BLING IT ON!

It rained soooo heavily that night. But the mighty rain did not stop SM ACCESSORIES from creating their own glory under the spotlight as the downpour included celebrities, fashionistas and other recognizable figures who trooped to their media launch/fashion show last June 8 at One Esplanade in Pasay City.

RING OF FIRE. The circular stage was set for SM Accessories to claim bigtime. Not so liking the hanging cutouts though - parang mga taong nagbigti, and too early for Halloween!

AND SO WE'VE GOT IT ALL FOR YOU! To date, SM Accessories is the only retail channel carrying the widest and most complete line of fashion accessories.

BACKSTAGE CHAOS

For George and I, the volume of rainwater failed in comparison with the amount of accessories we used on 40+ male & female models with twice or thrice the change each (not counting the celebrities, the children, and other unforeseen figures who were not even included in our list, but made it to the runway last minute), that most people called this type of styling, "excessorizing."

THE BLACK SWAN. George checking out on queenly model Petra - or was it Petra checking on the already harassed George?

SO MANY ACCESSORIES, SO LITTLE TIME. Can you imagine all these chaos we have to deal with leading to the main part of the fashion show?!

A HELPING HAND. Thank you Madz of Adfolio for assisting backstage. Our assistant Sheila also looks on.

STYLE IN ACTION. Geo gets his styling hands on these kids.

ALL BELTED UP. Model Ann Casas must be at awe seeing the all the accessories that came flooding in.

It's contentious, but there are some people who didn't understand the idea what SM ACCESSORIES had for that event - bling, bling, bling to the max! For all they know, this was a full-blast fashion accessory launch that they attended. It wasn't an elegant, high-end jewelry event with piece-by-piece exhibition as each item come all together in one cohesive, or sometimes capsule collection. We were strictly told, the more accessories on, the merrier (in Tagalog, everything must be bongga!).  As John Kenner Chua (head of SM Accessories Management Corp.) explained in his welcome speech, "And now that SM Accessories is here, you’ll never have to look elsewhere for all your fashion accessories because we have them all!" Indeed, we placed everything we could, in our own interpretation, on the models with theatrical affluence and editorial touches in mind - necklaces, bangles, shawls, shades, bracelets, cuffs, bags, chokers, belts, hair clips, hats, etc. in more ways than the usual - so everbody would know the range they've got because they have it all nga for you! It's up to people to dissect what they saw on the runway, and wear the accessories accordingly and realistically.


THE SHOW PROPER

Different categories of accessories highlighted the show. Pound per pound, blow by blow, models walked the runway wearing 70% accessories, 20% clothes, 10% stage projection. Geo's girls vs. my styling with the boys!

a) Category: Hats and Headpieces

HAIR MAJESTY. Super love Ria Bolivar's magnificent towering hairdo with feathers done by hair expert John Valle!

THE CHINESE CONNECTION. Jessica Yang's feather vs. China Yoo's bow.

HEAD ON. Which is cuter, pompoms or sequins?

HAT HOTTAH. Fedoras and "Kuya Kim's" hat do the trick.

FULL CAPS. An overdrive of trucker and bull caps.

TOP IT ALL. A wide display of hats and headpieces on catwalk parade.

b) Category: Belts and Bags

WAIST DEFINITION. Pile on belts to create a corset effect, or go disco with belt chains.

THE BELTER, THE BETTER. More and more belts give emphasis on the womanly figure.

MODEL LOVE. Real life lovey-dovey couple Petra and Nathaniel conquer the runway.

GET STRAPPY. How do you interpret belts on the runway in exaggerated means more than using them on the waist?

SHORT STORY. Imagine a pair of uber cool short pants made with belts (c/o Grace, Sheila & Ate Jen)!

HERE THEY COME. In fairness, the models looked very high fasyon on stage!

c) Category: Shawls and Scarves

SHAWLSTOPPER. Geo's playful skirt that he made out of intertwined shawls blew the audience away! 

LIGHT VS. DARK. For SM Accessories, there's a shawl for every skin complexion.

FLIGHTS OF FANCY. Use it as a wrap, as a skirt, on the neck or on the head, shawls can be everywhere.

DESERT NOMADS. I'd like to thank Edwin Calingasan and his team for fixing the turbans on the heads of Alex P. and Daniel. Very nice!

SAHARA KNIGHTS. Scubed model Kevin and Laxie V. were perfect as Arabs!

GLAD WRAP. Models romped with their scarves and shawls.

d) Category: Branded Goods

EYE SWEAR! The ladies wore branded eyewear from Versace, D&G and Fendi.

SLIM SHADY. Models Robbie, Marx and Timothy wearing shades all from Gucci, and watches from Kenneth Cole, Giorgio Armani & Lacoste.

BLACKOUT. Models in black bodysuits while wearing imported branded eyewear and watches.

e) Necklaces

FUN & COLOR. Colored beaded and leatherette necklaces on these models (clothes on girls by Jian Lasala)

GILDED FANTASY. Gold necklaces for lure and attention.

GOLDEN GIRLS. More fashionable gold jewelries.

SILVER SLIVER. Black and silver neckpieces take centerstage.

SILVER TRIMMINGS. It's trendy to wear silver blings! (Dresses by Jian Lasala) 

PEARL HARBOR. Pearl accessories are no pearly shells.

MOTHER OF PEARLS. Ria Bolivar in a bustier made of pearl strands, peark beads and pearl necklaces (c/o Sheila & Tiya Fely).

  

e) Children's Accessories

DREAMSCAPE. Walk in frothy styles and accessories that bring fantasies to life.

COOL FOR SCHOOL. Turn the school halls into your own runway.

TOO YOUNG. Play it all up with colorful blings and fanciful trinkets.

HEIGHT OF FASHION. Style heavyweights Tim Yap of Philippine Star in sparkling silver and FASH's Bianca Valerio wearing Cesar Gaupo.

f) Lifestyle

ROCK ON! Accessories from Scubed.

THE STREET IS THE STAGE. Accessories from Scubed.

THE TRAVELLING MEN. Accessories from MSense.

MAKE SENSE. Accessories from MSense.

COLOR SPLASH. Accessories from MIC.

WOMEN ON THE GO. Accessories from MIC and WWW.

EVENING ELEGANCE. Accessories from WWW.

ONE SHOULDER DRAMA. Accessories from WWW.

STYLE & SUBSTANCE. Accessories from WWW; Clothes by Cesar Gaupo.

BEAUTY & GRACE. Lovely actresses Mariel Rodriguez and Megan Young graced the show.

SONG BIRDS. Singers Rachel Alejandro and Geneva Cruz in a battle of the best legs, curves and cleavage.

SISON OF CHANGE. Lovable Michelle Sison and his cutie son Gio wearing the designer's creations.

MAD MEN. R&B's Kris Lawrence and sexy Aaron Villena

BATCHMATES. Funked-up Mark Solis and a freshened-up Baron Geisler.

I AM SAM. The handsome Sam Concepcion vs. the ethereal Sam Pinto.

BLACK BEAUTIES. Beautiful Cheska Garcia and beauty queen Priscilla Meirelles (in a Jian Lasala dress) both donning black elegance.

TAKE A VOW. Models lineup in the finale part of the fashion show.

SIDELIGHTS

Not because we were part of it, I have to commend the SM ACCESSORIES Group for the success of their event (despite the small technical glitch midway during the show), and them being in touch with the forces of nature - they had plenty of umbrellas for everybody as giveaways, mind you! Talk about effective forecasting, and preparing for the wet, bad weather!

RAIN RAIN GO AWAY! Top SM executive Mr. Ponce was handed with an umbrella.

MAN OF THE MOMENT. Channel 2's Marie Lozano with Mr. John Kenner Chua, VP of SM Accessories 

SAY CHEESE! Photographer Niccolo Cosme and stylist Ram de Vera.

ALL FOR YOU. SM Department Store's top executives.

HAPPY TOGETHER. Talent manager Jojie Dingcong with the stunning Bianca Manalo.

ROSE IN BLOOM. The pretty Ms. Donita Rose also came to see the event.

ALL AT ONCE. YDG president Louis Claparols, photographer/model Jo Ann Bitagcol, Ayen Florendo of SM Menswear with some friends.

TRÉS CHIC. Me with friends from SM Accessories Visual Merchandising - Michael B. & Paolo.

FULL SUPPORT. SM-MCG's Ms. A. Marie V. Pascual with SM-LTBG's Mr. Eugene Sy and Ms. Rina Lacia-Bugayong

SHOULDER TAP. Mr. John Kenner Chua with Ystyle columnist Christopher de Venecia

HEY DUDE! Baron Geisler reunited with fellow Kapamilya Mico Palanca.

HAIL CESAR! Famed designer Cesar Gaupo being surrounded by male hunks.

ALL SMILES. TV personalities Bobby Yan, Francine Prieto, Talent manager Arnold Vegafria and the statuesque Priscilla Meirelles

IT TAKES TWO. ADMM's Carol Mahusay and SM Accessories Marketing Manager Michelle Baro-Chua

SMALL BUT TERRIBLE. Cutie actor John Pratts was also in attendance.

SAM LIKES IT HOT. Gorgeous celebrity Sam Pinto while being interviewed.

MODERN DANDY. Direk Robbie Carmona also showed up.

BUDDY BUDDIES. Jun Poblador with Frank Garcia.

WE'VE DONE IT ALL FOR YOU. The SM Accessories Merchandising Team with their big boss.

CHEERS! SM-LFMC's Jocas de Leon and Marie, with Arnel Palomares and another SM colleague.

CHIKA-CHIKA. Designer Michelle Sison and son Gio with some friends.

On the other hand, of all the projects that Geo and I did, this remarkable experience would go down the memory lane as the most tiring, most demanding, most exhausting ever! Yes, we were nervous, not because we couldn't live up to the challenge and put on a great show, but because of the lack of both management and preparation.

With extremely limited time frame - to be specific, less than a week to prepare, I salute everyone for tackling this event knowing the magnitude of expectations storming thru from left and right, front and back. I have to give it to Direk Ariel Lozada for formulating a concept in a snap - he did this hellavuh show with less than five (5) days in his calendar.

MASTER SHOWMAN. Direk Ariel Lozada during a practice with Geneva Cruz.

Huge factor in this media launch was the support given by Ms. Lora Gabuna-Antenor and her Adfolio team. Thank you mother for helping all of us organize the show sequence. Thank you for volunteering to source for some clothing requirements. When we needed more manpower and there was none who would give, you sent your people to assist us. When you saw us laboring and had little energy, you sent us food and drinks. All these you did with your kindness. Super thank you!

ADFOLIO IS NO.1. Me with the No.1 Mama Lora after the show.

Of course, we have to thank the people who assisted us pre- and post-show. Sheila and Grace, most specially, for managing everything and for enduring the pressure and lack of sleep. Thanks also to Joan, Joelven, Kiko, Amor, Tiya Fely, Ate Jen, my brother JR, Madz, Joyce and all who helped backstage.

SEEING DOUBLE. My brother JR with his kamukha Mark Solis.

GRACE UNDER PRESSURE. Our assistant Grace Boyles and me flanked the beautiful Priscilla Meirelles.

BACKSTAGE BOYS. Backstage helpers Joelven, my brother and Kiko with elegant Cheska Garcia.

Our gratitude also to the two separate but awesome teams of makeup artists and hairstylists headed by Bobby Carlos (for the female models) and Edwin Calingasan (for male and kiddie models). Nice to see colleagues John Valle there, as well as Dimple Callada and Benjie Angeles. Bravo, guys!

TALK TO ME. SM Accessories Marketing Manager Michelle Baro-Chua with Makeup artist Edwin Calingasan.

SPOTTED! Chief Makeup Artist of Max Factor Bobby Carlos with hubby Louis Claparols.

It was still raining horribly after the show. I think we were the last group to exit the halls of Esplanade, having to return the truckloads of accessories back to their original boxes & plastic bags, and the clothes back on the racks & cartons. I realized, we made it through and we all did great for quite an ambitious, whirlwind type of a show. I thought, accessories kung accessories! More than ever, thank you Lord, we survived it all!

DYNAMIC DUO. Diane Aquinde and Ninoy Sarcida of SM Accessories Marketing Group.

WE R FAMILY. The SM Accessories Group beamed with pride.

Ms. Michelle Baro-Chua, Ninoy Sarcida and Diane Aquinde (all from SM Accessories Marketing Group), don't you agree? Congrats all, we're still alive - we surpassed the delubyo!