Casa del Shai

Juan Luna and Fernando Amorsolo are great Filipino painters whose body of work crossed all borders in their times. Having won various accolades in the 19th century art world, they brought Western attention to the tiny little archipelago of the Philippines. These artists traveled foreign land and brought inspirations back to their homeland, armed with linseed oil, turpentine and numerous homemade canvas.

Casa del Shai brings to you more of the Barong artistry in a Westernized suit form. The Luna suit is dashing in deep navy blue accentuated by a brown silk pocket scarf and a brown belt. A white barong shirt is casually tucked in to emphasize the blue. Seersucker fabric offsets the heavy colour as this suit shines as a Spring Summer staple. Be a dashing debonair with a Cuban cigar at your fingertips. Schmooze your heart out like an Oceans 13 character in a Luna ensemble.

The Amorsolo Suit is a well travelled man, suave and sensual in deep stone grey. Like the work of the great artist, the suit is a visual play of light and shadow, highlighted even more with the overall monochromatic look. This suit comes with a new set of prim flexified ties, grey jacket and pants and the black barong shirt.

Now charming the ladies at the Casa Del Shai, Deco.

Centuries of Spanish colonial period refined the distinct artistry of the Barong Tagalog, the Philippine National Costume for men. When the Spanish ruling dictated a demarcation against the lowly Indio, Filipinos were made to wear their shirts not tucked under the waistbands. To add to that, Barongs were fashioned out of sheer fabric and with no pockets, appeasing the Spaniards’ fear that Filipinos are not out to attack them with hidden bolos and other weapons. As a result, the people focused their skills into defining their clothing as a symbol of resistance. Each shirt is handcrafted and embroidered with the distinctive piña cloth (fiber from pineapple leaves) or Jusi fabric made from abaca or banana silk. Despite its seeming flimsiness, the Barong Tagalog stood proudly against a revolutionary canvas of freedom uproars and rebellion.

Casa del Shai offers you the Barong Tagalog in all its glory as it evolved with the modern times. Worn formally in either traditional and mandarin collared styles, the Barong Tagalog’s craftwork is presented in three colours; Antique, Ebony and the more common Ivory. The embroidered shirts come with the Camiso De Chino, a simple long sleeved undershirt similar to the Henley and the ubiquitous black dress pants.

Sharing with you more of our Filipino flavor at the Casa del Shai Deco.

A little more for the boys this weekend, I just released a couple of pinstriped unbuttoned shirts for the Spring Summer Menswear. The Poco Striped Shirt is a hike back to my preppy roots as a lover of clean cut styles and folded sleeves . The outfit comes with an unbuttoned cotton shirt, worn with the Ribbed Tank and the new Adrien Paper Pants in Denim. A Sunday afternoon with the gang or an afterwork casual date would suit the dashing bachelor in this outfit.

Also another one for SS07, I’ve released the Ribbed Tanks (Wifebeater, Ladybeater to some – but i refuse to get beaten up) last week and they come in packs of 3. These babies can be worn in all possible layer styles; jacket, Shirt, Undershirt and tucked in Underpants versions.

Both now available in Casa Del Shai Deco.

Brazil is where the music plays sweeter. The Mestre feels this as he sweeps the roda with such fluidity and ginga, as he commands the crowd with his intense performance. This weekend Casa Del Shai presents the Capoeirista to mark the first release for Spring Summer 07 Menswear.

Capoeira is an Afro-Brazilian martial art is created by enslaved Africans during the 16th century. Disguised by a rhythmic fluid dance surrounded by a round of musicians playing the berimbau and the pandeiro. Each move is strategic and deceitful. Each step a showcase of beauty and a celebration of stealth.

Available in Yellow/Orange, Yellow/Green, Black/Red and Mestre Black cordas. Each outfit comes with 2 white pants, prim-folded and full, 2 ribbed tank shirts and the coloured flexi belts (corda) for your skill level.

So you got ginga? Get some at the Casa.

Sultry summer nights, wandering through the streets and looking for some action …the Vice suit bring memories of palm trees, bad 80s music and fast cars. Now you can cruise the streets in your Ferrari Testarrosa, as you crank up a Phil Collins’ song on the car stereo. Let’s not forget the shoulder pads, the Ray Bans, espradilles/loafers without socks and the distinctive five-o’ clock shadow. This linen suit comes in vibrant pastel colors which dominated the mid 80s in clothes as well as in art deco architecture. Pastel is macho when youre toting a Sig Sauer or Smith & Wesson as you solve crimes of flamboyant drug dealers.

Fighting crimes at the Casa del Shai. Each pack comes with a Silk Shirt, Linen Jacket, Belted matching pants, and a Vice Badge. Firearms not included.

Casa del Shai commits adultery with a steamy new release this Valentines month: The Adulterer Suits. The steamy whispered IMs, the sneaky rendezvous and the harried TPs.. This suit is a tale of illicit affairs and unquenched desires , and it urges you to kiss that girl in your second life.  That lipstick on your collar says you got your game right.

They come in two colour sets; Pinstriped Black and Pinstriped Navy. Each pack suits you up with four shirts plain, suspendered, kissmarked, and semi untucked scruffiness, a jacket, a pair of pants and 2 loosened flexi ties.

Now smear those lipstick marks on your collar and tell us your risque stories at the Casa del Shai Deimos 239, 31, 46 and Deco 113, 150, 30 .

This suit is inspired by a lot of similar stories ive heard, experienced and watch bloom and explode like firecrackers on a new years eve. I thought it was probably apt to release on Valentine’s as a cheeky reminder of how passionate and intimate we can be and revel in it. Happy Hearts Month!

Back in the days, I used to ransack my dad’s 70s mothballed closet for wonderfully printed disco shirts. I had a blast with Paisley this time and here’s the latest design to complement your Travolta Suits. Introducing The Disco Shirts for men ..really (..but girl, no one’s stopping you). They come tucked and untucked with matching bellbottomed brown polyester pants in 6 wonderful colors. Dress them up with gold chains or drip with style with aviators on. Get them while they’re hot at the new Casa del Shai Deco and Deimos.

New year ushers in a sexy white hot suit thats made to strut the dancefloor Travolta style. An icon to top all the generations of cool, he oozes with sex appeal and would scoff at anyone who dares to touch his coif. Be the stylestar of Disco Fever ’77 in this suit and bring back Saturday Night Fever into your second life.

The suit comes with four (or more) different looks including several pieces of the fantastic white polyester fashion. The white jacket, white waistcoat with belt at the back, black silk shirt and the groovy white pants are set in different layers so you can mix and match it anyway you want.

Stylin now at the Casa Del Shai.

This whole week in RL+SL has been a blur. A lot of new friendships and a new Casa hangout has been christened. I have finally popped out of the skybox convent and returned to socializing. The great thing about this is more inspiration. Last week’s inspiration came from this sweet bundle of a guy named Menno. I was bowled over by his warmth and creativity, hanging out with him made me churn out this lovely cardigan for men. Toying a little on the emo/geek side, the Menno Cardigans are reminiscent of Ivy League boys we were crushing on growing up. Boys who run around capturing our hearts with their perfectly creased ties and dorky little smiles.

The Big Day has arrived and I am launching my Fall Winter Collection with less words and more visuals. Curl up with the new knitwear and more tweed jackets right by your fireplace. Without further ado, I give you Shai Guys FW06:

The Heath Jacket is a collection of tweed jackets, accessorized with a plaid scarf attachment in 3 muted colors: Olive, Wood, and Charcoal. A tucked-in Basic White Linen Shirt is included. Perfect for waxing poetic or romancing the ladies.

Be a dashing debonaire with the new Casino Jacket inspired by the new James Bond movie. You can wear this casually, or an alternative jacket to your suit. Comes in Black, Evergreen and Navy Blue.

Lets not forget the Men’s Irish Sweater and Shirt Sets to give you that distinctive learned prep boy look. These sets have a crisp white shirt underneath and could be worn as a jacket or shirt layer for versatility. In rich velvety colours:Wisteria, Indigo, Antique, Midnight, & Clover.

To cap it all off, here is my pride and joy. Presenting the Men’s Flaunt Jeans. Engineered to fit the discriminating rough tastes, glossed with handpainted goodness, these jeans have authentic rivets, great waistband details and an old worn-out look. Available in an array of fall colours, Coal, Alchemy, Lumberjack and Westwood.

Coming soon are ready made outfits i have mixed and matched with all the lines. Do come by the Casa and fill your closet up with these goodies. Also, I would love to see photos of you with them on, so send ‘em over.