WEAR MY DESIGN

How would you to like see a dress you designed being featured in ENSEMBLES stores nationwide, with your name credited as its designer, and to be worn by Carmina Villarroel in her next photoshoot? 

Local feminine brand ENSEMBLES is having its first ever Design Competition open to all designers and aspiring ones. ENSEMBLES is giving you the chance to break into the world of fashion through its WEAR MY DESIGN Contest where winning pieces will be produced for the Spring/Summer 2013 Collection.

Wear My Design Competition is looking for original yet smartly flattering creations! No experience necessary, just a love for Ensembles’ style. Just submit a dress prototype creation together with the Application Form. Can’t sew, but full of ideas, you can even have someone else sew it for you. All approved submissions will be uploaded to Ensembles Facebook Page for voting which is 10% of the criteria. There is no limit on the amount of designs submitted. Five (5) early birds approved submissions will be rewarded with Php 2,000 worth of Shopping Spree from ENSEMBLES!

The winning designers will not only receive the satisfaction of seeing their garments produced by ENSEMBLES and worn by others, but they will also receive cash prizes, gift certificates, generous gifts from our partners including a full make-over by Piandre Salon, great coffee from Bo’s Coffee and a huge gift pack from VMV Hypoallergenics. 

In addition, ENSEMBLES will feature a write up about the winning designers and their designs that will be featured on our website, in broadsheets as well as various social media outlets. 

In the meantime, here's the current S/S 2012 ad campaign of ENSEMBLES featuring actress/TV host Carmina Villaroel:

Learn more about ‘Wear My Design’ Competition Mechanics and complete set of rules in Ensembles website www.ensembles.com.ph.  Application Form can be downloaded from Ensembles Facebook page (facebook.com/EnsemblesOnline).  Follow Ensembles on Twitter (twitter.com/EnsemblesOnline) and Pinterest (pinterest.com/EnsemblesPH).

PINAY WINS INTERNATIONAL SHOE DESIGN COMPETITION

My partner George Palmiano has been very keen lately about fashion news around the globe. He recently tipped me about this international shoe design competition wherein a virtually unknown Filipina designer won -- very news-worthy, in the same manner as blog-worthy!

For many of us Pinoys, we're not totally aware of the Italian shoe brand ALBERTO GUARDIANI. Together with I-D, the British magazine created by Terry Jones, the brand recently announced the winner of Cinderthriller International Shoe Design Competition, which was launched months ago in search for the new "It-shoe". According to news, The Flutterby Shoe by Manila-based LADY SAN PEDRO bested 2 other international finalists who made the into the final cut of the competition. 

A special panel featured the celebrated British shoe designer Georgina Goodman, Anna dello Russo, Sarah, owner of Paris concept-store Colette, Andrew Keith, president of Hong Kong department store Lane Crawford, Terry Jones and Rubina Guardiani.

In a related release, LADY SAN PEDRO's design features a classic red maryjane pump that gets a stylish, fantasy-like twist with a pair of butterfly wing heels and antenna-thin straps. The Farfalla heels epitomizes the modern woman while possessing a spontaneity that can only come from a sharp mind and fearless spirit.

BUTTERFLY HEELS. Lady San Pedro's winning shoe design rendered in graphic illustration.

Check out this winning design by LADY SAN PEDRO that has been made into a real shoe for ALBERTO GUARDIANI. Fly really high Lady, fly high with might fellow Pinoys!

SPREAD YOUR WINGS. From design to reality, the Flutterby Shoe is as delicate as the butterfly.

THE WINNER TAKES IT ALL. The "Lady" shown here with the "Shoe".

NOTE: Pictures from Alberto Guardiani

LET'S SALE-E-BRATE!

Topnotch retail brands BAYO, KIDS OF BAYO and MISSY are all together starting the year with a bang with their much-anticipated END OF SEASON SALE. With Christmas out of the way, the fashion triumvirate are thankful for a remarkable 2011, and are treating you all fabulous Pinays with up to 70% OFF on selected items, and 10% OFF on regular items. Score on great deals as sale runs from January 2 to 15, 2012.

Visit your nearest BAYO, KIDS OF BAYO and MISSY branches or check out www.bayo.com.ph for more details. Per DTI- NCR Permit no. 9691,9689, A3-1157 series of 2011.

YEAREND STYLE BONANZA

To all stylish bargain-hunters, the much-awaited YEAREND SALE of sibling fashion brands FREEWAY, ENSEMBLES & SOLO is still on-going! The sale event started last December 19 in all stores nationwide. Check out your fave branch for loads of great markdowns plus new arrivals.

Shop and get a hold of their great holiday deals and promos, as well. It's never too late to score on great fashionable finds that you can give away as gifts to your beloved ones. For more details, check out www.freeway.net.ph, www.ensembles.com.ph and www.solo.com.ph.

Happy Festive Shopping!

MALE DOMINATION

Yes bekis, it's Philippine Fashion Week fever again! As in, this will be a week-long fashion festival highlighted mostly by gays and the pretentious bisexuals. Either or whatever you are, PFW is all about loving local fashion and celebrating Pinoys' love for anything stylish.

Since I celebrated my birthday yesterday, I'd like to treat you all my readers and followers to experience PFW. For the first time in its entire history, SM MEN'S FASHION is having its super bonggang solo fashion show on October 26, 6:30PM at the SMX Convention Center. My partner George Palmiano and I are extremely excited for this grand event - we will be styling the BOYS TEENS WEAR segment of the show (our mader Luis Espiritu will do the menswear), and can't wait to present the magnificent collections that all of you, for sure, will sigh, ponder and react, "Is this really SM?"

That being said, we're giving away free invites to lucky readers to come and watch this awesome SM MEN'S FASHION show that will be directed by industry stalwart, Jacky Aquino. The promo instruction is simple: first 30 readers to leave a message containing their full name, mobile number and email address in my comment box will automatically get the invites. For example:
       Mike de Guzman
       09064568453
       mgp_style@yahoo.com


So for all those who want to see the latest and the most-est trends in menswear, or those who just clamor for gorgeous, well-endowed male models, ano pa, eh di join na! 

For the meantime, allow me to entice you with the latest SM MEN'S FASHION ad campaign photos that will come out soon in all SM Department Stores.

Photography: Frank Hoefsmit; Styling: Mike de Guzman & George Palmiano (MGP); Makeup: Bobby Carlos (Max Factor); Hair: Bea Misa; Models: Rodrigo (Mercator), Robson & Pedro (IM Models); Ad Agency: IXM

Photography: Frank Hoefsmit; Styling: Luis Espiritu; Makeup: Bobby Carlos (Max Factor); Hair: Jaime Sy; Models: Hideo (Mercator), Drew & Benjamin (Reco); Ad Agency: IXM

THE SWAN'S LAST SONG

I am not a ballet fan, neither do I know something about it. I only know of LISA MACUJA-ELIZALDE as the Philippine's ultimate prima ballerina - where all I can fathom is that in our country, Lisa is ballet, and ballet is Lisa.

"Not many ballerinas have the privilege to be able to plan your own retirement.", says Lisa in her blog site, who will dance her last full-length Swan Lake in a series of farewell performances with Ballet Manila that started on Oct. 7, at Aliw Theater, CCP Complex. Other show dates this month will be on Oct. 21 and 22.

LISA MACUJA-ELIZALDE is the first Philippine ballerina, and the first foreign soloist who ever joined the Kirov Ballet in 1984. She is also the Artistic Director of Ballet Manila and Vice-Chairman of the Philippine UNESCO National Commission. Lisa is also Directress and faculty member of the Ballet Manila School – a training center for ballet professionals who are steeped in the Russian Vaganova method.

Now at the tender age of 47, Macuja-Elizalde bids adieu to her roles with a production entitled “Swan Song Series,” starting with Odette/Odile in Swan Lake, and also including Juliet in Romeo and Juliet, Kitri in Don Quixote and Giselle in the ballet of the same title. The entire series will unfold in the next two to three years.

We've known this retail brand for championing the arts through fashion with its National Artist Series, FREEWAY this time gives its support to Lisa Macuja in promoting Swan Song Series: Her Farewell Performances. See the huge billboard of Lisa along EDSA somewhere in Makati. To entice its patrons and fans of Lisa, FREEWAY also gave away tickets for the opening night (Oct.7) to those lucky girls who participated in its online promo thru Facebook and Twitter.

Photography: Doc Marlon Pecjo; Makeup:Margo Sarmiento; Hair: Nina Escano

For more details, please check out www.freeway.net.ph or www.balletmanila.com.ph.

STRIP TEASE

It seems that unisex brand SOLO is a staunch advocate of anything old, retro or vintage, as it goes down the memory lane - once again - with its 2^nd installment of the well-loved Pinoy Cartoonist Memorabilia series. This time it features no less than the greatest work of the Father of Philippine Cartoons, Tony Velasquez’s KENKOY.

When SOLO launched its first ever Pinoy Cartoonist Memorabilia featuring Larry Alcala’s Slice of Life last year, it was a show stopper. Young and old remembered their Sundays looking for the iconic caricature face of Larry Alcala among his cartoon drawings at the Sunday magazine. This year, old meets new as Solo Pinoy Cartoonist Memorablia takes timeless Kenkoy comic strips and mixes it up on trendy silhouettes and fabrics with different treatments such as foil printing, embroidery, embossed printing, flocking, high density printing and washed effect.

For youngsters out there, FYI, Kenkoy is considered the most influential comic strip in the Philippines, and the most successful because of the wittiness and humor, as well as his antics, colonial way of thinking, and carabao-english. Kenkoy gained massive following that he was adapted into movies in 1950s-60s and musical act in early 90s.

It's quite refreshing to see how SOLO is re-introducing the Kenkoy comic strip onto today’s youth as part of Filipino pop culture. The collection consists of His&Hers graphic tees, polo shirts, woven tops and dresses, men’s long sleeves, shorts and accessories such as stainless necklaces and slingbags, gift sets like watches, vanity sets and lighters and will hit SOLO stores in September. Each Memoriabilia Series item will have its own bio-tag of Tony Velasquez as well as its own unique packaging.

TOGETHER AGAIN. On her: Graphic tee (P595) ; On Him: Plaid long-sleeved shirt (P1,695)

DAYTIME DRAMA. On Her: Striped graphic V-neck shirt (P595); On Him: 3/4-sleeved washed button down shirt (P1,595)

MAD WORLD. On Him: 3/4-sleeved washed button down shirt (P1,595)

COCKTAIL TALES. On Her: Cropped batwing top with cartoon print (P545); On Him: Striped graphic tee (P695)

SOAP OPERA. On her: Graphic tank (P695) ; On Him: Plaid long-sleeved shirt (P1,695)

HIS & HER'S. On Her: Printed white boyfriend shirt (P1,695); On Him: Long-sleeved white shirt with Kenkoy embroidery (P1,695)

IT TAKES TWO. On Him: Printed tee (P695); On Her: Black cropped button down shirt (P1,195)

EDGE OF GLORY. White cropped buttondown shirt (P1,195); Black buttondown romper with embroidery (P1,795)

GOIN' SOLO. On Him: Graphic tee (P695)

On the other hand, to celebrate the launch of Tony Velasquez’ Kenkoy, SOLO brings back the much anticipated and bigger Online Model Search 2012, now on its third year. After they successfully launched Jaggy Tallada and Jhonna Flor as 2010’s grand winners and Mehran Khaledi and Phoebe Rutaquio as 2011's grand winners, SOLO is currently on search for two new faces to be unveiled in 2012.

Check out www.solo.com.ph/modelsearch2011 for contest details. All participants wearing any apparel from the Pinoy Cartoonist Memorabilia featuring Kenkoy are to submit their creative photo entries embedded with graphic elements available for download via the website. Early submissions get rewarded with special prizes from SOLO. Everyone can register on the contest site to submit entries and/or just vote. And this year, they’re giving away prizes to lucky voters as well. SOLO will randomly pick 3 voters per month (September – November) to win Gift Certificates. Model Search starts September 1 and ends November 30.  For more details about the modelsearch visit Solo’s website, Facebook and Twitter pages.

Photography: Doc Marlon Pecjo
Styling: Teej Nepomuceno
Makeup: Bobby Carlos
Hair: Jim Guerrero
Models: Mehran Khaledi & Phoebe Rutaquio

STRIPES FOR MORE

SOLO is having a striped show.

This young, edgy brand targeted for girls and boys sees colorful, bold stripes in vertical, diagonal and horizontal patterns that make a sensational statement for summer, and nautical themes reinterpreted with neon accessories for some fun, youthful vibe. You'll also find the traditional (smaller) Breton stripes re-worked in strong colors and cool designs, too.

SOLO embraces the striped trend in all their guises on everything from skirts, tanks, pants, dresses, cardigans, leggings to predictable tees. In a new pictorial that features the winners of SOLO's Online Model Search for 2011, you'll see lots of lines, vibrant colors and clashing striped designs.

From a hundred photo entries, SOLO picked the best 9 male entries and 8 female entries as finalists. Two posters emerged as grand winners: The Best Male Photo Entry is “The Soloist” by Mehran Khaledi (model) and his photographer/graphic artist partner Louie Pariñas; and the Best Female Photo Entry is “Slice of Glam” by Phoebe Rutaquio (model) and her photographer partner Em Rejano. The scores were based on both votes garnered through the SOLO Online Model Search website and Solo’s own criteria for judging. All participants submitted entries in the theme of Larry Alcala’s Collection as part of SOLO Pinoy Cartoonist Memorabilia Series. All the entries can be viewed in the Online Model Search Gallery of the http://www.solo.com.ph/ website. 

Check out the new collection at SOLO's branches nationwide. For fresher goings on, visit http://www.solo.com.ph/. Or “Like” them on Facebook, “Solo Online” and follow on Twitter, twitter.com/mySoloOnline.

WHEN FASHION HAS A HEART

Part of what’s good about being Pinoy is helping others for a good cause.

Throughout history, Filipinos have learned to struggle and survive during hard times and calamities, and reach out to those who are in need.

Even local fashion, surprisingly, has found its way to bring good deeds. We’ve always known this industry as cold, numb, irreverent – a dog-eat-dog world of full of cunning bitches. Good thing fashion still has a heart in designers like Rajo Laurel (who engaged the women of Payatas to produce environment-friendly and fashionable products by weaving bags from scrap cloth) and Puey Quinones (taught prison in-mates how to earn extra thru dressmaking, hand painting and some beadwork).

Last May 20, KULTURA FILIPINO of SM found its niche in giving light to the poor when it launched Crafts for a Cause, a program that puts the heart into retailing with products from livelihood programs from non-profit organizations. These products are made by underprivileged members of society trained by various foundations through livelihood programs aimed at enriching their lives and making them self-sufficient.

When you shop at Crafts for a Cause at the Kultura Filipino store at SM Makati, you will not only support these livelihood programs, but also discover wonderful items from all over the Philippines.


Channel your inner Filipino vibe and be amazed with ethnic-inspired crafts from cultural minorities: woven mats, colorful fans, and accessories by the sea-dwelling Samal Bajau tribe of Basilan through the Claret Samal Foundation; Ifugao inspired accessories and trinkets made by livelihood programs by Cordnet in the Cordillera region; and carved wooden items from the Palawan NGO Network, Inc.

When it comes to innovative but eco-friendly ideas, there are wristlets and coin purses made from tetra packs as well as candles and rosaries made from recycled magazines from Gawad Kalinga; and stylish bags also made from tetra packs by families of Baseco, Tondo through Kabalikat sa Kaunlaran.

Endless creative possibilities are also derived from old telephone directories and newspapers fashioned into bags by the street children and women assisted by the Gifts and Graces Trade Fair Foundation and the Kabisig ng Kalahi Foundation.

With the help of the Isla Para sa Kaunlaran Foundation, tin cans are transformed into novelty items by the marginalized community of Maribacan, Pasay. Tab rings from soda cans, on the other hand, make wonderful bags by poor families from Smokey Mountain, Tondo with the livelihood programs of the Philippine Christian Foundation.

Bags and home items made from recycled materials, as well as wax products made by newly released prisoners and inmates of Philippine jails and prisons were also highlighted during the event.

Crafts for a Cause brings together products from livelihood programs all over the Philippines: driftwood sculptures by the flood and typhoon stricken farmers and fisher folks of Banglos, Quezon; carved candles made by women involved in the livelihood programs of the E. Zobel Foundation; resin jewelry with butterfly accents by the butterfly farmers of Boac, Marinduque through Isla de Bila Bila; and macrame bags by the women of San Andres, Bukid, Manila through the Kaibigan Ermita Outreach Foundation.

There are also antique finish religious icons from the Ginto Foundation and wooden bead jewelry from the Holy Family Home Foundation’s livelihood programs.

So fellow fashionmongers, help uplift lives by supporting Filipino products. Shop with a heart in KULTURA FILIPINO’s Crafts for a Cause beginning May 20 at Kultura Filipino’s store in SM Makati. Other Kultura Filipino stores are located at SM Megamall, the Block at SM City North EDSA, SM Mall of Asia and SM City Cebu, as well as selected SM Department Stores nationwide.

SOLO RENDITION

So here we are again… May 2010 means Pinoy election fever (the automated version). As politicians bolster their crazy asses to impress voters in the final stages of their campaigns, we seem to be bombarded with nationalistic themes left and right, evoking Pinoy patriotism and sparking hope that will result to much-needed change.


Demonstrating that same blazing Filipino spirit, SOLO (the cult brand from the same company that brought Freeway and Ensembles) prides itself with the launch of “Old Manila” T-shirt series last year. Graphic-printed shirts depicting Manila during the colonial era take us back to memory lane with Filipino heroes, artisans, governadors, guardias civil, architectures, etc. – all but affluent display of Filipino history and culture during the Spanish times.


Wearing the Old Manila Collection is a cool way to remind all of us of our rich heritage, and the collages of graphics are the spruced-up, modern way for youngsters to embrace the past. Such nationalistic statement led to SOLO’s groundbreaking online collaborative poster-making contest with a search for SOLO’s new faces, with winners announced just recently.


SOLO’s Discover You! Show Yourself! promo required a collaborative team composing of amateurs – a model and a graphic artist or stylist – to come up with their photographic, vintage and patriotic rendition of the brand while wearing an Old Manila shirt. From more than a hundred of entries, two posters emerged as grand winners.


For the Male Poster Category, the winner is “I Can See You” (Model: Jaggy Tallada and Artist: Simon Agregado). On the other hand, the Female Poster Winner is “Reflections” (Model: Jhoanna Flor and Artist: Alexis Fusilero).

“I Can See You” (Model: Jaggy Tallada and Artist: Simon Agregado) bagged the Best Male Poster Category

“Reflections” (Model: Jhoanna Flor and Artist: Alexis Fusilero) won the Best Female Poster Category

 

Winners were chosen based on combined scores from online voting and Solo’s criteria. Models of the winning posters are the now the new faces of Solo, and the winning posters will be featured on walls of all Solo stores nationwide! All winners received cash prizes, gift certificates from Solo, Casio G-Shock from Time Depot and a feature spread in The Philippine Star Supreme Section.

Here are some pictures of the winning models as published in The Philippine Star:

To know more of the contest, visit the contest site at: www.solo.com.ph/postermaking.

 

 

 

THE HOUSE OF COCCO

Calling all shopping divas! Want more discounts on your inner and outer wardrobe requirements? Then checkout upstart brand COCCO, the quirky new concept store that fuses intimate wear with trendy and spunky ladies apparel.

You may visit COCCO's website by logging and signing on http://www.houseofcocco.com/ to receive an e-coupon (sample layout below) with 20% DISCOUNT when you purchase regular-priced items (intimate wear, trendy garments and accessories). Limited offer only. Valid only at COCCO outlet at the 3rd Level, Annex Bldg., SM City North EDSA. See complete mechanics as specified in the website.

Sample e-coupon from COCCO - not for valid use!