THE EMPEROR'S NEW CLOTHES

Lifestyle columnist, art patron and accessory designer JUNJUN ABLAZA truly knows how to throw a party in blazing style. He celebrated his birthday last October 24 with a headlining social event-cum-exhibit at The Manila Polo Club attended by Manila's elite, fashion denizens and art lovers.

Junjun's red-themed birthday party was highlighted with a photo exbihit that showcased his creations with Japanese and tribal-inspired artwear & artcessories that ranged from kimonos, obi wraps, feather capes, fur shrugs, chunky necklaces, spectacular headdresses, and other fabulous excesses that make these pieces all together an art form.

"The Emperor's New Clothes" gathered a multitude of visionary photographers and stylists that collaborated in different teams to produce unparalled, almost bizaare images with Ablaza's pieces interpreted in conceptual Japanese style - that included Raizel Dy x Louie Parinas; Ryuji Shiomitsu x Rxandy Capinpin; Jhay Layson x Arvin Cruz; Roko Arceo x Filbert Kung; Mike de Guzman + George Palmiano x Bethoven Filomeno; Rolee Umali x Mark Jacob; Edrick Paz x Sylvester Sy; Louis Gonzalez + John Damagan x Mark Ryan Alvarez; Rob Lim x Ram Mendoza + Arojo Santos; L.A. Feriols x Wesley Villarica; Mica Santos x Alvin John Adriano; Angelo de Cartagena x Christine Day Lorico; Argie Salango x Glenn Peter Perez; Michael Russell Lo Reyes x Michael Franks; Gio Gahol x Jav Velasco.

Unfortunately, my partner Geo and I were not able to personally greet Junjun and attend the event (due to prior work commitments), and lament the fact that we weren't able to see (in flesh) the actual images we worked hard for in larger-than-life print. Good thing though, our photographer Bethoven was there, and hearing from him that there were people who liked our exhibit entries was truly heartwarming enough.

Now, let me share with you all the end products of our labor, and hope you guys like these. We are genuinely proud of these images that may seem a bit controversial - and controversial is quite good. Since our team has limited resources, and wanted to deviate from the pack & create a bit of shock factor, we transformed our game male models into transgendered Japanese dowagers & Mongolian divas. We are thankful to everybody in the team - definitely an awesome job for all!

SNOW MOUNTAIN QUEEN. Model Adriel as a mystical snow goddess. Doesn't he look like actess Daryl Hannah here?

THE ART OF SEDUCTION. Model Jayjay looking like a Yakuza mistress with her tattoed man.

BARBARELLAS. Models Adriel & Jayjay as Mongolian warrior queens.

GENGHIS DIVAS. Another option layout.

Photography: Bethoven Filomeno

Art Direction, Styling & Post-production: Mike de Guzman & George Palmiano (MGP)

Assisted by: Sheila Marie Danipog & Darrell Justin Bautista

Hair & Makeup: Paul Refol

Models: Adriel Berwaldt & Jay Jackson (Elite Manila)

 

On the other hand, here are some fascinating visuals from several other teams:

Some exhibit sidelights...

The entralling exbihit hall.

 Photographer Betong poses with pride alongside one of our works.

 The celebrant and man of the hour, Junjun Ablaza, with one of our entries.

Congrats Junjun Ablaza and thanks again for inviting us to collaborate for this out-of-the-ordinary project that envisions fashion and art on a daring, upbeat scale.

Check out Ablaza Artwear & Artcessories at Ablaze, G/L Market Market Mall.



 

ABLAZE OF GLORY

Some people create with words or with music or with a brush and paints. For JUN-JUN ABLAZA, he likes to make something beautiful with wearable, nature-drawn art in the form of excessive, extravagant fashion jewelry. He likes to make people stop in awe and say, "It’s more than just a design, it’s a style... It’s being creative.” 

Being known as an events designer in social and art circles, JUN-JUN ABLAZA, who admits being drawn to excess, has crossed over into artful accessory design. "Fashion jewelry should be worn as ornamentation," Ablaza as quoted in his latest style catalogue. He considers natural forms like birds, flowers and stones as his departure point.

"Too many people think of jewelry in terms of gold, silver, pearls and diamonds," says Jun-jun. He wants to show people that contemporary jewelry, though experimental, can still be commercial. "My jewelry isn't only about prettifying, but about shifting the idea of preciousness away from an object's material value to the experience of wearing it," he adds.

Showing this passion for fashion and the arts, JUN-JUN ABLAZA recently had an exhibit entitled ABLAZABLAZE held at the National Museum of the Philippines. His works, featuring a bountiful of feathered headdresses and accessories, as well as wooden beads, reptilian skins, animal skeletons and fur, are represented in an epic tale of mythological and mythical Filipino folklore during primitive times. See Jun-jun's ethnic masterpieces below as he sets fashion married with historical art ablaze.

POINT BLANC

Just when you know that I've concluded multiple stories about SM MEN'S FASHION's participation in the Philippine Fashion Week, there's more!

Let it be known before you make sawa, that there was a photo exhibit held during the event itself. I am not sure if a lot of people saw this, but personally, the pictures are worth sharing to all. SM MEN'S FASHION, thru this pictorial, went out of their usual comfort zone. The highly conceptual visuals, that gave highlight to its latest PFW collections, are SM's way to stun everybody's thinking -  that department store clothes can also look very edgy, very fashion editorial.

For BOYS TEENS WEAR, the pictorial we did was entitled "POINT BLANC" - an interplay of lights and shadows rendered in the absence of colors. Mastefully photographed by Frank Hoefsmit, with styling, art direction and post-production by MGP (kami yun, hehe), makeup by Bobby Carlos (Max Factor) and Ria Aquino, hair by Jaime Sy, modelled by Robson Guaragni (IM Models), Pedre Dutra (Reco) and Avery Paraiso (Victo Rio), please allow us to indulge you more with these creative visuals that put the boys into the spotlight.

SAY FIERCE. All clothes by Markus.

EDGE OF GLORY. All clothes by Markus.

ALPHABET SOUP. Statement tee by Tee Culture; Blazer, checkered polo and pants all by Markus.

PURE DRAMA. All clothes by Markus.

METALLICA. Metallic top and pants both by Markus.

AGE OF SOPHISTICATION. All clothes by Markus.

ARMED STRUGGLE. All clothes by Markus.

DOUBLE VISION. Metallic tank top by Markus.

ETHNIC MAJORITY. All clothes by Markus.

INTO THE TRIBE. All clothes by Markus.

I LOVE MANANG!!!

It has been several nights already. I think I was severely haunted by this pictorial entry published weeks ago by the United Blogs of Benetton that featured the creative work of stylist Eric Poliquit and photographer Enzo Modejar that centered on an old lady turned mysterious fashion icon called "MANANG".

THE AVANT GUARDIAN. Manang's very stylish arched-back profile shot (left) while donning egg-shaped rosette dress and colored up-do; only to know she's only watering her plant pala on her chunky platforms (right). Kaya mo?

She may have aged, but Manang wouldn't be outdone in terms of what's hot and what's not (she detests to be the latter). Probably, she rose from being forgotten that she transformed herself - not just to be noticed - but also to be revered and adored. Female bloggers, be very scared!

POP-ARRAZI. Would you mind if your lola wear the trends this way and blog about this experimental look?

I am not sure, but I think Manang would want to compare her aging like brewing wine, too, for she believes that taste gets better with age. Whoever Manang is, or whatever she wants to become, wala daw bagasan ng trip please!

DRAGON LADY. Manang proves here that she can be filthy rich, utterly glamorous and a real bitch out to conquer fashion with one big accessory - a muscle-clad boytoy half her age!

To Enzo and Eric, this is a really nice, mind-blowing concept, and I have become Manang's ultimate fan. Speaking of which, Fadal Manila in collaboration with OS Accessories x Enzo Mondejar and Eric Poliquit proudly present DEAR MANANG, I LOVE YOU (a short film). Catch Manang as she transit from still pictures to fashion film as she unveils her fashionable, mystical story on August 25th.

Also see this trailer. Make Up by Nina Dumpa; Music by Lintech; Written by Ehiacinth Miranda; A film by Matthew Valeriano. I hope Manang becomes a well sought-after celebrity and an icon after this. Lavshu Manang!




Or go to this link to see video: http://youtu.be/Siq8MRqC5IA


NOTE: Photos from United Blogs of Benetton. Pilipinas

A BLACK BOOK AFFAIR

You read it - it's called the BLACK BOOK launch. And because of that event and the gloomy weather outside, I am feeling pitch black all over now. Welcome to the dark side!

It was raining hard last Tuesday (May 24), and I was running late to attend an event at The Republiq. Without Geo wanting to tag along, and me feeling sluggish under the weather, I convinced myself, oo na nga, to go and personally see the collaboration photos we did with Doc Marlon Pecjo and two upcoming GMA-7 talents. Baka sampalin kasi ako ni Doc pag di ako nagpakita! :-)

As you can see, the BLACK BOOK event was an exbihit that showcased Kapuso actors and actresses in stylish moments caught by Doc Marlon's camera. Different celebrities (photos of them below), different stylists (we saw Mickey See doing the makeup & Buern Rodriguez for hair, fellow stylists Teej Nepomuceno, Sidney Yap, Patrick Galang, Carlos Concepcion, Matt Gozun, etc.). We're thankful to Doc for inviting us to put some fashionable touch on two of his subjects.

Since I mentioned I am feeling black nga, here are the photos I took (exhibit pictures, celebrity pictures and some people I caught during the event) that I rendered in black and white (sorry for the poor quality, unwanted reflections, and incorrect angles of the few). Take note though, that some of the photos shot by Doc were actually in colors.

HEY CUTIE! Doesn't he look like a younger, fresher John Lloyd Cruz? I styled this picture, with clothes coming from my closet (necklace was Geo's though), hehe!

LITTLE PRINCESS. Jillian Ward was sooo adorable! She requested if she could take the little crown that Geo placed on her head during the shoot. Well, she did!

SINNER VS. SAINT. Love these photos of Jackie Rice!

ROCCO LOCO. Rocco Nacino in sartorial style.

BOOTYLICIOUS. Rhian Ramos shows her curves as a pop diva kuno. Is that Tado with her?

URBAN MACHETE. Hunky Aljur Albrenica looking clean and stark while fully clothed.

SMIZE! Carla Avellana gets greasy and dirty.

BEAUTY QUEEN. Iza Calzado is a daring Athenian goddess.

AMERICAN FLAG. Dion Ignacio reveals his stars and stripes.

BIKER CHICK. Isabel Oli is sexy either front or back.

WATCHALOOKINAT! Look straight in Mark Herras' eyes.

TOUGH GROUND. Kris Bernal in bondage.

FOURPLAY. A multitude of prints in Hippie-boho vibe.

SOLITARY MOMENT. Solenn Heusaff gets catty.

OHHHH BOY! The who? I would buy jeans from this guy anytime!

GREAT WALL. A plethora of Kapuso stars!

KRIS KROSS. I chanced upon Kris Bernal and she was nice enough to pose side by side her picture.

STAND BY ME. Dion Ignacio towers over his alter-ego.

BLACKOUT. Fellow collaborator Mickey See with John Pagaduan - both in monochrome.

DANCING MOOD. Lovely model Valerie Weigmann is all smile.

REAL MEN. Nice to bump on FHM big boss Allan Madrilejos with a pinstriped-suited friend.

OFF SHOULDER. Towering model Ann Casas in a cute alphabet-printed top.

PEOPLE WATCH. They came and they partied.

CHIKA CHIKA. I believe he is a Kapuso guy (on the right) and his name tag says Gino.

MAN OF THE MOMENT. We heart Doc Marlon Pecjo!