Manila

Philippine Fashion Week for spring/summer 2010 started last October 21 and ended October 27. I was in Manila October 20 because my dear friend Bo Parcon requested that I'd be there for his first showing in PFW. My presentation of my own collection was slated October 26, so I practically ended up watching and helping with the shows and presentations of my friends.

Fashion Diary muna: T-shirt by Maison Martin Margiela, DP pants, Muji shoes and Longchamp bag. The clothes I packed for the trip were 3 MMM AIDS tee, 2 DP pants, 1 Muji shoes and a polkadot sweater/tee combo that I bought in Bangkok. I purposely limited bringing a lot of stuff because I expected 'loots' from a lot of friends. Will update more of those loots in my coming posts.

Bo and Jerson was with me from day 1. I actually enjoyed not having a hectic time with them, just milling around MOA and do malling. Past fashion weeks I'm so harrassed coordinating everything about my collection and presentation I never have time to see the shops and do a bit of shopping. I ended up buying Bo a silver Adidas hightops he liked so much.

I also had fun times with THE Veejay Floresca, Project Runway Season 1 finalists. He's such a kind soul and so easy to be with. He even brought me home one time when I didn't know how to go home in the new place we stayed in Makati.

Aside from Bo, another newbie in PFW is Philip Tampus, another finalists of PR Season 1. I assisted him in his presentation and line-up backstage because I remember my first time and it was certainly nerve wrecking not knowing the protocols and rules. I hoped I helped him enough to make his PFW experience a memorable one.

Bo Parcon with models wearing his creations.

Veejay Floresca's designs. He specifically instructed that the ears should go under the headbands.

Aside from our own collections, some of the designers also created one outfit made of traditional handwoven Philippine fabrics provided by the Fiber Industry Development Authority.

Our young designer friends Angel Tan and Peer Banas, and our doctor friend Mikki Licop, were also constantly our companion during the week. It was Angel and Peer's first time to attend the shows and I expect they'd be inspired to present their own collections soon.

Peer and moi (in DP s/s 2010 hoodie/cape, DP 'Lyka' tee, pants and Longchamp x Jeremy Scott 'stomp' Le Pliage bag.

Please see more images here.

Sort of an Update

Hey pips, still here in the Philippines for vacation that's why the lack of posts lately. So many pictures to posts, so many ukay stuff to share, so many tsikas to update and a tad too many parties attended. I hate to admit it but I think I gained weight from all the eating around. Tsk, tsk, tsk. I'll have plenty of time to lose weight once I get back to SR, promise!




Anyway, I would like to thank all my friends who trekked to Mall of Asia during my fashion presentation for Philippine Fashion Week for s/s 2010. Special mention to Khaz, Angel Buenaventura and her group of friends...




and Mike. Mike had a cute story of our backstage meet during PFW.

Thank you guys for supporting little ol me.

Another friend who would have loved to be there in the front row but was stuck in Cambodia doing his beloved job is Franco. He kindly posted an Asia Life interview this month of moi. Please see his post here.





Since arriving here in Iloilo I've had a photoshoot with Mezzo Magazine, a funny shoot with Annea Spa, a shoot for F Magazine, judged 2 halloween costume contest, witnessed a proposal and will be directing a show for a young designer's gala show. Of course, insert ukay sessions there. LOTS of ukay sessions that yielded Marni, Comme des Garcons, Jean Paul Gaultier, Undercover, Issey Miyake, Dries van Noten, etc.

I'm off to Bangkok next weekend to visit (again!) the Tourism Authority Muse of Thailand, Kawadjan itself. I hope it's SALE season, already. We plan to hit Chatuchak Saturday.

Be back to regular programming once I'm back to my SR life. For now, lifestyle muna. Hehehe!

Don Protasio spring summer 2010

Photos by Bruce Casanova

Lacking 2 looks, the opening and another men's look. Please message me if you took some pictures during the show and would kindly share it. Thanks!

Bangok Preview

I'm obsessed about that alien.

We got to see this really cool exhibit.

Between the rush from here and there Kawadjan and I had the time to werq the DP Kawadjan cardigan I gave him. He's also wearing a DP reworked tee.

We also had to 'travel' for this charming restaurant of his friend. We too a cab, rode the BTS, took another cab, rode a tuktuk to arrive there. Don't mind Kawadjan's lockjaw pose. You do know why it's like that, non? He's back to normal, thankfully.



Really charming place.



That alien is so inspiring.

As well as Bubu Bear and Cherry (that is what I call it).

and this weird chair.

Then I attended the Bangkok Church of Christ for the first time.

And saw the new location of wwa.

And enjoyed wonderful dimsum with K at Marina.


See K's account here of my Bangkok visit.

Will update more soon.

Eric Raisina's Love for Silk

Last week the day before I went to Bangkok I attended the opening exhibit of the inspiring works of silk by Eric Raisina.
Fresh from showing in New York, he's back in Siem Reap to share the pieces that he showed there. Eric with her muse Sray Pov, a Cambodian supermodel in the making.
Eric's genius is really the wonderful textiles he designs.
Amazing pieces!
It's all hand worked so it's really chic.
One chic bride would look stunning on this white ensembles.
I dubbed this as the 'phoenix'.
The McDermott Gallery played host to the exhibit and AHA of Hotel de la Paix served the delish cocktails.

Bina, the curator of the gallery.
Lily of the Phnom Penh Post and Nick, gm of Hotel de la Paix.
The design assistant of Eric
Bruce & Ketana of Sugar Palm
Lady guest and Sieng of La Volpaia
Hotel de la Paix guys: Rinna (Director of Food & Beverage), Christian (Sales Director) & Bryan (Executive Sous Chef)
A guest, Annete and Cinta
Cinta and moi.

Off to Bangkok!

I'll invade Bangkok over the weekend so I'm hoping to bump into you while I do a bit of little shopping, non?

Jacket: Bo Parcon

Tee: i forgot the brand but it's a cute line in Chatuchak

Pants: DP

Shoes: Giordano Concepts.

I'll see you soon!

Birthday Ko

Several full moons ago, after midnight, early morning of my birthday, I got a pleasant surprise when Loven and Olive presented me with a cake made of pandan and strawberry spongebars on a bed of ice cream.

It's soooooooooooooo cute!

Spent the day tending to our pop-up shop at Lucky Mall. The Margiela tee I'm wearing was given by Marvin.

Later in the evening after we closed I was surprised to see this 1941 Citroen parked outside the mall. I even excitedly asked who owned the wonderful vehicle. I didn't realize it was going to be my ride for the night!

Sarah, Olive and Loven were the culprits! They had Indian dessert and wine waiting. It was so chic being driven around town with wine and nibbles. I changed to my One Hidden Agenda top and hurriedly grabbed my Y'saacs. It felt so good, palanggas!

Here's moi with Sarah.

Not a limo but I have to start from somewhere, right?

We had dinner at La Volpaia. Loven, moi and Savorn.

Moi with Olive and Sarah.

This is the cake they gave me. My 4th one, actually.

Apres, it was drinks at Ms. Wong.

There I discovered the amazing lemongrass cooler cocktail. Yum!

It was quite intimate since there's just 5 of us. Kinda like it that way, a change from my usual birthday when I'm in Iloilo.

The next day I was feted by my Bible study group, another surprise! That's the 5th cake I received, already. Fat alert but I just had to taste, non? Anyway, it was my birthday so I'm excused.

Cielo, Blady and their son Bryce. They were so gracious to have my party at their house and they cooked a vegetarian kare-kare for me.

Back at the hotel my co-workers gave me my 6th cake, a delish chocolate cream cake.

It's so nice to feel remembered on my birthday and I really appreciate all my friends going out of their way to prepare everything to perfection. I didn't have a clue and I was so surprised everytime. Thank you, all!

Fashion Diary: vintage Jil Sander

If I remember correctly, this is the first white button down I got from Jil Sander. With the release of her +J line for Uniqlo, her fans were overjoyed to discover she hasn't veered away from her minimalist aesthetic.

I was discussing with Kiks the other day if we should get something from the collab line even though most pieces look the same with what Uniqlo stocks. As reported Jil didn't use much technical fabrics, quite reasonably given the $30-$150 price points, which would jack up the price. She stuck with cotton, linen, canvas, velvet and some nylon to craft a well edited line.

Kiks will check out the line this weekend and I hope he finds a suitable jacket. He did see the Kiminori Morishita x Uniqlo collab when he was in Tokyo but didn't find anything suitable for his frame. Morishita is known for surplus & miltary inspired collection, a style I've loved since I discovered Helmut Lang. And speaking of HL, I dread the day he would collaborate with some highstreet brand.

Top: Jil Sander button down shirt

Bottom; DP pants

Shoes: Adidas

Bracelet: Loven Ramos Earth Project

La Volpaia with the Gang

It's my new fave Italian place.

Yummy salad

Hearty Vonggole

and I'm sure a delish pizza

Liz, Mr. Sieng (owner), Loven and moi.