Salud, Renee Salud

It isn't very common among us young ones to be wearing couture by our own national designers, I believe we're in a generation where we'd rather buy from international labels given the glory of subtly saying lines such as, "Oh this skirt? I got it from ..."  I'm not saying something's wrong with that, since I also fall under that category, but once in a while, I think we should give credit to our own designers.  I believe our country's fashion industry has also improved a lot, given that we now celebrate fashion week twice a year since last year ( a big hoorah!) and some people have also stepped up a notch by creating websites exclusively devoted to manila street style :)

I'm wearing a vintage Renee Salud vest, a gift from my aunt

Hope everyone will have a great dinner!

Tata,

Jane :)

Style Profile: Emmanuelle Alt

Mmm, what's not to like about her style? She is the epitome of rocker chic, bordering perfectly between masculine and feminine.  She is Emmanuelle Alt, fashion director of Vogue Paris. Need I say more? Her look is seamlessly stylish as it is wearable.

Try her style: Pair a rockin blazer with an awesome tank, wear skinny jeans or dark leggings and top with booties. To add some flavor, try some accessories like an aviator or wayfarers, and some statement ring or earrings. Best to cap off the look with carefree hair (just as Emmanuelle does it).

(photos of Emmanuelle from jakandjil)

Marching Band

(photos from vogue)

I want one. It's a perfect statement piece that can make almost any boring shirt and jeans look interesting and scream some personality. With penny loafers or high heels, this boyish little blazer could really be a handy accessory.  I'm just thinking twice before I go searching for one because it might be inconvenient especially if you plan to wear it in this hot weather, when even the rainy season keeps the temp at an average 20 degrees.  But then again a little discomfort wouldn't kill you...as some have said, "The vain don't complain!"

Tata!  

-Jane

Audrey Hepburn Madness

For no reason, I love the feeling of watching classic movies, movies in black & white... it makes me feel like Carrie Bradshaw watching Meet Me in St. Louis in SATC1.

This summer, I came accross a DVD with a collection of Audrey Hepburn's classic films, so I bought it and am now happily loving most of the movies in the collection.  Through watching these films, I feel like I'm gaining more and more knowledge on what was the fashion then, and it's so interesting.  I love her funny roles particularly in Breakfast at Tiffany's and in Roman Holiday.  If you read through some of her funny quotes (which I found on the net) I'm sure you'd want to watch the films too. :)

A funny quote from Roman Holiday:

Princess Ann (Hepburn): Is this the elevator?

Joe Bradley (Gregory Peck): This is my room!

Some funny quotes from Breakfast at Tiffany's:

Holly Golightly (Hepburn): What do you do anyway?

Paul "Fred" Varjak (Gregory Peppard): I'm a writer, I guess.

Holly Golightly: You guess? Don't you know?

Paul Varjak: Ok, positive statement. Ringing affirmative, I'm a writer. 

__

Holly Golightly: I'll tell you one thing, Fred, darling...I'd marry you for your money in a minute. Would you marry me for my money?

Paul Varjak: In a minute.

Holly Golightly: I guess it's pretty lucky neither of us is rich, huh?

Paul Varjak: Yeah.

__

Paul Varjak: (Reaches into his pocket at the Tiffan'y counter) We could have something engraved, couldn't we?

Tiffany's salesman: Yes, I suppose so, yes indeed...the only problem is you would more or less have to buy something first if only in order to have some object upon which to place the engraving...You see the difficulty...

Paul Varjak: Well, uh (holds up ring from Cracker Jack box)

Paul Varjak: We could have this engraved, couldn't we? I think it would be very smart.

Tiffany's salesman: (takes ring and examines it) This, I take it, was not purchased at Tiffany's?

Paul Varjak: No, actually it was purchased concurrent with, uh, well, actually, came inside of...well, a box of Cracker Jack.

Tiffany's salesman: I see... (continuing to look at ring)

Tiffany's salesman: Do they still really have prizes in Cracker Jack boxes?

Paul Varjak: Oh yes.

Tiffany's salesman: That's nice to know...It gives one a feeling of solidarity, almost of continuity with the past, that sort of thing.

(I couldn't help but laugh at this last quote, lol)

(Quotes from IMDb)

Later tonight I'm planning to watch How to Steal a Million, I hope it's as good as the others that I've seen.

Tata!

- Jane

A Study in Black & White

We had a photoshoot last June 12, Independence Day, and I love how my photos coincidentally ended up looking very Filipiniana because of our model Kaye.

Designer in Focus: Schiaparelli

Coco Chanel is a household name known all over the world. But when a name such as Schiaparelli is announced, many are no longer familiar, some may have never even heard of her. One of the most prominent figures in fashion between the two world wars, Elsa Schiaparelli’s most important legacy was in bringing in playfulness and a sense of “anything goes” into the world of fashion. During the 1930’s, while Chanel (Schiaparelli’s greatest rival) was placed by Time Magazine in the second divisions of fashion, Schiaparelli was being praised as one of "a handful of houses now at or near the peak of their power as arbiters of the ultra-modern haute couture....Madder and more original than most of her contemporaries, Mme Schiaparelli is the one to whom the word "genius" is applied most often.”

Known popularly for her avant-garde and surrealists designs, her love of putting together different colors, shapes and textures as well as embracing modern technologies and materials at the time was what had earned her the title of ‘genius’. Her brilliant innovations in fashion design were numerous, from being the first to use visible zippers in clothing, to the creation of the wedge shoe, the barbaric belt, the embroidered shirts, wrapped turbans, and the use of fanciful buttons, to even the concept of mixing and matching sportswear. But it was her creation of the runway show as we know it today that has become most influential. It was her idea of a modern fashion show to include a runway with music and art, and to use elongated, shapeless women as models. She believed that the boyish figure was best for displaying clothing.

Many people now do not know the impact Schiaparelli has on fashion and the fashion industry. That’s why I decided to pay a little tribute to her. If not for her beautiful mind, fashion might not be as exciting as it is today.