When in Baguio City: 5 Stylish Must-Haves in the BER Months

Anyone living in Baguio would know that the Ber-Months naturally bring out the stylish side of Baguio peeps. The cool mist, foggy weather, and the autumn-like vibe instantly make everyone dress up in a dapper, laid-back manner that is fashionably comfortable. From tiny tots to the grandpas and grandmas, you’ll get surely get inspired to add vintage Ber Month pieces to your wardrobe which are definitely go-to must-haves.

Being ready with a camera is advisable just in case you get to meet a tatay in a complete coat-and-tie ensemble with a golfer’s hat and maybe even with a cane, walking along Session Road. You’d usually see them in the early mornings looking wise and handsome with other men their age sitting in a local café, enjoying their coffee with pancakes or pan de sal while reading and talking about the day’s newspaper.

Sounds surreal? Try living in Baguio for a month, and you’ll know this is true. When it comes to how people look, well, thanks to the wagwagan and hand-me-downs from balikbayan boxes, the Ber Month look is not difficult to attain. So, what are the statement pieces to be fashionably Ber-month ready? There are five.

5 Stylish Must-Haves in the BER Months

1.Have a Scarf that says it all

Even if you go out wearing pambahay (clothes we only wear at home), putting a scarf makes you a fashionista instantly. But, beware. Be particular with your choice of color, print and fabric. Olive green, khaki, burnt umber, maroon, peach, or even warm hues of blue are the way to go. To get your own scarf, try visitng Bayanihan – if they’re not already hung, sometimes they’re found in big boxes at corner entrances. You may even get a 3 for 100 deal, who knows! Just have a keen eye.

2. Take strides with a novel pair of boots

“These boots are made for walkin’,” Nancy Sinatra would sing. Walking in boots on the streets of Baguio has a certain feel. What this means is, the boots you’d want to go for would either be inspired by the indie-boho vibe, western-themed, or the elegant British feel. You have options like the ankle boots, really high leg boots or those that go in between. Again, being selective of material totally matters and depends on your personal style. Some great material to look out for in shops, specially in the wagwagan, would be leather or suede (gamuza), but not much on rubber. A reliable pair of boots is important to have because it gets really cold and rainy at the same time. You wouldn’t want your feet to get cold nor wet. It’s the most uncomfortable and queasy thing to feel the whole day.  

3. Be dressy in a coat or blazer

As mentioned earlier in scarves, a great way to spice up an ignored shirt or some neutrals is to finish your look with a casual coat or blazer. Cardigans would be great, too. Having a selection of statement tops in classic colors of black, blue, brown and grey would go along way to spruce up any lazy dayish mind (the kind when you know you’re not fussy on what to wear). Structured blazers, trench coats, wrap-around, parkas, pullovers, cover-ups and leather jackets are a mainstay in these parts. Just be particular about having the right fit.

4. Top it off with a Cool Hat

When it comes to hats, Baguio people can really own it. You know what I mean? If they choose to wear the cowboy hat, which are very elaborate at times, they pull it off really well. They’d be wearing that with a leather vest and pointed boots to complete the OOTD. Some would go artistic, choosing the beret hat or the ever-classy golfers flat cap. Others would be cool and breezy with a federo. If you are the observant type, you’ll notice that only the younger generation uses baseball caps. The more mature guys wear what we’d call “manly” hats. It is those kinds of hats that need a certain x-factor to actually look good in them.

5. Walk Baguio’s streets with the Session-Road-State-of-Mind Half Smile

The Session-Road-State-of-Mind is something easy to feel if you’ve made Baguio your home (or second home). This is something that needs no explanation at all, it’s just felt.  The half-smile, on the other hand, is something else. What you need to understand with the locals is that it is normal for them to not react too much at anything. Even if the most famous celebrity, for example, would be walking in front of them, they will simply not fuss about it. They’d remain very unfazed and calm, just being observers. With their arms crossed over their chest, it takes a lot to bring out an elaborate smile. How Baguio people smile is seen in their eyes and how they walk. It takes one to know one.

If you feel you still need a bit more personality, accessorize! Use some cool frames (minus the grade), or walk down Session Road with a hot cup of take-out coffee! Ultimately, what you wear and how you carry yourself should comfortably feel like reading something with a mug of half-and-half coffee or tsokolate de batirol. So, build up on your wardrobe easily. It’s about that time to get warm and hot-chocolatey in your fashion sense!