Fashion Blogger to Watch Out For: Ericke Tan
First off, let me just tell you that I am so excited about this week’s feature because of so many reasons. The main explanation, however, as to why I’m as giddy as a little girl is because, for the first time, I am featuring someone who is also an Ilocana! Even though I had wanted to do it for a long time already, I’ve been putting off featuring her because I feel that she was out of my reach. Up until now, I feel like I do not deserve to put her name up in my blog but I am such a big fan (no kidding/bola/flattery, I really am!) so I took a chance and Ericke was kind enough to allow me to do this.
I have mentioned several times in my blog before that I am a probinsyana. Hence, dressing up is not an easy feat for me at first because of the weird stares and snide comments that I get from neighbors or strangers in our area. Coming upon Ericke’s blog was actually what inspired me to discover and develop my love for fashion. I say this in all honesty (and not just to make sipsip or bola), Ericke Tan is the best probinsyana blogger in the whole world (wide web). Well, for me, at least.
How I’ve come up with this conclusion is quite simple; Ericke is a smart dresser. Yes, she follows trends every now and then (who doesn’t?) but I feel like she is more of a trend setter. She matches clothes like it’s no big deal that for others (like me, for example) is actually a “Eureka” moment. I mean, who else would have thought that a cropped corset top can also be layered OVER a dress or that a scarf can turn out to be a classy top? I do know that those who come up with ideas like these are those with great knowledge and taste in fashion and not to mention, it takes a great deal of confidence to actually pull looks like these off, all characters that, not surprisingly, Ericke has.
Another proof that Ericke is a sartorial genius is her execution of the 30 by 30 challenge where she chose 30 pieces of clothing to make 30 outfits. I first saw that challenge in Kendi Skeene’s blog and wanted to try it out until I realized that it only looks easy but it’s actually not. Ericke, on the other hand, pulled through it rather successfully. What’s more, not a single outfit looked bad or forced, and each piece of clothing looked like it was new every single time.
Ericke was the one who restored my faith in fashion. She proved that I didn’t have to have an overflowing closet or that I don’t have to keep mum about my love for dressing up just because I live in the province. She was truly an inspiration for girls like me. I must say that Red Dot chose the right ambassador.
An Interview with Ericke:
Who is Ericke Tan and where can we find her?
—My full name is Marie Veronique Tan and it might look confusing but my nickname is pronounced as E-rik :) I graduated as a nurse but now work in marketing. I’m based in the more tropical side of the Philippine - Ilocos Norte, proud probinsyana right here!
You can find me on:
Instagram: ericketan
What can we expect to see in your blog?
—My blog is more of a day to day style diary with a little bit of everything else in between. It’s also my own way of promoting my province where other people get to see Ilocos Norte from a real Ilocana’s point of view.
How is your blog different from other fashion blogs?
—I guess you can say my blog is a cross between a fashion blog and a travel blog for Ilocos. I try to take as much photos as I can in different areas here, like the La Paz Sand Dunes, Palpalokada and Mamaruk in Burgos, Adams, and the different churches in my province. In a way I like to provide a different viewpoint for travelers who visit my little province :) I’m also a very outdoorsy person so my blog is not all about fashion, I like to share with my readers my sand boarding, hiking, gastronomic and nature adventures.
Describe your sense of style
—My style is very eclectic. I dress based on mood. It’s never the same style everyday, I can be all romantic and girly then be edgy the next. Music is a big influence in how I dress up, but I do like to think I’m still very relate-able.
When did your love for fashion start/when did you start dressing up?
—Ever since I can remember! As a kid, I flipped through the pages of my mom’s Vogue and Harper’s Bazaar and just looked at all the beautiful photos, plus my eldest sister was soooo obsessed with 90’s pop culture, so I’ve always been surrounded by people who inspired me. Learning to sneak in their rooms to rummage through their closets and play dress up when they’re not home started as soon as I learned how to walk and turn door knobs. Haha!
What boutiques do you usually shop in?
—When I’m home, I buy my stuff from thrift stores and Red Dot Boutique. But generally I just go to random places.
Can you recommend an online shop for us?
Who are your fashion inspirations?
—Music, movies and the 90’s are big inspirations for me. But to answer your question, Anna Dello Russo, Rumi Neely and Kate Moss - always and forever!!
What are other fashion blogs that you follow?
—Fashiontoast, Paul Highness, Song of Style, Death by Platforms, A Pair and A Spare, Manrepeller and I’m obsessed with Suris Burn Book. Haha!!
What are your body insecurities and how do you deal with them?
—I’m very very short, so I like to show my legs. I always watch my proportions and try to look as long as I possibly can. I have a weird nose, LOL. It’s a good thing I know my angles :p
What can you advice girls who want to venture into fashion but are hindered by several factors such as financial constraints, body insecurities, negative feedback, etc?
—Never hold back because you’re worried of what other people may say. Rules are for squares when it comes to fashion, pair red with pink, wear boots with shorts in the middle of summer, mix gold and silver, who cares! Fashion should be what’s comfortable for you.
Use fashion to express yourself and not to impress other people. A designer bag will not make you more stylish so learn to work with what is accessible to you. Ukay ukay is the best place to score unique clothes without spending so much, plus you can always d.i.y.!
As for insecurities, learn to embrace your flaws and use them to your advantage, I’m very flat chested, so that means I can wear the lowest neck lines without looking provocative ;)
A trend-setter, a smart dresser and a confident style icon, that’s Ericke Tan for you.
XO
Gelabeansss
P.S. Photos are taken from her blog :)
Click here to see all of the bloggers that I’ve featured.
