Sporting Ascot

2012 is the year for the Olympics. The once every four years event has greatly influenced global fashion brands in their Spring Summer 2012 and with this is the major comeback of sportswear into our wardrobes. This season, BOSS Green Menswear draws inspiration from the famed British Royal Ascot horse races with their unique tradition, color and style. Presenting a parade of hues, it features a mix of stripes and checks in bright, energized color combinations paired with white. The palette is dominated by olive green and yellows, along with a spectrum of blues including navy, turquoise and sky blue. A trio of reds – from tango red through chimney to rhododendron – send a strong message and duo with white for high impact. Fabrication is game on the stripe theme in shirts and jackets. Matte/shiny contrast is a hallmark of this richly varied collection, as is the hand-drawn BOSS Green lettering of the logo.
The BOSS Green is a premium sportswear line for men and women with a relaxed, casual focus and functional performance wear for golf enthusiasts. With its aesthetically appealing, signature design, BOSS Green has discovered the ideal niche between lifestyle and sports.

In the Philippines, BOSS Green is exclusively distributed by Stores Specialists, Inc. (SSI) and is located at Greenbelt 4, Shangri-La Plaza Mall, and Newport Mall Resorts World.

Return to Africa

Modern Africa is coming strong as one of the biggest trends in the coming year.  Safari fever is coming as renowned designer Michael Kors presented his Spring 2012 Collection. "Afriluxe is the new mood as it take tribal to ultra-high levels global style.  Earth tones such as limestone, olive, clay, impala antelope, creamy tones of ivory and warm sunset shades of amber sienna and cinnabar define the new palette of Africa.  Modern minimalism is creating an easy laid back feel as seen in soft djellabas, caftans, ponchos, capes sarongs and wind coats.  Style is in the raw presented with chic artisan textures such as distressed cashmere, linen, leather, patchworks and hand dyed fabrications.  
For Spring-Summer 2012, Michael Kors gives his classic sportswear some edge with tribal prints, bold tie-dye treatments, frayed edges, feathers, and python accents giving a new chic look to jetset dressing.

In the Philippines, Michael Kors is exclusively distributed by Stores Specialists, Inc.(SSI) and is located at Greenbelt 5, Rustan’sMakati, The Power Plant Mall, Shangri-La Plaza Mall, and Newport Mall.

In the Retro

Loving the overflowing retro influences in fashion this season. Diane Von Furstenberg's Fall-Winter 2011 "Urban Geometry " presents a fusion of ‘30s chic and ‘70s glamour in a variety of modern pieces envisioning the modern urban lifestyle.  The style mode is all about casual elegance in easy fabrication.  Chic need not to be too serious as seen in DVF's geometric, abstract shapes and artistic floral prints in languid silhouettes.  Loving the collection's color play from browns to rust, mustard to deep burgundy, and aqua blues to bright jade that recreate the retro vibe in mod silhouettes for a more up to date feel.  Fashion is a cycle and trends perennially keeps on coming back in modern forms.  Loving this style change that evolves to create something new and better.  When this happens, chicness becomes almost a statement in every successful return of retro. 

Diane Von Furstenberg is available at Rustan’s Makati and Rustan’s Shangri-La Plaza.

Timeless

A picture tells a story.  There is always something interesting about black and white images.  It has this certain quality which seemingly can be quite dramatic and surpass the test of time. One recent ad campaign caught this author's eye and made an impact with it's modern vintage appeal  that looked like an exposition on elegance.  Simple and chic, the latest  AK Anne Klein Fall 2011 Collection is all about versatile and practical pieces for every woman's day to day wardrobe. Perfect for today's career women, the brand presents a range of stylish pieces in classic silhouettes, tailored pieces, graphic prints and subtly textured menswear fabrics suitable for day to night dressing.  Key items for the season come in standout pieces such as shift dresses, blazers, detailed blouses and layering cardigans.  One can never go wrong with the classics, they have this endearing timeless appeal that will never go out of style.

In the Philippines, AK Anne Klein is exclusively distributed by Stores Specialists, Inc. (SSI) and is located at Rustan’s Makati, Greenbelt 5, Power Plant Mall, Rustan’s Tower Shangri-La Plaza Mall and Shangri-La Plaza Mall. 

New Hollywood

One of Burberry's new fashion icon aside from Emma Watson is 24 year old model-turned-actress Rosie Huntington-Whiteley ( seen in the movie Transformers: Dark of the Moon).  The Victoria Secret stunner has captivated the paparazzi on and off the red carpet with her sultry sophisticated looks that epitomize the new definition glamour.  Effortless yet striking, her unassuming disposition is channeling super chic style without pretense.  The young actress posses a certain enigmatic appeal, natural sexiness and alluring elegance making her one of the most beautiful faces in Hollywood today.  Blessed with the perfect mold for fashion, it's no wonder Burberry has chosen her as part of their roster of stellar endorsers.  Young Hollywood's latest addition is style ready on and off camera and is no doubt the muse of modern glamour.  

In the Philippines, Burberry is exclusively distributed by Stores Specialists, Inc. (SSI) is located at Greenbelt 4, Rustan’s Department Store Makati, and Shangri-La Plaza Mall.

Luxe High

Luxury is beyond borders and knows no limits.  Burberry  Prosum's Womenswear Autumn Winter 2011 Collection is taking chic to its peak.  Loving the high style in amazing and elegant silhouettes as seen in seamless and remarkable oversized, sculptural and volumes of blanket, military and tunic coats, engineered cable knitted panel jackets, oversize cropped cape jackets, window cut-out dresses, covered zip front tunic dresses, sculptured boot cut trousers, fitted low volume boot cut trousers and flat front cropped trousers. Updated colors and patterns revealed a young and fresh style perspective complimented with an air of modern sophistication.
Luxe detailing is having an all high attention with  hand woven knit cables, multi gauge knitted tweeds, tonal buttons, lacquered woven leather buttons, luggage and engineered stitching, geometric seaming.  One can't help notice the refinery seen in the use of contrast color leather trims, applied bindings and luggage duffle fastenings, sculptured quilted linings and the list goes on and on.  Fabrication is set with a high standard of quality using the finest materials perfect for the cold weather. Completing the collection were accessories as seen in chic bowling, cross-body bags and clutches in quilts, alligator, and shiny leather that complement the entire look of the brand this season.  
Fusing the past and the future is the clear style statement.  Burberry is a tradition of retail luxury that undergoes constant evolution in bringing forward ideas in creating contemporary fashion.

In the Philippines, Burberry is exclusively distributed by Stores Specialists, Inc. (SSI) and is located at Greenbelt 4, Rustan’s Makati, and Shangri-La Plaza Mall.

Coat of Arms

In a tropical country such as the Philippines, wearing a coat happens on a rare occasion.  The   only forgiving time where fashioning one can be excused is either when a typhoon/storm happens or during the holidays when the temperature gets a bit cold.  Though the idea of Euro cold-weather layering maybe nearly close to impossible, the next alternative is to take inspiration from the latest collections and use an alternative type of fabrication suitable for the environment.  In recent years, menswear in Manila has been catching up on fashion and has lately resurfaced into the style battlefield with a load of ammunition inspired from the international runways.
One of the key inspirations this season is Burberry Menswear's  Autumn Winter 2011.  The latest collection is re-creating a wonderful rendition of the classic in luxe materials and sculptural volumes. Bold silhouettes, eye-catching details, clean lines and sharp tailoring redefined the brands concept of construction with impeccable elegance.  Brave, bold hues such as thistle blue, bright royal blue, bright teal blue, primary red, bright amber, tangerine, bright caper are mixed with modern neutral like dark charcoal, mid grey mélange, ink, mid brown, dark clove brown, loam, camel, honey, and the classic black and white creating a style army marching from runway to realway.  At this day and age, global fashion has evidently taken the forward march with a refreshing outlook in dressing up men. Menswear is conquering new frontiers and armed with a sever attitude without inhibitions which can be described in today's generation as fearless.

In the Philippines, Burberry is exclusively distributed by Stores Specialists, Inc. (SSI) and is located at Greenbelt 4, Rustan’s Makati, and Shangri-La Plaza Mall. 

Style Icon

Young British actress Emma Watson is all about the next generation of chic style. The current muse of renowned retail brand Burberry has graced the covers of top international glossies such as Vogue, Elle, Harper's Bazaar,, Italian Vogue, vanity Fair, Marie Claire, The Times, Interview, VS, Tatler, Flare, Style, You and Evening Standard.  Dazzling tinseltown with a distinct sense of modern style, hint of edge and pixie/twiggy like allure, she is one of global cinema's youngest stellar figures.  Honored by Elle magazine with the Style Icon award and voted by Glamour as Best Dressed Woman in 2011, Harry Potter's sweet Hermione has transformed into the new chameleon of global fashion.  Always chic in Burberry, her understated yet polished demeanor has caught the eye and approval of editors all over the world. The spokesperson for Lancôme's new fragrance, Midnight Rose is set to create a fashion line with People Tree sometime this year.  There's no stopping this future red carpet  A-Lister as she continues to illuminate the film industry with her young, edgy-elegant look from the streets into the silver screen.

In the Philippines, Burberry is exclusively distributed by Stores Specialists, Inc. (SSI) and located at Greenbelt 4, Shangri-La Shopping Mall, and Rustan’s Makati.