COUTURE REPEAT!!!

At last night's White House dinner in honor of British Prime Minister David Cameron, Vogue editor-in-chief was part of the exclusive event. The most powerful woman in the fashion industry wore a 2009 Chanel Haute Couture dress she wore for the MET Gala on that same year. What is the difference from the State dinner and the MET Gala? Her hair. I like the length and the high lights of her hair better from the state dinner. It is also the first time I have seen Anna carrying a clutch. She chose a better color for shoes this time... black. The end result, she looked stunning. It was a smart move of Anna to do a couture repeat. She is also addressing the tough situations the whole world is facing. She commands presence. It proves to the world that she is the only supreme being in the fashion industry. Well done!!!

ANNA WINTOUR AT THE WHITE HOUSE, MARCH 14, 2011

ANNA WINTOUR IN CHANEL COUTURE AT THE 2009 MET GALA

62 AND BEYOND!!!

Why am I like this? I am honored and lucky to have a mother who is loving and understanding. Tonight, my mom celebrated her 62nd birthday in New York. She told me that she would love to have dinner at Nobu 57. It is one of her favorite Japanese restaurants in NYC. She doesn't look like 62. She told her children, my 2 sisters and I, not to be afraid of anything. She taught me how to be confident, loving, and to kill people with kindness. At a younger age, she told us to keep our friends close and keep our enemies closer. In Manila, we always go to the gym together and do our TRX routine religiously. My mother told me to be myself at all times. She also said that my career does not justify my whole persona. For this day, I dedicate this entry to my mother. She was responsible for exposing me to all beautiful things... from all the Laliques and Lladros. I love you mom. You mean the world to me, Alexa, and my 2 beautiful sisters. Happy Birthday.

MY MOTHER AND I

MY MOTHER AND I... GANDA MO MOM!!!

THE ATELIER HUNGER!!!

As the notorious villain in the new movie "Hunger Games", her role as Effie Trinket is a dictator from hell. The premiere was held in Los Angeles, California. Elizabeth Banks strutted on the carpet wearing Fall 2012 Atelier Versace. She has been wearing Versace from time to time during premieres and award shows. The off the shoulder bright orange neon dress gave the actress cutting edge fashion. Even though the dress is phenomenal, the hair style didn't work. I was quite disappointed by it. I could have chosen a pony tail to make the look edgier. On the accessories department, the clutch worked well with the ensemble. The shoes were quite big on her. Once again, a nice pair of gold shoes could have been better. Elizabeth and the dress looked perfect, but the rest of the added things seemed to be okay.

MARNI FOR H&M- SOLD OUT!!!

H&M started the bandwagon of collaborating with high-end designers. These designers were tasked to design a capsule collection for the company. Marni is the featured designer to grace the windows of H&M. Known for the house's bold prints, Consuelo Castiglioni went back into the archives of the brand and delivered a strong collection. The result, a sold out collection on the first day. On March 7, the flagship store in NYC opened its doors to VIPs at 7pm. The line was very long. To my surprise, I didn't realize that Marni had a strong following. On the side note, the brand was introduced to me by my mother in the 90s. I fell in love with it. The next day, it was opened to the general public at 8am. I spoke to one of the cashier's. She told me that the whole store was wiped out of Marni merchandise. Hoarding merchandise is still a hobby in America. According to a reliable source from H&M, Marni is one of the most successful partnership the retail giant did. Congratulations to the team.

THE RETURN OF SLIMANE!!!

Exit Stefano Pilati and enter Hedi Slimane. Yes, the rumors are true that he will assume the the position as creative director for Yves Saint Laurent. He left the fashion house as soon as Tom Ford came into the picture. Hedi became one of the biggest names in the fashion industry by influencing men to wear his super tight suits, trouser, coats, and jackets. After his tenure at Dior Homme, he decided to pursue a career in photography. As a passionate artist, he excelled. PPR head Francois Henri Pinault and his team made the right decision of rehiring the shy and awkward designer. Will we see slim fitting clothes at YSL? The archives of the label is like a house of gold... full of treasure. Once again, he will be onstage and prove to the fashion industry that he can take the task of taking the brand into a new realm. He will be in-charge of designing collections for men and women. His peers in the industry are waiting upon his return. I know he will be welcomed with open arms. The acceptance will be like Phoebe Philo's big comeback to the industry for the house of Celine. It is about time.

END OF THE RACE!!!

Stefano Pilati reached the finish line at Yves Saint Laurent. For 8 years, Stefano held the post as the creative director of the house. It was a tough transition. Replacing Tom Ford back in 2004 was a hard task to carry on, but he did. He rebuilt and repositioned the brand by introducing famous accessories like the "Muse Bag" and the "Tribute Sandals". Every season, he paid homage and respect for the late Yves Saint Laurent's work. He presented one of the strongest collections for YSL. He sent out an army of strong women in black, white, dark purple, and dark green. He channeled black which is the color of mourning. On the other hand, the chain mail dresses represent armor and self-defense. The flower of choice, Calla lilies. These can be seen as the main print throughout the show. He even used this flower for jewelry in the form of necklaces and bracelets. The ensembles were singed with a belt. It is a departure from the volumes he showcased last season. It made the clothes look sharper and more fierce. As his final bow, a stand ovation from the audience including Vogue editrix Anna Wintour... that's an honor. The next person in line will have to live up with the challenge of making the house of YSL a success.

CELINE IS ADDICTIVE!!!

Celine is one of the most profitable brands in the industry. When Phoebe came in to the picture as creative director of the label, she did a 360 degrees turn for the house. Last season, she introduced the peplum silhouette and made it known to women that they can wear this type of volume. Was her theory right? Yes. She managed to create an army of devotees. Women can't get enough of the brand. Each time she shows a collection, women are in trance. They are itching to get their hands on anything with the Celine tag. For Fall 2012, she opted for an intimate presentation. She presented another outstanding collection. She focused on the volume of the clothes. Unless you are a model, volume on clothes can be flattering or unflattering. With her last pre fall presentation, she gave a hint that she will be showcasing this silhouette to her current collection. She combined all of the details from previous collections and merge it into one... very clever. The combination of fabric is Phoebe's expertise. She combined fur, leather, and wool for a sweater. Her oversized fur coats in bright pink and blue is a show stopper. Don't forget the amazing shoes and bags that make the profits for the house. The Celine woman has her distinct image... simplicity with a strong attention to detail. She is a designer who understands the need of women. I won't be surprised if I see women wearing these pieces on the streets of New York, Paris, London, Milan, and Tokyo.

I am pretty sure this collection will sell. One word to describe the brand, ADDICTIVE.