Slimming Voodoo aka the optical illusion dress

Whenever I hear the term "optical illusion", only one image comes to my mind and it's nothing fashionable or fierce - it's Sheldon's Doppler effect costume at Penny's Halloween Costume Party.hahaha

Bazzinga! The unflattering version of optical illusion.

With his height, Jim Parsons, literally, looked like a zebra who's walking on two feet. It did make good comedy but I don't think anyone would like to be caught dead wearing any version of that fabric. Lol Thank the fashion gods, optical illusion now refers to a fashion ingenuity that will make anyone look 10lbs lighter and 10 times hotter. ;) 

Make it work!

I distinctly remember the Levi's challenge of Project Runway from years back. Sweet P, the tattoed rocker cum fashionista, came up with a blue stunner that seems to have an instant weight loss effect in it. No, it didn't have built in Spanks but it did make the model's waist an itty bitty tiny (not that she needs!!!).  They did say black (or any other dark colors for that matter) can make you look thin, but if combined with lighter hues and is strategically placed in all the right areas, it will make you look hot! ;) And this is exactly what Sweet P did. The she used a darker shade of blue (or possibly black, sorry, I can't remember) in the waist area and a little bit close to the hem. I'm not sure if this was really her goal but it did came out great and to this day, I think the dress is still very much wearable.

Fast forward to the recent years, red carpets and runways, alike, seem to be peppered with the Slimming Voodoo dress favored by curvy celebs like Kate Winslet and Kim Kardashian. Stella McCartney seems to be the favorite but both Herve Leger (of the bondage dress fame) and Chanel also came out with their own versions (Chanel's is divine! Now I understand why Rachel Zoe (and a bevy of others) is obsessed with Monsieur Lagerfeld.). 

Alexander McQueen

Herve Leger

Chanel

Stella McCartney

Stella McCartney

(left) M&S (right) Stella McCartney

Buylevard
Photo Credit: itscamilleco.com

What really makes a multi-hyphenate?

Just thought I'd share my Op-Ed assignment for my Fashion Journalism class. ;)

In an industry where everybody thinks they could be anybody, what really separates a nobody from a somebody?

Long before the term multi-hyphenate became as wildly used as it is today, Hollywood darlings like Mandy Moore, Justin Timberlake and Gwen Stefani have already launched successful careers in music, movies and fashion. While the art of holding several job titles is no longer something new in the fashion industry, it has never received as much hype as it does now with it being almost synonymous to an “it” girl or boy. With that being said, the sprout of wannabes is definitely inevitable.

Besides being a musician, movie star and a restaurateur, JT is also into fashion. With his best bud Trace Ayala, they founded  a clothing line names William Rast.

No Doubt's front woman and mom of two is also an actress and a fashion mogul.

A multi-hyphenate is simply a successful jack-of-all-trade, with successful being the operative term. Firstly, just like in any usual case, you have to at least know how to do the job to get the job which, in this case, requires talent. That’s why, to say you are a model-stylist-make-up artist when you can barely fix a bushy pair of eyebrows or have your signature pose as the only facial expression you know does not give you any bit of right to call yourself that. It would be a direct jab to those who exerted so much time, effort and hard-work to perfect their craft if you do that. Secondly, you have to actually have a job and not just know how to do it. While in a normal corporate setting where your future boss shaking your hand and telling you that you got the post means you’re officially employed, no such scenario exists in the fashion industry. You’ll know you’ve made it when you’re actually booking jobs regularly and people are already requesting for your services. This is probably the reason why a lot of newbies are deluded once they’ve done it once or twice. Booking one show or styling one shoot doesn’t mean you’re already a legit model or stylist. Personally, I think it just means you’re one foot in the door with your other foot and the rest of your body still hanging outside. After all, it takes more than just one successful project to deserve that coveted spot in this industry.

Part of the appeal of being a multi-hyphenate is its illusiveness. Being one puts you in the company of the elite few who, not only managed to penetrate the fashion industry, but have done so successfully several times. What’s common among all of them is that they don’t try to be everything all at once. They typically try doing ‘something else’ after gaining a certain level of success from their current occupation. In a way, it’s like reinventing themselves and putting something more on the table. “It” girl Solenn Heussaff started as a model in her teens, then became a make-up artist, studied fashion in college and eventually became a designer and is now venturing into TV, movies and music. On evolving, she muses "I evolve every day and will have to do so for the next years in my life. You can never stop learning. I'm definitely more mature in the thought process (of my designs) because I've been learning and incorporating it into my work. I can only get better and work harder for it." Fly Girl Jennifer Lopez started as a dancer, then took the role of Selena in a movie with the same title, then became a singer and eventually an entrepreneur releasing both a perfume and clothing line. 

The Talented Ms. Heussaff. Solenn the Painter/ Make-up Artist/ Singer/ Endorser/ Body Painter/ Designer/ Cover Girl/ Actress/ Host. 

 When asked by Matt Lauer on what part of his personality doesn’t allow him to settle, Justin Timberlake ponders, “I think we’re all perfectionists in a way, but I think it’s more a case of you grow up young in the business and you get to try a lot of things and so you, naturally, are interested in so many different things. Growing up on television show, we were taught to be kind of triple threats like you described.  And (I don’t know) I think that if you’re gonna do it, obviously, do it in a way that’s authentic to you.” Maybe an artistic mind is never really an idle mind that’s why these celebrities constantly think of ways to release their artistic juices. Maybe they had good exposure with the other aspects of the industry that interests them, or maybe it’s just hidden talent that they recently discovered. Whatever their reasons maybe, one thing is for sure, gone are the days when having multiple jobs merely connotes poverty; just like in countries such as the United States where people usually hold two jobs to make ends meet. Nowadays, being a multi-hyphenate means you’re too talented that you can do anything and everything, enough for you to cement your spot in whatever industry you’re in. While it is definitely a feather on one’s cap to be labelled as such, it would also be an insult to the deserving ones, who have paid their dues and probably fought tooth and nail to get to where they are, to claim something that you’re not (or perhaps, something that you’re not yet).

In an industry where everybody thinks they could be anybody, what really separates a nobody from a somebody is success. Success is objective. How you define it, is up to you.

                

The PFW Experience

OK! Confession time: Almost a decade back, when I was discovering the beauty (and the ultimate cause for the frequent reappearance of my green monster of envy haha) that is the annual Victoria’s Secret Fashion show, I dreamt of sashaying the runways of Paris and Milan (and yes, Victoria’s Secret, too! ;)) Eventually, I resigned and just dreamt of being that girl backstage running around, helping the models in and out of the clothes and fixing their outfits. Thanks to SOFA, that dream of mine became a reality a couple of months ago when I was given a chance to assist in the biennial Bench Fashion Show. And yet again just last week when I worked as one of the assistants to Luis Espiritu, my awesome teacher and the stylist for SM Menswear, Bags and Shoes show for Philippine Fashion Week.  The whole experience gave me a taste of what it’s like to work behind the scene and I loved every minute of it. Had I not have a day job, I would’ve seen it through from start to finish. But because of time constraints (screw limited VLs but a thousand thanks to my kikay boss who understood my “creative” needs. ;)), I only got to be at the model fitting, merchandise preps and the fashion show. Sucks that I missed the catalogue shoot but it’s ok. That’ll be for next time! ;)

During the rehersals

The model fitting happened on a sunny Friday morning. My car was coding so I was at the venue at 7AM, call time is at 9AM. Insert the Filipino time effect, the fitting, basically, started at 10:30, but I haven’t been happier to wait considering I'm not even a patient person. ;) (See, I really love this job. ;)) I adore all the sections of the show – at least those that we handled. I never really appreciated men’s clothing because I found it boring, at the very least. A suit is just simple to me – dress shirt, trousers, coat, occasionally, a vest. Gray, black, khaki, pinstripe or plain – they’re the same banana to me. Assisting in the show, though, made me appreciate the power of colours, pins, cummerbunds, scarves, neck scarves and knits. 

High Society, as the name suggests, is all about looking aristocratic. J’adore the white suits on both Hideo and Camille. I’ve always found tailored gray suits sexy on a guy, but white coats are just as gorj if done right! ;) The pins, definitely, added a fun and regal kick to the whole ensemble. 

Luxe Leather showed how the material typically associated with biker boys and rockstars could provide a beautiful and classy mix of textures when layered with knits and wools. My personal faves are the coats with leather shoulders and pockets and the dark denim/ leather pants. They’re so subtle yet they make such an impact. 

Finally, Modern Military provided a chic twist on greens and khakis by infusing leathers and knits into the mix. The green bomber jacket made me wish there’s a version for the ladies. Maybe I'm just biased towards the color green, or it’s just sooo cute I can’t get enough of it. ;)

The call time was 8:30AM on Day 1 of the show and 11AM on Day 2 but the craziness really started an hour before showtime. That’s when everyone was running around, clothes are being thrown everywhere and people are shouting at the top of their lungs; with Day 2 being way busier than Day 1 (Hands down!). It was a beautiful chaos, I can get used to it. =D

After the Thursday show, I have to admit I felt a pang of sadness. It is the last show that I’ll be “doing”, which means the week after, no more male models (Yes, I have to admit, they made the experience super colorful. ;)), no more running around and early call times, no more awesome clothes, shoes and bags, and no more being surrounded with so much creative juices. It was like a prolonged dream sequence coming to a close and I want more. At the end of it though, I must say, I have gained renewed respect for the fashion industry. The hardwork, time and effort that go into putting up a show are just astounding. Can’t help but be proud I was a part of it! ;)

It's a wrap!!! With THE Luis Espiritu, posing is inevitable. ;)

Indeed, patience is a virtue! With Mikka and Rudolph. =)

Tired but happy interns after the Day 2 show. =)

White's Hot: Peplum loves the colors of the sea

I have never really taken outfit shots! (Word to the wise: Don't get your brother to take 'em!!!haha) I guess modeling was never really right up my alley.haha But then again, this dress is just too awesome for it not to have a White's Hot moment, hence, I had to oblige.;) Besides, I've always found peplums adorable. It reminds me of a tutu and possibly my frustration as a kid to be a ballerina.haha 

This ensemble is as random as it gets. I just grabbed random accessories and came up with this. It was while looking at the photos did I realize that I was in blues and greens - the colors of the sea! All of these pieces, (Well, mostly, except for the bag and the ring.) I just bought this weekend. I guess having so much time in my hands (thanks to the long weekend) gave me so much patience to raid each and every store in MOA for sale items.haha The dress I got for a mere PHP400.00 while the accessories range from PHP209 to PHP309 a piece. The watch is PHP799 and the shoes... I got it for a cool PHP1,100.00. ;) 

Initially, I was thinking of wearing the dress to a friend's wedding next month. But come to think of it, it makes a cute corporate attire, too. For when you're meeting clients, for example. ;) I love how the length, the cut and the silhouette makes it look so classy; almost as if straight out of the movie Breakfast at Tiffany's. The necklace, on the other hand, does a great job in distracting the vision from the (my very healthy.haha) torso! Both the oversized watch in gun-metal gray and the black clutch adds an edgy, masculine vibe to an otherwise prim and proper outfit. 

Dress by Philosophy Woman

As far as earrings are concerned, I've always been biased towards pearls. Why not? They're classy and works well with whatever outfit. But this piece from WWW really caught my eye. I like the black and gold combo as well as the pattern. Just sooo elegant. ;)

Earrings by What Women Want

This pair just looks so fresh and easy  on the eyes. I love the gold details. I think it made it look way more expensive than it really is. 

Peep Toe Pumps by Primadonna

I've wanted to buy an oversized watch for awhile now. But at the same time, I knew yellow gold wouldn't look good on me (at all!!!) and rose gold would usually cost so much. That's why when I saw this baby at Cotton On, I knew I had to buy it at once. At only PHP799, this is just a super amazing buy!!!

Oversized Watch by Cotton On

Ring and Bag by SM Accessories

Bangle by Forever 21

Neck piece by Forever 21

I love versatile ensembles like this. It makes life so much easier especially for busy women. But mostly, I love how a simple change in accessories or hairstyle can change the look all together. Ah, the perks of being a girl! ;)

PS

The awesome people at White's Hot is giving one lucky fashionista a chance of a lifetime - to style THE Solenn Heussaff and take home a whopping PHP30 grand. For the complete mechanics, visit click here. Bonne Chance!!! ;)

White's Hot: Stripes and Whites at Night

In my own dreamworld, I'll probably be wearing all white ensembles everyday with splashes of colors here and there. I say dreamworld because in the real world, I can't last an hour without getting them stained just because I'm a clutz like that!haha Needless to say, I've always been biased towards white fashion pieces mainly because of their versatility. I reckon black is too, but white can make you look so fresh and innocent, yet when done in the right kind of silhouette, it can also make you look smokin'. ;)

I've always been a fan of night shots with all the lights around from the store signs, street lights and headlights creating sort of an aura for the photo, that's why I really chose to shoot in BHS at night. And I must say doing so made me realize that I have zero photography skills.haha 

This ensemble on my model is one of those outfits that I've been dreaming of wearing. It's nothing frilly, really. It's just a white tank top and a white super skinny jeans, but white being a transparent color (you can't really hide anything if you're wearing it) adds that sense of adventure. It's very chic and sexy yet oh so simple. I, also, love how you can go crazy and pile up on colorful accessories yet it will never look too much. 

This get-up is perfect for dinner and movie dates on a Saturday night. Put on a royal blue blazer and it can work well as an office outfit, too. Trade in the nude pumps for a fierce pair of heels and switch up the neck piece and you're ready to party at the chicest clubs in the metro.

Bag from SM Accessories

Blue Ring from 168

Light Blue Ring from SM Accessories

Multi-stoned ring from Forever 21

Orange Bangle from SM Accessories

Coral Bangle from Landmark

Yellow Belt from Genevieve Gozum

Earrings from SM Accessories

Nude Peep Toes from Payless Shoesource

Top by SM Weekender

Skinny Jeans by Betty

Grandpa Cardigan from Forever 21

I'm also an advocate (yes, I truly believe in this!haha) of cheap fashion. I've heard it several times that only those who have the money to burn can work in the fashion industry or can enjoy fashion. If you notice, I didn't use a single designer brand and the most expensive piece costs PHP1,300 tops. Fashion was never really about the label. It's always been about expressing yourself. And if you can do that without breaking the bank, even better. After all, isn't rummaging through bargains always lotsa fun? ;)

More of what makes White Hot at http://www.facebook.com/WhitesHotPH.

Edgy Pop of Color

The very first mood board that I did for my Basic Fashion Styling Class has that title - "Edgy Pop of Color".

My First ever mood board

Though according to my fabulous teacher, "edgy" is an overused and vague fashion term, I still think it best describes my fashion philosophy. I'm not exactly the color-blocking, neon-wearing kinda girl. Hello, buti naman sana kung kaputian ako no. Though those trends really make me salivate, I should know better that such won't look good on someone with my skin tone. See, this would have been one of the great perks of being a stylist - using another person as your mannequin for the clothes that you can't wear then give them a Manhattan once-over. Chos. Bitter lang.haha

After the Mega work-related stress, that is Project Mega, I had an insatiable urge to shop for everything pretty. Case in point, on one normal work day, (the first when I can actually afford to read emails at my own pace and not just skim through it just because every damn second counts) I badly wanted to teleport a la Hayden Christiansen in Jumper to Rustan's to get myself a bag - a pretty, probably one that will make me go bankrupt sorta bag. Thank God for my humanly limitations, that didn't transpire, hence, I'm less bankrupt than I would've been.haha Hence again, I decided to just be contented with looking at pieces to buy for when I actually have the money to spare to shop. A task which is actually satisfying enough to temporarily satiate that thirst to shop, probably because mine is stress-induced. (Notable thought: Just like doing the grocery when you're hungry, shopping when you're stressed will make you spend more than you should. ;) I should know, I've learned that the hard way. I must say, I'm a recovering stress-shopper.haha) Since I'm a newbie Instagamer and I really enjoy posting photos of everything I find cute, (which is literally almost everything I lay my eyes on), I decided to make it a habit to post everything fashion-related that I like just to remind me to blog about it later on. And so, this would be it. ;)

Literally edgy and their colors pop.

I'm rarely a fan of colors. I adhere to the principle that black is sexy plus brown is usually my go-to hue. I was actually pleasantly shocked when I became obsessed with the current it-colors, ie coral, blues, turquoise, acquas and pinks.Yes, not even a fan, obsessed really is the term,. To me, they give out that feel-good sort of vibe (Never mind that these heels will probably kill your toes. Ganun talaga, tiis ganda.) especially during this gloomy, rainy season. Think Candy Stores: there's a reason why each and every kid adores cotton candies or those swirly giant ones on a stick (which frankly doesn't taste good) or the gummy family in different translucent shapes - they're colorful. And an eyeful of color (correct me if I'm wrong) I suppose exudes that positive-life-is-beautiful vibe hence it makes us feel good.

During the summer months, I was biased towards coral. Though I could sometimes come of as a girly girl, I never really likes pink or orange. They seem too girly for me. Girly as in the possible offspring of Elle Woods and Cher from Clueless who would probably want to marry Barbie's Ken. That or someone who would go watch a football game in 3-inch pink stilettos with rhinestones or someone who's definition of sneakers are those with sky-high wedges which is not conducive for any type of physical activity. There, I'm sure you already got my point.haha Moving on, yeah, they are too girly for me, hence when the coral invasion came out, I was screaming "perfect!!!!" in my head. To me, it's the "posh" color only because it's subtle and it can never look cheap and that regardless of your skin tone or what material it's made of, it will look good on you.

Think Green.

After my coral-phase, I'm now obsessing over mint green. Frankly, I used to think that it's such a boring color. It doesn't exactly pop. Don't get me wrong, I love subtlety, but this one is too subtle to my taste. It's almost as if it wants to dethrone the color white as the head subtle among the crayola population. But I suppose mixing it with different textures and shades makes all the difference. I'm still in search for that perfect mint green blazer which I intend to find before my most-awaited trip to Korea. I can almost imagine it! The blazer plus grey boots... ahhh. Gorge!!! While I'm at it, I might as well look for oxfords and possibly a knock-off of this Giambattista Valli fabulousness.

Very BDSM. Very 50 Shades. Oh Christian!

I'm not really sure where these spikes and chains fad came from but my guess is that it's subconsciously an influence of Mr. Grey and his 50 Shades. Or maybe I'm just forcing the issue.haha But regardless, I'm really obsessed with these accessories mainly because it provides that certain omph of toughness in your outfit and I've always been a fan of tough girl chic. I found these online at http://www.facebook.com/SceneCity  with their prices ranging from PHP90 to less than PHP300 a piece!!! Imagine, black skinnies and tank, sick stilettos, nude blazer folded into a 3/4 sleeve and then this pink cuff with hardware. Very Emmanuelle Alt except with a tiny drop of color. ;) Or imagine an LBD + Giuseppe Zanottis-ish + the yellow neclace and pink cuff. Ahhh, divine! It just makes all the difference, don't you think? This pink cuff, hands-down, is the ungirliest way to wear pink. Never mind Avril Lavine, but heck, even Pink will probably wear this.haha

If I can't get Grey, might as well get Louboutin! ;)

You know it's a fad when everyone's doing it. But you know it's it's a piece worth collecting when Christian Louboutin does it. That is, if you're insanely rich and you can afford to collect his masterpieces This man can seem to do no wrong. I was unsure of having spikes on shoes at first, but the moment I saw those spiked pumps on Jessica Sanchez in American Idol earlier this year, I was convinced it was worth being a walking human porcupine for. Who would've thought that a foil-silver 5-inch pumps with 3d detailing could actually look oh-so-sexy? What's great about Loubs, in general, I think is that their silhouette is very sexy and feminine in itself that when you add these detailing, it gets enhanced beautifully. I adore how they didn't go crazy, over-the-top on the spikes and stayed true to their design philosophy  Yes, it's what's in now but these creations still look distinctly Louboutin the red sole aside. ;)

Candy colored gladiators which will
surely lighten up your outfit.

 While I was aimlessly browsing through the sale racks in SM today, I came across these finds which will surely make your outfit fierce without breaking the bank. I secretly wish I can wear them to work everyday but I don't think my clients or my boss will be pleased to see me matching my office attire with pastel-colored gradiators.haha But on weekends, these should be wardrobe staples while doing errands or during brunches with friends. They're perfect with shorts or sundress (since it seems like they're no longer just for summer ;)) or maxis or rompers. Cute, comfy and stylish at less than PHP500/ each, this is a bargain all together. ;)

Sexy heels that won't break the bank from Parisian and Gibi.

I also found these crazy sexy heels from Parisian (again) and Gibi. Each pair costs a little over a thousand which is not bad at all since they're quite flexible. You can wear them with jeans, dress, pencil skirt for work and the like. My picks are the purple one from Parisian because for me it has that Grecian vibe which is something that I've always adored (hey, everyone has their goddess dreams.haha) and the blue and green from Gibi because the combination has it's own personality (yes, shoes have personalities too.haha) looks so cool in the eyes. I was wishing so hard that my feet were skinnier just so these will look good on me. Now that I'm thinking about it, Belo should totally come up with feet liposuction.haha

My rule of thumb in general is to buy inexpensive versions of fads and invest on staple pieces. But where exactly do you draw the line. Being a girl and having that clouded judgment as soon as shopping is involved it never easy (Amen!). To this, I say, if you can see yourself at 40 and rocking spikes then be my guest, give in to Mr. Louboutin. Otherwise, turn to sites like http://www.themall.ph/ which offers "it" pieces at very affordable prices. After all, there's nothing fierce about looking cute while pulling off a Becky Bloomwood. ;) 

I just fell in love with Mr. Murad

In my quest to find a nice cocktail dress that's not tres expensif for a friend's wedding, I realized that in the sea of independent designers and online shopping sites, the selection is still quite limited. You flip through each and every store in the mall and they almost offer the same thing, perhaps just a different color or fabric, but it's practically the same. (Either that or I got so impatient - making my way through the crowded mall that I just decided to take the next shuttle and head home.

So when I got home, I decided to google "mullet dress" because I was so convinced I'm wearing one by hook or by crook. I just need to find a pretty design that my trusty manang could copy and voila. I've come across this stunning piece by Versace that Jennifer Hudson wore at the Grammy's (with her rocking body and battle scars, ie. stretch marks. I think I loved her more when I saw her stretch marks and how she doesn't give a damn if they're displayed for the world to see. ) which would have been perfect if I have tatas as big as hers and if I'm not attending a Chinese wedding.



Several Google pages later and I came across this beauty. Never mind that Blake is wearing it and her mile long pins gave justice to this stunning creation, but I just knew I found the one (well, maybe after lotsa tweaking. ;)) The pic caption stated that the genius behind my obsession is a man named Zuhair Murad.  I've heard of him several times before, with Taylor Swift's Grammy dress as his latest photographed work, but I don't really know much about him or his style. Thanks to the talented Mr. Google, I stumbled into what seems like a gold mine of heart-attack inducing dresses. (Note to self: Everytime you want a piece of chocolate, think of his dresses! It will be an instant appetite-suppressant.)

His dresses, esp those from the Fall 2010 collection are very intricate and romantic. Before, I can only associate that adjective with Marchesa, but not anymore. His collection plays with lots of lace, beading and odd but stunning details (just like the hyper-extended waist band of Blake's dress) which I, personally, adore (If I were as thin as Blake, and I have a social function every night, I'll buy his whole collection in a heartbeat. I'll buy a mannequin for each piece and stare at them all day. That's how obsessed I am.haha). Other times, they're very structured and almost costume-y. He's so talented that I feel like each and every piece of his work is meant to make a woman feel as sexy as she could possibly feel while looking classy. His ball gowns will definitely make you feel like a fashionable princess while the slits on his evening dresses are strategically placed to give just the right amount of omph. The way he plays with fabrics, overlapping different textures, just amazes me. Jersey on lace? Who would have thought that would work. But it did, and magnificently, if I may add.

In a world dominated by European couturiers, it's a breath of fresh air to see a Lebanese making waves in the world of high fashion. While the richness of his country and culture, is not doubt a massive inspiration to Mr. Murad, I bet it is sheer talent that etched his place in one of the most competitive industries there is.