With an innate sultriness, a disarming charm, and of course the newlywed glow, Solenn Heussaff is easily one of the most alluring women in the Philippines. The Filipina-French beauty has long been making people fall for her sexy-kooky persona, and self-effacing humour. So when I was contacted by Maita Baello & Melville Sy of Qurator Studio to make a dress or two for her to wear to FHM's August cover shoot, and they told me the gorgeous concept, I was beyond ecstatic. Even if "sexy" wasn't really my go-to look, I knew I had to be a part of the dreamy, Renaissance-inspired shoot.
There's always a thin line between something being sexy and a little pushing the envelope, and just a bit too much. And yet with Solenn giving the style time carte blanche to go crazy, I knew we hand to make the dress a little bit scandalous. Hence, a down-to-there plunge held precariously together by slivers of a strap, finished off with a diaphanous tulle skirt. In creating the bodice, I wanted to make the tulle haphazardly drape over the bosom, be a little messy, but still flatter her gorgeous figure.
Since the concept of the shoot were Renaissance paintings, I wanted to give the garment an effortless feel, with a certain diaphanous softness. I couldn't help but be inspired by The Birth of Venus by Botticelli, the eerie romanticism of John William Waterhouse, and the goddesses of John William Godward. At first glance, this photograph of of a woman caught lounging at a private moment truly feels right at home with these rich paintings. The mood is intimate, romantic, and artistic, with Solenn altogether fearless and vulnerable. Truly a visionary concept from FHM and the entire team, of Maita and Melville of Qurator, assisted by Sharmaine Tanael & Alexine Castillo, photographer Mark Nicdao, makeup artist Robbie Pinera, and hairstylist RJ dela Cruz.
I couldn't be more pleased at how these photos turned out and am truly excited to be able to flex my design muscles and come up with more creative projects! Some my usual brand of feminine, and some a little bit over the edge and out of the box, which I think every artist ought to do once in a while.
I was drawn to Garance Dore's blog because of the illustrations – those stylish girls with insouciant eyes and outfits to salivate over, rendered in inky lines and dabs of color. Being a fashion designer I've always wanted to illustrate like that, with a studied randomness punctuated with bold strokes, and finished off with the most glorious handwriting. I wish my penmanship was as French as that. I thought of Garance as a modern day David Downton, with girls looking like they just stepped out of their brownstones and onto their fabulous cafe lives on the East Village.
Her eye for style was evident in the street style snaps she posted, the luxury hidden in the undercurrent of neutral ensembles punctuated with the softest, most glorious sunlight. The girls on her blog looked like real girls with jobs, who smiled, had fun, had flaws, but were still for all intents and purposes, utterly divine. She espoused to me an aesthetic that was carefully curated and impossibly chic, but never too contrived. There was always that bit of being excited about things like a kid, but also approaching life with the clarity of a grown up. #Adulting at its finest, if you ask me.
The book itself is a great amalgamation of all the things we love about the blog. Equal parts fashion, beauty, lifestyle and love. She's a natural storyteller, able to go from lengthy narrations to snippets of thought. I myself didnt read the book in one sitting, it just felt natural leafing through it, and then delving into those that I was drawn too. Now with a bit of extra time on my hands, I've finally finished it, well most of it at least!
I loved how she explored the concept of personal style –of hers, and finding your own– in the book. It is what I'd call laid-back elegance, mixing Parisian femininity with New York downtown cool. Instead of focusing on seasonal trends, she encouraged women to build wardrobes, adding to it a few interesting pieces every season. Appreciating and cherishing quality, but being able to snap up the hottest pieces from Zara, you know those pieces that don't really quite look like they're from Zara. It's about knowing yourself and cultivating your own brand of elegance. Like any style book, there were a lot of bitsy tips like her go-to style essentials. But she also goes quite in depth in some parts, like when she thoroughly dissected the tuxedo, complete with sound bytes from Loulou de la Falaise and amusing anecdotes.
And on the topic of anecdotes, the one about the clutch was my favourite. She narrates a story of how on a night out in Paris, she gushes over a friend's buttery Hermes clutch. How very American of her, she thought. Her friend quiets her fashion hysteria with French nonchalance of the "this old thing" variety, and proceeds to be utterly composed. Well, until someone spills dark liquid on the clutch and no amount of composure could handle wine on white Hermes.
Right now my day bag was the first one I ever bought, with my fashion editor's salary all saved up. It's a gray YSL Downtown bag I got in Hong Kong, and christened Pebbles Perez (because it's gray, duh). Yes, at that time it was still YSL and not Saint Laurent. I loved that bag to death, but when I first got it, I loved it too much. It even got it's own chair in my room. Now, many years later, I don't feel like I have to be so precious with it, not that I care less, but because it was having no fun all stuck in my closet. One day my friend and I decided to do random things around town, and after I got my nails done, it rained. The umbrella was hopelessly stuck as I tried getting into the car, and my bag was getting a bit wet. He, a boy who is probably used to girls with designer bags, exclaimed, "Your bag!". But I wasn't too worried. I thought we should control our things, and not them controlling us from having a bit of spontaneus fun. That said, I would love a Chanel Boy bag, something from Anya Hindmarch with the emojis, and something impractical and blush pink wouldn't hurt either. Those, for a few months, might travel with its own dust bag.
On the topic of beauty, she writes, "Whatever is given to you on the day you're born, you are the one who decides who you will become, ever day. Beauty grows as we grow into ourselves." Women nowadays face extreme pressure to look a certain way – from the people we date, our jobs, our families and friends, and most often ourselves. But the concept of beauty should come from within. It's finding your own place in the world albeit with a lot of missteps and too pink blush or excessive glittering. Beauty is enhancing what you have, and finding the fun in experimentation. Whatever we define as beauty for ourselves should serve to liberate us and allow us to face the challenges of life head on. It's okay to be a bit natural with our looks, I suppose, but never lazy. Never lazy. The lazy girl never gets the guy.
Of course, a short tete a tete with my spirit animal Drew Barrymore, can't hurt either. There's also stuff in here for fans of girl boss Diane von Furstenburg, peak Parisienne Emmanuelle Alt, and forever cool girl Jenna Lyons.
Being the quintessential insider, it is such a treat to see the world though Garance's eyes. She's quite open about her journey, how in 2007 she was a freelancer who didn't quite have it all together, and how it gradually evolved to the front row life and powerhouse empire she has today. For bloggers, artists, entrepreneurs, or anyone involved in any form or measure of a start-up, it's seemingly never okay to talk about the negatives. We seem to all have a stiff upper lip when speaking about the journey, glossing over the struggles, and only talking about the successes when they come. Having someone of her caliber be so candid about her journey is a blessing and an inspiration. And the wonderful thing is that despite her success, she's always spoken with the same tone of voice – friendly, observant, and with her trademark self-deprecating humour. Her blog may be prettier now and professionally managed, but it's still got the same heart as when it first began.
Also, I do think she got to the top the good girl way. By working tenaciously hard, being sweet, having an astute point of view that was both confident and vulnerable, and also maybe being lucky and being at the right place at the right time. She's a big fan of the thank you note, which I think is quite classy. If we could all practice little bits of kindness and politeness along the way, I think it will all pay off in the end. Take it from the most helpful Editorial Assistant (that's Emily for you if you wanna go by Devil Wears Prada speak), it pays to be remembered as nice! If not just for the fact of actually being thought of as nice in this dog-eat-dog fashion world.
The same honesty she has talking about her rise to the top, she also applies to her love life. And as she narrates the lessons her dalliances have inevitably taught her, she speaks to all of us, for these are our stories as well. In bits and pieces we can all be broken and healed together, and that I feel is what life is all about.
I find the book equal parts eye candy and epiphany. Garance has a way of laying down #truths like no other. Social media has turned us fashion folk into perfectly edited versions of ourselves that it's nice to hear from another human experiencing life as it's meant to be, bumpy but exceedingly and stylishly beautiful.
P.S. I met her once at a talk she gave at the Fashion Institute of Technology for our Faces & Places in fashion class. I am super sure we have a photo together, but for the life of me I cannot find it. Let's settle for this autograph she gave me which I have on my NYC themed planner. Sorry I couldn't help plugging this giddy moment in!
There is a certain old world elegance inherent in a ball gown — a statement making confection that compels one to glide onto the dance floor with the most lilting of steps like a debutante of seasons past. And then there is the promise of magic and make believe, of transforming into a fairy tale princess even for just a brief night. Such I think is the beauty and power of fashion, it gives us the power to dream and become whoever we want to be. Girl power at its finest, if I may be so bold as to say.
Such was the ethos behind this pale pink gown for seventeen-year-old beauty Sofia Lopez for her senior prom. Even at first glance, she exuded a mix of teenage girly and fresh, sporty energy. For the Poveda Ball, she wanted a feminine gown that was fluffy, but not too much, and had just a touch of sparkle . We decided on a graceful an off-shoulder gown with a sweeping skirt and train, and a low back accented with a statement bow.
I couldn't help but be inspired by the vintage gowns that figured prominently in the work of society photographer Cecil Beaton, who was a regular contributor to Vogue and Vanity Fair in the '40s and '50s. In fact, one of my favourite fashion images was that of a tabluea of models all resplendent in satin gowns by Charles James. The pastel hue, the grand silhouette, and the playful ribbon were all in homage to that uncomplicated and most feminine era of haute couture.
The first fitting we had was just of the toile. The open neckline and deep back required a bit of contouring to get it to lay flat on the body. The sleeves which angled down also had to be tested, and revised to get it to drape properly but also with a bit of insouciance. Lastly, we draped the bow to make it look like it was oh-so-casually tied up behind but nonetheless retained its shape and gave the dress a bit of drama.
For the beaded belt we created for her a shimmering floral motif, with a bit of dimension to accent her gown and her trim waist. We tested a few samples but ultimately decided on a more elaborate version.
In this day and age of normcore and fast fashion, rarely do we find the chance to really dress up. So when the occasion does pop up when we can don a twirl-worthy frock, then I think we should! Embrace your inner Cinderella, take risks with fashion, wear something you think might be a bit too much (but of course, really isn't because we checked with all our friends and they're all dressing up too). Life is but for making memories, and we can do it whilst being pretty, why in the world not?
Once upon a time, there was an an adorable 6-year-old named Cherdelyn, who for her birthday, wanted to be the plucky little Princess Sofia. A friend of hers, 13-year-old Kyla also wanted a princess party for her family and friends. This is the story of how that simple wish came true, with the help of Make a Wish Philippines and a few very generous fairy godmothers.
I came into this little fairytale by way of a very stylish client, Ms. Linda Ley. We had been fitting her own gown when she started talking about a children's party she and a friend were throwing in partnership with Make A Wish Foundation Philippines. Along with Ms. Tina Cuevas of the Sulu Riviera Hotel, they were throwing a bash for Cherdelyn and Kyla. She had gotten renowned designer Ito Curata to make Kyla's dress, and asked me if I'd be up for dressing up the other wish-kid Cherdelyn. Needless to say, I said Yes! Who in the world turns down an opportunity to make a little girl into a princess, really!?
To all you nineties babies who don't have a clue who Princess Sofia is, she's the newest Disney princess who is somehow friends with all the other princesses in a magical land. She goes on lovely adventures in a purple gown with pearls and and a peplum and flowers on her petal skirt. The dress wasn't really that complicated, but I think the trick with these things is how to translate the fantasy into real life. Another challenge is that I only got Cherdelyn's height and waist measurement, and since it was a surprise, I would only get to see her on the big day!
It took yards and yards of tulle, layers of satin, three shades of purple organza, and a lot of pattern making prayers to hopefully get the dimensions right for this dress. But, after a week or so of pondering and sewing, we finally finished the garment. I thought it was pretty cute already in its bare state, but knew it needed a lot of Sofia's signature details to finish the look!
The silver and crystal trims were obviously de rigeuer for any royal garment. The bigger challenge was the white flower that was on the scalloped hem of her dress. I used satin appliqués cut into a petal shapes to get the look and I think it really gave the dress it's wow factor!
I was really excited with how the dress turned out, all fluffy and princess-like and bedazzled, with a life of its own. I thought it really captured the Princess Sofia look and couldn't wait to see it on my muse! Can anyone say Bibbiddi Bobbiddi Boo!?!?
On the day of Cherdelyn and Kyla's party, we were waiting for them in a beautiful room in the Sulu Riviera Hotel. Of course, the hosts Ms. Linda Ley, Ms. Tina Cuevas and their friends from Angels to Street Kids (ASK) were all busy preparing the party. First to arrive was Cherdelyn with her Mom. Ms. Linda Ley was so excited to see them and couldn't wait to show the girls all that was in store. First up was of course the dress! By God's grace, it fit perfectly, like it was really made for her! Cherdelyn started twirling almost immediately! Truly a happy occasion!
CHERDELYN AND HER MOM WITH MS. LINDA LEY | ME SURPRISING CHERDELYN WITH HER GOWN
Next came Kyla and her Ito Curata masterpiece suited her like a dream! Ms. Len Olbes and Ms. Mia Reyes were in charge of hair and makeup and the girls really enjoyed getting all dolled up. And to complete their looks, Ms. Mayenne Carmona got them the perfect sparkly shoes! The girls were finally ready for their grand entrance!
FROM LEFT: MS. MIA REYES & MS. LEN OLBES WITH KYLA | KYLA IN HER THRONE | MS. MAYENNE CARMONA SURPRISES KYLA WITH SPARKLY SHOESIES
When Ms. Linda first told me about the party, I was imagining a very simple affair. But I can say the hosts went all out! A function room of the Sulu Riviera hotel was transformed with pink balloons and tulle on the ceiling, and a beautiful backdrop that really set the mood. There was a magician, bubbles, face painting, lots of yummy kiddie food, a sorbetero, beautiful cakes, presents, games, karaoke, and the works. Cherdelyn and Kyla celebrated with their families and other wish kids, most of whom were being treated at the Philippine Children's Medical Center and National Children's Hospital. Even for a few hours I think it was fun for the kids to just focus on having fun with their friends and loved ones. As many know, Make A Wish grants wishes to children with life-threatening medical conditions to spread joy and inspire. Parties like this is just one of the more than 1600 wishes, big and small, that they've granted since the inception of the Philippine chapter in 1999.
CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: THE KIDS PLAYING PARTY GAMES | CHERDELYN IN A GIANT BUBBLE | CHERDELYN GETS SOME FACE PAINTING | WITH MY MOM AND MS. LINDA LEY
It was likewise a memorable day for all of us who were helping prepare the party. If I was busy making one dress, I can only imagine Ms. Linda Ley, Ms. Tina Cuevas, and everyone else who were planning and coordinating the entire affair. With every detail -- from the personalized decor & cake, to the gifts and games, to the little touches like the loot bag and the cotton candy, no detail was too small. It was obvious how much love Ms. Linda & Ms Tina & all her friends put in, I'm certain it was no easy task. But being able to bring cheer and spread kindness is indeed a beautiful thing, and we were all blessed to have been given the opportunity to do so.
FROM LEFT: MS. LINDA LEY RECEIVES A CERTIFICATE FROM MS. ANA CHUA OF MAKE A WISH PHILIPPINES | MS. TINA CUEVAS & MS. LINDA LEY
ME WITH THE BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE OF ANGELS TO STREET KIDS (ASK)
When I first met Cherdelyn, she was very quiet and shy. But after a few hours of merrymaking, she started to really blossom and started to act like the kid that she is. She did twinsie poses with all the Princess Sofias in the room and was really having fun with all the activities, as were the other kids. She was still relatively quiet, but totally all smiles. Her Mom said they were supposed to have chemotherapy on the day of the party to treat Cherdelyn's leukaemia, but requested an earlier appointment from the doctor to so they can have some fun. And I do think she did, as did all the other kids.
But despite being able to be princess for a day, with a crazy-beautiful party to boot, her Mom said that Cherdelyn's real wish was to get better. Amidst all the fanfare, this was a dose of reality; that sometimes even the most innocent of us have to fight battles that seem a wee bit too big for their young ages. We pray for the continued and quick recovery to all the kids, and even more princess parties in the future! Of course as in any story that begins with "Once upon a time", we are sure this one will have its own "Happily Ever After".
Like a lot of modern, millennial relationships, my friendship with bride Jillian began online. I had seen the Cosmo.Ph EIC @jillyqg looking her bright, bubbly self in a lot of my friends snaps, so much so that when I first met her, I couldn't help but feel like we were old friends. Consequently, and I believe upon the recommendation of Cosmopolitan Fashion Director Donna Cuna-Pita & Fashion Editor Happy Lopez, when it became time to plan her special day with beau Chris Cantada, she also found me on Instagram. Needless to say, I was extra excited to get to work with the couple, and am extremely grateful for their trust.
Even before our first meeting, Jillian had already sent me photos of her girls, a short bio, and what silhouettes they wanted to wear, all packaged neatly in a PowerPoint. She had such clarity of vision, truly knowing what look she wanted for her entourage, and yet allowed me and her girls the artistic freedom to create unique ensembles that made each lady feel her prettiest. That, to bride Jill, was the most important part, that the special people in her life feel gorgeous as well.
MALEN, TIFFANY, JENNIFER, BRIDE JILLIAN, KARA & CHESKA
THESE BRIDESMAIDS ARE GETTING FIRST DIBS ON THE BRIDE'S BOUQUET!
Jillian wanted something fresh and blooming for their garden soiree, and ensembles her bridesmaids could wear again. Prompted by the floral pret-a-porter skirts I had been designing, we decided on formal separates for her entourage. It was indeed a challenge to find a botanical print that matched her color scheme of pink and pistachio, but I guess Cupid was on our side and we were able to find one with such a glorious old world feel that we all fell in love with. The Matron of Honor Jennifer, the bride's sister, opted for a floor length ball gown skirt paired with a halter top. The bridesmaids chose their own tops and skirts, everything from crop tops to cutouts to elegant three-quarter sleeved blouses. I really think we were able to showcase each girl's unique style whilst creating a cohesive and elegant look for the wedding.
Having had the privilege of working with such lovely ladies, I was able to make so many new friends. I am thankful for all the chats we had at fittings, the funny stories, the bloopers, the stuff I learned, and all the memories. Some parts of our journey were easy, some hard, but all worth it for the beautiful moment it all comes together and the individual pieces become greater as they become part of the whole.
TIFFANY, CHESKA, MALEN & KARA
And of course, no wedding is complete without an adorable flower girl to sprinkle petals down the aisle. Meet my favourite new friend Ysabelle who looked like a little princess in a cloud of pink tulle. When I first met her, she was still a bit shy. But after our first fitting, after she got to try on her tutu dress, I can say that she really warmed up to me. She gave me the a biggest hug, and waved back to me all the way from my place to their car parked across the street. Being fairy godmother to little girls has its perks, I tell you.
THE BRIDE & HER NIECE YSABELLE | RINGBEARER DAMIEN & YSABELLE
THE BRIDE'S SISTER & MATRON OF HONOR JENNIFER, WITH HER DAUGHTER YSABELLE
And to appease the romantic in me, I also consider it a true act of fate that I got to work with Jillian. Obviously, we had worked in the same publishing company but at different times. But I also learned that Jillian had been studying in New York the exact same time I had been in school there. Furthermore, I would like to give a special shout out to the groom's sister Cat Cantada. I had heard so much about makeup artist extraordinaire Cat back when I was working in Preview, but in all that time, I never had the chance to work with her. People would book her for shoots before I could, and we always tried to work with different talents each month. I found out that Cat's just as silly as I was, and now I stalk her on Instagram.
CAT, ANGELINA, TIFFANY, MALEN, CHESKA, KARA, THE COUPLE & THEIR DASHING GROOMSMEN
I was equally impressed by our rockstar groom, who is none other than famous YouTuber and drummer Chris Cantada. During his Spongecola days, I learned that he had penned a love song named entitled Jillian. Guys, seriously, can you top that? The couple had been dating for more than 10 years, and sometimes long distance, before this momentous occasion that has brought two beautiful, quirky souls together. Truly, any occasion to celebrate true love is something we each must cherish.
And with these lovely photos by Nice Print Photo taken at Angelfields in Tagaytay, I bid you adieu. I thank you Jillian and Chris for making me a part of your special day, and wish you all the best as you both continue to pen the lyrics to your unique love story.
THE BRIDE & HER ENTOURAGE
THE RADIANT BRIDE & HER BRIDESMAIDS | JILLIAN SHARES A MOMENT WITH BIG SISTER JENNIFER
