3RD IN THE RACE!!!

Being on the best dressed list is like joining the Miss Universe pageant. Fame Game is the leading website in ranking socialites, musicians, and celebrities in all the events they attend. There is a point system to boost their ranking status. Yaz Hernandez placed 3rd in the best dressed list. She exudes sophistication, class, style, and elegance. She favors designers like Narciso Rodriguez, Christian Cota, Isabel Toledo, Krizia, Carolina Herrera, Oscar de la Renta, Michael Kors, and more. Yaz knows how to put an ensemble together. She accessorizes her wardrobe with statement jewelry, an amazing clutch, and killer shoes. Definitely, she deserves to be in the top 3. You make me proud. Indeed, beauty is her power.

Images courtesy of www.bfanyc.com

IN NARCISO RODRIGUEZ

IN NARCISO RODRIGUEZ

IN NARCISO RODRIGUEZ

IN CHRISTIAN COTA

IN TRINA TURK

IN KRIZIA

CHANEL TAKES ANOTHER CHANCE WITH ANNE V.

After 10 years, supermodel Anne V returns to be the Chanel Chance model once again. The 25 year old Victoria Secret model made a huge come back after a decade of the launch of the fragrance. With her first ad for the brand, she wore a pink lace dress with gold kitten heels. Now, she is wearing a mustard yellow ballerina inspired dress accessorized with white classic ballet flats. I am so proud of my dear friend Anne. Her repeat performance with the perfume is amazing. She only deserves the BEST.

THE NEW CHANEL CHANCE AD WITH ANNE V.

10 YEARS AGO.

IT'S TRUE!!!

After having lunch with my very good friend Robbie Antonio at his fabulous office in Pacific Star, I received a black berry message from a friend saying that Michael Kors is in Manila. I didn't believe him till he sent me the image below. According to my source, no one knew it was the infamous New York designer and Project Runway judge. He had to introduce himself to the staff at his boutique in Greenbelt 5. The sales associate were in shock and had the opportunity to take their pictures with Michael. The designer is on vacation with his partner. I know where they are going , but I can't say. Who knows? His next inspiration for Spring 2013 will be the Philippines.

MICHAEL KORS AT THE GREENBELT 5 BOUTIQUE IN MANILA

WOVEN CORKED!!!

Burberry is one of the most profitable fashion houses in the world. Every quarter, sales go up and up. For Spring 2012, Christopher Bailey designed a collection with an homage to arts and craft and a nod to Africa. I am just a shoe addict. I am dying to get my hands on these shoes for Spring. I know Winter hasn't arrive, but I can't wait for Spring. Instead of using thick rubber soles, he opted for cork platforms. Each pair has a woven detail into it. It comes in three color ways: turquoise and black, yellow and camel, orange and army green. I have this habit of buying the same style in different colors. Lately, I haven't been digging the collection of Dries Van Noten. My fascination with Burberry is part of my must-have accessories for Spring.

ADDICTION TO UNIVERS!!!

Every time I come home to Manila, I try not to shop. I always make a pit stop at my friend's store, Homme et Femme in Shangri-la Mall in EDSA. Jappy has a new store called UNIVERS located in One Rockwell Plaza. His new boutique carries the following designers: Jil Sander, Rick Owens, YSL, Pierre Hardy, Y-3, Comme Des Garcons and more. One of my favorite designers in the fashion industry is Jil Sander by Raf Simons. I went with my friend, Ginger Ignacio Mirasol, to UNIVERS. She is one of the most talented jewelry designers in Los Angeles. And behold, I saw the floral shirts on sale from Jil Sander's Spring 2011. These shirts were the hottest pieces from Spring. I don't mind buying pieces from past seasons. I told myself, "I knew it. I can't escape Jappy's store." He has an eye for beautiful things. I am happy that I came.

JIL SANDER SPRING 2011

THE SHIRT IN ACTION!!!

FROSTINGS OF SPRING!!!

For Daniel and April's wedding, they hired florist extraordinaire Teddy Manuel. The inspiration for the setting is vintage. Teddy combined roses, lavender, peonies, carnation, and lilacs for the arrangements. Shades of pinks and lilac adorned the whole room of Blue Leaf. He added some chandeliers, lamps, and vintage chest to complete the look. April's bouquet was fully decorated with white orchids and peonies. My good friend, Sonja Ocampo, did an amazing job with the 4 tiered cake. The design reminded me of a huge Camelia flower from Chanel. Vanilla was the flavor of the cake. Overall, Sonja and Teddy did an amazing and fantastic job. You can email Teddy at mail@flowersandevents.com.ph.

CLASSIC RAJO!!!

Before my sister's big day, my mom and I had to go to a wedding. She couldn't back out of it because she made a promise months ago. I admire my mother for keeping her word and fulfilling her duties as a god mother. Being a god mother entails so much responsibilities by being there for the couple in times of laughter and sorrow. The theme was turquoise and gray. My mom was so disappointed with her dress. She did not have time to have her dress made. We had an idea. She told me that she has this magnificent Rajo Laurel dress from 15 years ago. It is in perfect condition. I said, "If you can squeeze into the dress, go ahead and wear it." Well! She still fits her size 6 long dress. With all modesty, my mother looked magnificent. The antique lace with beaded Swarovski crystals added chicness to her simple silhouette. I am glad she kept this dress... Classic Rajo. It really pays off when you go to the gym. Trust me, my mother pushes me to work out every time I am here.

THE NARCISSUS DRESS- REEM ACRA!!!

This past Sunday, my sister April married her German fiance Daniel Werner. She gave me the task of looking for her wedding dress. She wanted simple, chic, and elegant. She never dreamt of being a princess bride. She was getting worried because I was brushing her off with the wedding gown. After weeks of soul searching, I found the perfect dress. I saw this magnificent piece from Reem Acra. The name of the dress is Narcissus. The dress is made out of silk organza. She was so happy when I sent her the image of the dress. The magnificent beadwork and insert applique gave the reincarnation of modern vintage. Overall, the ensemble gave an understated drama to the wedding. The dress didn't overpower the bride. I was so happy we made the right decision. Celebrity clients include: Angelina Jolie, Beyonce, Halle Berry, Taylor Swift, Kristin Stewart, Olivia Wilde, Selena Gomez, Emma Roberts and more.

Please contact Holly at hollyd@reemacra.com. The New York atelier is at the Crown building- 730 Fifth Avenue, 2nd Floor.

POWer SNEAKERS!!!

Pierre Hardy is one of my favorite shoe designers in the fashion industry. Men and women who adore shoes understand his design aesthetics. I have been a huge follower of Mr. Hardy's work. Aside from Lanvin, Dries Van Noten, Balenciaga, and Prada, I feel so chic when I wear his creations. With all modesty, I have more than 2 dozen pairs of shoes from his line. For Spring 2012, he designed a pair of sneakers that are fun and fashion forward. The "POW" sneakers is an inspiration from Roy Lichtenstein's artwork. I know winter hasn't begun, but I am dreaming of my purchases for next year. These shoes will be in my closet soon. Just wait and see. I will be wearing them on the streets of New York. All I can say, " Go POWer Sneakers".

HEAR ME ROAR-GIVENCHY'S MEOW!!!

One of the hottest prints of the season is Givenchy's Fall 2011 black panther with mixed floral details. Celebrities and socialites went crazy over this collection. Dr. Lisa Airan recently wore the printed ensemble at Annie Leibovitz's "Pilgrimage" opening reception at the Pace Gallery in New York City. She made a great option by choosing the bright yellow instead of the common black. I love it how she pulled her hair back. She accessorized her look by wearing dainty earrings, a watch, and black pumps. Amongst all the women who wore this print, she remains supreme by putting this whole look together. Simply effortless...divine. The end result, she landed in Vogue.com as one of the top 10 best dressed of the week. She knows the DNA of how to rock an ensemble from a runway. I wonder what she'd be wearing for the MET GALA next year. We will wait and see.

REVISITING HOMME ET FEMME!!!

Yesterday, I had to do some last minute errands with my mother and sister. My sister is getting married in a few days to her German fiance. After lunch, we went to Shangri La Mall in EDSA. I was controlling myself not to go to Homme et Femme. Every time I make a pit stop at Jappy Gonzales' store, I see something I like. His store carries the best collections of Lanvin, Dries Van Noten, Comme des Garcons, Dior Homme, and Jil Sander for men. I always go to Pilar for assistance. I told her to hold 2 pairs of shoes from Dries Van Noten and Lanvin. I don't like to be in a rush. I will come back to pick them up next week. My addiction does not stop. I wish there was a pill for it.

THE CELINE ADDICTION!!!

If there is a bag rehabilitation center, I need to check-in as soon as possible. Celine is to blame for the crime. One can't stop collecting these hard to get clutches from Resort 2012. I am one of the victims of Celine. With all modesty, I already have 3 of the clutches. To be honest with you, I want more. I guess I am one of the victims of the Celine phenomenon. Thank God for the ladies of Barneys New York. They always send me images of the latest collection. Bravo!!!

STYLE A LA CARTE- MANDARIN ORIENTAL NEW YORK

The Mandarin Oriental is one of the best hotels in the world. Known for its first class and high-end facilities, they took the next big step by adding a fabulous package to their VIP guests. Last September, the hotel launched the "Style A la Carte" menu. When you book a reservation at the Mandarin, you can avail the package by hiring their in-house celebrity stylist. He will accompany you to all the major department stores and exclusive boutiques around New York. He will conduct an hour of consultation before the shopping trip begins. Mercedes Benz will be the official transportation. You can go to www.mandarinoriental.com and click on the style a la carte package. You only deserve the best.

ADDITION TO THE FAMILY!!!

From my previous entry, I wrote about Lanvin's amazing clutches for the men's spring 2012 collection. In addition to my Celine clutch family, I added a camel and green color combination to my growing collection. Mimi of Barneys New York watches over me. As soon as a Celine clutch hits the floor, she sends me an image for my approval. These clutches are hard to get. It is very addictive to collect all the color ways of the inevitable piece from Celine. I won't be surprised if I reached the dozen mark. Mystery man buys me Celine. It's my turn to purchase one for myself. I am the proud father of 3... more to come.

CLUTCHES OF DESIRE!!!

Lanvin's Spring 2012 Men's collection was a hit. What caught my attention? There were so many clutches on the runway. I can't wait to get my hands on these magnificent accessories. My addiction hasn't stopped.

VANITY OF A QUEEN!!!

Charlize Theron may have an Oscar award, but she hasn't done good movies lately. I cannot wait to see her portrayal as the evil queen in "Snow White and the Huntsman" this coming Spring 2012. She is the best fit for the role. Her beauty, height, and charm is an added value to the character. Unlike Julia Robert's movie "Mirror Mirror", Charlize is the queen of all evil queens. I have seen the official trailer on You Tube. She bathes in milk. She absorbs the spirit of the youth. What more can you ask? I believe this is her come back role after her under rated, non box office movies. It's time to remove the curse of Oscar winning actresses of not having a come back movie. All I can say, "Mirror mirror on the wall. Who is the fairest of them all?" It's up to you to judge. Wait till the summer approaches in 2012. Right now, we need to feel the cold.

REPEAT PERFORMANCE!!!

This past Tuesday, Anna Wintour together with Chanel hosted a party in honor of famed director Pedro Aldomovar. Her arm candy for the evening is Karl Lagerfeld. Aside from Prada and Marni, Anna favors Chanel. She wore the latest ensemble from Chanel's Fall Haute Couture Collection. Anna has the habit of repeating her wardrobe. Last July, she was honored by the French government by giving her the highest award... the legion of honor. She wore the outfit fresh off the runway. There is no crime in repeating an outfit. She is also telling the world that there is nothing wrong to do a repeat performance. At the end of the day, Anna was wearing couture. She has a great body for her age.

NOVEMBER 15- PARTY AT THE MOMA

JULY 7- PARIS, FRANCE

JULY 6- CHANEL HAUTE COUTURE

SHE LOVES MARNI TOO.

Aside from Prada and Chanel, Vogue editrix Anna Wintour loves Marni. At the recent CFDA/Vogue Fund award, she wore an ensemble from Marni's Spring 2012 collection. The designer had to tweak the wardrobe. Instead of a V-neck line, Consuelo changed it to a round neck. Only Anna can command and dictate designers to create custom made ensembles for her. Most editors-in-chief are jealous of Anna's power. If there is an order in Anna's church, she is the Messiah of the fashion world. She remains the queen bee of the industry. No one can beat Anna. As long as she lives, she will remain supreme. Get the picture.

RED SOLE SAMPLE SALE!!!

The highly anticipated Christian Louboutin sample sale began yesterday for VIP clients. Tomorrow will be devoted to the press. Last year, you can bring a guest to the sample sale. This year, you cannot bring anybody. The list is very tight. I can't wait to see what they have. I love buying shoes for my mom and my two sisters.

IMMORTALS!!!

After having brunch with Claudia and Zander, I decided to see the movie "Immortals". Ever since I was a little boy, I've been fascinated by Greek Mythology. Henry Cavill plays Theseus. A mortal trained by Zeus. He defends Greece against an evil king. King Hyperion played by Mickey Rourke seeks the bow to release the titans. I don't want to give the whole story. You have to watch it. Henry Cavill exudes charm. The body is just to die for. I enjoyed watching it. It gave more inspiration. See it for yourself.

ANNE'S GOT THE MOVES LIKE JAGGER!!!

Last Wednesday, I had a chance to see my very good friend Anne V at the Victoria Secret after-party. The celebration was held at the Dream Hotel. I haven't seen her in the longest time. She splits her time in New York and Los Angeles. As soon as I saw her, we gave each other a long hug. I missed her so much. We've known each other for so many years. I am glad I had the chance to chat with her for little bit. All I can say, Anne has the moves like Jagger. Get the hint. Even though we don't see each other, I know our friendship keeps on getting stronger. Love you babe.

VERSACE'S EXTRAVAGANT CELEBRATION!!!

Donatella Versace knows how to throw a party. It was the global launch of the collaboration of H&M with the house of Versace. Prince and Nicki Minaj performed at the after-party. Jessica Alba, Kesha, Uma Thurman, Chase Crawford, Blake Lively, Emma Roberts, Tinsley Mortimer were some of the celebrities present. They transformed the hall on hudson into the world of Donatella. The fashion show was amazing with all the greatest hits of the Versace. I stayed the whole night to party. It was worth it.