about my designer side aka Miss Merie side. In all honesty, I am still not confident enough to claim the job title "fashion designer". It actually gives me the creeps just thinking of calling myself such, as I feel so unworthy -- because I know I am so trivial in that world; I feel so tiny and I certainly believe that I have a very very long way to go. But the good thing is I have taken some steps farther into reaching that destination. So sige na nga pwede na siguro fashion designer. Pero 'wag masyadong malakas ah haha! 

A year into venturing into this dream of mine, I have been granted a lot of opportunities and I even had my FIRST EVER MISS MERIE bride just December of last year! With full entourage as well!! EEEP!! Just thinking about it still gives me that giddy feeling! Also, I was able to design a number of long dresses, release a humble summer collection, release a holiday collection through a collaboration and build/open my own fashion studio-slash-office or simply my headquarters (claiming big things will arise from this).

So anyway, the above photos are the designs/products and proud clients I had last month. The group of four photos above are some of the custom pieces for clients. Yes, since I am still on the early stage of my fashion career, I try to be open on different pieces from simple tops to long dresses, as long as I can design them!

From top to bottom: Chat Tacazon wearing two pieces from our Concrete Et Garden collection for a wedding; Dr. Iza Ramirez wearing a maid-of-honor dress for her sister's wedding; Tita Jean Bustos wearing a principal sponsor dress. That apple green accented gown is actually a favorite. I really like how it turned out.

The very bottom photo is a design sketch for a client. I can't wait to see this come to life!

I keep my Instagram account updated of my Miss Merie endeavor so follow me maybe?? Haha! My personal account is @mSheng12 and specifically @missmerie_online for more fashion-related posts from everywhere. 

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My First Ever Unofficial Fashion Show

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Our department's theme was Fashion Runway for the annual Christmas party held last December 14 at the Bellevue Hotel Manila Grand Ballroom. With this theme, I got the chance to work on our team's runway show which we themed "Pink Friday" - an incorporation of neon glow and pink. This theme is really nothing of my forte, which was supposed to be somehow eccentric, but I am very blessed and grateful to have this chance to showcase a few designs of mine on the runway.  And though it is not official, it was still a great and fulfilling feeling! So for this unofficial first ever fashion show, thank you FPRA and MCFA! What an experience and thanks a lot for my teammates most especially these models for their trust and cooperation.

Not really my designs for the guys but styled them with the help of Madz.

The designs for the ladies. Some were a mix and match of what these ladies already have in their closets. Two of these models are already mommies!

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Katya of The First Miss Merie Bridal Gown

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A month before the first ever Miss Merie bride walks the aisle and I feel somehow stressed and excited at the same time. I have been praying for this one and "that" moment will soon arrive. Eeeep! Anyway, the above photo is the katya/canvass form of the wedding gown itself and I can't wait to see the actual one. My bride is really a simple one hence her gown reflects a lot her personality, nothing grandeur, a simple pure white gown. Hayyyyy fast forward to the wedding day please?? Haha!

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Miss Merie x The Berries at the Heat Wave Bazaar 2014

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April 11-13, 2014 marked another first for me and for my still budding own clothing line, Miss Merie. It was actually a first time for Miss Merie to participate in a big and eventful bazaar. Held at the World Trade Center in Pasay City, an experience that for me was still worth it.

Cr: Mica Caparas for this photo

Truth be told, being a "one-man team" isn't easy. Joining this bazaar was actually a rush. From sourcing fabrics to designing to packaging and all to everything -- it was tiring but fulfilling. Not to mention pocket-burning. Nonetheless, it was all charged to a great experience.

I shared the booth with The Berries. I met the whole bunch because of Micah, Luke's friend. And the rest is history.

The Berries pretty floral pieces

This is my side of the booth. I started with really few pieces.

The top that got sold out first. I don't even have my own. It's a favorite.

Favorite blazer.

This floral print is also a bestseller.

My packaging for the bazaar. I do hope that I can own this paper bag. I really like it.

Talking to RV, my greatest encourager and motivator!!

With my bestfriends who never fail in showing support!!!

Because it's my first time, my closest friends dropped by and showed support. Super thankful that I'm blessed with people like my friends. I got to take a photo only with Orig4.

This bazaar will not bthe only bazaar I will participate in. I'm definitely looking forward to the next. I've gathered lessons to make it better next time around. It was such an enriching and learning experience and I thank everyone most especially the One up there who made it possible.

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Some April Sketches

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The last two photos belong to my first concept of collection which was inspired by the movie Grey Gardens.

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WIW: Minty

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Booya!! Say hi to my face and and ootd post again! It's been ~a while~. But I'm proud to present this post because I'm wearing something from my first uhmm "official" summer collection. I feel like I failed in so many ways in this collection but I'd still call it a collection because I'm just eager to call it a collection. Anyway, it's "official" because I branched out to the cold market unlike what I usually do touching just the hot market.

Going back to what this post is all about, I'm wearing a personal favorite minty top from my said collection. (Count all the "collection" word in this post and that would be a collection of collection's and I'm so random at 4 in the morning). Isn't it obvious with my face that I'm pretty happy with what I'm wearing? As soon as I got hold of this top straight from the last stitch out of the sewing machine (well not really) tadaaaa I wore it to work! It's a comfy top and the color is just so "cool" perfect for summer!

And since I already mentioned about this there is one last last stock of this in size small. You might want to drop by Miss Merie's Facebook page and have a look at my summer collection. I'm friendly don't be afraid to purchase! My promo is up and running as well (see below photo). Hurry! Purchase now and post an ootd just like the photos above. I would love to see you wear Miss Merie. 

Purchase and join now! Few days left!!!

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March Sketches

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I just thought of putting some of my sketches online too. :) 

These are some of the sketches for Miss Merie's 2014 summer collection. It's a tad late actually, they're still in production but I am hopeful that they'll all be available for selling really soon. :)

Still part of a collection

Tried watercoloring on free hand sketch

Learning more of watercoloring

Design for a client.

Didn't bring my drawing weapons with me so made use of a pen and a Corona notebook to sketch while waiting for the boyfie

Light and Dark. Clean and sorta messy. Happy and gloomy. Part of the sketches we did at school.

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Merie Designs: Emerald

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It’s my first design project for this year – a prom gown for my friend’s sister’s prom. I was so excited for this mainly because I want to veer out the usual satin, shantung, organsa notion of prom gown I got used to when I was the one attending the prom. Added to this is the fact that Angel entrusted me this task. I was hands-on on this and made frequent contacts to the client. I made sure that I’m not disregarding the client’s requests despite that I already have an idea what would look good on her.

It all started with a sketch and after sending her some design sketches she chose this long-sleeved semi-A-line gown. It clicked with what I wanted her to choose.

Color is emerald green, as it always has its elegant feel. I chose the fabric hull dull for the skirt body and bodice lining. Bodice is topped off with lace. I also decided to make the chiffon layer detachable to give the client the option to remove it if she would not like it on at some point. I didn't place much embellishments except on the waist band part.

I am happy with the outcome and I am super glad that Angel really liked it. I wanted it to remain simple and elegant in Emerald. :)



The freehand sketch that I'm glad Nanay, the dressmaker, understood perfectly :)



The raw gown -- still free of embellishments and without the detachable chiffon layer waiting to be fitted.

The mannequin's quite wider than Angel hence detachable layer can't be fastened. This shows the little embellishments I did on this gown.

The finish product with the chiffon layer on.

This is Angel sexy wearing a Miss Merie gown. :)

Cr: Angel for her photos wearing the Emerald gown

You may contact me if you have design requests by visiting http://facebook.com/MissMerieOnline or dropping an email at merie.clarete@gmail.com.

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Fashion School Journey: First Day High

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As I mentioned before I am writing a First Day High post! Yay!! The night before my first day as a Fashion Design student I was both excited and nervous. Come Saturday, March 8, Luke even accompanied me to FIP Makati (Fashion Institute of the Philippines) and I was all like "Halaaaaa eto naaaa!" Hahaha! We were only three in class that day which I think is a good thing. All through out the class I was in awe of how interested I am in everything our instructor is teaching us, it's all "oooooh's and aaaah's". I was absolutely loving it and already felt the worth of enrolling in fashion design! You know the feeling when you get bored in class because you're not interested in what the teacher/professor is teaching? I felt completely otherwise and I was already feeling excited for the next class. Ang saya! 

For the first day, we were introduced to the cycle of the fashion world, and nothing is as easy as buying a cheap top. I thought I knew enough of the fashion world but I was mistaken. It's far more complicated than most people think and it made my appreciation to fashion designers and creative directors taken into a deeper level. 

We were also asked to draw our first 51 sketches of the basics. It was tiring but a very interactive learning experience. "So yun pala tawag dun" moments all the while the instructor was teaching about the kinds of collars, necklines, variations, etc. Imagine all these just on the first day. How can I not look forward for the coming Saturdays??

Happy feeling!! On the first day of class, I can already say that I have no regrets enrolling. My long term dream is finally commencing. I have deep expectations on this course and on myself. I can't wait for the coming lessons, for more sketches, for a whole new level of studying, and learning what I've long wanted to learn. 

Maybe Micah, Mica and I (Merie three M's enrolled in a Fashion school, cool huh haha!) should have taken a photo of the three of us but anyway, during our lunch break we headed to Mom & Tina's to satisfy our tummy's lunch needs. Are you surprised that I ordered for myself a Carbonara?? Well I am surprised! Of course I kid.

Come evening we again met each other, now together with Mica's boyfriend and Luke, and had dinner at Nihonbashi Tei somewhere along Pasay Road. We have no photos, sayang!! And I wasn't able to take pictures of our yummy orders. Head on to Mica's blog post on our yummy Nihonbashi Tei dinner. We were all satisfied with what we ate.

I was fulfilled of how this day turned out. Thank You Lord for slowly allowing me to fulfill my dreams. :)

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