A Spade is a Spade

Are you planning your next vacation destination in the coming months of summer?  Well, color your trips with style as Kate Spade New York presents the perfect collection for the season's most exciting tourist attractions.  Wherever you go, these chic pieces come in perfect vibrant shades to celebrate style under the sun.  Step up and standout like a jet setter with Kate Spade's fashion forward appeal without making an overstatement.  These perfect trademark ladylike pieces are wardrobe classics you can mix and match to create a variety of looks you can wear this summer and beyond.  These stylish numbers are sure investments that go beyond global fashion's trends and changing of the seasons.  So wherever you go this summer, don't bother with what to wear because Kate Spade's worry-free ensembles are definite must-buys for your ultimate "vacays" and anyone living in a suitcase.

Into the nude.

Tote to perfection.

Summer's bright idea.

Bangled.

Skirting the issue.

Animal instinct.

In the Philippines, Kate Spade is exclusively distributed by Stores Specialist Inc., and is located at the Powerplant Mall, Greenbelt 3, Rustan's Makati and Shangri-La plaza Mall.

"Skullies"

Skulls remind us so much of bones, cadavers and the rest that's creepy and morbid.  Global fashion's late Alexander McQueen transformed the figure of darkness into a symbol of iconoclastic style.  From science class to fashion runways, the tales from the dark side piece transformed into one of the statement trends back in 2009 when Rock chic was globally conquering fashion.  Celebrities known to have welcomed the look were Victoria Beckham, Nicole Richie, Rihanna and 50 cents.  From the most covetable clutch, watches, accessories and print, the reinvention has gone mainstream beyond its Halloween appeal.

My designer intern Mikka Velasquez recently stumbled upon skull beads and decided to make them into funky bracelets.  Updated in the current season's color trending, they come in black, brown, pink, green, purple, yellow and red.  She used vintage like accessories to put these cute "skullies" together.  Loving how the skull progressed from the rock look into something more chic quirky.  You can get the small skull bracelets for 300 pesos while the medium sized ones at 350.  These stylish ornaments are the perfect accent for those classic ensembles.  Nothing wrong being skulled for life right?

All heads up.

Skulled for life.

Tickled pink.

The bone collector.

Lovely bones.

You can reach Mikka Velasquez at  +63927 377 8276

Mens Fashion Week Singapore: Design Inception

Men's Fashion in Asia in creating a milestone this year.  For the first time in the region, and only the third in the world (after Paris and Milan), Men’s Fashion Week (MFW) 2011 will be staged in Singapore at Sands Expo & Convention Centerfrom 30 March to 3 April 2011  .
The five-day inaugural men’s fashion event will showcase the Autumn/Winter  2011 collections of up to 15 renowned brands from Singapore, the Asian region and internationally.  What makes it even more exciting is that two Filipino designers are participating in the monumental event--Joey Samson(solo show) and Jerome Lorico(group).  Joey will be showcasing a 40 piece collection entitled "MITATE"(Japanese word which means "a new point of view").  MITATE presents classic menswear in a new light as modern design interpretations display pattern and textural play in fabrication.  The forward approach echo the designer's aesthetics and below are the masterpieces in progress.  So proud these two brilliant designers will display outstanding creativity and talent that will definitely put Filipino design on the global map of contemporary menswear  fashion.


Samson's tabula rasa.



Over swatched.

Modern tapestry.

Designing with pina/jusi fabrication.

In the mood.

Style spotting lookbook.

So excited to see this event! Starting Monday next week, stylenarratives will be chronicling and updating you with Singapore Menswear fashion week's day to day activities.   Don't forget to drop by and visit, cheers.

Summer Treat

With all the great deals out there this season, are you still up for a Summer treat? If you happen to be a fan of Tory Burch then something special is up. For every P15,000.00 purchase you get a free beauty pouch that comes in blue or fucschia. These printed handy carry-all are chic and very easy to bring anywhere from the office or to the beach. No need to worry because this must-have is convenient and has all the space you need to keep all your beauty stuff. So drop by Tory Burch while these limited pieces still last.  

Salon de Ning

Recently had a shoot for a wedding magazine at the current toast of tinseltown--Salon de Ning.  Located at the ground floor of one of the best hotels in the Philippines--The Manila Peninsula--this new must-go haven is the place to be seen.  Social butterflies, stylesetters and industry insiders flock to this chic kitschy habitat with no uncompromising restraint.  Style is a tall order as lingering eyes spot the latest personalities in the news, fashion and society lounge and toast to a night of fun, gossip and relaxation.  The setting is a chic tapestry of finery inspired from 1930's Shanghainese Art Deco echoing the glamorous world of Madame Ning.  Old world made modern, the distinct habitue is the epitome of salon chicness that was then and so now.

Lounge luxe.

On stage.

Talk of the town.

Not your ordinary Cinderella story.

Seat of power.

Frame fillers.

Crystal clear.

Designer Louis Claparols wearing a top by Dansen, pants by Diesel, high cuts from
Puma, watch by Technomarine and sunglasses by Chloe.

Designer Ivar Aseron wearing a top designed by him, pants by Topshop, shoes by
Neil Barett, watch by Cartier and sunglasses by Tom Ford.

Photographer Lope Navo wearing a striped tee by A/X, black blazer by H & M, denims
and sunglasses by Zara, belt by Diesel and silver high cuts by Topman.

Makeup artist Bobby Carlos wearing a v-neck tee by Muji, pants and belt both by
Alexander McQeen, shoes by Nike, bag by Prada and watch by Swatch.

Behind the scene.

Up close and personal.

A song to remember.

Hold on to the light.

Where fashion sits.

Tailored suiting.

Junior associate stylist Donna Gonzales Lim wearing top from HK, vest by Massimo
Dutti, shorts by Zara, necklace by MAngo, bangle by F21, ring by H & M and shoes
bought online.

Jewelmer's Penelope Uy wearing a top by H & M, vest and jeans both by Zara, belt by
Gap, heels by Aldo and bag by Longchamp.

Metro Wedding's creative director Trish Chua Juico wearing a dress by Dorothy Perkins,
aviators by Ray Bann, Nightingale bag by Givenchy and animal printed flats by  Zara.

Ysa of Metro Weddings wearing a paisley printed tunic by Massimo Dutti, belt by
Zara, ring by H & M, bracelet by Tiffany & Co., watch by Tag and Skagen and flats
from HK.

Tinee of Metro Weddings wearing a blouse from Shanghai, leggings by H & M, watch
by Philip Stein and flats from SM.

Designer Mikka Velasquez wearing a blouse by What A Girl Wants, denims by Jag,
clogs by CMG, watch by Technomarine and bag Longchamp.

Senior associate stylist Reg Rodriguez wearing a jacket by Dorothy Perkins, top by
Topshop, skirt by SM , rings by PLF and necklace from BKK.

Designer Noelle Llave wearing a dress by F21, sleeveless parka by Tomato, bag by
Bench and clogs by Kim Raez.

Associate junior stylist Rudolph Leonor wearing a top by Topman, blazer by Mundo,
trousers by Bench, belt by SM, shoes by Urban Outfitters and bag by Marc by Marc
Jacobs.

Model of the moment Pauline Prieto wearing a top and maxi skirt both by F21, sweater
 by Sparkle and Faith and shoes by Bakers.