Silver Lining

Received a text from my good friend Chris Diaz early this morning that I was in Manila Bulletin. I couldn't imagine what it might be for so I got the paper right away...

Having read a couple of not-so-good reviews on my collection before has made me think that maybe it really was a disaster because noone seems to get my point. I wasn't going for Marc Jacobs, I wasn't trying to be 2007. I didn't want to design something that was already very 2009 either. I just wanted it to be young, fun and frilly because I am that kindda girl. And Daryl totally gets it. Needless to say, this article made my day, no, actually my month. :)




(Sorry the scanner couldn't do any justice to the paper).



The beautiful and stylish Daryl Chang writes in her column Smoke N Decaf:


Just Femme
Feminine and flirty, Czarina Villa's clothes are every girl's dream


It's soft volumes and unapologetic femininity for czarina Villa's Holiday offering, delicate dresses in asymmetric tiers and ruched, anti-clinging shifts in pale blush, muted grays, and rich blues. Pieces that stood out: the waistcoat dress finished with ruffles and pockets, the pretty sweater frock, and the directional, shapeless raglan shift.

In a season where every designer opted to go tailored or structural, it's refreshing to have an alternative to go all-out girly but in a contemporary way. These pieces are accessible, wearable and can be easily incorporated into our wardrobes.

They're easy to match with tailored blazers, patterned tights and statement footwear, big summer trends that cross over for Holiday and pieces I'm sure, we all already have. There's no subversive meaning or hidden concepts in this collection, a direction some designers tend to be trapped in, it's just playful freedom, and in that, Czarina Villa's dresses don't try too hard to be covetable, her pieces just are.


Below are clearer photos of the pieces she mentioned and published:


















(Except for this, LMAO! Couldn't find a clearer photo anywhere).


Thanks Daryl and have fun in Hong Kong! :)

All In A Day's Work

I am finally home after a 6-hour shoot at Jeanne Young's studio. She is brilliant as always and teaming up (yet again) with the equally brilliant Vince Uy made the shoot even more fabulous.

Spent the whole afternoon Twittering and Facebook-ing in between chats with my bratmate Valerie (a.k.a. Choc) Religioso-Dayrit and her lovely sister Yvette Ilagan. The highlight of the shoot however was when a tweaked version of my 2004 "It" dress stared me in the face. Imagine my shock. Even Choc thought it was mine and I had just worn the dress to an event a few weeks ago. Oh well.



Choc & Yvette Religoso



Jeanne Young and Vince Uy




I couldn't get over Jeanne's high tech equipment! (Like this camera holder for instance. Or whatever you call it.) Geez, me and the Religiosos were scared of breaking something. LMAO.




Beautiful shoes by Hannah Kong. I am so getting something done by her soon!




BRATMATES!!! :) (Thank you Gela Laurel for my makeup. So galing that girl! And FAST!)




Vince telling the gorgeous Jessica Yang how to work it (Jes wears my beige number. I just had to have her in my segment!)


Cannot reveal just yet what this shoot is for due to the confidentiality of the project but it features 5 female designer/labels and it will be out in Preview soon.

Preview's BARBIE Ball

It was Preview Magazine's Best Dressed Ball once again last June 26, Friday at White Space in Makati and this time people did their own versions of Mantel's Barbie and Ken. Big waves and bold colored tutus were everywhere--Barbie's signature style--and the men came in suits of different cuts and colors as Ken would have donned had he attended the event. I came in my vintage silver frock from my pre-graduation fashion show circa 2004 (yes, that piece I would never sell, not even to save my life!)

Each Preview Ball is jam packed with all the big names present in the industry. Food amazing, drinks overflowing. The Best Dressed chicas were all so deserving in my humble opinion. Congrats to my friend Divine Lee for making it to this year's list! Love the Lanvins too!

And now onto the photos!



PRETTY PALS: Bibai Gaisano, Angela Alarcon (as KEN! I love her look!) and Rachelle Que



Lotho!



Preview Best Dressed alumna Daryl Chang in Cary Santiago. Ain't she fab?



My sissies Eric and Jerome with their muses Kim and Boop Yap.



Mareng Tina daniac with her leggy muses Xtina and Ria Bolivar.



My fashion darlings Bea Panopio (in John Paras), the designer a.k.a. mareng John and yours truly.



Sistas united once again: Veejay, Regine Dulay, Catherine Cavilte and me



Vavva Verushkha in my Fashion Week Holiday 09 gray ruffle cotton number.



FIERCE IN PINK: Direk Robby Carmona



Patrick Galang has arrived!



Talented sibs Liz and Vince Uy with Raymond Gutierrez.



The Best Dressed 2009



Marc Nicdao & Liz Uy



Sidney Yap's fash pack (adore his Joey Samson reversible jacket!)



With my mares Chris Diaz, Joel Escober and Regine Dulay.



EDLS with the beautiful Anne Curtis Smith



I will die for Andre's Joel gloves!



My Kens Eric and Jerome :)



Siiiii Mareeeeeeee! "It" designer MARTIN BAUTISTA!


OK now I'm late for another big night with my sissies. Gotta bolt!

Today...

...Was the MEGA shoot for their 25 Young Designers feature and I was lucky enough to be part of it. I was 45 minutes late for call time--blame it on heavy traffic and nonstop drizzling. Also almost went to EDSA Shangri La where I first thought was the venue of the shoot. LMAO!!! Thank heavens for My Globe internet, I got to check my email again on the way there and realized Patrick's email said HERITAGE hotel. Had a blonde moment for a minute there!

It's very rare for me to want to savor my makeup after a shoot and or event. Tonight is one of those nights. Jigs Mayuga is amazing!!! :) Thanks Jigs!

Post shoot photos below:


With mareng Regine Dulay (who belonged to a different group but stayed to wait for me!)



The flip flop girl that I am couldn't change into these comfy Nine West feather sandals fast enough (I love my ZARAs too but they hurt after a while).



Headed home now. Where is my car??! L-R: Reg, Anna Leah Salvador, Ciege Cagalawan, Nicole Morimoto, Carlo Chu & yours truly.



Tagal talaga ng valet, picture ulet!



The detail of my dress:




And now I must sign off and get some shut eye. Goodnight all!

A Long Overdue Summer Post

My SUMMER 2009 can be highlighted by 5 things:


FASHION WEEK


Us PREMIERE B designers taking our final bow (L-R: Tina Daniac, Pia Perey, Mich Dulce, John Paras, Eric delos Santos and I). I apologize for the pixelized photo (grabbed it from my cousin's blog).


My Palabok jacket over a ruched cotton dress. Photo by Myke Siriban.


BORACAY (with family, boyfriend, sissies and kumares)

With Lottie! Me in Tina Daniac swimwear (mare's such a genius!)



Kelly...



In a Martin Bautista draped top (frolicking around Station 1 with Arlee)


Sissies! Post volleyball game. They won of course!





The family with my dear Tita Aying, my boyfriend Arlee and his brother Ray (far left).


Me & Other Family Members Getting Sick (NOTE: NO, IT AIN'T SWINE FLU!)


The Chuva Charm shot (taken at Capitol Medical - May 17, 2009).


HONG KONG





EVIL "TWINS" are forever!


My lovely cousins and favorite niece ELLA!


And HIGHLANDS!




Dining post massage at the Green House Bistro.


And now that summer's over, it's time to book another flight to paradise as off-peak has just begun. L-O-V-E! :)