Tough Six: MODEL LOVE

I'm in a mood for a little creativity that I wanna start something ticklish for my blog. Starting this September, I would be featuring a section label that I call TOUGH SIX. Every month, I'll enlist (in my opinion, or according to my liking) top 6 (six) fashion topics, personalities, of-the-moment items, hot trends, scenarios - anything fascinating that's related to fashion.

And without further ado, I'll kickoff by tackling the hottest model couples in town. Blessed with good looks, killer bodies and the usual X-factor, these model-plus-model combos are burning like fire, and are turning everyone green with envy.

Tough 1

LATIN LOVERS. Mercator models Hideo Muraoka and Fatima Rabago aren't just a hot pair - they're best examples of proud model parents with good gene combination (just see how cute their daughter is).

Tough 2

FIRE + ICE. Celebrity-models Borgy Manotoc and Georgina Wilson make a smoldering combination.

Tough 3

GUA AI DI. Bench model John J. Uy and recent face of Plaints & Prints Jessica Chiao-Han Yang are definitely having a Chinese Connection.

Tough 4

WHEREVER, WHENEVER. Nathaniel Kiefer and Petra Dvorakova often stick and travel together for modelling assignments here and abroad.

Tough 5

M&M. Marx Topacio and Maxine Medina of PMAP are having sweet, sweet love!

Tough 6

DYNAMIC DUO. Lance Howard and Wendy Tabusalla are twosome coosome.

JUST DELIVERED JEANS

Growl if you want, drool if you should! Just mention a well-chiselled guy wearing nothing else but his sexy denim is enough to send women - and gays, of course - in commotion, what more if there are five handsome, luscious hunks with sweaty, oily bodies in jeans delivered hot and fresh just right enough to satiate you?

THE NEW SEXY. L-R: Drew, Samir, Hideo, Duane & Abs - pick your choice and defy your hunger!

I'll say it again, "So many men, so little time!" After seeing these gorgeous male bodies get exposed as if being served on a buffet table, this yummy denim ad campaign by SM MEN'S FASHION gives new meaning to sexy, and provides us multiple jean choices to munch on - from soft grays to charcoals to blacks to indigos, and even whites.

It's quite unusual for SM to shoot topless men, but with jeans as focus, this is the most sensible time to release relative amounts of heat, and to level-up amongst its competitors. With different brands to choose from, get your sexy, contemporary fit as SM Men's Fashion goes all out denim from July 1 to September 30, 2011 with the promo release of JUST DELIVERED JEANS.

Don't you just love to grab one of them? I mean, a single denim pair? Head to the nearest SM Department Store, or visit and like their Facebook page  to get more updates.

YOU LIFT ME UP. Fave model Hideo shows off his form while donning a pair of relaxed-straight smoke gray Baleno jeans.

ABSOLUTE ABS. Look thru the eyes of model Abs while showing his washboard abs in a low-rise pair of jeans by Jag.

BOY NEXT DOOR. Cutie Samir makes his mark in dark charcoal Markus jeans.

INTO THE TRIBE. Handsome Duane goes for gray skinny washed-out jeans by Tribal.

DOUBLE DUTCH. Abs in a classic denim design with contemporary fit by Von Dutch.

INTO THE BLUES. Hideo gets a style plus wearing indigo jeans by V+ Jeans.

BLACK VS. WHITE. If you are to choose, is it Drew in black Wrangler jeans or Samir in skinny white denim by Anti-fit?

TAKING OFF. For Abs & Duane, it's better to show some skin and just wear jeans - either the soft gray Dickies or a darker Hibaler pair.

Photography: Frank Hoefsmit
Styling:
For Hideo, Abs & Drew - Luis Espiritu & his team (Reg Rodriguez, Rudolph Leonor, Donna Gonzales-Lim & Mikka Velasquez)
For Duane & Samir - Mike de Guzman & George Palmiano (MGP)
Grooming: Bobby Carlos (Max Factor)
Hair: Jaime Sy
Models: Hideo Muraoka (Mercator), Abs Abdelkader (Ideal People), Drew (Reco), Samir Ayeb (IM Models) & Duane Stagoll (Reco)
Ad Agency: IMX

PINOYS DAZZLE IN NY FASHION SCENE

We, Filipinos, take pride in everything that shines through in the global arena. After Charice for entertainment, Pacquiao and Donaire for boxing, Pinoys are aggresively stamping themselves as new forces to reckon with in the cutthroat international modelling scene.

Carrying the blazing torch of glory is Fil-Canadian model hunk PAOLO ROLDAN who recently breathed fire in many runway shows - not just in New York - but also in Milan and Paris. Paolo's rise to fame started when he debuted exclusively for red-hot label Givenchy, closing the show's fall/winter 2010 collection. He then became clearly a favorite of Ricardo Tisci, and was immediately featured in the fashion house's fall/winter 2010 ad campaign. His career is currently in a roar, and is catching up with other designers, too, as he walked the runways for such powerhouse designers Armani and Hermès in menswear shows last month.

Givenchy F/W 2011

(photo from gq.com)

 Hermes F/W 2011

(photo from gq.com)

 Armani F/W 2011

(photo from nymag.com)

G-Star Raw F/W 2011

(photo from nymag.com)

Corneliani F/W 2011

(photo from gq.com)

 Johannes Faktotum F/W 2011 Lookbook

(photo from thefashionisto.com)

On the other hand, CHARLENE ALMARVEZ, a native of Laguna, is also on fire a year after she came very close to winning the 2010 Ford Supermodel of the World (she was 1st runner-up). Chat, aside from sizzling in numerous runway shows in the current NY Fashion Week, adds Teen Vogue to her credentials.

Nanette Lepore F/W 2011

(photo from Women's Wear Daily)

Yeohlee F/W 2011

(photo from Women's Wear Daily)

Jenny Packham F/W 2011

(photo from Women's Wear Daily)

Prom Cover & Editorial Supplement - US Teen Vogue March 2011

(photo from teenvogue.com)

Fashion Editorial - US Town & Country March 2011

(photo from fashionmedia.ph)

Cover for Wedding Essentials January 2011

(photo from tumblr.com)

Also from Ford Models, DANICA FLORES MAGPANTAY is creating her own flame after winning the 2011 Supermodel of the World. Statuesque and exotic Danica is burning hot in runway and collection presentations in New York, alongside and head-to-head with fellow Pinay, Chat Almarvez.

 Tim Hamilton F/W 2011

(photo from style.com)



John Patrick F/W 2011

(photo from nymag.com)

Bensoni F/W 2011

(photo from nymag.com)

Nanette Lepore F/W 2011

(photo from Women's Wear Daily)

Cover for Sense & Style March 2011 

(photo from Lala Flores)

Now, who's next?

GIRLIE BENITEZ ROCKS ON!

Don't we love models that are not just pretty-pretty? I mean, those models who exemplify creativity, intellect or talent beyond the usual beautiful face, slim body, long legs and overall gorgeous appearance. I adore models who continue to strive in fashion, make their mark and eventually transform into idols and icons.

These models are those that reinvent themselves and evolve. For one, I am a great fan of the androgynous Jo Ann Bitagcol who sashays from catwalk to fashion photography, and doing both at the same time. Angel Aquino is a coveted model turned versatile actress and TV host. Apples Aberin and Rizza Samson both make stylish statements as fashion columnists for Philippine Daily Inquirer and Philippine Star, respectively. And then we have the style purveyor and entrepreneur Tina Maristela Ocampo with her highly-touted Celestina line doing good on the international fashion scene.

Then comes GIRLIE BENITEZ. A favorite top ramp and high fashion model who looks like a cross between KC Concepcion and Amy Austria, Girlie rocks fashion anew as an accessory designer.

In a jewelry collection (called Punk "Rocks") that consists of rings, necklaces and amulets with skulls, gold chains, black cords and colored semi-precious stones, Girle shows her edgy, rocker side with a pictorial in which she also did her own hair, makeup and styling. Talk about a model doing multi-tasking! Todo na ito!

Photography: Mike Go

Cool di ba? Girlie's Punk "Rocks" collection will be available at The House of Laurel very soon. For orders, you may get in touch with Girlie thru Facebook for the meantime.