No bad hair days this Xmas!

LIKE most women, I too have a love-hate relationship with my hair.

I get obsessed brushing it, fluffing it this way and that, or blow-drying it just to make it look like I just came from the salon. The obsession takes on a more intense turn even more so now that it’s barely two weeks before Christmas. I mean, there are those Facebook photos to think about!

Because no matter how great our make-up is, or what fabulous clothes we have on, if a few of those hairs stray all over our face, or the grey hairs start making their presence felt (aka "chismis"), then our coiffeur is ruined and we look less than perfect. Maganda na sana, kaso bad hair day. Ay!

As usual, at this time of the year, I’m already hanging about my favorite salon – Essensuals Toni&Guy – at the TriNoma, for the best treatments for my locks. It’s always a must that I get my hair cut, dyed and highlights done at least a week before Christmas Eve, just to avoid the mad rush of fellow customers.

Cherry Reyes, T&G co-owner, and a kick-ass stylist herself, has just come back from London with some of her senior stylists and color-technicians after attending the courses at the parent company’s Toni&Guy Academy at New Oxford St.

The result is the salon’s latest offering for hairstyles called the Alignment collection – inspired by fashion, music, street culture, and architecture. “Think decades gone by and futuristic ideals, giving an ‘old meets new’ approach and an eclectic high-fashion feel,” Cherry notes.

And just in time for the holidays, too!

The new collection is "characterized by minimum effort and maximum impact,” she explains, “from strong statement cuts to uncomplicated naturalistic shapes with an anti-product finish, not too many hair products; versatility is key in creating the hairstyle. It’s a ready-to-wear approach, parang ‘do-it’-yourself’, low maintenance but high impact hairstyles. The styles incorporate trend-driven techniques with ultra wearable finishes.”

The cuts, she says, range from strong and classic shapes like the Wedge and 1990’s Crop, to soft long layered tresses with real emphasis on texture – “vintage and lived-in meets groomed and tailored.” Think youthful, fresh-faced with a hint of attitude!



So what about the men? Cherry says the men’s cuts are all about clean lines and groomed texture worn with confidence. “The classic short back and sides complemented with length on top will continue to remain a dominating iconic look for seasons ahead.”

In terms of color, Cherry says her colorists will combine and blend chocolate, caramel, and whiskey shades, which are very apropos for Asian hair. “We can also infuse some red or violet colors depending on how brave or bold and playful our clients are.”

Career women, for instance, don’t have to fear a touch of striking color in their hair just because they work in offices. “We create color that is highly individual. ‘Work’ now is fashionable regardless of age. We can look corporate with a touch of red, plum or gold in our hair for the holidays. Or we can do our latest Dip-Dye technique wherein the color is noticeable at the ends or inside the hair, or just one side. We can do colors that may be hidden during the day and bold at night when partying for the Holidays.”

Aware that the frenzied partying season has already commenced, Cherry stresses that our hair can always look its best even without visiting the salon every party day. “Just keep it moving! Avoid using too much products or hairspray, wax etc. If you have long hair, wear it down - it's sexier,” she advises.

The festive season is not the time to be safe and conventional with regard to our hairstyles, ladies. Take a chance, go for a different look, or just adopt something edgier to give us that extra oomph!
Let’s make our gorgeous ‘dos our fashion statement for the Yuletide season.

(For inquiries, call Essensuals Toni&Guy at 812-8002/812-8559 at 6750 Ayala, Makati; 9007169/9007168-TriNoma, QC; and 470-1806/470-1446 and cell. no. 09194222600-SM Megamall Atrium, Mandaluyong.)

* * * *
HOW is the Filipino faring in the 21st century? How are media, the Internet and social-networking sites affecting today’s children?

These are some of the issues to be discussed in “Family Congress 2012” to be held on February 18, 2012, at the Valle Verde Country Club in Pasig City. The congress has as its theme “BFF: Building the Filipino Family.” The event is jointly organized by the Love Institute, Galileo Enrichment Learning Program and FID Events Services.

The congress aims to reaffirm the value and relevance of the Filipino family in the face of changing times. Love Institute has enlisted esteemed experts in their fields to talk on issues concerning children, relationships and families. Guest speakers include psychologist Dr. Honey Carandang, educator Dr. Queena Lee-Chua, inspirational speaker Francis Kong, and parenting and relationship experts Allan and Maribel Dionisio.

Workshop topics to be discussed during the Family Congress include “Bridging the Facebook Fad: How Can Parents Manage the Invasion of Media and Technology,” “Built for Forever: Preparing Singles for a Lifetime Relationship,” “Being Friends Forever in Marriage: Learning the Art of Fighting,” and “Teaching Parents to Talk to Kids and Teens about Sex and Relationship.”

Marriage and family counselor Maribel Sison-Dionisio and corporate trainor and relationship counselor Pia Nazareno-Acevedo founded Love Institute.

According to Nazareno-Acevedo, “Love Institute was born out of the acceptance of the fact that there is just not enough systematic knowledge available out there for all those who take their love relationships seriously.”

The company offers various classes and seminars on relationships and love in a small group setting to set the foundation of loving relationships and balanced individuals. One-on-one and couple counseling sessions are also offered, as well as individual evaluations and assessments (compatibility, self-esteem, life plan, etc.) to provide the individual with the needed life skills and knowledge.

Both Sison-Dionisio and Nazareno-Acevedo took graduate studies in Family Ministries at the Ateneo de Manila University. They both have extensive experience in counseling and training, which they put to use at Love Institute.

Galileo Enrichment Learning Program is headed by Ma. Rowena J. Matti, who has been involved in the education sector since she was a child. Her mother founded the Sacred Heart School in Malabon. Galileo offers enrichment programs to children aged three to 12, by making learning a happy experience. It offers programs in math and English.

FID Events Services is headed by Fides M. Reyes whose expertise in PR and events organizing has been strengthened and refined by over 30 years of experience. She is passionate in the ministry of strengthening relationships within the family. She serves at the Light of Jesus Community of Bo Sanchez as pastoral head and part of the creative media team.

Participation in the Family Congress is at P1,500 per person, inclusive of seminar fee, congress kit and meal.

There is a special group rate for families joining the congress. For every six paid participants, a seventh member will be admitted for free.

• For inquiries about the Family Congress, e-mail familycongress@gmail.com. You may also call Love Institute at 436-4143 and 0922-8944143, or Galileo Enrichment Center at 810-8506.

(My column, Something Like Life, is published every Friday in the Life section of the BusinessMirror. This piece was originally published on Dec. 16, 2011. Photos courtesy Essensuals Toni&Guy.)

UPDATE on the STC Swatch

OK, ok, so I did say that it was easy as pie to get an STC Swatch-I just walked in a store and bought one, without any prior reservations made.

It seems the demand had increased after I posted this on my blog and so, the watches have all been bought. I went to Swatch TriNoma two weeks ago to pick a watch for my friend and was told there were no more stocks in any Swatch store. Sigh. Oh well...the perils of success! ;p (Apparently, not only Theresians from QC had bought the watches, but also those from the old STC-Manila w/c used to be located along San Marcelino St. where Adamson University now stands).

But take heart fellow Theresians, I have just been informed that a new batch of STC Swatches qill be making their way to your Swatch stores, hopefully by December. What a great Christmas gift to friends and family of the Theresian mold, no?

Doc Ria, an old grade school batchmate, sent me this note w/c was posted on the STC-QC '83 FB page, updating everyone on the status of the STC Swatches. Doc Ria's sister, Millet belongs to Batch '87 w/c sold the watches.

From Fayne Rivera-Alvarado, batch 87:

SWATCH UPDATE: Swatch has finally approved the re-order. The 2 options that we have is to reserve through STAA or through the Swatch stores. We will announce the date when the stores will officially accept the reservation. It's easier cause if done through us or through STAA it goes like this:

You fill out a form, pay the 2k.
We take your form and bring it to Swatch along with your payment.
They issue a claim receipt and send it to STAA which you have to pick up.
This receipt will be presented to the store to claim the watch plus the balance of P1,5k.

If done through the Swatch store: You pay the 2k, and keep the receipt, and claim when it becomes available.

Just let me know how I can further assist you.

Thanks!

Expected delivery is by December 1, maybe. There is no official announcement yet from Swatch but it would more or less be around that time, or earlier.

STAA, of course, is the St. Theresa's College Alumni Association.

Anyhoo, there you have it. So make your reservations, now na!

Neil Etheridge for Folded & Hung

So, what they say about a man's nose being a good gauge of uhurm, seems to be true...



Thank you Neil. You just made my Friday. ;p

Proud to be a Theresian!

GOT my STC Swatch last Friday, and I loveeet!

I'm not a member of STC-QC Batch '87 (I'm so much younger than that...joke!), but congratulations to the gals who thought up the project. The watch is a beaut. And accdg to Big Sis, who is half a Theresian, it's the best looking school watch out there. I tend to agree! (No offense DLSU! I wuv our Animo 100 watch too!)


It's not so evident in this photo but it has a bubble top dome. Cute no?!

It's P3,500 and great for everyday use. You don't need to reserve at all. I just walked into a Swatch store last Friday and bought it. There are a lot of stocks on hand. Buy na!

(UPDATE): As per Millet Abesamis, from said batch, they are selling the STC Swatch to raise funds for their alumni homecoming next year (Jan. 2012). A portion of the funds raised through the sale will also go to the St. Theresa's Alumni Association "to finance scholars and other causes," representing batch '87's donation. Good for you girls! Keep up the good work.

For the ladies who work (*Expanded version)

(You can walk or run all day in these pretty kitten heels, yes even at work. PHOTOS COURTESY OF SCHU)

LET me begin this piece by saying that I have totally nothing against Havaianas. In fact, I own a few pairs of the reputable rubber flip-flops in different colors and styles as well, and I love the brand. But por jos por santo, do we have to wear it everywhere and in all occasions?

It just pains me to see women going to work—in a five-star hotel, or the bank, for instance—with their feet shod in Havaianas. The brand has attained such a high level of stature among brand-conscious Pinoys that we think it is sushal for us to wear these even to our places of employment! Sure, the girls will eventually change into their uniforms and their heels before they go to their posts, but I really find the practice much too much laidback. The moment they step into their work premises, they have no excuse to be wearing these rubber flip flops, kesehoda pang Havainas yan, or Dupé, Crocs, or Fit Flops.

(Another pet peeve is women clad in jogging outfits wearing them everywhere but the gym! I mean, sure, they’re comfy and easy to move around in, but gads, there are better clothes out there that are probably more apropos for your shape, height, weight and the occasion!)

You can’t blame me for having this much contempt for people who don’t dress appropriately. I was born in the era when the only “proper attire” written on invitations was divided into three categories: casual, semi-formal and formal. (Nowadays I see that seemingly ubiquitous sub-category “casual chic” on invites, which makes me go “hmmm, should I or should I not wear my clean white Havaianas to this?” LOL.)

Seriously, folks, I guess you can call me “old school,” so I need clarity and difference in my attire—and especially my footwear. So if I’m going to work, like a press event or an interview, I usually have my heels or wedges on. If I’m going to the mall, I’ll be in my Adidas casual sneakers. If I’m going to the beach, then I’ll wear my Havaianas. Also if I’m at home, I’m usually in my Havaianas. After all, it is just a rubber slipper. I don’t care whether it’s a high-end or low-end brand like Spartan—it is still a tsinelas. Or as my funny bruja friend Georgia dubs it: pamatay ng ipis. Pag me ipis jan sa tabi, aapakan nyo pa rin ng tsinelas nyong Havaianas.


(Ballet flats and slingbacks for the women who need comfy footwear on their way to the office, before switching to their heels at work. These are also perfect for traveling. Very easy to remove before the security check.)

Work to me is a time to be serious and formal in manner of dress and thinking. You put your game face on and smile for your boss and clients, and the focus should be on the tasks at hand. That attitude should be projected in the manner of dressing, as well. Like it or not, whether you are in your office or outside its premises, you still bring the name of your company around. You are its representative everywhere you go.

This appeal also goes to all the women out there in the government offices shuffling about from table to table in their padded slippers! C’mon, ladies, your office, which represents the highest post in the land, your President, is not the place to wear your tsinelas. These belong at home.

Yes, I get the fact that we can’t torture our feet by being in heels all day. But just take the time to shop. If you really need comfy footwear, there are awesome sandals and cute and colorful flats out there in the market—and you’d be amazed at the diversity of choices! Also, think about wearing kitten heels! These are not too low or too high, that you can run around in them all day long. Promise.

Ruby Gan, who co-owns Schu and MYTH, and is my lovely fashion guru (when I need to dress up for some once-in-a-lifetime noteworthy event, I ask her input on what to wear), once told me she too gets peeved when she sees her employees go to work in their flip-flops and, get this, their pekpek shorts! The term is such because the shorts leave very little to the imagination. I shudder as she tells me this. Is it another Sunday at the mall? Or a walk along the beach?

So I asked her input on the kind of footwear a woman should wear to and from work (or again, for you ladies in the government offices, in lieu of your tsinelas).

“In my opinion,” Rubt says, “closed flats are better for work, then switch to heels—these will go well with work clothes.”

She does point out that with “work clothes” becoming more casual these days, “it’s okay to wear sandals—but never wear thong sandals with stockings! That looks awful! Footless stockings may be acceptable for open-toe sandals but I still would advice against this, because your feet will slide forward and stockings are prone to tearing. However, I know there are special kinds of stockings now that are specifically for open toes, where your toes are exposed.”

For women who wear more formal office attire, such as bank uniforms, Ruby suggests “ballet flats or slingbacks with closed front (on your way to the office).” The understanding is, once the ladies are in their offices, they switch to their heels.

There you have it—some sage advice from the ever fashyon Ruby. Heed her or she’s going to bop you on the head, girls. And I mean it! The sexy lady is a powerful lifter as well, hala!

(A fabulously smart and chic sandal for that ride on the MRT before work. And hold the stockings please!)

Seriously gals, this is not just about fashion. It has to do with respecting oneself—and the people you work for and with.

Dressing up appropriately for all situations and for the occasion shows you care about yourself, and how you project yourself to the world. It also shows how much regard you have for your place of employment, and, in the case of special occasions, the people who invited you.

I once read this account of a well-known celebrity writer who was denied entrance to a chi-chi members-only club dining area because she was wearing sneakers. Sure, these were high-end branded fashionable sneakers that probably cost more than the monthly salaries of all the waitstaff put together, including their F&B manager, but see? not apt for the occasion and the premises.

Btw, I am also appalled when I see men and women in their rubber flip flops at the airport when they are on the plane going abroad. Again, whatever happened to dressing up properly for flights? I'd understand if they were going to Boracay or Bali, but heavens, if you're going to a modern city like Hong Kong or Beijing for instance, flip flops I think are unacceptable footwear for planes. Wearing these may make it easier for passengers to unshod their feet during security checks, but really, I find these disgusting and so inappropriate. So I don't blame Immigration officials in the destinations these flip-flopped passengers are arriving at to look at them with suspicion. Passengers need to dress respectably to be respected.

Being in a tropical country where the lifestyle is so laidback sometimes makes us feel lazy and too casual in our manner of dressing. But we need to put more thought in our clothes and our footwear, and be more presentable, especially when we’re outside our homes. There has to be a line drawn between a casual look, a work or special-events look, or yes, for that flight abroad.

And just because everyone wears their Havaianas to everywhere, doesn’t mean you have to do the same. Be different, be fashionable, and dress correctly. As the novelist Mark Twain once said, “Clothes make the man.”

(My column, Something Like Life, is published every Friday in the Life section of the BusinessMirror. This piece was originally published on July 1, 2011.)

Magic tricks

(Due to technical issues, BusinessMirror's April 30, 2010 issue wasn't published online. Here's my column from that edition.)

Something Like Life
I’M hardly the fashion plate that will give Carrie Bradshaw a run for her money, but I think I know all about correct proportions and style. This means, I have enough good taste (and common sense) to know whether a piece of clothing looks good on me or not (and for that matter, other women).

As a woman matures and takes on Rubenesque proportions, for instance, there are just some types of clothing or fashion trends that just scream, “HELL NO!”

For instance, there’s nothing more tragic than a 160-pound woman—60 pounds of which rests on her thighs—wearing leggings. I curse the designers that have brought this article of clothing back in fashion again! The last time I wore leggings was about 30 years ago when I was 30 pounds lighter, and I don’t intend to get suckered into this trend again.

But strangely enough, there are some huge women who think if they wear their leggings in black, their gams will look as thin as a walis tingting. Leggings are clingy…it’s still gonna hug your fat thighs hon!

Another pet peeve is seniors who think they can get away with wearing mini-skirts just because they had become recent beneficiaries of scientific breakthroughs. They’ve been freshened up, top up – meaning the boobs have been adjusted to defy gravity, then their faces are line-free and unmoving – and feel they now have a right to show off their spindly legs to the world.

Sure I can understand that a 60-year-old woman who’s just been pinched, pulled and Botoxed can be deluded into believing she is 30 years younger. So she will dare to fit into the skimpy bikini (despite her C-section) or raise her hemline that reflect the inflation rate.

But you know what they say, you can tell a woman’s real age by looking at her knees. So, old dears, next time you get your faces pulled and your lips plumped up, consider having your knees snipped and smoothened over as well. Remember, the knees are covered with skin as well, and as we move into our twilight years, they too will become all wrinkly and saggy just like our faces.


(Have some patience when trying on jeans. Carefully choose the style that will slim down your problem areas or accentuate the positive. From NYT)

You see girlfriends, we just have to be a little more honest with ourselves. When we reach a certain age (or weight), we have to dress and behave more modestly or more appropriately. Sure, we may still have the same bubbly personality as when we were adolescents or when we were just 110 pounds, that doesn’t mean we have to dress the same way as we did then.

I’m not saying we should start wearing granny sweaters any time soon or simply stay at home wearing our dasters. We just need to learn to be more fashionable despite our, uhm…flaws and maturity level. (Also, we ought to be more conscious about how our manner of dressing can affect our friends and family members. As I sometimes tell my 82-year-old mom when I see her try out a dress and the hemline is above her knees, “Ma, bigyan mo ako ng konting kahihiyan!”)

For instance, when I started noticing that I no longer could fit into even the large sizes at the teenage section of my favorite department store, I knew it was time to walk in the foosteps of David Copperfield. See, we women are multi-talented – we can be anything we want to be, even master illusionists! All we need to do is trick everyone’s minds into seeing/believing that we are thinner than we actually are.

So if you have a bit of a paunch, you may consider ditching the two-piece bikini and go for one-piece bathing suits. There are so many colorful and amazing designs for one-piece swimsuits these days, sometimes they’re actually more interesting to wear than the two-piece types. And swimsuit designers have become more creative and imaginative, fabricating pieces that cover up most women’s imperfections – pouchy bellies, teeny boobies, giant boobies, heavy thighs, large waists, etc. You just have to have enough patience to keep trying on those swimsuits until you find the perfect one for you.

If you still want to wear your two-piece swimsuits, go buy yourself a pair of board shorts. So instead of having all those extra layers of blubber spill out over your teensy bikini, the board shorts will keep them all tucked in and well-behaved.

Now if you have love handles, don’t wear a girdle then squash yourself into a pair of tight jeans. Tight jeans around a fleshy middle will push up your abdominal fat and make it bunch up on top of your pants creating that horrible phenomenon called the muffin top! If you must wear jeans, use one that is low cut and sits just below the waist so it will free up your tummy instead of squeezing it.

(There are many swimsuits that are flattering even to the plus-size women.)

Also, if you’re a bit hefty you shouldn’t wear a top made with Lycra. The stretchy fibers will cling to your body and unless you’re wearing Spanx that reaches your boob line, you will look like sausage meat being squeezed out of its casing.

Speaking of Spanx, a number of American women swear by it. For those who don’t know what it is, Spanx is a line of undergarments that shape the body. It’s no longer your run-of-the-mill panty girdles that will flatten the tummy but make you feel asphyxiated and uncomfortable all day. It has tummy tuckers, slimming camisoles that give you some lift up there, power pantyhose that keeps all those extra fats—from your limbs to your tummy—in line, etc. Of course, Spanx became more popular after Oprah Winfrey promoted it on her show. Now it has a line for men as well. (Why men would want to wear Spanx is another story altogether.)

Another pet peeve…seniors who insist on wearing sleeveless shirts or halter-tops. All that saggy skin under the arms makes them look like they’ve grown batwings. Please limit yourself to short sleeved shirts, or if you’ve got the financial resources, have those batwings snipped ASAP!

One last trick…if you have heavy legs but love to wear jeans, consider buying a pair in a solid dark color like black or blue-black. It will create the illusion that you have slim legs, especially if you wear it with heels. See, with just a few magic tricks, we can stay fashionable despite our defects. What’s that song again? “It’s just an illusion…ooh, ooh, ooh, ahah!”

(My column, Something Like Life, is published every Friday in the Life section of the BusinessMirror.)

'Hit and miss' fashion

"According to a 2002 PilipinoSTAR report, Inno Sotto once recommended that the President wear flesh-toned heels (made in Manila) to make her legs look longer." (Read the rest at ABS-CBN. Check out the slideshow of the presidentita's SONA gowns.)

Flu fashion

TRUST the Japanese to come up with some stylish, fashionable surgical masks to protect you from the flu viruses. I want to get my hands on one of these.

So far my favorites are the geisha mask,

(Photo from the Hara Museum Online Shop.)

...and the Rising Sun mask of Yoriko Yoshida, a well-known Japanese illustrator.

(Photo from Pink Tentacle.)
Coolness.

Now comes the hard part...

ARE you guys sufficiently rested already? I dunno about you, but I was still at my Mac until way past 6 AM half-sleeping in my bed, and watching the Obama inaugural. So mejo antok pa ako and I can't be held responsible for what I write here. hehe

Anyhoo, I was so happy to see the part where President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama went down from their tank (that was just a huge monstrosity...did you see how thick the doors of that GMC were?!) and walked along Pennsylvania Ave. waving to the people. That was really awesome. How long since a U.S. President and his wife has done that? I'm too sleepy to research the answer to that one, sorry.

(President and First Lady Obama walking down Pennsylvania Ave. after the swearing-in ceremony. Loved the dress and pumps, but with the gloves, I wasn't feeling it. The President, on the other hand, looks handsome and dapper. Kilig! Photo from Reuters)
But the feeling of excitement, renewed hope, restored energy was just palpable as the crowds cheered for the couple while they walked. It sure was a great time to be in DC. Nakakainggit! But now after the inaugural festivities are over (the couple has finally turned in after attending all those balls according to the press reports), comes the hard part...critiquing the First Lady's outfits! Bitch ba? haha. It was just that my cellphone and mailbox were full of comments from my girlfriends and my sister about the First Lady's attire, both at the swearing-in ceremony, and the Inaugural ball.

As we've seen in the past, the First Lady really has her own fashion sense. She usually sticks to the basics (business suits) and the same silhouettes (shift dresses). On some days, she wears high-end brands like Narciso Rodriguez, on other days, she's in a J. Crew (the clothing store has been cutting its prices in a bid to increase its sales so malapit na syang maging low end brand hehe) .

(The olive green gloves up close. Yak color! But look at the detail in her dress ha. Wonderful! Photo by Getty Images)

I personally loved the yellow-gold embroidered dress and coat she wore to the swearing-in ceremony. It was bright and sunny, as was intended to be by the young Cuban-American designer Isabel Toledo. But I hated the hideous olive green gloves and green pumps. Why? Because I just hate the color green, yun lang! Kahit na Jimmy Choo pa yung shoes nya. With the shoes alone, the outfit was actually striking, but I thought the gloves just wrecked it.

(This was the Milly houndstooth dress Dr. Jill Biden, the Vice President's wife, was wearing underneath that hot red coat. Loved her boots as well. Biden photo by Reuters)



In a departure from her predecessors, the First Lady stuck to just one ball gown, an ivory white, one shoulder, ruched gown created by a relatively unknown designer Jason Wu. (Departure because usually, a First Lady changes her gown for every inauguration ball she and the President attends.) The Wu frou-frou looked like a "prom dress" griped my sister. I couldn't agree with her more. Perhaps the intention was to soften up the hard features of the First Lady. However, the gown didn't look flirty or feminine at all, it was yun nga prom dress-y. I thought it probably looked better up close, cos maybe those rhinestones and Swarovski crystals would give it the oomph it needed, but sorry, the entire thing reminded me of of a plucked chicken.

(The inaugural ball gown: Looks like a plucked chicken to me. Photo by Getty Images)

On the other hand, I super loved the Vice President's wife Jill Biden, for walking in those sleek black calf-length stilleto boots and red overcoat. She really rocked! She was apparently wearing a Milly houndstooth dress under her fab, fab coat. Apparently some people criticized her for the length of the dress, the hemline grazing above her knees, but hello, if you have it, flaunt it. These were not the knees of a fuddy duddy old woman approaching senior citizenship I tell ya.

At the ball, Dr. Biden was sooo splendid in a red strapless gown by Lebanese-American Reem Acra. (She dresses all these celebrities walking the red carpet.) It was so simple with just a tad amount of ruching, but Dr. Biden looked so vava-voom sexy. The Vice President just looked so positively cuter beside her. I truly am fascinated with this couple as much as I adore the President and his First Lady. Last thing about Dr. Biden's Inaugural Day outfits, if you compare them to what she's been wearing all throughout the campaign, it seemed a radical departure. Parang from conservative, biglang, wow, fabulosa!

(Jill Biden in a Reem Acra red gown. Doesn't she and the VP look awfully good together?)

Too bad the First Lady's hands were tied in the matter of picking a gown color. Tradition has it that First Ladies wear white during inaugural balls. Perhaps she should have chosen a different silhouette or did away with that one-strap look, or chose a different designer altogether. Methinks even that outrageous Christian Siriano who won season 4 of Project Runway would have done a better job of designing her ball dress.

Oh well, at least the First Lady is daring enough to try out different looks and continues to excite the girls into commenting about what she's wearing. Her predecessors were hardly fashion plates, and were largely boring in their attire. So winner pa din ang First Lady kahit pano.
* * * *

OF course ang pinaka-winner sa lahat ay:

(The hat was custom-made by Mr. Song Millinery in Detroit.)
Only a big woman with a big voice like Aretha Franklin can get away with a magnificent hat like that! Love it!

That Narciso Rodriguez dress

THIS is the original dress of Narciso Rodriguez:


(Via NYT/AP)

And this is what Michelle Obama wore on Victory Night at Grant Park:


(Photo via mrs-o.org)
The dress looked great on the model. It looked hideous on Mrs. Obama. Her hips and thighs look way too huge. Ugh, very unflattering. Maybe she shouldn't have tampered w/ the original design no? Because now that I've seen the original on the model, I actually love the dress and would want wear it myself...IF I had a model's figure! haha

And maybe Mrs. Obama should've lost that sweater. I mean, if you are going to wear something daring, then do it all the way. Perhaps Mrs. Obama first thought that the dress looked fabulous on her, then had second thoughts bec. it could just be too bold for Victory Night, so she decided to wear the black sweater to take it down a notch. The result. Ick. Maybe if she had worn heels, the look would have been much improved.

Okay, we all have our off days. At least we know Mrs. Obama is human.

Soooo inggit!

MAY I just say right now that I had a ticket to the George Benson and Al Jarreau concert last night c/o Pangs. I am a super fan of Al Jarreau (if you hear him sing "Spain", you will never have any other favorite singer...grabeh ang galeng!), and I was desperate until last Friday for some tickets. Benson was the epitome of the cool jazz guitarist in his younger days, but became more famous as an R&B singer with hits like "This Masquerade", which won him a Grammy. (Earl Klugh nasan ka na?)

Trouble was, I had already agreed to go to the Plains and Prints event at the Edsa Shangri-La Mall which was held at the same time as the concert, just as the rain was pouring in torrents. I didn't think we'd get the tickets so I asked my other friends Ms. RP and Sis to get together for the fashion show at P&P where Rajo Laurel's designs would be featured. (Sorry, I was late so no pics.) So when Pangs called, I had no choice but to let my ticket go. Grrr.

And now I'm so super inggit because Chuvaness not only enjoyed the concert but bumped into Adel Tamano as well! Waaaah! Yeah ghelfrens, if I knew Adel was gonna be at the concert I would drop youse like a hot potato. Hehe, joke. Hindi naman. Pero I've had this guy on my radar (my ate is also a big fan of his...get well soon Gina!) even before he started speaking in public, and oh my, he is the quintessential mabango-looking guy that gheys often fantasize about. Sorry Ace, taob ka ni Adel. Hottie alert! (Question: Doesn't it make you feel a tad ancient when all your crushes are now younger than you? Tsk, tsk.)


Anyhoo here's Adel's photo which I "stole" from Chuvaness' blog to comfort me. Thanks Cecile. (Geez, now I know why I needed to scarf down that Skolatina from Cyma last night!)

And yeah, I agree, 80's music was sooo good...it just gave us the best themes to our often drama-filled parang-pelikula lives in our youth. But boy weren't those days fun?

Hmm...I wonder if Adel's gonna watch the Petula Clark concert? "When you're alone and life is making you lonely you can always go - downtown..."

Palin eyeframes by Kawasaki

SO I've been going on and on about how I just luuurv those eyeglasses of Republican VP candidate Sarah Palin. I don't necessarily agree with her politics but my, my, this woman has apparently created a fashion trend in the U.S. because now, every American woman — Democrat or Republican — wants Palin's eyeframes.

Well, it turns out, those rimless titanium specs were made by industrial designer Kazuo Kawasaki and cost about $375 (roughly P17,250) for the frame alone. (Oof! even the rimless Roberto Cavalli frame I had been coveting from an online optical shop only a few months ago cost only $290.) Sigh...the price one must pay for great fashion. BTW, Palin's frames are from the Kawasaki 704 series which have really cool choices for its temples.

(Sarah Palin's eyeglass frames by Kazuo Kawasaki from the 704 series. Photo from Vision Glasses)

Check out this feature from ABC News' Good Morning America. They're calling Palin's eyewear "the new pantsuit."
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NOW, this is interesting...an interview with five of Sarah Palin's closest pals. Only one of them has categorically stated that she is voting for the Alaska governor as Vice President.

As if we didn't have any other problems...

Bushy eyebrows are back

By Emili Vesilind
Los Angeles Times

STEP away from the tweezers. The tapered, pin-thin eyebrows you’ve been meticulously sculpting every week since the ’90s are looking about as dated as a Menudo T-shirt. Call it recession chic (visiting a brow specialist suddenly feels so indulgent), or further proof that we’re moving toward a less coiffed—even grungy—era in fashion. But bushy brows are back for fall in a big way.

Think Brooke Shields in her skin-tight Calvin Klein jeans, with those thick, healthy arches that veiled smoldering eyes. Only now, it’s Hilary Rhoda who’s the model of the moment, with her considerable brows and all-American good looks. (Click here for the rest.)

(My carefully tweezed and sculpted eyebrows.)
For sure, I'd be the last one riding on this fashion bandwagon. I've plucked far longer than any of you who probably weren't even around yet when Michael Jackson was still dark (he btw, recently celebrated his 50th birthday supposedly by eating cake and watching cartoons with his kids), so some of my eyebrow hairs actually have not grown back. So even if I wanted to get them all bushed up, I'd probably have to wait it out for a year. By then, the trend will probably be over.

Of course, I could use some eyebrow pencil to fill it all in, but to me, it looks fake. Then I also think having bushier eyebrows would make me look always angry, or perhaps insane (more than I usually am). I love my thin eyebrows because it brightens up my face and through the years, I've actually gotten a lot of compliments about them. So I think I'm gonna stick with my bush, errr, I mean my brows.

Laugh-a-minute at Project Runway Philippines

THERE'S a new comedy show in town and it's name is Project Runway Philippines! Comedy because the ghey designers in this show are just hilarious, as only Pinoy gheys can be. So one minute they're sobbing their poor little mascaraed eyes out, then the next minute they're catty and downright beyoootches...just my kind of programming! Ma-drama itong mga lolah na ito, I don't think they were scripted at all, unlike their American counterparts. They are so transparent so pag im sila, or just being tupperware to their colleagues, ay it shows mga sisters!

I just found the show on Channel 16 of SkyCable although I've always been an avid fan of the U.S. version (I have a ghey crush on Tim Gunn!). But I didn't think the local version was airing already. One thing though, those subtitles are soooo distracting! Anovayan? Wilson Tieng didn't invest in a good sound system and engineer? Tsk, tsk, tsk, sayang and technology. (Wilson Tieng is the producer of the show and if I'm not mistaken, owns Solar Channel.)

Oh and another thing, why is the host Teresa Herrera trying to forcibly channel Heidi Klum? Gasp! Kalowkah! Buti pa si Jojie Lloren, he doesn't try to be like Tim Gunn, although the former should try to be more articulate in his critiques. Like if I were the designer, I'd be like, "OK Jojie, what are you trying to tell me?" (My fab fashion writer ghey friend tells me the original choice as host was actually Tweetie de Leon, except that some people thought she was kinda jurassic na. And I go, have you seen the closeups of Teresa Herrera?)



I'm not being a beyootch here (okay, so I am, so what?), but I think Apples Sadhawi would have been a better choice as host. She sounds articulate, and her face is still fresh-looking after all these years (sige na nga, it must be the Pond's). Maybe next season, the producers would rethink the script and the major characters in the show. Like they should consider maybe switching Rajo and Jojie's roles. Although Rajo is younger, parang he has more to say when it comes to critiquing the clothes or giving helpful hints to the designers (although honestly, I don't think he's the greatest designer in the country). But you know what they say, those who can't do, teach.

For it's first season, I think Project Runway Philippines is watchable enough, as long as these ghey designers keep shooting off their mouths. Kapluk!
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A word about the fake child singing sensation at the Beijing Olympics opening ceremonies: Made in China ang production, what did you guys expect? Bumibili ba kayo ng tunay na LV bag sa Greenhills? Hello.

A world leader as fashionista

THIS post in Bryanboy's blog really made me laugh so hard I almost fell off my chair...

Yulia Tymoshenko, Prime Minister of Ukraine


How fierce is this bitch? Ukrainian powerhouse model Snejana Onopka got nothing on her homegirl Yulia Tymoshenko, who is the current Prime Minister of Ukraine. OH MY GOD I LOVE HER! I really do! With her trademark braids and her AMAZING personal style, Yulia is the ultimate HOTNESS in world leaders. SARKOZY WHO? CONDOLEEEEEEEEZA WHO? I LOVE YULIA! (Click here why.)

Uhrm...paging Joanne Zapanta again.

The Pope's red shoes

A few days ago, the crackly hosts of The View (Whoopi Goldberg, Joy Behar, Sherri Shepherd, Elizabeth Hasselbeck, and Barbara Walters) all wore red shoes in tribute to Pope Benedict XVI who was visiting New York. Apparently they thought the Pope was being fashion forward by daring to wear red shoes which just really stand out against his white cassock.


Far from being fashion savvy (although he wore red Prada loafers a few times before), the Pope is actually just carrying on the tradition from his predecessors who all wore red shoes (except for Pope John Paul II who started wearing a red pair then later switched to brown shoes to symbolize his coming from humble beginnings).

Pope Benedict XVI just wants to show continuity in religious symbols, most especially in the manner of dress and speech for his papacy. (As Cardinal Josef Ratzinger, he often defended traditional Christian doctrine and values. Under his papacy, Pope Benedict XVI has allowed the return of the Tridentine Mass where the priest's back faces worshippers and the entire ceremony is cconducted in Latin. And just two days ago, he spoke French at the beginning of his address at the United Nations assembly. French used to be the "official" language spoken at the UN.)

There are many opinions on how the tradition of wearing red shoes started, with some saying it may be traced to Roman emperors having worn red leather sandals. Or that Pope Benedict XVI wears the color because he was a Cardinal before, and the color stands for a Cardinal's red cassocks.

In a children's book entitled, "Why does the Pope wear red shoes?", the Pope's private secretary said red is the color of martyrdom and "the color of burning love, the color of the fire of the spirit." Of course, that still doesn't thoroughly explain when the tradition started and why it was adopted in the first place.

Whatever the source of this tradition, I think the Pope does look awfully cute in those red leather shoes. And if the girls from The View thought that was being edgy, just wait 'til he pulls out his uber-cool Serengeti shades again.

The importance of being Ernest

I'VE never met Ernest Santiago. But growing up, I often read and heard stories of his famous disco, the Coco Banana in Malate, Manila. I saw photos of his glorious parties and the veritable who's who in Manila's cafe society and fashionistas (the term had yet to be invented then) who went there, and had a grand time often in costume, dancing with the latest Studio 54 disco sounds pumping in the background. For what some would probably call a buddding babaeng bakla then, I was furious at not being old enough to go out and have fun as Ernest and all his friends did. It was the iconic bar of the 1970s which defined the era when everyone just had a great time with no thought of the consequences.

I also recall passing by his atelier in Remedios Circle with his brand Santiago de Manila on his wall, whenever my family and I would eat in the area. He was Manila's foremost fashion designer in his day, and brought the terno, a traditional Filipino dress, to the modern era in its flamboyant oversized dimensions. Whenever his fans speak of Ernest's designs, they will often mention his show-stopping creations for people like Imee Marcos who wore such a modern Maria Clara at one film festival (herself another babaeng bakla, of course). I loved his designs because I sensed a kindred spirit, a rebel against all traditions our family and society forces on us. Tired of fashion designing, he turned to interiors.

In the last couple of years, Ernest's name was constantly popping up in the newspapers' lifestyle sections again after he opened his restaurant Cafe Gallery 83 in Pagsanjan, Laguna and helped found the Viaje del Sol, which led tourists to the wonderful sights and sounds of Laguna and Quezon. He was also building a resort in Quezon which I remember making a mental note to visit with my travel buddies. Last Holy Week, as my friends and I were on our way to Paete, we drove by his restaurant in Pagsanjan, which looked nondescript from the outside, but which I hear served the most fabulous home-cooked meals, sometimes lovingly prepared by Ernest himself.

Early this year, a glossy society magazine held its anniversary party and its editors asked Ernest to dress up the hotel function room like his legendary Coco Banana. While not a lot of people were in costume as the parties and shows in his infamous bar as before (when one gets to a certain age, it makes him tentative and conscious of his appearance), everyone obviously had a grand time.

I wish I had known this great man because his life touched mine in so many, albeit vicarious, ways. He may have died a cruel death, but he lived a fabulous life that people will speak of and remember forever. Greatness endures. This story from the Philippine Star and Inquirer about Ernest's life and times. (Photos from Manila Standard/MST web sites.)

From Joanne Zapanta-Andrada

Phil. Star columnist Joanne Zapanta-Andrada reacts to my blog entry on her recent column which included an item on my late nephew, Jong Cariño. Her comments below:

hi stella! this is joanne zapanta-andrada and I am really curious what nasty things you wrote about my dressing the president. hahaha! more importantly, i want to say how much jong's death has touched my life. what i did not mention in my article is how many friends he had who responded immediately when they found out he had the accident. they flooded the hospital. he had soo many friends! how blessed he truly was! many great and famous people can never claim the same amount of true friends. i truly wish i knew him! i know he was a special person and i have become a better person to have been with him in his last moments on earth! (Oct. 31, 1:25 am)

tried to write you a couple of times but they never got through. this is joanne zapanta-andrada and i am glad that my last article held some meaning for you. maybe you can tell me what nasty things you said about my dressing the president. hahaha! but more important, i wish yo could tell me about jong. what i do know without a doubt is that he live a full life in his young age. within minutes of my calling his friends (using his cell) they all flooded the ER of asian hospital. many wealthy and influential people can only wish to have as many real friends as jong did. i think he was a very special person indeed! (Oct. 31, 1:44 am)

i saw the photo you posted re gma in a very "butch" outfit. that outfit is not part of her official wardrobe. no idea where it came from. probably it was a gift from a friend as it is not part of our collection. the operative word in my job as wardrobe adviser is "adviser". you can prepare the best outfit and advise her to wear it but if she has her mind set on her own idea of an attire that day , you do not argue with the commander in chief. (Oct. 31, 1:58 am)

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Now, this terno is gorgeous! (From the Philippine Embassy in China)

Hi Joanne! Apologies on behalf of Blogger which can be get a bit funky, thus, unable to register some of my readers' comments. If you wish to know more about Jong, I ask that you contact his mother Bingbing who also lives in your village, or my nieces who used to hang out with him. I can give you their phone numbers if you wish.

Anyway, thanks for writing in and yes, the entire Filipino nation forgives you for the fashion faux pas of the Presidentita which are not of your doing. Hehehe. However, knowing that you are her wardrobe adviser, fashion consultant, and stylist and seeing her photographed in several horrendous outfits, it is inevitable that you will get blamed. I would resign the job if I were in your shoes, since it certainly does not add to your market value at all being associated with a fashion victim. Hahaha! As my mother always likes to say, money can't buy you class (nor good taste, I may add).

Sorry, I know the Macapagal family is close to the Zapantas but truly, with all the problems this country is suffering from, the public should at least have an escape by being able to look forward to a fashionable head of state sana. I mean, look at how we Filipinos let the Marcoses stay on for such a horrific length of time? Ang gandah kasi ng Lola Imelda! Hahaha!

In fairness to you though, the Presidentita's ternos and Maria Clara outfits are really pretty and I'm glad that she has brought back these traditional Filipina dresses into the presidential wardrobe. I could never understand why Tita Cory banned the terno from her presidential closet just because Lola Imelda wore it so fabulously. (But how true is it that GMA got two for one by being Ninang to someone's wedding, thus incensing the bride's father because he had to pay for both? One of those allegedly ended up on the Sona stage. Oops!)

Btw, pls. tell your boss to get a new makeup artist if she already doesn't have one. I'm no fashion plate either but at least I know how to blend my foundation. (See GMA's photo a few entries down below.) Joskopooo!

This is not! These long coats make her look even smaller. (Photo from China Daily)

Seriously though, I am glad that Joanne is among the very few who defies the stereotype of the fashion model. She is no dumbina this woman, having graduated cum laude from UP Creative Writing (tadaaah!) and having been able to reinvent herself as a photographer, columnist, and philantrophist. I've always known her to be "just" a fashion model (as if that weren't a difficult job as it is), looking pretty and glamourous in all those beautiful outfits by our celebrated fashion designers. Most of all I remember her for her creamy white flawless complexion, and no wonder, alagang VMV pala sya!

She reminds me of another former model Gina Leviste who graduated summa cum laude from De La Salle (and also a Kulasa like Joanne) whom the late Bro. Andrew Gonzalez once rued to me was a "disappointment" because of her career choices. I snickered as Bro. Andrew said this. I loved Gina just the same because as an artista, she was funny on TV. She still was a success despite what Bro. Andrew thought. Hmmm...whatever has become of Gina Leviste pala?

Btw, for someone who was so photographed as a model, photos of Joanne are non-existent on the web. I wanted to post one but well, I couldn't find any after googling endlessly. There is a nice piece on her though in HerWord.com.

Hmmm...I wonder what Halloween outfit the Presidentita has on today...

LV dreams

This isn't the one I dreamed about but it's sexy. I'd love to wear this! I found it on the Designer Exposure web site kaso it's sold na e. Ewan ko lang, it could be fake kasi $300 something lang cos it's on sale. Haaay.

Dang! I must be reading too much of Chuvaness again. Even her Louis Vuitton obsession is invading my dreams!

Anyway, going back...this afternoon I was dreaming I was shopping in Rustan's and there was an ongoing sale. From a hundred feet away, my eyes automatically zoomed on a pair of LV ankle boots! They were like magnets that pulled me in (I dunno how I got to the display shelf so fast without bumping into other shoppers) and I picked them up marveling at them like works of art.

Each boot was like in almost clear plastic with the LV logo in white stamped all over and the top of the ankle part was trimmed in beige in the same fabric, while towards the sole, the area was also in beige until the medium stack heel. Hello?! I dunno why it was in plastic or looked like it was plastic, it's a dream nga noh?, but the pair looked really good to me. I thought it was so perfect to wear during this rainy season.

(Just as a back story: I've been a boot girl since the late '80s and currently own about six pairs all in leather, mostly right above the ankle and one covering my calf. The last is my favorite because of its classic short sloping stacked heel, burgundy color and oh-so-soft leather. I bought the pair on sale in London and altough made in Italy, it cost me the equivalent of only P5,000. Of course this was like three years ago but the pair is really matibay and still fashionable because of its classic look. Talk about value for money!)

So I asked the saleslady how much the LV pair costs and she told me P22,000. I gasped! and she quickly added that it was already 90% off! Man, that's one expensive pair of boots! I told the saleslady that I wouldn't be able to sleep well that night thinking of the lovelies. I looked up to the ceiling, at the other customers, and circled the shelf where the boots were on display about a hundred times, as I tried to compute how much I would pay each month if I charged the purchase to my credit card. I was almost sure I was gonna whip out the plastic, but then I awoke with a start. My mom was knocking on my door because the reupholsterer was already downstairs to meet with us. Saved!

But this one takes the cake! Found it on eluxury.com, supposedly the only site where you can buy real LV goods 'cos the company owns it. Shet ang gandah! Pati ang price...$1,180.00 lang naman. Lord, make me win the lotto pls!)

Now I'm mildly obsessing whether the pair of LV boots I dreamed about actually exists that I've been googling "Louis Vuitton plastic boots" like mad for about 30 minutes already. So if anyone knows if such a pair has ever been manufactured, please tell me and end my suffering! Kalowka!