Wednesday, February 29, 2012

Final Bow

I stayed home in bed last Saturday night, and was checking on my twitter feed when I saw tweets about Jil Sander's show for Milan Fashion Week.  I was curious and clicked on a few twitpics, and fell in love with the set design: lovely floral bouquets encased in glass and placed on narrow platforms that were placed on stage.
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Its Creative Director for eight years, Belgian Raf Simons is on his last stint for the German label Jil (pronounced Gil) Sander, which makes this collection his farewell show.  I am a fan of Raf Simons' simplistic designs, and unique feminine silhouettes.  His color combination choices are always amazing, and I believe he is responsible for the "color blocking" trend a few years back.  So, following my twitter feeds was a must that night.

As expected, makeup was very minimal.  Baring all, with only a hint of color on the lips.  Backstage makeup artist Peter Philips shared in Vogue: "Rosebud-pink lips. “Raf was thinking about a day in the life of a woman as she moves from morning to afternoon to night. He wanted something soft, delicate, and quite sensual for the Jil Sander woman."  Hairstylist Guido Palau complemented the look with a fifties-inspired low pony for a crisp look.
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As for the collection, friends know that I love anything pink and Sander's collection had snippets of pink that made me love this set all the more.  Plus, who would have thought that pink would be able to transcend from spring to fall? :)  Here are some of my favorites:
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One of the colors I don't like wearing is black, but I wouldn't mind wearing it if it was this number on the right.  The shiny patent-like fabric makes it so interesting.  A gathered waist style with pockets are added reasons, too!
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Raf Simons, taking his final bow---teary-eyed, with the stage filled with colleagues and editors congratulating him.
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 Photos taken from nyc-fashion.com

Rumor has it that Raf Simons is set to move to the house of Dior, but that remains a rumor.  Either way, we can't wait to see what's in store for this Belgian designer.

Monday, February 27, 2012

Sexy Sirens

There will always be the good and the bad at the Grammys, and we choose to look at the positive fashion highlights. It seems that most of the guests came in nude-colored lips and smoky eyes that speak of subtle sexiness. Their fashion choices complement this understated sensuality with the use of see-through and sheer fabrics with amazing beadwork.


Adele was the queen of the night at the recent Grammys—not only did she bag the most awards, she walked down the red carpet in simple, sophisticated beauty. Dressed in an all-black ensemble (first, in Giorgio Armani, then second, in Burberry), she paired these gowns with sparkles such as a 12.4 carat diamond ring by Harry Winston, and lavender glitter nail polish. Her shoulder-length blonde hair and smoldering eyes (with an overdose of faux lashes) added a sultry air to her classic look.
grammys adele (Large)


Fergie showed up in a fiery, red, lace serpentine number by Jean-Paul Gaultier that showed off a simple set of black lingerie that’s reminiscent of a T-shirt bra and high-waist panties. Some say it was a bit racy, but we beg to disagree. It’s a great mix of contrast fabrics and styles. The lace gives off a vintage feel, while the underwear set adds a modern twist to it. When Ryan Seacrest asked her about what she was wearing, she shares “I had two choices. This is the safe one.” Now, this left us wondering what the other one was.
grammys fergie (Large)


It seems that Katy Perry’s styling team has more blue magic up their sleeves. Elie Saab produced another fully beaded cornflower blue gown. With an A-line cut skirt, quarter sleeves and cinched at the waist with a blue ribbon, Katy Perry looked every inch the princess in this monochromatic look---with her electric blue hair in an up ‘do style.
grammys Katy Perry (Large)


Paris Hilton picked a Basil Soda gown made of delicate lace and, perhaps, silk chiffon. Strategically-placed lace keeps this sexy as it slightly showed off the heiress’ neck, cleavage and legs. A thin, metallic belt served as the only contrast to this off-white gown. It’s a grown-up version of a playful gown that’s still very “Paris Hilton.”
grammys paris hilton (Large)


Rihanna showed up in a black dress with a low-front neckline, and high-slit (front and center)— “a collaboration between Mr. Armani and myself,” Rihanna shares with Ryan Seacrest on E Online! “We have a pretty good relationship now, since we’ve been working together on the campaign and designing a capsule line for his collection…” the singer beamingly adds. We can’t wait to check out this new team-up.
grammys rihanna (Large)


Taylor Swift’s golden choice by Zuhair Murad was the talk of the town. Fully beaded on a sheer fabric that serves as an overlay to a nude lining, Swift has topped the fashion charts again with this number. When asked by Seacrest on what she was wearing: “It’s one of my favorite dresses that I’ve ever gotten to wear, actually. It’s just one of those dresses that when you look at it, I am so impressed that someone made that. The handiwork is so beautiful, the design is just wonderful. So when I saw it months ago, and I kinda said, we gotta save it for the Grammys.” A very good decision, indeed!
grammys Taylor Swift (Large)

Photos courtesy of AP.

Saturday, February 25, 2012

Show-stopping Pinoy designs are great add-ons at a smash concert

Only a handful of people appreciate the production staff of a show. All most see and enjoy are the performers on stage. The magic happens there, but it doesn’t start there. Take for instance, the latest concert of Anne Curtis. One of the country’s top stylists, Liz Uy, disclosed that the styling team comprised more than six people including co-stylist Pam Quinones, designer Patrick Galang and a selected group of handpicked and trusted fashion assistants and interns.


Given only 10 days to prepare the outfits, Uy and Quinones commissioned top designers to produce show-stopping outfits based on their song numbers. “Every song has a different look. Pam and I collaborated and we wanted it to be highly entertaining and suited to the songs and Anne’s personality as a performer,” shares Uy.


Although we weren’t able to watch the concert live, we were able to follow it via online media. And we must admit, the outfits were definitely performance-worthy. Anne Curtis opened the show with a sparkling corset with fringes by Michael Cinco (which was flown in from Dubai). Other ensembles included a striped, hoodie jumpsuit by Martin Bautista; a shimmering, red gown with high-slit and another gown with a full ball skirt by Rajo Laurel; larger-than-life feathered headpieces by Dennis Celestial that were paired with a corset and shorts number by Albert Andrada (another Dubai-based Filipino designer); a neon pink and orange combo outfit by Regine Dulay; and cutout swimsuit by Charina Sarte. Staunch supporter Divine Lee adds that her favorites were that of Michael Cinco and Rajo Laurel since she loves shiny outfits.


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Special guests included Curtis’s sister, Jasmine, Vhong Navarro and Luis Manzano (who wore Joey Samson), Vice Ganda in Dennis Celestial, Sam Milby (who went straight to the concert from the airport), Derek Ramsey, Christine Reyes and Sarah Geronimo—making the “Annebisyosa” concert a truly memorable one.


Stylists Pam Quinones and Liz Uy, with photographer Marc Nicdao, did a great job dressing up Anne Curtis.

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*photos courtesy of Divine Lee

Thursday, February 23, 2012

Enter the Lucky Water Dragon

It is believed that luck follows those born in the Year of the Dragon, which leads us to hope that this 2012 (Year of the Water Dragon) will bring more good news than bad news for the whole world.


And with good fortune on our side this 2012, together with hard work, let’s bring in the good vibrations this new lunar year with these suggested lucky charms:


Joy Lim introduced Filipinos to the wonderful world of auspicious charms, with celebrities and famous personalities as her main fans. One of her must-have accessories is the “Blessed All in One 8 Bracelet.” This is a mix of crystals that brings positive vibes in all aspects of life with the number 8 bead that represents the eight magical realms in Heaven and protects us from eight types of harm. The Aventurine Frog, meanwhile. is a money catcher that brings luck as well, with the Bagua balancing life. Other beads like the Fish stand for abundance, the Tael charm signifies wealth, the orange bead helps process transactions with ease, and the Rose Quartz improves love and relationships. For appointments and inquiries, call 742-2597 or 413-9112.
charms and crystals


If sparkling jewelry is your preference, then you will definitely like Jewelmer’s latest collection of La Vita amulets. Take your pick from four pendants that symbolize the four powerful elements of life: blazing fire, cascading water, blowing air, and solid earth. Each medallion comes in a combination of South Sea pearls and colored stones that represents the four elements of life.
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Men can also join in the good fortune with Dunhill’s set of polished sterling silver dragons. Each of these intricately carved dragons is attached to either a mobile phone strap or a keychain (with karabiner or ring clasp). Sterling silver cufflinks and pure silk ties in bold red, pale blue or pink with dragon motif are also available.
Dragon Fob

Tuesday, February 21, 2012

For the gods

Grace. Ethereal. Sheer. These words come to mind when one sees a dress designed by Maureen Disini.


Goddess gowns with soft draping that adds curves where they matter and hides flaws, Disini’s dresses are made of three layers of sheer and stretch knit jersey. They embody femininity and a sylph-like litheness that appeal to many women.


A stylist-turned-designer, Disini is steadily cultivating a clientele since she got back from her European studies earlier this year. Barely six months into making custom-made pieces, she recently debuted her collection at the exclusive and prestigious Genting Club in Resorts World Manila, in a fashion show series dubbed “Fashion I.”


Joining Disini to kick off the series were noted Cebu designers like Oj Hofer, Philip Rodriguez, and Jun Escario. Disini presented her 11-piece collection in a wide range of color palettes and hemlines to choose from. All in goddess form with her staple use of knit jersey fabrics and flowing styles that have a relaxed yet feminine vibe. Makitalo accessories served as the only accompaniment to these monochrome dresses.


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*For inquiries and appointments, call or text Maureen Disini at 0917-8911104 or send an e-mail to maureen@disini.ph

Friday, February 17, 2012

Love for Classics

There's something about owning a piece of Burberry item with its trademark plaid print.  I, for one, have been dreaming of getting one of their scarves, as they make a great accessory to any outfit ;) 
Burberry Valentine's Day_Womens_Creative

Though the brand's cashmere and silk scarves may not be applicable to be worn here in our tropical weather, I think they're perfect to bring with us during our out-of-the-country trips.  
Burberry Valentine's Day (2)

Another tip is to wear them as a belt, or tie them around your tote, or wear it as a necklace---there are so many ways to play with scarves :D
Burberry Valentine's Day

What I love about this collection is that it comes in lovely "heart" shades of red!  They sure do make you feel extra pretty ;)

*In the Philippines, Burberry is exclusively distributed by Stores Specialists, Inc. (SSI) and is located at Greenbelt 4, Rustan’s Makati, and Shangri-La Plaza Mall.

Wednesday, February 15, 2012

Outfit suggestions for Best Dressed Couples

Check out Forever 21's outfit suggestions for couples :D  Click on the images to enlarge:

PDI LAYOUT FEB 10

MB F21 LAYOUT FEB 12

Where will you be this weekend? I'm pretty sure a lot of you will be doing an extended Vday celebration ;)

Monday, February 13, 2012

Treasured Stories

You may call it commercialism, but Valentine’s Day is something we should be celebrating more than once a year. It’s a day full of opportunities to express one’s love for another. It doesn’t have to be for that special someone; it can also be spent with people you really care about.

I asked three lovely ladies to share with us their V-date plans, and what they’ll be wearing for this special occasion. Simple, actually…

Chef Stephanie Zubiri: “I’m working on Valentine’s, so I will be celebrating after work. I will need to wear something practical yet pretty that can go easily from day to night with some lipstick and heels… like a nice DVF (Diane Von Furstenberg) dress.”
 Stephanie Zubiri & Jonathan Crespi-1

Wedding planner Georgia Schulze-del Rosario: “A really sexy LDB (little black dress) with great accessories and my hair pulled back because that’s how Armand loves it.”
Georgia Schulze-del Rosario & Armand del Rosario-2

Entrepreneur Mika Lagdameo-Martinez: “For Valentine’s Day, since we don’t go out on Valentine’s day, we will be stuck in bed in our t-shirts and boxers.”
Mika Lagdameo-Martinez & Chucho Martinez-2

No matter where they will be spending their V-day, one this is for sure, they will be wearing Pandora accessories. “The Pandora pieces are the perfect gift this Valentine’s Day because each piece is unique and you can really personalize them to mean something,” Zubiri adds, “Each charm could represent a moment, a memory, or an occasion.” Pandora has a wide variety of clips, pendants, and charms for you to choose from and mix to come up with your very own customized piece of jewelry you can call your own.

A special Valentine’s collection is available this month of love. The heart-shaped pendant charm with facetted pink cubic zirconia, enhanced with five cabochon-cut rhodalites, is one of the must-haves from this collection. Bracelets and necklaces are also available for those who want to expand their precious pile of Pandora’s.
PANDORA'S VALENTINE-INSPIRED COLLECTION 1

The Martinez couple also chooses Pandora as the gift of choice for the Valentine’s season. “I think Pandora’s quality is very good – and the prices are also affordable,” Chucho Martinez says, adding that he loves Pandora’s ring-upon-ring and earrings that his wife wears. Mika ends the interview with an answer to why she loves charms bracelets: “Personalized gifts always come with a story – and more than anything, that is what counts.”

*Pandora is available at Lucerne Shangri-La Mall, Greenbelt 5, Wrist_Pod-Bonifacio High Street, Newport Mall, and soon to open another concept store at the Super Block, Bonifacio High Street.

Monday, February 6, 2012

Designer Hunt

Fashion is more fun in the Philippines, with local establishments sponsoring searches for new fashion designers. Currently shown on ETC every Saturday 7 pm, with replays on Sundays at 10 am, the MEGA Young Designers Competition (YDC) is one show that fully supports the local fashion industry.

The most recent episode challenged the remaining 13 aspiring designers to produce an outfit that can be worn for both the dry and wet season of our tropical country. Kirby Cruz bested the group with a one-piece tube romper in a combination of cornflower blue, orange, and beige—an outfit we definitely think is well-suited for our weather.
Kirby Cruz

Crowd favorites like Oz Go and Renan Pacson have yet to be a part of the top three. Their over-the-top creations showcased refreshing designs that are potential show stoppers.
Oz Go

Renan Pacson

Over a decade old, this competition has produced very talented fashion creatives such as Furne One, Rajo Laurel, Oj Hofer, Patrice Ramos-Diaz, Raul Ramirez, LZ Punzalan, Ivarluski Aseron, Mich Dulce, Ferdie Abuel, and Veejay Floresca to name a few.

For more information on the MEGA Young Designers Competition 2012, visit www.megastyle.ph.

Friday, February 3, 2012

Asprey is the Answer

I had a presentation to the big boss yesterday.  Of course, everyone knows that you have to be at your best when there's a meeting with the boss ;) Gotta always give a good impression, right?
So, here's what I wore:
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Happy days are definitely here with bright hues filling up my closet again ;)  I think you can spot me a mile away hehe... I stuck to a white work bag, a neutral-colored watch, and a lucite necklace to balance my overall look.

Oh, and I'm wearing a Kenneth Cole watch from L Time Studio with NATO strap from Asprey.
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The strap gave a whole different look to the sleek Kenneth Cole timepiece, as the striped nylon strap adds a casual and sporty feel. Asprey watches are great "makeover" add-ons, don't you think so? :)

Wednesday, February 1, 2012

Just Had to Share

I just found out that I am part of the
Top 20 Most Stylish Filipina-Chinese by Stylebible.ph, published last January 24

This is the photo that they used:
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The caption says: Forever 21's marketing gal Jane always has a youthful spin to her outfits that makes her stand out.
What I'm wearing: Yako Reyes dress, Melissa x JPG shoes, and Kate Spade clutch

I am in the ranks of women I admire, like Ingrid Go (a.k.a. The Bag Hag) and Camille Co, among others.  The three of us graduated from the same school, but from different generations haha ;)  

To check out the rest who made it to the cut, click on this link.
Thank you again, Stylebible.ph :D

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