fashion

Trying out the new trends in shoes is a simple way to get a fashion fix. There are trends I like, there are those I love (platform sandals, wedges, bakya). There are those that leave me cold – gladiator sandals? Blecch. Stilettos? Foot and calf pain, owww.

This particular design and brand, I love.

These “doll shoes” from Shoe Up! by Nielette, a proudly Filipino brand, are so comfortable and affordable that I own three pairs, in all the colors available at present – black, bronze, and gray. (I’m hoping they’ll come out in red.)

I’ve always had respect for the experience of air travel so I never wear flip-flops on my trips. On my most recent trip abroad (last month), I wore the gray pair; I looked neat and put-together. I managed to walk through the MNL, SFO, and LAX airports searching for my boarding gates and hauling my luggage without experiencing a single moment of foot strain nor pain, while still being able to easily slip in and out of the shoes during the security searches, being on my way in seconds while others were still fumbling with laces and straps.

I used to wear high heels all the time but with age advancing and work getting more hectic, I need comfort more than style. Shoe Up! doll shoes give me both. I wear these shoes exclusively to work now, and can face whatever the day might bring – a meeting at a fancy hotel? an inspection of office branches? Whether walking on plush carpet or crunchy gravel, these are the shoes that get me through.

Shoe Up! by Nielette reflects the personality of its owner/designer – fun, fearless, funky Nielette Tupas (daughter of former governor Niel Tupas of Ilo-ilo City). She is extroverted, outgoing, and interested in fashion to the extent of translating her ideas into reality through the shoes and dresses she designs and sells at her shops.

Shoe Up! shoes and handbags and Dress Up! fashions are available online and at her stores. (In Manila, at Glorietta beside the Landmark entrance and at Megamall; there are also stores in Ilo-Ilo City and in other locations in the Visayas and Mindanao.)

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It’s not available in the Philippines yet, but it’s something Pinay fashionistas feel they absolutely must have – Jo Malone fragrances. Some have resorted to buying online or asking relatives abroad to do so. Others travel themselves and bring back the geometric bottles in the signature yellow-and-black packaging.

A friend went to Bangkok and brought this back for me.

Jo Malone started her business by giving facials in her kitchen at night. At 19 she met Gary, the man who became her husband, and her home-based dabbling in beauty and fragrance took off after that. She launched her first store in 1994, in London. Her products proved so popular that lines snaked outside the store at Christmas.

In 2006 she sold the business in its entirety to Estee Lauder.  But her desire to share with others the fragrances she concocts led her to start a new company, Jo Loves, which launched this year. By Christmas all 40 new products will have been released, sporting dark red packaging.

My friend chose Jo Malone’s Orange Blossom cologne for me. “The scent of clementine leaves in the morning dew sparkles above a heart of orange blossom and water lily, transporting the wearer to a garden oasis,” reads the ad copy. I spray it on in the morning and smell like a basket of oranges; I smell good enough to squeeze.

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POP GOES THE WORLD By Jenny Ortuoste for Manila Standard-Today, published on 13 August 2011, Saturday

This article has already appeared on this blog in a somewhat different form here.

Namaste, A Place of Wonder

Namaste Art and Objects in Baguio City  is said to be the only shop in the Philippines that sells Nepali and Tibetan fine goods and art; they also carry  crystals and semi-precious stone beads to be made into custom jewelry.

Located at the ground floor of Porto Vaga Building along Session Road, the shop is small, yet filled with wonderful things. Everywhere is the gleam of brass or perhaps gold leaf, the shimmer of fine pashmina wool, and the sheen of beads displayed on countless racks.

Palanca Award-winning writer German Gervacio in front of Namaste. (April 2011)

I visited the shop last April. Its windows are crammed with an overload of interesting objects. Since they are informed by Buddhist Tibetan and Nepali culture, the meaning behind much of the things escapes the usual visitors.

In the center of the window was an intricate brass figure, winged and haloed, perhaps an avalokiteshvara (bodhisattva of compassion). Yet another gleaming Buddha sits serenely in the window, behind a quartz geode and metal elephant. Elephants (gaja in Sanskrit) symbolize fertility, abundance, richness, boldness and strength, wisdom and royalty. In Buddhism, the “Precious Elephant” means strength of mind, a “symbol of the calm majesty possessed by one who is on the Path.”

There is no wasted space in the shop; every available inch holds something. The walls of Namaste are adorned with paintings, carvings, masks, and a stringed musical instrument, while from the ceiling dangle bells, wind chimes, patchwork fabric hangings, and more.

Buddha figures in all shapes, sizes, and forms abound. One of my favorite tableaus on a high shelf featured a Buddha in the center, flanked by a warrior and a horse. In Chinese mythology, horses stand for virtue and power. From obvious associations, it also connotes speed, intelligence, and natural forces like the wind and waves. In Buddhism, the “Precious Horse” is one of the “Seven Jewels of Royal Power”, said to “travel among the clouds and mirror the Buddha’s abandonment of or “rising above” the cares of worldly existence.

Placed on eye-level on another shelf was a triptych, maybe eight inches high, carved from wood and painted in turquoise, pink, and gold. On the center of the left-hand panel is the Sanskrit symbol for OM, the “eternal syllable”. Buddha sits upon a lotus, and one is carved on either side of him. In Buddhism, the lotus refers to the “complete purification of body, speech, and mind.”

More brass Buddhas sit atop a pile of silk and wool fabric – shawls and what-not. From the ceiling in front of them is suspended a wooden charm carved and painted with the Chinese symbol for good luck.

The shop has many displays of bracelets and necklaces made from crystals and stones.I asked Namaste store attendant Meg Reyes to make me a bracelet. She asked me, “Ano’ng kailangan mo?” I asked her, “Ano ang tingin mong kailangan ko?” She looked into my eyes, while her own narrowed. Then she said, slowly, “Maraming naiinggit sa iyo.”

I was taken aback by that; it was unexpected. But then I recalled two Enochian card readings I was given last year, in November and December; the reader, Malou Mallari, told me both times to be wary of workplace envy. For the same issue to crop up again was an uncanny coincidence; I decided to take heed, and let Meg guide me in the choice of stones for my bracelet.

She put in a mix of power (creativity, health, success, etc.) and protection (anti-negativity, anti-envy, returning back ill-wishing) stones. Because the power stones cost more, I got only one of each, while the rest of the length of the bracelet was made up of the less expensive jet black “anti-negative” stones.

Meg chose various colors of tourmaline; clear, rose, and cherry quartz; and amethyst, jet, lapis lazuli, and angelite to make my bracelet. She placed my chosen beads on a makeshift cardboard stand, like a Scrabble tile holder, and strung them on several strands of elastic thread, then knotted the ends tightly and fused them in a candle flame.

I was also drawn to a tiny brass Buddha statue less than an inch and a half high. (I carry it with me every day in a pouch in my bag, putting it in front of my computer monitor when I get to work in the mornings.)

Before handing me my items, Meg “blessed” both the bracelet and the mini-Buddha in a Tibetan metal “healing bowl”, running a wooden implement around the rim to create a ringing, echoing sound, while telling me to think of good things. As I drew the bracelet on my wrist, Meg advised me to wear the power stones close to the pulse.

Prayer wheel and blessing/healing bowl.

Fast-forward to late May. Now one of the protection stones on my bracelet has cracked in half, and half of the bead beside it has changed color, from black to a murky gray. I was puzzled – I don’t slam my hand around, while the color change is frankly inexplicable.

Then the other day at work I learned that several people whom I thought were friends are backbiting me about my position, though  they admit that I have never done anything against them either professionally or personally.

When the green monster rears its ugly head, it spells the end of friendships. Or not, because now I realize these people were never my true friends, and I’m glad I found that out early on.

I can’t help thinking now that my bracelet took the hit of all that negative energy. A coincidence? It’s still uncanny. Three friends (a writer, a lawyer, and an editor) to whom I showed the damaged bracelet pushed it away and averted their eyes. “Nakakakilabot,” they said.

I plan to go up to Baguio on the next long weekend and visit Namaste again, this time to ask Meg for a bracelet made entirely of the “anti-negative” stones as a pangontra. Though I believe luck is what we make it, some coincidences are just too strange and cannot be ignored.

It will also be a treat to immerse myself once more in a world of wondrous things replete with symbolism, a trove of exotic treasures from a different place, a haven for unraveling stress and instilling a sense of deep peace. ***

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Louis Vuitton, despite being an overpriced luxury brand, still makes some of the most desirable handbags on the planet.

Writer W. David Marx says about 30-40% of Japanese women in their 20s and older own some sort of LV item, with maybe 15% owning an LV handbag. Not quite the “mythic 94.3%” figure touted before, quite erroneously, but still impressive.  China is “in love with Louis Vuitton”, said Eoin Gleeson way back in 2007. In the Philippines, owning an LV handbag is a sign of status and almost a rite of passage. Those who don’t have wealthy mommies and daddies – or sugar daddies – to give them LVs save up to buy at least one of the iconic bags, a Speedy 30 being the usual “first Vuitton”.

LV sells not only the items themselves, which are well-made and with care can last lifetimes (they are often passed on from mother to daughter), they also sell the experience. The LV shop at Greenbelt 5, Ayala Mall, Makati, pampers their customers with hors d’oeuvres and flutes of champagne on black trays carried around by smiling uniformed waiters. The salespersons are friendly and welcoming and, best of all – patient.

Even the assistant store manager herself (Ms. Angela Poblador) assists clients, never losing her cool no matter how many bags you ask to see from the stockroom. She even offered to email the Hongkong branch to find a model I inquired about. In less than a day, she had the information I needed to make a decision. Now that’s luxury service. And in the home stretch, that’s what convinced me to get my first Vuitton. It’s not a Speedy, though.

The unboxing! LV bags come with their own buttercream-yellow dustbag printed with the brand name in brown. The bag is nestled in a large, chocolate-brown box also marked with the brand name on the lid.

Not a Speedy, this is the model I’ve wanted for six years – the Popincourt Haut in Monogram Canvas. This was the only one such left in the store. Angela says they sell only three or four of these a year. Uncommon? That I like. In six years, I’ve only seen two women carry this model, unlike the LV Neverfull, which, because of its comparative affordability, you’ll see on the shoulder of every other woman at the mall. 

The “Pop Haut” is a variation of LV’s old Triangle bag, designed to keep knitting in. (It was oriented horizontally and long enough to accommodate knitting needles.) The straps are adjustable, so you can choose to carry it as a shoulder bag or even as short-handle tote.

The Pop Haut’s zipper pull is adorned with two heavy brass spheres.

I find the Pop Haut’s austere structure appealing, with its simple, clean lines. Unlike the Speedy, it doesn’t slouch when full. This bag has perfect posture. The vachetta leather trim is pristine; over time, it will acquire a honey-brown patina.

There are no feet at the bottom; care must be taken when placing the Pop Haut down on a surface.

A leather label is sewn into the chocolate-colored cotton lining.

The Pop Haut is comparatively roomy inside, with dimensions of 10.5L x 9H x 5W (inches). It has space for everyday basics. It can fit a Kindle and a Samsung Galaxy Tab. I like how the zipper opens a couple inches past the end of the bag, allowing one to spread it to its fullest, making it easy to put things in and take them out. For me, fashion should also be functional. 

There’s something satisfying about owning a luxury item, whether a bag, a fountain pen, or other object of personal desire. Quality and cachet always attract and remain in style.

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The Tory Burch ballet flats in their “Reva” incarnation with the easily identifiable silver medallion have been popular in Manila for about two or three years now. Their appeal to Pinay fashionistas is so intense that a boutique has opened in Greenbelt 5, Ayala Malls, Makati. TB’s other overseas stores are in China, Italy, Japan, Korea, Taiwan, and the UK.

They are rather pricey in Manila, as are other luxury goods. Here are a couple of pairs I got online, on sale:

Tory Burch “Reva” ballet flats in grey flannel.

The logo is embossed inside the shoe.

Silver TB medallion.

The logo is also marked into the bottom of the shoe, as well as a “shield” logo that indicates a leather sole, and size information.

The “Anne Marie” flats in bronze.

As with the “Reva” flats, the TB logo is also marked on the inside of the shoe.

The soles of this model aren’t leather, and the size information is on a sticker, rather than cut into the sole itself.

Both pairs are comfy, the Reva a bit more so as the back part of the Anne Marie flats are too high and rub against the soft skin above the back of my heel. It takes a bit of getting used to.

The Reva ballet flats are everywhere in Manila and other Philippine cities nowadays, but are still must-haves despite their ubiquity, as columnist “Divasoria” says in her “Simple Girl Index”.

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After three months, my long-awaited Tory Burch Nylon Ella tote in Butterfly Pink finally fluttered home courtesy of my Los Angeles-based cousin Ivy Ortuoste.

And it is all I dreamed it would be – except much, much bigger than I thought. This bag is ENORMOUS. It can fit everything you can possibly want to bring around for a day. It’s even large enough to be a weekender bag!

The trim is leather – handles, medallion, and corner reinforcements.

The material of the bag itself is nylon in a wonderful “look at me” shade of hot pink.

Side snaps allow you to reduce the bag to a manageable size; it then takes a pleasing triangular shape.

Behold its cavernous interior! It can accommodate legal-size  documents, how’s that for a working bag? It has two pockets for cellphone/PDA, and a large zippered pocket for valuables.

Detail of pockets and stitching.

Detail of medallion logo affixed to canvas lining.

Detail of zipper and stitching.

That’s Ivy (carrying a Louis Vuitton Palermo) on her visit to Manila last June 3; me with my new TB Ella tote; and my wondrous offspring Ik and Alex (toting a Kipling messenger bag).

As you can see from the ‘carry’ picture above, the Ella tote is capacious and cheerful in its pinkness. It’s a great bag for work and weekend in terms  of function and style.

It is no longer available at the Tory Burch website, but they have many new designs.

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This ube- and strawberry-jam-colored bag is by Kate Spade. Perfect for summer, it reminds me of sweetness and delight.

The Kate Spade Leroy Street Web Quinn tote – colorful and sturdy. The shape is simple and boxy, just the way I like it. The bag material is nylon.

Nylon webbing handles in scarlet and purple are accented with purple leather grips for comfort. The logo is simply screened on the fabric in silver. This style also comes in green and turquoise.

There is an actual Kate Spade, the co-founder of the label, which she launched in 1993 with designer Joel Franklin. Aside from handbags, the label has also put its distinctive style stamp on stationery, shoes, beauty products, perfumes, eyewear, and more.

The handles are securely fastened with discreet rivets. There are also four small feet underneath the bag.

A boss on the end of the zipper.

Detail of stitching, striped nylon lining fabric, zipper, and leather zipper pull. Hardware is light gold-plated.

There are four Kate Spade boutiques in the Philippines.

The bag is very roomy, with a zippered inner pocket on one side, and cellphone and PDA pockets on the other side. The lining is a custom-woven Sant Elmo stripe on faille.

Inner identity: once again, the logo embossed on the inner leather flap on the pocket.

The care card that comes with the bag has a sentence that is in itself a narrative.

Bag measurements are 9.54 x 11.5 x 4.5 inches. It holds all my stuff, including my Kindle 3 and Samsung Galaxy Tab, making it a winner in functionality.

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This Coach leather handbag is a beauty. I like it because it’s not made of the fabric that has the stylized “C’s” on them like Chanel’s in the repeated pattern of brown on beige, which I find sopoforic. This one is understated and elegant, with an embossed leather tag and a metal logo plate on the front of the bag.

(I’d appreciate it if anyone can tell me what model this is and from what collection and year. I lost the product tag.)

I love the way the buckles were rendered, along with the unusual addition of the rings, and the gathered tucks on the front that add a touch of interest. The pockets on either side of the bag exterior are practical and useful.

Front view.

Back view.

Close-up of button embossed with logo and year, leather tag, and the even stitching.

The simple and elegant logo plate.

Detail of YKK zipper and leather zipper-pull, along with a look at the lining, lavender-striated fabric. The zipper separates, allowing the bag to be opened fully and used as a top-open tote. It’s a convenient feature; I like being able to stretch the bag wide.

Here the zipper has been disengaged, showing the roomy interior, with a leather tag sewn to one side of the lining, a zippered pocket, and two open pockets on the other side for a cellphone and other items.

The leather inner tag is embossed with manufacturing details and a serial number.

This bag holds a lot of stuff!

Coach was founded in Manhattan in 1941 as a family-run leather goods workshop. Through the decades, it has made a name for itself as a supplier of fine quality handbags and other such items. But in the luxury goods business, its pricing range and current cachet label it as “aspirational”, though this perception may be fostered by its high-end competitors such as Louis Vuitton and Hermes.

Yet its attention to craftsmanship, quality, style, and reasonable pricing place Coach among the best brands one can acquire.

UPDATE, 5 June 2011: Many thanks to Julie  for identifying this bag! (Follow her on Twitter @FPNOkami for fountain pen/paper/ink/related news)

It’s a Coach 15147 East West Gallery leather tote in Mahogany, an outlet/factory store item from 2010.  It also comes in taupe,black, and tangerine leather, and in Coach’s signature Optic jacquard fabric.

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Once in a while, a handbag is made that sings to your soul and calls out to you in a siren trill – “I am special. I am beautiful. Buy me and make me yours.” It’s the kind of item that grabs your eyes and won’t let go. To be able to see anything else again, you absolutely have to take it home.

Presenting the Longchamp Le Pliage “Arbre de Vie” (Tree of Life) Limited Edition for Spring/Summer 2011.

Longchamp Le Pliage Arbre de Vie LE Medium Long-Handle in Navy, 10 x 10 x 5.5 inches

This is one of those must-have arm candy bags that are also eye candy – how’s that for utter sweetness?

The front depicts a fanciful Tree of Life, painted or screened on in white. The birds are embroidered. Material is polyamide canvas.

Like other Le Pliage models, the Arbre de Vie has a zip closure with one interior main compartment and one large pocket at the back.

The handles are leather, as are the snap tab and tags at either end of the zipper. The zipper and pull are by YKK and are exclusive to Longchamp.

The flap is leather; there is a snap tab on the front that carries the texts “Longchamp”, “1948″, and logo of a horse-and-jockey; the logo is also embossed on the flap.

The back of a Le Pliage flap is embossed with the words “Longchamp” and “Modele Depose”.

The interior of the Arbre de Vie is dark and shows the reverse side of the embroidery. A plastic disc lies underneath the bottom of the snap.

Tag on interior of bag. The Arbre de Vie is made in France.

The Arbre de Vie also comes in fuschia pink with the Tree in white, and in white with the Tree rendered in black. Visually, the white is more eye-popping than the navy, but the white background would be too high-maintenance for someone with my slapdash habits – the same reason I didn’t go for the Darshan models in fabric canvas, although they are lusciously lavished with pink or yellow flowers on a white ground.

What attracted me so strongly to the Arbre de Vie design?

The tree is a powerful image in religion and mythology. In the Bible, Genesis mentions the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil and the Tree of Life. The latter was quite another tree and upon the banishment of Adam and Eve from the Garden, was guarded by two angels with flaming swords. In Norse mythology, Yggdrasil, the “World Tree”, is considered sacred and is surrounded by extensive lore.

In Philippine mythology, a Visayan creation myth has the gods creating a giant bamboo from which emerge the first man – Sikalak – and woman – Sikabay. In Tagalog they are known as Malakas (Strong) and Maganda (Beautiful).

There are parallels to the myth in ancient Egypt, China, Japan, Israel, India, Armenia, and Turkey, to mention a few. In fact, the “sacred tree” motif can be found in many more areas around the world and across time.

We carry the same concept of a special tree to this day – the Christmas tree.

I might be reading too much meaning into the design of a highly commercialized luxury item, but that is what is fascinating about signs – that the meaning they hold for one person is different for another. Meaning is what we make of it.

And it’s a really pretty bag.

In the Philippines, Rustan’s Department Store carries authentic Longchamp items. Pink Darshan image here.

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