A Seeker's Spin: Michelle

by Anne Bella April 26, 2017

She lends her signature layering skills to the Scarlett one shoulder top and goes the edgy boardroom route, appropriate for work in the creative field.

"What's your vice?", I ask Michelle Lao when she said she didn't drink, after Mikka offered her some chardonnay. At the STU HQ, Happy Hour is a regular event as much as a state of mind, no matter the time of day. She didn't skip a beat and said, "shopping!" It was no surprise; everyday wear for Michelle is always a major effort, albeit pulling it off so effortlessly. It's her innate personal style that trumps over the fashion therefore she wears the clothes and not the other way around. As a consultant for the high end imported brands at Suyen Corp. and co-owner of shoe accessory Fringy, it's a natural progression and both are jobs she takes seriously and tackles with gusto, in the most interesting ensembles you'll only see during fashion week abroad.

We were naturally curious on how she'd style STU's latest goods, putting her own spin on the classic and boho pieces, truly making it her own. There was an informal panel at the shoot and every outfit change was met with a "where would you wear that?" Amused, Michelle gets in on the joke and would say "to the grocery!" or "at the office!"

Any which way, it works splendidly for us.

Michelle is quite the accessory hoarder especially brooches, earrings and bangles.

This very summery and vibrant floral wrap skirt is tempered with a nautical-themed jacket and sporty mesh bandeau, giving it a preppy/athleisure twist. She keeps the look polished with wrap around pumps and an unusual leather clutch.

The Sidi embroidered mini dress is worn as a top, layered over classic stripes and matched with neutral drop crotch pants to anchor the busy upper half.

When doing print on print, it's imperative to keep it in the same color family so it remains cohesive.

Another floral wrap skirt, this time in cool shades of white and blue is kept casual with a cheeky t-shirt and embellished sandals.

Mixing dressy earrings with a tee is super fresh!

The Asuna platform abaca espadrilles from Wataru gets the ladylike treatment, worn with two kinds of gingham in different sizes. The red, white and blue palette makes for a perfect combo with the black platforms.

The Vana sweetheart neckline off shoulder top may be top of mind for more dressy occasions but it works wonderfully for casual days, too. Layered with a simple cotton tank, it's fit for a weekend fiesta out of town, especially this summer.