Classy Musings 2.0

I stared at the screen and struggled to wrap my heart around it. It did not fit me anymore. I tried to write on the blog that once was but it felt like it belonged to a woman that once was. It was beautiful; it was pristine. It was perfectly styled and classically cursive. Scrolling led to images worthy of social media virality. There was so much cooking and entertaining and traveling; there were clothes and flower arrangements and baked goodies. I scoffed at the blog, at the woman. Out of jealousy, perhaps? Or nostalgia? Both, probably.

My days now consist of changing nappies, cleaning up baby food, and pushing a pram. I wake up to a baby that wants to be picked up and it is non-stop action from there. By the time I put him to sleep, it is time to be a wife and cook and clean…

Life & StyleDeanne BanaresJune 19, 2018Blog, Design, Graphics, Identity Comments

Sydney: A Cosy Kind Of Cosmo

Sydney has always been the cool kid of Australia (sorry Melbourne, you know we love you). It must be the glorious beaches they're known for, the waves dotted with surfer dudes and the shorelines peppered with beach babes. Paired with the eternal sunshine (and their distinct accent), it seems like it could be forever summer here.

Or that magnificent harbor whose skyline is filled with the steel shape of the bridge or the unparalleled silhouette sails of the Opera House. Clearly, architecture has held its footing here in Sydney and it is revered the world over. Then there's the city with its upscale bars and restaurants, the local dwellers in their stilettos and suits leaving a trail of sophistication in their wake as they hit the streets.

But as my husband and I flit from one neighborhood to another, from one harbor to the next, we noticed that it was not the cosmopolitan, not the cool we thought it would be. Instead, we were spun around on our feet and shown a different kind of Sydney that left us wanting more...

TravelDeanne BanaresMarch 10, 2017Sydney, City, Travel, Australia, Design, UrbanComment

Behind The Scenes

The fashion industry has always captivated me. Ever since high school, I've been an enthusiastic observer of it. From writing articles, styling editorials, and attending classes, I studied fashion because it looked so interesting from my vantage point. I knew that for every brand, there was a designer (or creative director) that sought to create a collection that encapsulated his or her vision for the season. But I never knew what exactly happened between the dream and the product till I finally worked for local designer, Vania Romoff...

Life & StyleDeanne BanaresMay 5, 2015Vania Romoff, Fashion, Design, PhilippinesComment

The Design Process

When I committed to the idea of starting a blog, I knew that design had to come into play. The core of Classy Musings will always be the words but considering the image-driven nature of this world, every design facet (i.e. color, logo, font style, etc.) has to be cohesive with one idea.

So I started with asking myself a few questions: Who am I? What colors speak to me, embody me? If I were a city, a magazine or a fashion brand, what would I be?...

Life & StyleDeanne BanaresApril 8, 2015Design, Moodboard, Color, Font, Branding, Blog Comment