The Woman Warrior

Christophe Decarnin, Balmain

In Afghanistan, tradition has recently become law allowing men to rape their wives and making it illegal for a woman to go out in public without being escorted by a male. Young Afghanistan women are finding this law to be obsolete at this point in time of change and evolution. They are fighting for their women rights.

When women around the world are fighting for their rights like no other time before. It's no wonder the fashion we're seeing is not of a graceful doll but of a strong sturdy equal.

Frida Giannini, who serves on the Board of Directors of PPR's Foundation for Women 's Dignity and Rights had her vision of the Woman Warrior embossed in this fall's collection of GUCCI.

Frida Giannini, Gucci

Valentino: The Last Emperor

"Pure escapist fun . . . It reveals a world that is slipping away even as the cameras roll" -The New York Times

If you're a fashionista and haven't watched VALENTINO THE LAST EMPEROR, shame on you. The film was held over following the two weeks of showing at the Film Forum in New York City.

All sat in the theater in inspired awe of how this man had a vision of how he wanted his world to be. To encapsulate it in one word . . . BEAUTIFUL.

" I love beauty. Is not my fault" - Valentino

Adoring Adora

Bambino Wise wrote in an issue of WWD:

Forging a path separate from his family, Pineda this year opened Adora, a 25,000-square-foot store in Manila’s Greenbelt 5. It is a retail showcase featuring limestone floors, modernist furniture and velvet draperies. Adora already has set a benchmark in the market in terms of luxury and personalized service.

It seems I'm not the only one adoring Adora these days. The Manila department store has already made it's way into the New York fashion business source, WWD, a few times.

On my last trip to Manila I was taken on a personal tour through the store and explained how Adora really has the owner's personal touch, including the handpicked merchandise featured. With some local deisgners that caught my eye, I found myself back there again and again.

Who knows? Maybe, at this interesting point in the evolution of Philippine retail along with the country's economic growth, in the near future New Yorkers will have more of a taste in Philippine fashion. Maybe even an Adora?

You can read the entire article on p.31 in the October 13, 2008 issue of Women’s Wear Daily
Philippines’ First Family of Retailing http://www.wwd.com/media/issues/2008/10/13/wwd1013.pdf

Fashion Week Fall 2009

Isaac

Donna

3.1 Phillip Lim

This fall's Fashion Week was about American classics. Classic. Basic. Athletic. Lord knows especially as a New Yorker when you step outside on the street you need to be able to survive the jungle of walking the city sidewalks, hailing a cab, or getting on that subway, not to mention looking fashionable all at the same time.

The best designers this season took what we already had in the closets, looked at what was going on around them and most importantly felt what was happening here in the country. No one felt more that $700 billion dollar debt and uncertainty of who would lead us out of this mess than us. What fashionistas needed this time around was familiarity and comfort, leaving out the unoriginal.

The All-stars got it. Isaac Mizrahi, Calvin Klein, and Ralph Lauren went back to the essence of American fashion. 3.1 Phillip Lim tried to keep the swing of the good times and showed us a bit of Rock-n-Roll for those who are still on beat. Catherine Malandrino took us past today's hard times and gave us a look into a positive future that is to come, taking full attention to the woman. (Thank god for women designers) Anna Sui joined in the fun and brought us on an adventure through a different world inspired by Proust, the French novelist and gypsies. Last but not least DONNA KARAN. She hit the nail on the head dead on. She simply made us look at the same things we've always had but the detail made it seem as if we were looking at it through a different lens. It was all nothing short of brilliant.

"Picture Perfect" Engagement Shoot

Hello to all my supporters of the "creative" Ingrid.

Let me first describe how it all got started. Our model, who may seem familiar : ) Shirleen Lacanilao was scouted by San Fransisco's Wedding Photographer, Erica Berger. Erica was going to be in New York for a few days and wanted an urban feel to add to her already fantastic website. Shirl was our girl along with our male model, Christian Jordan, photo assistant, Chelsea Franks, and featuring me as her stylist.

The collaboration of the team gave off a great energy. With COLORFUL URBAN ROMANCE on our minds we were all on the same page. The shoot got off to a late start (models!) but from the first shot taken in the middle of New York City's hustling Grand Central Station, to LOVE in Midtown, to Winter in Rockefeller Center, to fashionista corner on Fifth Avenue, to high end magazine house in SoHo, to crazy shops on Canal Street and the color of Chinatown, the camera didn't stop clicking. Erica was great at her craft. She "captured the day as it unraveled" taking pictures ANYWHERE! You had to really be on your toes because once you would look back there she was holding up her camera ready for another shot.
After a long day of work we threw in the towel and went to a small place called Hop Kee where we filled the crew up with some good MSG filled beefsteak, fried porkchops, and pan fried noodles. (I think I'm hungry.)

There are going to be more pictures to be sent over but these are the few that Erica picked out to put on the web for public view. It's already gotten motivating feedback. Hopefully, I'll get to show you more pictures that I've styled at different shoots. So let's keep our fingers crossed that I get to revel in my new creative side, dealing with interesting people and dressing them up to show their beauty or pulchritude inside and out.

Check out:

Erica Berger at http://www.ericaberger.info/ Especially for those looking to get married. Ahem, I know who I sent the link to my blog to.

Chelsea Franks at http://www.chelseafranksphoto.com/



Thanks Everyone!