FOREVER 21.

I turned 21 this past sunday! What a landmark in my life, and an exciting one at that. I got some great photos in to remember the occasion. Also, just added, make sure to click the 'LIKE' button for my site at the bottom of this page for contests and giveaways!

For some reason, I really get along with balloons. Every time there are a group of balloons around and we have a shoot, I have some great shots that end up becoming my favourite. This particular shoot has been my absolute favourite so far.

A friend of mine gave me this bow tie for my birthday last year. I wore it to look extra dapper on my big day. It is an actual bow tie, which every man should know how to tie. It is shocking to me how many men don't even know how to tie a regular tie, let alone a bow tie!

The colours and lighting here are fantastic! I wanted to capture the 'innocence' that many teenagers lose when they transition to becoming an adult. The vibrant colours, the early Americana style shirt and pants, the wayfarer eyeglasses and pompadour, it is all a vital part of who I am. Expressing who you are through your clothing is the art of style and fashion. Fashion operates as a function for all of your thoughts and dreams.

Every year I get a new pair of prescription eyeglasses that I fail to wear enough of. But these particular ones I got this month were so cute I couldn't pass them up. They reminded me of the Tom Ford eyeglasses he often wears and are featured in his advertisements. I know they look like the fake hipster glasses, but I thought these were a perfect accessory to add for whenever I start to feel a little blurry-eyed.

These new shoes I purchased are my new obsession!! I bought them in black a few weeks earlier and went back for these knowing I would wear them on my birthday to make a statement. They are the biggest size in these women's shoes. I got lucky on these, getting them for only $28 downtown. I get compliments on them all the time!

Prescription eyeglasses

Old Navy kids button-up shirt

Urban Outfitters bow tie

H&M slim dress pants

Santee Alley studded slipper shoes

Me and my boyfriend Jose who always seem to match! But I don't mind at all. He shot some great photos of me, and is always a cooperative boyfriend who gets the job done, especially when I can be picky about the angles! We make a great team.

The 7 layer dip my sister made, it is a fun and easy dish to make for entertaining or just for yourself!

Lots and lots of fresh limes for tequila shots!

My favourite dog with the most personality, Kahlua. She was given to my dad a few years ago and has since become a part of our family. She is so friendly and always fun to photograph.

My sister and I blowing out the candles to home made birthday cakes. A special thank you to my parents for hosting this small get-together for us.

Opened a lot of fantastic gifts that I can't wait to feature in my posts!

A great shot I got of my twin sister, Valerie who has grown up to be a beautiful young woman. 

Her hair looks gorgeous here! I don't see the resemblance between us, but some people swear they do.

A birthday is always a reminder to live your life to the fullest. I have had the pleasure of making it to 21 years, and I hope to have many more. I live everyday with so much excitement about life, passion for people, and interest in expanding my knowledge. 

Your clothing choices have to reflect your life choices. Wear who you are and you want to be, not what you think you should be. Don't waste anytime (or money) dressing for function over fashion. Be proud of your body, of your personality, of your life. I have made it to 21, and the last 3 years have been the most challenging, and I am proud of the man I have become. My body, my hair, what I am visually to the naked eye: it represents who I am on the inside.

I am always willingly learning new things, challenging my creativity and finding new perspectives on life. I enjoy expressing myself, meeting new people, and finding influence and inspiration in absolutely everything around me. I am forever 21, happily stuck between childhood and adulthood.

Photographer: Jose Hernandez

Location: Bryson Elementary School, South Gate, California

AMERICAN BOY.

This patriotic number was a perfect look for this beautiful spring day spent with two of my favourite people shopping. Not many more things I love more than shopping and wearing a new outfit!

This shirt I got for a deal from the little boy section at none other than Old Navy for only $5. I got it in a couple of other styles because it was impossible to pass up this deal!

I have been making my way into wearing slacks and dress pants more and more. These particular pants are so comfortable and fit true to my body. They dress up any outfit and I can wear most shoes with them. They also look great rolled-up, which is something I love to do with most pants to show which socks I am wearing or the details on my footwear.

This shade of blue was a perfect compliment of colour to the red shoes i was wearing.

I got these shoes at a rummage sale for only $2. I bought them because they fit me and I knew that I could do something to rework them. Rummage sales, thrift stores and yard sales are a great resource for finding inexpensive shoes that you can turn into a new personalized accessory.

For this project, I used a Gouache paint in "Perm Rose" that you would find in most art supply/craft stores. I used a thin paintbrush, and warm water in a glass.

I applied one even coat over the shoes as a base coat.

After the first coat, I applied about 3 more coats for an even coverage. You do want to apply more than 2 coats because this is a paint that will wear off.

This is the desired end result I was looking for. The paint dries in a matte finish. I liked the worn look that happens after a couple wears. You start to see the cracks around where the shoe bends when you walk. It is difficult to find a men's oxford shoe in a bright colour, especially at an affordable price. Painting or spray painting a shoe is a easy and fun way to spruce up your wardrobe. And when people compliment them, you can say you did it yourself!

A snapshot of a common scene in Los Angeles, palm trees! It is the kind of thing you see only in California.

The gorgeous Walt Disney Concert Hall designed by Frank Gehry. The architecture is inspiring and is so much more beautiful in person. This photo does not do the structure justice. Definitely one of the more vibrant pieces of art in Los Angeles.

Old Navy polo shirt

H&M buckle bangle bracelet

H&M slim fit dress pants

DIY painted oxford shoes

Me and my very stylish mother!

Me and my adorable boyfriend!

I consider myself to represent a modern American boy. I used to think that I had to possess a surfer boho look during the day and a preppy clean cut look during the night to be considered an American boy of style. But I realized that being American is having the freedom to make your choices. Freedom of choice is essentially everything that fashion and style are based upon.

Which is not to say that you have to be American to dress well. There are people all over the world who dress accordingly to their political and societal situations. It is about how you express where you live that encompasses your philosophy on fashion. I suppose if I lived somewhere else where my situation and opportunities where different, it would drastically influence my style. But as of now, I am an American Boy, redefining the American Dream.

Location: Downtown Los Angeles

Photographer: Jose Hernandez

ROCK 'N' ROLL HIGH SCHOOL.

I wore this outfit to celebrate two very special landmarks. My departure from the restaurant industry, and my anniversary. I went for a school boy look, perhaps more Japanese school boy than catholic school boy. 

I cut the sleeves off of what used to be one of my work shirts that I wore as a server. It was metaphorical in me feeling so much more free from the constraints of working for a corporation and working for the demanding (and usually condescending) clientele known to those who work in hospitality. I rolled up my sleeves and made it my own. Cutting the sleeves off a shirt is always an easy DIY fix. 

I added an upside-down crucifix pin to each corner of my collar to play upon the rendition of a religious school's uniform. It added a sophisticated humour, as well as some humour to those who understand what I like to do with fashion. You can put someone in a uniform but you can't dress them up in a lifestyle.

We captured some fun glare shots in the mix of this shoot.

A new gold accessory to add to my collection. I admit that this was an impulse buy, and that I was considering returning it. But I wore it out and got a few compliments on it so I decided that it is a keeper. I know better than to doubt my intuition! It is a woman's accessory that adds a bold punch to my uniform attire. It's like a rebellious stud cuff I snuck past the dean.

I attended an all-boys private catholic school for a while (which I hated) and had to adhere to a strict dress code. But I was always pushing the rules with the shoes I wore, the style of my hair, and the accessories I wore. I think this is when I really learned how to incorporate my style into my daily life even under the circumstances of strict codes and restraints.

I got this bag at a great price a day after I got a pair of shoes with a very similar leopard print. Cotton On, a great Australian retailer, was having a special sale on their bags for people who made a purchase in the store. The bag was $10 with my purchase and it was hard to choose which one from all the cool varieties they had, but I needed a bit of print to add to my bag collection. I clipped on the keychain my boyfriend gifted me from the GaGa's Workshop for Barney's New York.

Once again, I found these killer shoes for an unbelievable price. I cannot believe my luck these past days at the things I have been finding in my shopping adventures. I went shopping with my mother and sister into a shoe store called Bakers where they were both looking for a pair of heels. Of course I walked out with these unique platform sneakers for only $4. I recently went into a shoe store and saw them for $80. I am a proud of this purchase!

I get compliments every time I wear these. And I can rest assured that I won't see any other boys wearing these kicks! Look and you WILL find. Shop outside the box! 

DIY short-sleeve Van Huesen white button-up

Grey Ant 'Status' sunglasses

vintage thrift store crucifix pins

GAP flat-front shorts

H&M women's gold cuff

Rock Candy Luxe women's leopard print platform high top sneakers

Cotton On leopard print bag

GaGa's Workshop for Barney's New York charm keychain

When it comes to shopping, fashion, and style, it is impossible to constrain yourselves to a particular template. You have to keep your options open because there are so many possibilities of combinations when it comes to colours, sizes, fits, and accessories. I don't confine myself to my gender's politics and you shouldn't either! Fashion is about experimenting. You can pay for school, but you can't buy class. The same way you can pay for clothes but you can't buy style. It takes trial and error to find what works for you.

The same goes for your life: you can't cement yourself to one idea of success. I suppose for a long time I felt that the money I was making in the restaurant industry was worth the dread I felt every time I went into work. I realized that I was good at solving people's problems. But just because it was something I was good at didn't mean it was what was what I should be doing. It was time to get on a more creative track and get serious about what I really want to do. That entails making art, making music, and challenging myself. I am onto a new challenge in life, and my style reflects that. Experimenting with fashion is like experimenting with life: you won't fid the right fit until you try it on.

The custom luggage tags that I got as an anniversary gift from my boyfriend. How adorable are these?? I loved them.

Location: Downtown Downey, California

Photographer: Jose Hernandez

GREASE.

I love this photo, it feels so vintage with the fun carnival ride in the back, the greaser look, and a glimpse of the American flag. I decided to name this post because I felt as cool as Danny Zuko from Grease (who's wardrobe I clearly drew influence from). Although I can't bear to ever watch that movie again, I love the fashion from the era depicted!

I cannot live without white T shirts!! I must own about 20 pairs of different white T's, as I am constantly always going through them. I roll up the sleeves and pair it with a good pair of dark jeans and my Chuck Taylor's or boots and I get an instant classic American bad-boy look. It is a fun take on greaser street fashion. This is a Hanes v-neck.

My favourite pair of jeans to roll up are these Guess? jeans that have lasted me quite some time. I highly recommend buying a pair of their denim if you want an affordable pair of jeans that will last you wear and tear. I wore them with my studded leather belt because I like adding small details to the looks I try to emulate.

Look to the past for inspiration because every new idea is just a recycled one that has been personalized by it's owner. I like to pay homage to my style influences, James Dean and Elvis Presley with this simple look reworked in a different and modern way each time I wear it. I think the best result of wearing this outfit is the attention my boyfriend shows me as he calls me his James Dean!

Clothing allows you to channel the person you want to be, whether it is about being desired, being unique, or being trendy, it is always about being you.

Location: La Habra Citrus Fair

Photogrpaher: Jose Hernandez

GROOMING PRODUCTS.

HAIR CARE

No other shampoo I use treats my dandruff and my hair like this particular one does. I have an extremely dry scalp and can't wash my hair every day, but this locks in moisture to both my scalp and my hair. I have always been a fan of Garnier Fructis products, though most of my favourites have been discontinued.

Retails for $4

I get the question all the time: what do you use on your hair? How do you get it like that? How does it stay? I am always happy to explain the grueling process and share my secrets. This is one of them. The Paul Mitchell Lab Elastic Shaping Paste is key to molding my hair into shape. Seeing that my hair is curly and I have to blow-dry and flat-iron it straight, this molds my hair without bringing the curl back out as most other products do. A little goes a long way, one can last me 5 months.

Retails for $14

If you want to try a cheaper, easier-to-find alternative than the Paul Mitchell Lab product, I would recommend this guy. It is the Got 2b inPLAY Sculpting Paste. It doesnt work as effortlessly as the PM product, but it is close enough with a little more work. You can find this at most drugstores, though watch out for the packaging because they are always changing their designs.

Retails for $6

This hairspray does exactly as it says, it literally freezes your hair into place. Be cautious of how much you apply, and be sure to always apply it at least 3 inches from hair or you'll end up with a piecey globby look. A little goes a long way, and this works well (and super fast) with a blow dryer.

Retails for $6

This product protects my hair from all the damage of the heat applied to it. I use Oscar Blandi Olio di Jasmine Hair Serum before and after I blow dry, as well as before and after I flat iron. Serums go a long way, you just need a tiny dab in the palm of your hand. This contains Vitamin E which is perfect for you if you use heat tools. The almond oil adds shine to your hair and battles frizz. This little bottle can save your hair from burning out.

Retails for $35

I LOVE this product and all Redken products. This stops the frizz no matter the weather and adds a polish to your hair without leaving it greasy. I apply it after heat styling it. This Redken Outshine 01 Anti-Frizz Polishing Milk is one from the series of their numbered products that are designed to treat and replenish your hair.

Retails for $22

I first saw this product being demonstrated by a Frederic Fekkai hair styling master. This Frederic Fekkai Brilliant Glossing Sheer Shine Mist dispenses a very thin mist with each spray. The key to shine is the olive oil capsules that coat your strands for all-day protection. I use this on the days that I don't wash my hair to add a light gloss and keep frizz away. You will feel how smooth your hair feels after using this product. I recommend washing your hair at night, blow drying then adding a touch of this before for overnight nourishment.

Retails for $25

BODY CARE

I have tested a lot of deordarants in my day, and none really protect from sweat and odor like this one does. Degree Men Dry Protection Deordorant is activated by body heat and lasts all day. I apply it in the morning and it lasts all day without me having to worry about reapplying. It smells subtle and goes on thin. I personally shave my under arms because the hair under your arms traps sweat and odor and I would like less chance of smelling. This is a great product for a great price.

Retails for $3

DENTAL CARE

I swear by this toothpaste. It is incredible. Within 3 days I saw my teeth get whiter and brighter. It also left my mouth feeling fresh for over 2 hours. Crest 3D White Advanced Vivid Enamel Renewal is the greatest toothpaste to come out from this brand. It is like the work of the whitestrips without the whitestrips! The enamel renewal replenishes your tooth enamel to prevent stains. Advanced Vivid is the best, but you can choose how strong you want your vivid white to be. Colgate makes great alternatives as well.

Retails for $5

SKIN CARE

I have VERY dry skin that comes in patches on my cheeks and nose and t-zone. I have found that applying petroleum jelly at night before I sleep really seals in the moisture. Petroleum Jelly is the strongest skin moisturizer to exist, but it does not prevent wrinkles, provide sun protection or balance skin tones as other moisturizers do. But if you have dry skin, applying petroleum jelly a few nights back to back overnight will cure it right away. It is a fast and easy fix!

Retails for $1

My favourite beauty product by far, is also the most expensive one. In this case, you really are getting what you paid for. The Estée Lauder Re-Nutriv Replenishing Comfort Creme will work wonders for your face. It reverses aging for those who are older and it keeps your skin from aging as a preventative relief for those who are younger like me. I like to apply this under and around my eyes, around my smile lines and my forehead. Believe it or not, it has brightened and tightened the skin under my eyes! I think that dark circles is the easiest skin aging to notice, but this reverses it and keeps it away. A very tiny dab goes a very long way. This is an investment worth making. Everyone must have an anti-aging creme because it is never to early to start taking care of your skin.

Retails for $135

FRAGRANCES

My list would not be complete without mentioning the fragrances I use! Very Sexy for Him² by Victoria's Secret won the prestigious FiFi award for 2004 Men's Fragrance of The Year, and Consumer's Choice Award given by the Fragrance Foundation. It happens to be one of my favourite scents as well. This cologne has a strong top note of juniper berries and sage, middle notes of lavender and bourbon, and end notes of rosewood, sandalwood and musk. It makes for a great day time scent.

Notes are what you smell; the top note is what you smell first, then the middle note, and the end note is what you smell last. The notes are like waves that go through your brain one by one. You can't always differentiate, we all just have different preferences of aromas. It is a science! I love this sporty clean scent.

Retails for $47

Last, but not least, is this fragrance I just got into the end of last year. The One by Dolce & Gabbana is my choice of cologne to wear for evenings out on a date. There are top notes of grapefruit and basil, middle notes of ginger and orange blossom, and strong end notes of amber and tobacco. Stefano Gabbana created this woody scent with his personal taste, saying "I like spicy-oriental notes and we've never done this type of fragrance, it's a little warmer than our other men's scents."

Retails for $73

I hope you enjoyed the review and recommendations of the grooming products in my personal inventory and choose to try some of these! This post has been under construction for a while but I am happy to share it now. Fashion is not only about clothing, but about skin and hair as well! 

Happy grooming!