If you know any woman currently undergoing chemotherapy, please pass the word to her that there is a cleaning service that provides FREE housecleaning - 1 time per month for 4 months while she is in treatment.
All she has to do is sign up and have her doctor fax a note confirming the treatment. Cleaning for a Reason will have a participating maid service in her zip code area arrange for the service.
Please pass this information on to bless a woman going through cancer treatment. This organization serves the entire USA and currently has 547 partners to help these women.
Let chemo patients know that there are people out there that care. Be a blessing to someone and pass this information along.
I told myself I will never be a stage mother, but wow, now I understand. Once the baby comes, it's like a light switch flips on! Annabelle Rama isdatchu? Well, hindi naman ganon. See, Berry is a finalist in googoo&gaga's Koooky Kid Contest, and of course, we are in it to win it! Friends and family pride ya know!
So dear readers, since we are family, friends, online friends and practically family, if you have a Facebook account, please become a fan of googoo&gaga and Vote for Berry ---> click HERE NOW!
Just "like" her photo, that's a vote! We've only got until December 16 Manila time!
All the babies and kids are cute, but please, let's try not to be salawahan ok? Try lang! If possible, Berry all the way! Heehee! Oh, and Berry would like to say thanks to Tita Cecile for the shoutouts! Now Berry has stylist Michael Salientes's seal of approval. Thanks also to friends (thanks Tita Crix for the blog post!) and family who voted and helped spread the word! (Psst, Parokya ni Edgar fans, your idol Chito voted for Berry na!) But still, we still need all your help!
Incidentally, googoo&gaga will be at the Rockwell Moonlit Bazaar this weekend, Dec. 11-13, from 12 noon to 12 midnight. Their booth will be located outside, on the right side of the Rockwell tent (by the EXIT, near the huge Christmas tree)!
They have new styles and reprints available! Check them out! And put in a good word for Berry, heehee!
Here's a great stocking stuffer for your wee one (ie babies, toddlers and even tweens) -- Funky Tubes, from the mommies behind Funky Feet socks!
Not only do these keep little limbs warm, replacing sweaters, leggings or tights which can get them too hot (and grouchy!), these are practical too! Providing lightweight protection from sun, scrapes and insect bites. And no struggling come diaper changing and potty training time!
Oh, and did I mention, these makes any outfit look all the more fun & funky!
Comes in different colors, for only P380 per pair. Order here.
Want to know what 2010 will bring in terms of life & style? Sarj & I made our fearless forecast, published in the Philippine Star last week. In a nutshell, we think frugality and sensitivity will be the moods pervading in the air. After we saw people lose jobs, their homes and even their lives this past year, a reality check is in order.
But take note, there's nothing depressing about going back to basics. It just brings out the fighter in us. After all, wasn't it the feisty Mademoiselle Chanel who believed that "hard times arouse an instinctive desire for authenticity"?*
MANILA FASHION OBSERVER By Christine Dychiao SMOKE SIGNALS By Sarj Stoeckl
There’s no denying that The Great Recession has dampened everyone’s mood consumption-wise since December 2007.
While economic data points are looking at a recovery, it seems like the dark clouds from the recession of seasons past are still hovering over us and will continue to play a major part in influencing trends for 2010.
The difficult economic climate has definitely given us a big slap of reality and forced upon us a refresher course on austerity. Simply put, spending money like it’s going out of style — is now out of style. Frugality will dictate the way we live, eat, dress, work and play. It’s not so much about spending less, but spending smarter. It’s time to go back to basics, folks.
While we don’t claim to be experts in the trade of trend, we combined our resources, did our homework and put together a list of things we can look forward to, for what we hope will be a much better year ahead.
* * *
LIFESTYLE:
Green Living
(from thedailygreen.com)
What started as a buzzword has now become a lifestyle. We’ve all seen how nature has turned against us due to our wanton disruption of nature’s balance. While the main goal should be to minimize one’s carbon footprint and environmental impact, more people will now be living green thanks to (peer) pressure from enlightened family members, friends or work colleagues. Being green is becoming a key factor in the way we assess our purchases and how we live our lives.
Locavores/Farmers’ Markets/Grow Your Own Food/DIY (Do It Yourself)
(from garden.org)
Still in line with the concept of green/eco/sustainable living is the Locavore movement, which encourages consumers to buy from local farmers’ markets or grow and harvest their own food. Foods that need not travel far and instead, come straight from the source, are guaranteed fresh, taste better, are much cheaper, and healthier. It also means less fuel usage to transport goods and supports the business of local farmers.
Staycations (from blogs.freshminds.co.uk)
CNN calls it the alternative to pricey, stressful travel. After all, how much does one have to spend on a vacation in one’s home or town? Soaring gas prices and the financial debacle have practically obliterated the average person’s disposable income. But that doesn’t mean one cannot take time out to relax and unwind, even if that means doing it within the comfort of one’s usual surroundings. As the saying goes, “Be it ever so humble, there’s no place like home.”
FASHION:
“Careful Chic”
(Style on a Shoestring by Andy Paige from amazon.com)
It means living life in style, but within one’s means. For those who can still afford life’s pleasures, that translates to toned-down luxury. People with means will definitely still be spending on luxe items, but the kind that equates to real, honest-to-goodness quality — like a perfectly battered pair of bespoke brogues, cashmere blankets that you can hand down to your children, super-soft worn-in jeans, a tailored jacket that will last you a lifetime or leather bags that get better with age.
Those who have less to shell out will spend smarter and choose the best of what they can afford — wising up and picking investment pieces that will go with everything, rather than just zeroing in on what’s hot or what’s “now.”
Borrowing from the Boys (Church's brogues from net-a-porter.com)
2009’s mannish trend will spill over to 2010. The Financial Times reports that women now realize the value of men’s investment buys with stores like John Lewis seeing a spike not only in sales of brogues, but also in small-sized men’s cardigans and shirts, as women seek more authentic “boyfriend” outfits.
Of course, it also makes perfect economic sense to share a closet with one’s man.
Girls, forget Mom’s closet. Raid your Dad’s!
Dressing for Comfort (Isabel Marant from elle.com)
When stylists and editors from all over came out in droves wearing nautical stripes during the spring 2010 shows, we knew they were onto something. It must be the revived interest in Coco Chanel (“ritzycling”), or the simple fact that striped tees or sweaters paired with a jacket give off an instant effortless, cool-girl vibe.
In a season of keeping it real, easy comfort dressing — as though you never spend time obsessing on what to wear — is the name of the game.
Flannel lumberjack shirts reminiscent of ’90s grunge paired with boyfriend jeans will make a comeback. Isabel Marant and Alexander Wang will reinvent the way we look at slouchy gray sweatpants and sweatshirts after getting them all sexy. Christophe Decarnin will continue to wield influence on the high street with his distressed tees, jeans and military-inspired looks for Balmain.
You will still be able to find shapeless shirts and generously cut dresses on racks in 2010. We may be tightening our belts, but we sure are going to keep our tops loose. Gray Goods
(from whowhatwear.com)
The perfect metaphor for the prevailing mood of uncertainty, gray — and all other neutral tones — will continue to be our color(s) of choice.
Retail Revolution
(from wwd.com)
Shopping becomes fresher and more exciting with pop-up shops and time-limited sales. The pop-up concept is a boon to landlords looking to lease vacant retail sites and labels not ready to commit to a brick-and-mortar existence. Time-limited sales have made online “outlets” or sample sale sites like RueLaLa, Gilt Groupe, HauteLook, Editor’s Closet, and Ideeli the latest venture-capital favorites. “Masstige”
A portmanteau of the words “mass” and “prestige.”
Wikipedia says that masstige products are defined as “premium but attainable,” and that there are two key tenets: (1) They are considered luxury or premium products and (2) They have price points that fill in the gap between mid-market and super-premium.
This is why designer collaborations have been (and will continue to be) so popular.
Diffusion lines allow us to be avant-garde on a budget, or luxe without having to pay top dollar. And don’t we all just love that? POP CULTURE:
Celebrity DJs
(from newyorksocialdiary.com) Jessica Stam, Agyness Deyn and Matt Creed are all doing it, with some of them getting paid thousands of dollars (for drawing in the right crowd), by simply bringing their iPods to the club scene.
Looks like the recession has made celebrities realize the value of having a sideline. Although seriously, it may be the voyeuristic appeal of knowing what these folks listen to that makes them a hot commodity these days. So hot, in fact, that Madonna’s current flame, Jesus Luz, is getting into the game (with Mama Madonna reportedly paying for his lessons).
Glee (from myfizzypop.blogspot.com)
TV’s latest feel-good smash hit is kitschy, kooky and (dare we say it?) downright cheesy. Times like these, it’s the perfect pick-me-up because it takes you back to “the good ol’ days” of high school — when we were all young, impressionable and carefree. It’s the guilty pleasure you just have to indulge, because watching Glee makes us all feel warm and fuzzy. Admit it, you’re a Gleek, too.
Flash mobs
It’s a harmless way to experiment with a new form of technology-enabled collective action. Mobbers like Improv Everywhere continue to amuse and bewilder people all over the world, and the debate continues whether the mass of people that stands out from the crowd is a form of performance art or a new social movement.
For some people, it’s all for fun. For others, it’s a means to socialize. For a few, it’s a political act. Whatever it means to various folks, it’s a silly stunt that’s meant to showcase what technology and a large group of people in sync can do.
It’s People Power, 21st-century version. Twitter (a.k.a. microblogging)
Though not exactly addressing the Twitter phenomenon, famed trend forecaster Li Edelkoort’s words best describe our fascination with having 140 character-long exchanges: “We live apart and want to be together. We want to come together and meet. We want real relations.”
Friends are made, alliances formed and enemies encountered — all via Twitter. And you can make all those relationships “real” via what has come to be known as a “Tweetup.”
Utilized by all for every single bit of information imaginable — from drivel and gossip to real-time store announcements, promos, political issues, disaster relief efforts, contests, NASA missions, etc. — users are simply addicted because of everyone’s inherent desire to be connected and share information instantly. Everyone wants to be in the loop, and no one wants to be left out.
For breaking news, many turn to Twitter, as opposed to traditional news sites, to get the most real-time information. Everyone’s thinking in headlines these days. There’s less up-front emphasis on content or details. Girl Power
(from Vogue US)
With a fashionably fierce First Lady in the White House, a fearless first-ever Hispanic justice in the US Supreme Court and an indefatigable Secretary of State representing the Free World (and by extension, us all), we hope for more well-intentioned women to ascend into positions of authority. It’s about time.
* * *
At a 2007 trend conference in London, Timo Veikkola, the senior future strategist for Nokia’s consumer trends team, predicted that as we enter 2010, we will be heading into a decade of optimism — how very apropos.
Here’s hoping things do take a turn for the better next year. So that decades from now, we can all look back, feel good and say to ourselves, “Those were good times.”
*From Karen Karbo's The Gospel According to Coco Chanel
Here's a great deal for Christmas. When you buy Php2,000 worth of goodies from Plueys, you get something extra - either rain skimmers or kiddie rain boots! Which come in a ready to give gift tote!
I know, I know, I've been going on and on with gift ideas for the ladies, but haven't come up with anything for the gents. Well, let's hit two birds with one stone because this one here is both for the men and boys!
Look what's here! VILEBREQUIN! Vilebrequin (pronounced veelbrekan) is a French luxury brand that specializes in men's swimwear.
If you're thinking, what's so special about this one? Well, it just happens to be a status symbol, worn by the chi-chi set who holiday on the French Riviera. Very Euro chic, and definitely not of the Euro trash sort. The kind of beach shorts worn by men who live in linen shirts and wear driving shoes from Tod's.
Back in Saint-Tropez, circa 1971, Fred Pryskel, a Saint-Tropez fixture and car enthusiast, sat on a terrace café and sketched the original design for his swim shorts (inspired by surf shorts, totally anathema to the skimpy Speedo type trunks of the day) on a checked tablecloth. He then looked for the perfect material for his design, settling on spinnaker canvas (very apropos given that sailing is THE thing to do in Saint-Tropez), which dries more quickly in the sun and wind. He then called his label Vilebrequin, "the French word for 'crankshaft' and a reference to his passion for automobiles."
If that's not enough to convince you or your man, relish in the idea that Ben Affleck, Brad Pitt, George Clooney, Pierce Brosnan, Paul Newman, Hugh Grant and Robert De Niro wear Vilebrequin.
Now here's the good part, Manila-based folks. Vilebrequin once was only found in chic shopping destinations like Paris, Saint-Tropez, Rome, New York, Hong Kong and Beverly Hills. You can now hie off to Greenbelt 5 to get these!
By the way, a new cut has been added to it's roster:
While the Moorea is the original cut, Jim/Jam is for boys 2 to 12 y.o., Okoa is longer in length, and Master is the one with thigh slits, there's the new MERIDIEN model, a new style of boxer trunks with a flat waistband, 38 cm leg length in size L, the Vilebrequin logo stitched across the back of the trunks and available in all plain colors.
In the Philippines, VILEBREQUIN is exclusively distributed by Stores Specialists, Inc. (SSI) and is located at Greenbelt 5.
I don't know a girl who doesn't love shoes. Or maybe, I just happen to belong to a circle of shoe lovers, heehee! So, what to put in a shoe-loving girl's stocking? Why hello, shoes of course!
Anthology Shoes makes it easy to please your little sister, best friend or girlfriend with the variety of shoes they have in store:
Uhmmm, since we are on the subject of gift ideas, dear family and friends, this is what I like, any color is fine, heehee:
I have to say, I am pretty impressed with Anthology shoes. Not only are these proudly Philippine made, the label is backed by 20 years of shoe-making, thoughtful design and technical care.
You can find Anthology Shoes online at:
http://anthologyshoes.wordpress.com/
http://twitter.com/anthologyshoes
http://anthologyshoes.multiply.com/
You can also check out:
Anthem in Rockwell and Shangrila
Crossings in Shangri-la, Glorietta and Quezon Avenue
I received a message on Facebook about my high school's annual reunion a few days back and up to now I still can't believe it's been 15 years since I graduated! How did time fly by so fast? So many things have happened since I was 17 (back when everyone was listening to Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Guns N' Roses, and yes even the Nelson Brothers, wahaha!) but I still can't seem to get rid of the flannel wearing, sneaker shod, torn shorts wearing girl I was then.
Here I am 15 years later...with a sweet, smiling baby Berry to boot! Heehee!
Speaking of sweetness, Berry and I went with my sisters-in-law Lorr & Les, to Carlo's Bakery (in Hoboken, NJ) aka where the Cake Boss works, so that we could try the popular Cannoli - a pastry filled with ricotta cheese and dried fruit, which traces its roots to Sicily...
As if that wasn't enough, we just had to get those humongous cupcakes from Crumbs...
Here's what Berry & I wore to our bakery crawl (we also went to Philippine Bread House to stock up on pan de sal!)...
Mom's Outfit Puffer jacket: James Perse Flannel shirt: Uniqlo Shorts: Current/Elliott Belt: Abaco Tights: Lady President (from Landmark Dept Store) Sneakers: Converse
Berry's Outfit Puffer jacket: Ralph Lauren Onesie: Carter's Cardigan: Carter's Boots: Ralph Lauren
Ok, admittedly, an airbrush kit is too expensive to pass off as a stocking stuffer, but wouldn't this be such a treat for the makeup fanatic in your life?
After all, according to Val and Andrea of GlamBox, "Airbrush makeup is the next generation of makeup."
And if you, or someone dear to you is the type to obsess about your skin, this might just be the makeup applicator to use! Once developed solely for the TV and film industry to hide skin flaws under dramatic lighting or new technologies like HDTV (High Definition TV), the airbrush is ahead of traditional makeup in terms of both effective coverage and feel.
Airbrush makeup is sprayed on as fine mist over the skin, so it produces a natural flawless complexion. It doesn’t rub into the skin or emphasize pores and it allows the skin to breathe through its light texture.
Some years back, this technology was only available to makeup professionals. Thanks to the GlamBox girls, it is now available for us regular folks to use! Val and Andrea guarantee that with GlamBox Airbrush Kit you can easily achieve professional looking coverage and face color every day at home! It's so easy to use. And it won't cost much too. Just about as much as you would pay for high quality make-up brushes.
The Starter Set retails for P8,500 and includes the ff:
Compressor Airbrush Gun (w/ accessories) Gun holder Adaptor Airhose CD GlamBox carrying case
PLUS + Three Bottles
One - 30ml Foundation (of your choice) One - 20ml Cheek Color (of your choice) One - 30ml Cleaner and Thinner
The Deluxe Set retails for P11,800 and includes the ff:
Compressor Airbrush Gun (w/ accessories) Gun holder Adaptor Airhose CD GlamBox carrying case
PLUS + ALL COLORS++ (Total 10 Bottles)
FOUR - 30ml Foundation: - Florence (light beige w/ yellow undertone) - Cannes (natural beige w/ reddish undertone) - Barcelona ( medium beige w/ reddish undertone) - St. Tropez ( dark beige w/ yellow undertone)
TWO - 20ml Cheek Color: - Malibu (light pink) - Cancun (darker rose pink)
ONE - 20 ml Luminizer in Venice Gold (highlighter) THREE - 30ml Cleaner and Thinner
Once you buy the kit, you can always buy your supplies when these run out. The GlamBox Makeup Line currently comes in four foundation colors, two cheek colors, one luminizer and one thinner/cleaner.
A 30 ml bottle of Foundation is P890 and comes in the ff colors: Florence (light beige w/ yellow undertone) Cannes (natural beige w/ reddish undertone) Barcelona (medium beige w/ reddish undertone) St. Tropez (dark beige w/ yellow undertone)
A 20 ml bottle of Cheek Color is P750 and comes in: Malibu (light pink) Cancun (darker rose pink)
A 20 ml bottle of Luminizer is P890 and comes in Venice Gold (highlighter)
A 30ml bottle of Cleaner and Thinner is P250.
ABOUT THE GLAMBOX AIRBRUSH KIT
The GlamBox Airbrush Kit is easy to use and delivers professional looking results.
The GlamBox Gun - Is lightweight, ergonomic and easy to handle. - Is hygienic and easy to clean. - Is fool-proof and designed to be precise - Has a flexible lever for sheer to full makeup coverage control
The GlamBox Compressor
- Is lightweight, portable and easy to set up - Has 3 air pressure modes for makeup level control - Comes with a convenient gun holder, flexible air hose and adaptor
ABOUT GLAMBOX AIRBRUSH MAKE UP
The GlamBox Airbrush Makeup Line produces a flawless, streak free and evenly distributed coverage.
- It is silicone-based so it easily fills in pores and fine lines. - It dries immediately and is water-resistant to sweat or tears. - It is long lasting so it does not smudge off and does not need to be touched up the whole day. - It is an HDTV (High Definition Television) makeup line so it is ideal for photo and video shoots. - It is very versatile. It can be used to contour and highlight facial features. It can also be used to airbrush the body for coverage and for sunless tanning.
*International professional brands like MAC and Kryolan have a similar silicone-based formulation that is widely preferred by makeup professionals.
Great news for readers based in New York, New Jersey and Philadelphia! Plus readers with plans of visiting the aforementioned states any time soon! Daffy's, the popular discount retailer, is giving a $50 gift card to one lucky reader! And at Daffy's, you know, $50 will go a loooong way! Enough to get presents for a couple of your favorite folks!
How to win? Simple! Just leave a comment and tell us what you think about Daffy's first live movie advertisement! Last month, along with creative agency Johannes Leonardo, Daffy's presented the first live movie advertisement, a "commercial" that merged onscreen presentation with a real-life dance performance in New York City.
This is what the NY Times thinks about it. What do you think? Bring it on and one of you wins a $50 gift card from Daffy's!
ROOTOTE is spreading the holiday vibes this season with ROOTOTE's Snapshots Promo where three lucky fans get a chance to win a new ROOTOTE bag!
How? Get your ROOTOTE bag and take a picture of yourself with it! Then, email your photo to roototephilippines@gmail.com!
Deadline of submission is on December 20, 2009, 12 midnight. Winners will be announced on December 24. For more details, check out the site or the Facebook fan page!
Talk about a girl's dream come true! For both the young and not so young! Heehee! Mr. Louboutin designed a limited edition Christian Louboutin for Barbie 'Cat Burglar' doll with red hair and green eyes.
Here's how the packaging looks like:
Barbie comes with a stand and a copy of Christian and Barbie's travel journal.
What's inside? Barbie wearing a black catsuit and Differa sandals, and of course, like most girls, 3 extra pairs of (Louboutin) shoes!
Lucky girl! All these Loubs! Miss ankle boots, Claudia peep-toes and Altameche knee-high boots, each with a box and shoe bag!
Available now at net-a-porter for $150. Would you buy? For yourself? Or the little girl in your life?
im following your posts whenever i can, and im loving what i see everytime...i wonder if you can help me put together basic things so i would look like someone from the 70's. that's our theme for our Christmas party. this wont just be for myself, ill probably share some of your inputs with my colleagues. would appreciate it if you can suggest simple get-up for us in sync with the 70's theme.
thanks for your time.
- gen
Thanks for your email Gen! Wow, the '70s! I was born in 1976 and even if that's pretty much during the latter part of the decade, I still have vivid memories of the '70s. I remember looking at my mom and dad's old pictures and laughing at their tight tops, elephant bellbottoms and clogs (well, for my mom at least). I loved my mom's maxi dresses though. I thought they were fantastic. Funny though that I find myself so into wide leg, bell bottom pants and chunky wedges now. You're in luck too because there's plenty of looks from the '70s that you can copy.
To set the mood, let's start with my top of mind '70s icons:
Abba
The BeeGees
The Jackson 5
Village People
The Carpenters
John Travolta in Saturday Night Fever
Charlie's Angels
Ali McGraw & Ryan O'Neal in Love Story
Now, here are some authentic '70s fashion (of the baduy sort), just to have an idea of what not to look like (although you can too, just to get some laughs!)
'70s Roller Girls
Now that we pretty much have a feel of the era, I think it's fairly easy to look like you're from the 70s, or at least channeling the '70s, as proven by That '70s Show...
...and Tommy Ton's girls, led by Carine herself! As seen on Style.com...
Now, let's do a rundown. What did one wear during the '70s? Here's a checklist:
Girls:
- mini, midi and maxi skirts - low-rised jeans, bell-bottoms - mini retro dresses - platform shoes - prairie skirts - hot pants - tube tops - halter neck catsuits - straight or flared Empire line dresses - Granny dress with a high neck - caftans, kaftans, kimonos, muumuus, djellaba - peasant style tops - accessorize with macrame bags, crochet vests/waistcoats, ponchos and platform shoes
Boys:
- Bell-bottoms - tight shirts with wide collars - platforms or old school sneakers
Colors then were mostly earth tones. Kind of muted and pale, in a good way. Or maybe the photos I've seen have faded through time? Hehe! I think the key here is in the hair & make-up. For girls, think Farrah Fawcett waves or long & straight ala Ali McGraw and for guys, longish hair with sideburns or afro hair!
I get all sorts of ideas and thoughts in my head. All the time. I see things I like, clothes, bags, and shoes I want to add to my closet, shopping sites I want to share, books to read, plus random everyday things I don't ever want to forget. I'm documenting everything here, for all of us to enjoy!
Read about interesting people, places to go to, labels to love, books to share, and everything in between. I've written about it, and it's On The Radar!
I grew up loving Hello Kitty and the gang! Up to now, I still keep an eye out for anything and everything from Sanrio! To spice things up, I throw in style tips, tried and tested recipes, and of course, anything yum, fun or kawaii! See you in Sanriotown!
