Angela Alarcon developed her passion for fashion during her teens.
“I remember I had this game which I called ‘Hanger Accidental,’” says this freelance fashion stylist who has been in the industry for nine years. “I would wear two random pieces hung beside each other, and I had to challenge myself to rock the outfit.”
Alarcon so loved design and clothes that she would sit for hours in a bookstore devouring countless magazines, and even used her father’s credit card to get online fashion subscriptions.
She got her first break as an intern working for Trish Chua-Juico, then Metro Magazine’s fashion editor. She credits Chua-Juico for all the things she’s learned about styling and publishing.
These days, Alarcon divides her time between local and international fashion styling projects as part of the At East Jed Root family (https://www.at-eastjedroot.com). She also attends to the fashion needs of her clients.
Her approach to fashion? “I never make it look too polished. There’s always an element of mess in it, a little rough around the edges, unkempt and disheveled in a very subtle way but
which still comes out as elegant.
“When you reach a certain age, you kind of find out who you are and the fashion just kind of settles with it,” she reflects. Now, she says, she cares less about looking good for others and more about dressing for herself and what she feels comfortable wearing.
“There’s this weird expectation that stylists wear heels all the time. I used to, yeah, but now I’m like f*** it. Flats are the bomb!”
What is style for you?
A little laid-back, a little rock ‘n’ roll, a little Céline, a little hobo-boho.
What is your style philosophy?
Always be comfortable. Never succumb to fashion peer pressure. All my fashion mistakes came from always trying to conform to a certain “norm,” and I always ended up regretting it.
Do you believe in reinventing yourself to stay relevant in the industry?
I do. You always have to keep it fresh, but never to a point where you are completely changing yourself just to fit in. It’s just like style—it evolves, and so should you! A new hairstyle, color or cut makes a difference. Change the way you dress by wearing your favorite pieces differently. Fashion is relative, it’s all about having fun and being comfortable with yourself, so don’t be afraid to spice things up.
Have you had any issues with your body? How did you embrace your body flaws?
I have no hips and big boobs. I hate big boobs on me because clothes just don’t seem to fall right if you’re busty. I exercised and ate right and lost a significant amount of weight. Now my narrow hips don’t seem so narrow anymore, and I’m no longer as top-heavy. Moral of the story, there’s always a way around it. If you’re insecure about something, change it, or find a way to hide or complement it.
Was there a time you thought to yourself, “What was I thinking wearing this?”
I had a lot of moments where I was wearing something that right now I’d say would be too much of a look. But then again, I was younger; now, at least I know myself better. Mostly, it was when I knew I wasn’t comfortable in those outfits but still wore them anyway. Like heels that were too painful, or a dress that was too tight and I was left conscious and uncomfortable and about to get hypoxia. That’s when I think, “Haha! Buti nga!”
Whose style inspires you?
I love Diana Vreeland’s carefree extravagance. I get a lot of my confidence from being inspired by her. I love Lena Perminova’s Normcore-meets-$10,000 fur coat style. I love Emmanuelle Alt’s Parisian cool. I love Phoebe Philo’s bad-ass persona. I love Stevie Nicks for her hippie-witch vibe, and of course, Kate Moss and Alexa Chung forever. They’re both just so crazy rock ‘n’ roll.
Do you have a signature style?
I’m a little boyish and I love oversized pieces and menswear-inspired looks, but I inject a little bit of boho in everything. I think my overall vibe is pretty bohemian, so it complements the slouchy pieces I wear.
Who are your go-to designers?
I love Celine, La Perla, Acne, Alexander Wang, Chloé and Isabel Marant. For high-street, I love Zara, Cos and & Other Stories. I have mad love for vintage, too.
What are your fave fashion shops?
AdelaMei.com, Asos.com, Netaporter, TheOutnet. I love Boom Sason pieces and Vania Romoff, too.
What was your last purchase?
I went to San Francisco, California, recently and raided the AdelaMei.com current selection. It’s so good for petite figures. The owner is a friend who is part-Filipino, and I was so happy to find such well-curated pieces from her online boutique.
What trends are you loving now?
I love the ugly-pretty flats like Birkenstocks and the Zara flat far-strap sandals. I’d wear it with socks or with a nice LBD. Like marrying street and uptown.
What is the fashion era you love the most? Share style rules to create the look.
I love the 1940s and the 1970s. The 1940s was all about the hair and red lips and button-down dresses, floral prints and brogues. For the 1970s look, buy a nice lace slip dress, a robe, wear boots with it and top it off with a hat.
What advice would you give women who feel they are stuck in a style rut?
Make the change slowly. Start adding one or two pieces and pair them with your usual suspects. If you’re very feminine and feel like you’re growing out of it, try pairing a graphic T-shirt with your favorite skirt and trade in your black pumps for something sexier, like a leopard-print pump or snakeskin heel.
Three fashion things you can’t live without?
Red lipstick, envelope clutch and gray knit sweatshirt
Oldest and dearest item in your closet?
I collect vintage. I have a vintage Valentino moss-green cable-knit sweatshirt with moss-green dyed feathers. I also have a turn-of-the-century military jacket in velvet. I think vintage items are special because they have a deeper story to tell.
Quirkiest fashion item?
My SF gray cap. It is so pang-boys, but I love wearing it just to throw my entire polished look off, and my friends always ask me why I’m wearing it every time I do. It’s funny. But unexpected, which I love! And that cap is near and dear to my heart.
What is your most worn piece of clothing?
My Chanel espadrilles. God bless lamb leather. But, man, they’re about to fall apart!
Most versatile outfit in your closet?
I have a black Zara skirt that is slag length. I never leave the country without it. It saves me every time! I can wear it with sandals and a tank and be casual. I can wear it with a sweater and boots and be happy-hour ready. I can wear it with a super statement top and heels and be event-ready!
Photographs by BJ PASCUAL
Shoot produced by CARMENCITA S. SIOSON
Makeup by SARI CAMPOS
Hairstyle by GHERA FADOL
