MFO Shoe Series: Vanessa Mayuga-Santos, Manila

My friend Vanessa Santos, aka #thevainmama, is The Model Mama.

And not just because she's gorgeous and statuesque. She makes motherhood look so stylish, easy and fun! Not only that, she still manages to squeeze in time to be productive for herself, for her own enjoyment.

Van is the Beauty Seeker for cult online store Seek the Uniq and her cousin Mavis Manotoc-Fuentebella's partner at Stella by TALA. She also contributes to Glam-o-mamas and Glamourbox, in between shuttling the kids to and from their daily activities.

We always look forward to play dates at their home, where she thoughtfully whips up virgin sangrias for us mommas, to go with the sumptuous snacks she puts together in her kitchen. I remember stuffing myself one time with warm bread slathered in butter swirled with strawberry jam while the kids played princess dress up. I couldn't stop eating it. Van told me to just whisk softened butter with strawberry jam in a food processor, et voila - strawberry flavored butter. It's brillz. She's brillz.

When it comes to style, expect nothing less from Van of course. Her marketing and PR stints at Luxasia and Louis Vuitton Philippines have honed and trained her eye to appreciate quality and luxury in a quiet, informed and discerning level. Her selection of shoes reflect just that.

How many pairs of shoes do you own? 

Am basing this on my closet shelves - about 50 pairs.

What's your shoe size?

39 to 40

Which pairs are your favorites?

Lanvin Ballet Flats for traveling. I normally use this on the plane. The are easy to slip on and off and can be dressed up or down.

Cesare Paciotti boots. I scored these at a secret sample sale in Korea. Luckily most of the shoes were in my size! The boots are gorgeous and so comfortable.

The Cesare Paciotti embellished pumps are a statement piece that I'm saving for a special occasion.

YSL Black Tribute Pumps. I call these my "power shoes". They are classic black pumps that always make me feel a little more confident (probably because of the 4 inch heels). I love how the secret platform makes these shoes super comfy and I can wear them the entire day without any problems.

Maison Martin Margiela sneakers. I am not the sporty type but I have accepted that sneakers are the way to go for traveling. In my 30's and with two kids in tow, comfort that is stylish is always a winner.

Etro sandals, my most recent purchase. I lean towards simple, clean pieces when it comes to my clothes. Even in terms of colors, I generally stick to plains and neutrals. This fun pair of sandals should add a punch to most of my favorite shift dresses.

If you could only wear one pair of shoes, which one would it be? 

Sandals...

...or flats.

What are your favorite shoe brands? 

Lanvin, YSL, Louis Vuitton, Cesaro Paciotti, Mystique, and Renegade Folk here in Manila.

Van's collection of Louis Vuitton footwear, because an LV girl has to walk the talk

Gypset glam sandals by Mystique

Van's growing collection of Renegade Folk sandals

What's in your shoe lust list? 

I need new flipflops for swimming. I’m so tempted to get the Valentino camo x Havaianas. Its your fault Tin! Haha

Where do you buy shoes? 

Mostly abroad.

What's that one shoe you can't bear to give away or throw out? 

My patent navy Lanvin Ballet flats from 2008. They were my first pair and I bring them to almost every trip I go to.

All photos by Camille King of Camille King Photography. Like her Facebook page, HERE.

The Shoes of Creatives

It has been a while since I last did a post for my Shoe Series no? Well, I have girls lined up, its just that they are all mega busy! I was thinking of doing a spotlight on my shoes, but baka mabisto ni Dada.  Mahirap na. Ahihihi. 

So while I am thinking about featuring my shoes, I just thought I'd show you the shoes of the "Creatives" I have the pleasure of knowing. I just love being with them, it makes me feel well, creative and artsy too. Please rub off some of those creative juices on me so this blog will be more bongga!

Photographer BJ Pascual and his Margiela sneakers

Stylist Sydney Yap and his camo oxfords from Armani

Photographer Tammy David and her Melissa x Gareth Pugh flats

Oh, I haven't told you about UniqNo right? That's our code name for Unique Novelties! Lots of good finds, especially Christmas decorations. My cousin Alessa told me about this. So off I went with my friends Karrots and Paul last month. I got all my Christmas decorations for our tree there, winner!

We just had to pose with the purchases hahaha

Jeweler Paul Syjuco and his snakeskin embossed Pumas

Live Love Lolz host Karrots Nazareno in her Nike hi-top sneakers

Writer/Blogger Christine Dychiao, sige na, sali ako, and my Isabel Marant Betty hi-top sneakers

One thing's for sure here. No boring shoes in this post no!

By George!

My friend Belinda got me to look at leather shoppers with a fresh eye since she told me about hers, and I feel like jumping into the trend, teehee. While satchels are the hottest bag shape these days, leather totes in the shape of grocery bags are going to be hot, I can feel it. With versions ranging from Margiela to Baggu, there's a leather grocery tote to suit every budget. 

If a stylized tote is more your thing, and you don't want something too literal, then consider the Givenchy George V Shopper. They've been around for years now, but when I saw these on the window of Givenchy in Paragon, I admit I did a double take.

It's quite nice no?

Hi There, Hi Tops

Style wise, I've always been a bit of a tomboy. I am almost always inspired by men's style, and I do recall a time when I was a freshman in college and I wore hi-top Charles Barkleys from Nike. With an oversized shirt. And Umbro soccer shorts. Seriously, a total Man Repeller outfit, if she was old enough to see it then.  

But who cares! I am not surprised that I am totally digging these Margiela sneaks. Man, I love these. I want these. Barneys, how could you tempt me at a time like this! I've been so good!

Which reminds me, when I stumbled upon these Isabel Marant hidden heel hi tops when I last went to her Broome corner Greene Street store, I was intrigued, and already smitten:

I still can't forget Isabel's high tops. How much more the Margiela ones? These are like the pumped up Adidas Sambas of my youth!

Lately, I've been on a shoe funk and none of my favorite shoe brands were cutting it. I've got too many flats, enough oxfords, the perfect pairs of boots I have no use for, a cool set of Repetto Jackson loafers hibernating in a dust bag in my closet (although Louboutin Rollerballs would be welcome addition). But what I really don't have are...dun da run dun: black high top sneakers. But to spend $650 on sneakers? Maybe I should become a Sneaker Pimp!

(Photos from Barneys.com and Garance Dore)

Army & Navy Club

When I was little, we used to swim at The Army & Navy Club in Roxas Boulevard. I don't think it's there anymore no?

I guess going there and growing up in military camps pretty much my whole life have made military wear a staple in my closet. Especially since my Dad had a lot of those in HIS closet when he was still in active service. I am known to nab his US Army issue fatigue undershirt which was so thin and soft and worn in, it was almost like the burnout tees of today! But of course, I had to surrender it when my Dad looked for it, hahaha!

So yeah, up to now, I have an above average number of fatigues, army greens and khakis, you can pretty much call me the Chief of Stuff (army stuff, hehehe). But I have my favorites at a time. Back in graduate school, it was a pair of fatigue cargo pants. Before the winter of 2009 struck, it was my J.Crew military boyfriend jacket. This spring, I'm bringing out the parka you saw above! I got that for about $30 from Gap months ago (maybe almost a year ago, Berry wasn't born yet then I think)!

As you can see, it's a bit of a challenge to get a full outfit shot because Commander Berry is going through a clingy, separation anxiety phase. It seems I have to be beside her or within her line of sight all the time! (Dear readers, did any of your kids/nephews/nieces ever go through this?)





Here's what I wore under my parka, a tie front shirt dress from Margiela. It was on major clearance at Century 21! Bought for about $15 back in August. No kidding! It is an XL but I figured, I like slouchy clothes, and this would make a great breastfeeding dress. I just need to slide off my arm off the sleeves into the neckline.


Of course, when I checked weather.com, I still needed to layer the dress with a cardigan. It wasn't that warm out as I thought.


Speaking of Navy, that nautical themed denim tote on the lower right is just so me! I think that will look so cute with all my breton striped shirts! And! Surprise surprise! These totes here will only set you back $20, or about $22 with NY tax.


Cheap but really great finds no? That's one thing the Army taught me. Because funds are limited, you need to scout for the best deals, always!

You Wanna Bee a Part of It?

When I was growing up, my mom was so anti-fast food, I only got to frequent Jollibee and McDonald's when I went to college in UP Diliman. I was so naive about Jollibee's menu in fact, that I only discovered Chicken Joy when I was in grad school in AIM, since poor starving grad students only have McDonald's, Wendy's, KFC and Jollibee on restaurant rotation and we eventually had to try everything on the menu for us not to get sick of the food. Which was ironic since we were just right across Greenbelt 2, but we could only get to eat there when we were dining with our parents, sigh!

So you can say Jollibee has a special place in my heart. Never mind the ketchup content in the spaghetti and the dubious all beef patties, hahaha. Yesterday, when my friend and fellow housewife Sarj and I trekked all the way to Queens for our Pinoy food fix at Renee's, we made sure we stopped by Jollibee for Peach Mango Pie!

Why just Peach Mango Pie? Because we finished these at Renee's all by ourselves...





With this as pampatulak...



Oh, and I had two cups of white rice by the way, while Sarj had a cup of garlic rice. And we couldn't stop sighing and going "Sarap!" with every bite. Hahaha!

So after an hour and a half of gorging on the most authentic restaurant Pinoy food we've tried so far here in the East Coast, and with our tummies full and bursting, we made our way 8 blocks down to...



And we waited almost an hour in line for two orders of Peach Mango Pie at a whopping $2.29 each! Oh well! We had time to kill and food waiting to digest hehehe!



Oh oh! And check out the refillable soda machine in Jollibee Queens! Only in da US ha!



Here's the price list...



The Amazing Aloha at almost $7! Grabe!

By the time we headed back to Manhattan, so I could try on "maternity jeans" at Barneys (boyfriend jeans really, since they sit below the belly and I can use it after I give birth! Practical huh!), we were so sleepy from all that grease swirling in our tummies! Sarj and I were practically trudging through the shoe section on the 4th floor, when normally, this was the place where we would always be wide-eyed with delight! Hahaha! Sarj spotted a pair of cut-out sneakers in blush that she liked...



...and she asked me to find out where it was from. I looked into the insole and lightly/barely printed on it was Maison Martin Margiela - that's why there was no obvious label. Sarj said "Oh yeah, of course!" disappointed with herself, Margiela fan that she was. Obviously her style senses were not functioning anymore due to the "attack of the sleepies". Hahaha! (Just kidding Sarj!)

Before going back to Sarj's apartment to eat our Peach Mango Pie, we had to stop by Dunkin Donuts so Sarj can get her Dunkaccino, after which, we made a pit stop at Gristedes so I could buy garlic and pepper for my adobo (that after asking Sarj if I can just borrow a bulb of garlic from her, friendly neighbor style! And I was serious about it too because I wanted to get to my Peach Mango Pie immediately! Haha! Sarj asked "Baka you want to borrow suka and toyo na din?" I said, "No, I still have stock of Datu Puti and Marca Pina!" and then we spent the next couple of minutes discussing the merits of using authentic Pinoy condiments versus apple cider vinegar and kikkoman on adobo...).

And that my dears, was a day in the life of 2 housewives!