RAJO! FOR PARISIAN

We've seen in most recent times how PARISIAN has evolved and has become an iconic shoe brand of retail giant SM DEPARTMENT STORE. While gazillions of girls and women are putting its chic pairs in the list of their wardrobe must-haves, PARISIAN continues to lengthen its strides and seems not to rest on its laurels.

With so many design collaborations already under his feet, the highly-heralded RAJO LAUREL jumps on PARISIAN shoes and recently launched his capsule footwear collection for the brand at SMDC Showroom last Nov. 9, 2011 with 14 designs. The big event, which was directed by Robbie Carmona, attracted fashionistas in all walks of life. 

RAJO! FOR PARISIAN. Parisian gets a designer flair with its collaboartion with Rajo Laurel.

"Making shoes is an entirely different approach from making clothes. Everything is different: from the way they should look, the way they should feel — the curves, the stitches, the details. There is science in creating a shoe." -- RAJO LAUREL on his love for shoes.

  

I SEE, I SAW. LTBG's big boss, Mr. Eugene Saw makes his welcome remarks.

PARISIAN MAN. Rajo Laurel takes centerstage.

STRIKE A POSE. Six fiercely-clad models appear against a backdrop of art installation before going down the staircase.

BEAUTIES IN OUR MIDST. Models wallow with the crowd while they stand tall in Rajo x Parisian shoes.

SITTING PRETTY. I asked Jasmine Maierhoffer, Parisian's face & legs in its video ads, to give me a sharp, sexy pose. 

FEMME FATALE. Top model Ria Bolivar shows them how to rock in heel-less fashion.

SHEER INDULGENCE. Long, tall Melissa Frye with her "nakakasilaw" long legs.

ON TOP OF THE WORLD. Foreign model Nadine is fiercely real.

LIVE MANNEQUIN. Model Giselle Paqueo in serious contention.

STEP BY STEP. Samantha G. shows the right steps.

A MOMENT TO REMEMBER. Rajo and his girls in the cheers of the crowd.

SHOEWCASE. Models unveil the whole footwear collection.

OBJECTS D' ART. The showroom looks magnificent from afar. Love the architectural installation!

RED DESIRE. This heel-less pair in striking red is my favorite.

PLUM PRETTY. Another nice version of the heel-less shoes.

SCULPTURAL CHIC. The heel-less versions seem endless!

RE-PAIR-TOIRE. Criss-crossed black number strikes again - but those stockings should have been removed to reveal sexy toes.

SOLE OF THE MATTER. The ridged soles give an interesting detail to this pair.

TIP TOE. Step into the right path with this simple but elegant pair.

THE ZOMBETTES. Models-slash-friends-slash-DJs Sanya, Mia and Ornussa surely grabbed attention that night. I don't understand the buzz about their new gig, but hearing their not-so-special music mixes and choices, I suggest that these girls go back to what they do best - modelling.

BLANC ET NOIR. I love Direk Robbie Carmona's embellished bowtie, suit + shorts combo, and overall sleek but dandy look that evening.

HAVIN' A BLAST. Me and my styling partner George Palmiano are all smile with Parisian's Marketing Head Rina Lacia-Bugayong, Belle Camarsi, LTBG's Ruth Galvez and Summit Media's Cha Clarino.

CHIKA MINUTE. My partner Geo Palmiano with Meg Magazine's Miel and EIC Peewee Reyes-Isidro and supermodel/photographer Jo Ann Bitagcol.

JUNIOR MOMENT. Associate stylists Reg Rodriguez, Mikka Velasquez and Rudolph Leonor are having that three's a company thing.

SUPPORT EACH OTHER. LTBG Marketing Head Rina Lacia-Bugayong with her supportive husband Atty. Ramil Bugayong.

BLACK FORCE. Ruth Galvez, Ricci del Rosario and Flor Maximo are belles of the LTBG Marketing team.

AVIAN FEVER. I am so liking the feather necklace of LTBG's Marketing Officer Jane Cometa-Segundo.

CHIAROSCURO. Naómi Matsuda Monson of LTBG Merchandising team looks stunning.

BLING IT ON. Our friends from SM Accessories Marketing team: Jeune San Juan, Ninoy Sarcia and Diane Aquinde.

ALL FOR SM. Ayen Florendo (Marketing Head of SM Men's Fashion), A. Marie V. Pascual (Vice-President of MCG) and Jeff Lo (Vice-President of MFMC) also threw their support.

BLU GIRL. Nice to bump into long-lost friend, Ninya Flavio of Mega Publications.

SHOP TILL THEY DROP. Our friends from Adfolio (Parisian's ad agency), Lora Gabuna-Antenor, Anna May Sta. Ana & Neslyn Diaz are happily hoarding boxes of shoes. 

OPEN SELLING. Guests of the event get their first dibs as they troop the counters to avail these shoes.

TARTAN TITAN. Please allow me to savor this moment on the photo wall :-)

Although I admire RAJO LAUREL for his creative talent combined with good business acumen - a lethal combination why he does so good in this industry - designing shoes, certainly, is not his forte (as said, the sexy clothes worn by the models during the event were gorgeous). While I disagree with other fashionistas hyping this collection just to say that they already own a designer pair at retail price, I was expecting more. I personally believe that PARISIAN, having a couturier of this magnitude and caliber to uplift its image into a higher fashion level, deserves better. Don't get me wrong, Rajo's designs are good. Except for the heel-less shoes (which I have seen numerous times in better versions such as those by Kermit Tesoro), the others are - in all honesty - not spectacular, at all. Retail-friendly, yes. But having styled for PARISIAN's previous ad campaigns, I've seen better.

On a more positive note, I salute the whole PARISIAN team for launching a wonderfully-done, successful event. Thank you LTBG (especially Ms. Rina Lacia-Bugayong who toiled much to make every aspect of the event work) for inviting us. The Rajo! for Parisian collection will be available in only seven premiere branches of SM Department Store: SM Megamall, SM Mall of Asia, SM Makati, SM North Edsa, SM Cubao, SM Southmall and SM Cebu starting November 11.