Style and Soul: Philippine Fashion Week

Philippine Fashion Week opens today

12:06 PM

Advocacy Styling: Resistance to...

5:15 PM

Last Wednesday, I assisted Aisa in a styling stint for an ad campaign for a "sporty" brand. It was a great opportunity so I took on the chance though it was a bit last-minute. Jear and Argie passed the project on to her and so, I got to be a part of it. At times, I'm really amazed at how fate works!

I'm keeping it mum until the campaign is finally launched this November 11. I've had the chance to see the rough edit of the photos and so I know this will turn out great, especially that the campaign has a cause unlike any other random beauty and fashion shoot. Will tell you more about it soon!

As early as 6:00 AM I was up to hopefully make it to the 8:00 AM call time. Sadly, I didn't but thank God I didn't miss much because the rest of the crew were late too. Apart from Aisa, everyone else that I met there were all new. What I loved most about it is how grounded everyone were. All were super nice, approachable and humble - exactly the people I would wish to always work with.

I was creating a DIY pepper necklace for veggie advocate Kathrina Lugartos.

The most exciting part for me was when model Ornusa Cadness wore the red biker jacket from my shop (F-STOP | Fashion Stop) for the shoot! Bea, one of the organizers thought it would be better. Deep inside I knew it would fit her style too so I suggested it to Aisa as well the day before. I'm so happy for my shop! My product will be on campaign ads, on the media, etc. Super kilig times for me! Weee!

Ornusa wearing a red biker jacket from my shop, F-STOP | Fashion Stop! I'm soooo kilig talaga!

After the shoot, we headed to SM Mall of Asia, SMX Convention Center for the SM Fashion Show. We thank Denise for inviting us. At first, I didn't think I could make it since by that time I would probably be tired because of the shoot but since we would just be around the area, Aisa and I decided that we might as well watch the show. Though haggard and under-dressed than the rest of the attendees, we cared less since we were incredibly tired. I decided to change the last minute though because my top felt sticky so I wore the jacket Ornusa used which Aisa bought (what a cycle that was! hahahah).

On the other hand, Jear (would you believe his day job is a chemist!), who also had the tickets of the show with him was late because he came from work. It was very understandable since he traveled all the way from Alabang! As friends, of course we couldn't go inside without him; even if it means giving up good or almost-front-row seats. So we let Denise and her boss Ate Marise go without us since we know they were very much enthusiastic for the show and we wouldn't let them miss it because of us. We got in late, seated at the back row, but we had fun seeing SM's fantastic collection. Loved the Parisian shoes.

After the show: Aisa, me, and Jear!

PLUG: Aisa could attest that I was wearing these wedges 7AM - 11PM!

Buy my comfy wedges at F-STOP | Fashion Stop (SHOP ASIAN category)

BTW! I also saw Michelle and Kat of Auxmanila. They're both so pretty! They're part of the Philippine Fashion Week production. I love Michelle's sense of style and strong presence. Such a cute tandem! Glad to see you guys!

The whole day was draining! But we were able to resist the exhaustion we were feeling then and we made it through the day. High five Aisa! Love you girl!

Photos from: Aisa and me

More photos to come!

Make sure you drop by my shop F-STOP | Fashion Stop

for my Pre-Holiday Sale!

Accessorize

Somehow like devils in Prada

4:49 PM

Styling for PFW Ipanema Resort Wear Collection

Thanks to Eldrich Carreon for the photos. More coming up!

Not as glamorous as I thought it would be.

Philippine Fashion Week is the holy grail event for the country's fashion industry. Would you believe it has never been an interest of mine? Well not until I started doing this blog. Quite honestly, I would like to think I'm just like one of the simple bloggers out there; being able to attend even one show was more than enough, just so I know what it's like to be there.

And I got more, SO MUCH MORE than what I wanted. It was a total blessing to have an impromptu styling job land into my lap thanks to my good friend Aisa. She was suddenly asked to style 50 looks for the Ipanema Resort Wear Collection after its stylist backed out the day before. She formed a team comprised of yours truly, Ana and Anagon Collection and designer-stylist Argie Salango to help her out.

For a starter like me, this opportunity is a big deal. Just the thought of it made me ecstatic, overwhelmed and extremely nervous (it being my first) at the same time. Imagine what a challenge it was for us to style slippers with designer clothes (as in seriously!); not to mention make formal and/or outrageous outfits look in line with the theme which was Brazilian summer - something we had to think of after seeing the clothes at 11:00 PM, the night before the show!

Fashion challenge for us: style slippers with these designer clothes!

I wouldn't want to put ourselves on the pedestal, but I would really give all of us a pat on the back for pulling off a good job and a great team work despite pressure and time constraint. Somehow, it was a pure irony for me to be exceptionally happy for this whole experience but at the same time be equally upset with some of the people behind the runway show.

It was disappointing to be working with people who think highly of themselves. At first, Ipanema wouldn't want to credit Accessorize despite the fact that the brand has massively helped the runway show. Ms. Ayet of Accessorize had SIMPLE terms: 1) give out stickers during the event and 2) have their name and logo shown on the video presentation as part of the acknowledgement. Was that so hard to agree on? Aisa had to negotiate her way to make that happen. Accessorize lent UNLIMITED number of accessories and Ipanema repaid the favor by flashing very quickly the logo of the brand (just once!). The Accessorize representative wasn't even able to catch that so-called "special thanks to". Honestly, Accessorize didn't need the event for promotion. I believe Ipanema need them and us more but they all act like the other way around which was something that I found irritating.

Also, as stylists, it was only logical that we wanted to see the slippers first as we ready the clothes and accessories for styling hours before the show. However, people from the brand (see how I don't know their names because they didn't even introduce themselves to us nor brief us) were really stubborn and wouldn't want to bring out the collection not until the show was about to start. Ipanema also insisted that they've chosen certain slipper designs for the clothes despite us asserting our honest and polite opinion that some didn't really match well. If not for designer Dave Ocampo contending that the slippers assigned didn't complement his dress, they wouldn't have listened. That made me feel low of myself because I took a job wherein I work for people who made us feel unimportant. We couldn't even address our concerns to the coordinators. They left Ana to rummage in a pile of slippers and passed her on to different people whenever she needed to ask for something.

Technically, yes, Aisa was the head stylist and I totally understand if she and Argie really get a nice treatment from the people there. They well deserve that. As for me and Ana, I felt like it was us who had to say "thank you" for the job (when I only had Aisa to genuinely thank for). We didn't have any compensation for doing the job so yes, you can call it a form of HELP. Is a mere show of appreciation and gratefulness too much to ask? I think not. We worked hard for it not just because of the fame or because it was our job. We gave our best for we wanted Ipanema to be successful and get good reviews from fashion writers and the like.

Simple looks and body gestures that speak "What the hell are you doing here?", "You don't deserve to be here", "I'm better than you," "Who are you anyway?" are very easy to understand. Fine, I'm aware that they're up the ladder but as a person who has worked in productions, people I've worked with know that I treat people right and with respect, even to those lowest in the hierarchy. It is one of the simplest yet greatest deed that'll make this world a better place (cliche' but very true). I'm not saying everyone there are like that, I just couldn't contain my dismay to some people who are too proud and arrogant.

I'm not as desperate as Ariel in Little Mermaid. So desperate that she lost her voice. There's more bitchiness out there that I haven't witnessed yet. And if the real fashion world is about coldness and claws, I would not wish to be part of their world.

After the Ipanema show ^_^.

Saying a big "THANK YOU" is the very least that we could do to Ms. Ayet Quimpo of Accessorize and Ana's Anagon Collection for being so considerate in letting us pull out the very last minute, accessories (earrings, bracelets & bangles, necklaces, scarves, hair pieces and hats) that incredibly helped us revamp the outfits to the next level. Thank you sooooo much!

Kaloka but uber fun to have done this with Aisa, Ana and Argie! Would love, love, love, love to work with you again!

Aisa, Accessorize store manager (Greenbelt 5 branch) Cheeni, Ana an me (haggard only kei)!

Sayang umalis kagad si Argie!

Style and Soul

Philippine Fashion Week opens today

Advocacy Styling: Resistance to...

Somehow like devils in Prada

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