EMERGING EMPIRE

I have not checked my facebook account in weeks. Luckily, I came across my dear friend Prabal Gurung. We started chatting and I told him about my new blog Gipetto Diaries. I told him to check it out and he thinks its FIERCE... I wish I could copy and paste our chat... TOO LATE.

Prabal is one of the most talented emerging designers in the fashion industry. He has an eye of beauty. He understands the woman that wears his clothes. He believes that, "Simplicity is the essence of sophistication."

Going back to memory lane, I used to work for Prabal as his intern.  He used to work in the design team of Cynthia Rowley. He is the nicest person to work for. He taught me how to be patient and to work hard with a megawatt smile. After that, he moved on to a greener pasture...BILL BLASS. He was appointed design director and worked with the best of the best...

Michael Volbracht and Peter Som.

Prabal never forgets to invite me to his shows, even if I do not cover ready-to-wear. I have been an avid supporter of his work. Everytime I see a BILL BLASS creation come out of the runway, I see touches of Prabal's design. I am very proud of him.

After that, he decided to move on and create his own line. FINALLY!

His Fall 2009 debut collection was received well by the foreign and local press. My good friend, Rafe, even wrote on his blog about Prabal's collection. Too BAD I was not around... I think I was sick. :(

He is a great friend, designer, and confidant. 

You know what Prabal? You are amazing. I believe your clothes make women look beautiful and feel good about themselves. I love you for that.

PRABAL GURUNG- genius behind the Prabal Gurung empire

LOVE IT!!!!

LOVING IT MORE!!!!

LOVE TO THE NEXT LEVEL!!!!

WOW!!!!

LUSTING FOR MORE!!!!

Images courtesy of www.prabalgurung.com

Up next, dinner with my friend Lisa and my fashion scion at INSIEME.

SHOOTING FOR THE STARS- 801 MADISON AVENUE

Yuck! I am not a big fan of the rain. Why? A single drop of water will multiple Gipetto ten times... remember the gremlins. You do not want 10 Gipettos running around the city. It will be total chaos.

At 2pm, I had to get ready for a photo shoot that I am doing with Social Life Magazine. With all modesty, I am not the stylist but I am in the photos together with my business partner. Naila and I formulated the company, Style Experts. The company aims to serve women in need of fashion advice and consultation.  We believe in the 5F's of life: fabulosity, fierceness, flawlessness, ferocious, and forever young. 

My good friend, Jonathan Riss of Jay Ahr, was kind enough to lend his showroom for the shoot today. I love him to death and he is a genius (check out my previous post). Dries Van Noten is one of my favorite designers. My outfit, burst of colors and prints... I am leaving it to your imagination.

Thank God for the floor to ceiling mirror, I fell in love with the camera... with all modesty.

I am showing you pictures of Jonathan's showroom. I feel like I am in Paris. I do not mind living in his showroom, but we had to pack up before 7pm. DARN!

I would like to thank Jonathan and the lovely Virginie for being gracious hosts.

Love this gold dress number-

More clothes I like

www.style.com's featured dress

Divine!!!!

Bedroom of delight

Pegasus' wings

My choice of accessory for the evening- METALLIC MINAUDIERES

CHILD'S PLAY AT 31

After a relaxing trip to Asia, my girlfriends and I head down south to the sunny part of Orlando, Florida. I am very privilege for having wonderful friends like Yara, Daniella, and Meredith. It has been 15 year, since I set foot in the magical kingdom of Disneyworld.

We were like children running around the park and trying to get to the rides we like.  We checked in at the Swan hotel in Orlando. I have never seen so many statues of swans in my entire life... green is the color.

This trip was one of the best we all had. Amongst all the rides, I like Big Thunder Roll Mountain.

I was laughing and screaming like an opera singer with a hint of hyena screams... can you imagine? I guess. 

Two days was not enough, but we had a blast. The heat was the only hindrance in our trip and the food. My God! I have never seen so many fried food in my entire life. 

I can feel the oil swimming in my belly.

At the end of the day, we shared a barrel of laughters.

Thank you guys for making me young again.

Minnie's house

No Fear for Gipetto- last time I drove a car... 1993

Alice's Tea Cup ride

Walt and Mickey

My castle and not CINDERELLA's

Mickey balloons

Train station around the park.

Green swans of the hotel

GOD SAVED CELINE- THE PHOENIX HAS RETURNED

After a successful meeting with my friend/business partner Pia, I had to go home and check what's new for resort at www.style.com. There were rumors that Phoebe Philo, former designer of Chloe, will return to the fashion industry once again to claim her throne. This time, she has a fashion house to save and she does have the power to do it... CELINE.

CELINE has been in the hands of different designers for the longest time. Michael Kors is the most famous designer of the house.  He brought the house back to its feet of stardom. After his departure, succeeding designers could not catch up to the ever changing world of the fashion industry. LVMH, owner of CELINE, made a perfect choice of hiring Phoebe Philo to be the house's creative director.  

Take note! When Stella McCartney left Chloe to put up her own label under the Gucci Group, Phoebe took charge and turned the house around. It was a huge success. She made everyone love and lust for Chloe's ready-to-wear and accessories. In Spring 2006, she decided to leave the fashion house and focus on her family.

Now! The phoenix has returned. She is the perfect fit for the house of CELINE. She will do so many wonders and make this ailing company into a huge supernova of success.

I am happy and so delighted that she is BACK!!!!!!!!!!!!

Next post, we head straight to DISNEYWORLD. Why? You will find out.

Till next time. 

SHE'S BACK TO CLAIM HER THRONE- PHOEBE PHILO OF CELINE

Luscious!!!! Resort 2010 courtesy of www.style.com

Divine!!!! Resort 2010 courtesy of www.style.com

Beyond!!!! Resort 2010 courtesy of www.style.com

Razzle Dazzle!!!! Resort 2010 courtesy of www.style.com

Perfection!!!! Resort 2010 courtesy of www.style.com

THE PARISIAN BREEZE OF TALENT- JONATHAN RISS OF JAY AHR

I just came back from a relaxing trip in Asia. As usual, my number one enemy is jet lag. Why can't we be best of friends? Up to now, I do not understand.

And now, let's begin my interesting story.

I am so fascinated with talented designers. From my previous posts, I have been raving the designers behind the houses of Balmain and Balenciaga.  And now, JAY AHR is part of my list.

When I was an editor at a prestigious magazine in New York, my task was to research on the hottest accessories of the season. It did not stop me from there, I did my research on the latest women's ready-to-wear out in the market. I came across the name JAY AHR.  When Roopal Patel of Bergdorf Goodman wore his creation to a social event, I was mesmerized with the outfit.  I could not stop talking about it to my fashion peers.

I had the chance to meet the designer (Jonathan Riss) at the ROSE BAR at the Gramercy Hotel in New York a couple of months ago. I was introduced to him by a good friend of mine, who is also an editor of a famous magazine. At first, I did not know that he is the designer of JAY AHR. We had conversations about fashion, culture, and world affairs. He told me that he has his own fashion house in Paris called JAY AHR. I hallucinated for a while, but I recovered.

I was suffering from a severe A.D.D. attack (Attention Deficit Disorder) while he was talking to me. I could not believe that the genius behind the brand is right in front of me. We hit it off and we became instant friends. At the end of the night, I was calm........ 

 

We stayed in touch.

June 10, 2009, Jonathan invited me to his lovely showroom. He has one of the best showrooms in New York. I felt like I was in a beautiful Parisian apartment. He was telling me the full story on how he started his company over a cup of espresso. I learned so many things from him in a span of an hour. Then, he showed me his beautiful evening gowns and cocktail dresses. He was explaining to me the detailed work on each piece. I told him, "If I were a girl, I would pair up his dress with ROW tattered leggings, Balenciaga strass cuff bracelet, Balmain ankle booties, and my Alice Chabtini stingray minaudiere."

At 32, you will see more creative and innovative pieces from Jonathan Riss of JAY AHR. He is UNBELIEVABLE... I mean it.

Jonathan Riss- the man behind the infamous JAY AHR brand

LOVE

LOVE MORE

I WANT TO IT ALL.

THE RISE OF BALMAIN

I was in Shanghai last May and I happen to pass by Joyce Boutique in Plaza 66. The buyers from Joyce have a good eye. They were trained well by Mrs. Joyce Ma, founder and owner of Joyce Boutiques.  They have a huge selection of Dries Van Noten and Lanvin. I drooled and I turned pale out of excitement.

To my surprise, I spotted a gorgeous pair of shoes from Balmain. I was in awe and I dreamt of being a woman to wear those killer shoes.  All of my peers in the industry are crazy about Balmain.  I would not be surprised at all. They keep on telling me, "Balmain is the thing."

At the recent Costume Institute Gala, my friend Dr. Lisa Airan wore an impeccable black studded Balmain dress. For me, she is one of the best iconic figures of New York society. She has her own style and she pulls it off so well. I emailed Lisa and told her that Style.com considered her as one of the best dressed in the event. 

Christophe Decarnin is the creative director of the house of Balmain, since 2005. He turned the house around and he is considered as one of the most influential designers of my era. He made the 1980's so cool without being too literal. I am obsessed with the brand. He placed his on twist and it made the brand cool and edgy.

Take note, his denims can cost you an arm and a leg. I mean $1,500.00 for a pair, but you will feel strong and fierce. His amazing jackets with sharp shoulder pads can cost up to $15,000.00 or more......

Like Nicholas Ghesqueire of Balenciaga, he belongs to the league of talented, innovative, and well followed designers. Carine Roitfeld is one of the few people who placed Christophe on the fashion map. She is my favorite editrix.  Her style is just BEYOND this world... VERY Balmain worthy.

I salivate every time I see a girl wear his creations... I can't express my enthusiasm.

HE IS A GENIUS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Christophe Decarnin- genius behind Balmain

Carine Roitfeld, French Vogue Editrix, with daugther Julia Restoin Roitfeld

Dr. Lisa Airan in A cutting edge piece of ART from Balmain-MET GALA 2009

Killer!!!!!

To DIE for!!!!!!!!

I am DYING right now.... 

J'adore to the MAX

Fierceness!!!!!!!!!!!

Cristobal, is that you?

Gipetto strikes again with his favorite designer Cristobal. My recent trip to Shanghai made me excited about the city's architecture. I told myself that I am not going to purchase anything from this amazing metropolis.  Then again, my friends from Shanghai told me to go to Plaza 66.  

Plaza 66 houses all the high-end luxury brands with the likes of Chanel, Prada, Louis Vuitton, and Cristobal.  For some odd reason, I am very lucky. It was the store's first day to open to the public. I rushed in and purchased a couple of my favorite pieces.

This whole fascination about Cristobal started with the Spring 2007 collection. As a former accessories editor of a prestigious magazine in NY, I am obsessed with accessories. While making my trend report for that season on powerpoint, I came across a magnificent piece of art... the TRON belt. I told myself, I have to have that belt. I called the press offices of Cristobal in New York and Paris... no luck. 

Where did I get my TRON belt? Homme et Femme (Alaia, Balenciaga, Marni, Lanvin, Margiela, Dior Homme, Acne, Liberty, Comme des Garcons, Dries Van Noten) in Manila, Philippines. Jappy Gonzales' has an eye for beautiful things. He always tells me to always edit when he buys merchandise for his store.  True enough, I found my TRON belt in his store. My sister gave me the belt as a super duper belated Christmas gift.  Everytime I see Jappy in Manila, I always give him my biggest smile.

Cristobal is one of the best designers for me. No wonder Style.com always gives him a two thumbs up... all the time.

Nicholas Ghesquiere- CRISTOBAL Balenciaga's heir to the throne

Fall/Winter 2007- The scarf costs an arm and a leg

Spring 2009- In my own opinion, I'd name this the SOLARIS collection... that's just me

Spring 2007- the birth of my Cristobal fascination

Fall/Winter 2009- The best harem pants I've seen.

MY "TRON" BELT- I love this piece. 

Plaza 66 in Shanghai, China

Another fun-filled journey with Gipetto. Wait till see you my next post.