For Art’s Sake
February 17th, 2010Rafe Loves…Ana Rivera
February 10th, 2010Raison d’Etre: To bringing joy and happiness to everyone around me. My mother told me that she had a hard time having a mixed child like me and she fought as hard as she could to still have me.
Job: Model / Day Dreamer
Live: Hong Kong… Or wherever my passport can take me.
Happiness: I’m always a happy girl. I think if you’re happy everything around will feed off that energy..
Brunch: I love all kinds of food… But I love Kee Club for Brunch. It’s quiet and very chic!
Drink: I would have to say Dragon I (Hong Kong). I don’t go out much but when I do I love to dance and be with friends. So this is where my friends play.
Eat: Being half Korean and Spanish, my taste buds are just crazy out of control. I love a bit of everything. Right now my weakness is the food halls in the basement of any department store in Asia. I love being able to choose between different varieties of food all at once.
Escape: Thailand… it’s a 3 hour flight from Hong Kong and everything is so affordable. There’s something for everybody in Thailand.
Read: Right now I’m reading why men need sex and women need love. Like most girls we all need to know why boys act so strange! So I’m just reading up on the opposite sex to give me a beter understanding of this crazy word we call “love”.
Listen: Lily Allen… Loving the man bashing!
She sings about things that I can relate to!
Watch: The Sound of Music… They don’t make movies like they used too.
Indulge: Food, I love to eat… And shoe shopping. I can’t walk past a shop window with out buying something. I know. I’m DANGEROUS!
Shop: Anywhere that takes Visa or MasterCard. No kidding! I’ve been to places where I did not have enough cash and it was heartbreaking!
Fashion: Dorian Ho… He calls me his muse! Gotta love that!
Aspire: I don’t have one fave but I take ideas from everyone to put my style together.
Charity: I do what I can to help. I think we all should. If everyone cared enough and did their share I’m sure we can make a difference in the world.
Dream: We all dream of selfish things. It’s just human but my biggest dream is to start my own charity. I believe we need more female role models in Asia. It would be wonderful to start this but at the moment I have my hands full with so many things. One day…I’ll make it happen.
Accessory: Love Rafe’s Designs! He is the sweetest man on earth. He spends the time talking to you about his pieces and listens to your opinions.. Also, he’s a dreamer like most of us. I’m so happy his dreams have come true!
Rafe Loves…Pippa Salonius
February 3rd, 2010Raison d’Etre: Do I need one?
Job: Art Historian (eternal student, reticent writer… teaching unwilling university students)
Live: Florence, Italy.
Happiness: Listening to my 3-month-old daughter laugh… Bliss!
Brunch: Home-made crunchy granola and yogurt with fresh boysenberries at the Mount Cook Café 20-odd years ago in Wellington, NZ (but I’ve been told it has changed hands and lost its breakfast flair).
Drink: “Rifugio Rosetta” , San Martino di Castrozza in the Dolomites: you take the cable car up around midday, hardly anyone’s there because they are all eating in the lower restaurant at the end of the first ski lift… a bowl of pasta e fagioli and a glass of red wine on top of the world before hitting the slopes again. Its the best!
Eat: Wagamama, anywhere in the world. I usually find myself in the one in High Street Kensington, London. The food is fresh, good, cheap, fast and you can wash it all down with green tea or a freshly squeezed fruit and/or vegetable juice!
Escape: Our family beach house, Bon Accord Harbour, Kawau Island, Hauraki Gulf, New Zealand
Read: The Economist and Nathan Never (Italian Science Fiction Comic)
Listen: Leonard Cohen, Cat Stevens, KD Lang, The Clash, The Cure and theme music from Bollywood films for dancing to!
Watch: Lord of the Rings, Star Wars, Harry Potter…
Indulge: Baluchi rugs.
Shop: Neal Street East, Convent Garden, London… but it sadly is no longer there, I still miss it.
Fashion: Etro
Charity: I’m a student.. albeit a working one. I tend to think of myself as the charity case!
Dream: A world without boundaries… for everyone.
Accessory: Rafe Bags! They are the perfect fit.
Rafe Spring 2010 Photo Shoot Scene 1
January 30th, 2010Rafe Designs a Special Shoe for Baileys
January 27th, 2010.jpg)
BAILEYS TAPPED DESIGNER RAFE TOTENGCO TO DESIGN A SHOE INSPIRED BY THEIR DELICIOUS LIQUEUR
The special edition shoe was sold to benefit Clothes Off Our Back.
Designer Rafe Totengco joined the makers of Baileys® Original Irish Cream to celebrate the two things women find most irresistible about a holiday get-together –amazing party shoes and a delicious drink. The Baileys Holiday Shoe Collection of one-of-a-kind Baileys-inspired designs was sold via online auction to benefit Clothes Off Our Back®. The national non-profit organization auctions clothing, jewelry and other items donated by top celebrities to help support many causes around the world, including the fight against hunger.
To support the cause while indulging in a love of fashion, shoe aficionados and their friends ages 21 and older can visit www.clothesoffourback.org to view and bid on one-of-a-kind Baileys-inspired women’s shoes. Rafe joins some of the best designers in the business: Alejandro Ingelmo, Farylrobin, Shree Moni and Vanessa Noel. The auction ran from November 11th to December 2nd, and bidding started at $75, with all money raised going to charity.
Each designer created one pair of shoes inspired by Baileys Original Irish Cream — which means rich, irresistible shoes. “I was inspired by the Baileys Irish Creme Caramel. My strappy high heel platform is crafted in creme patent leather, which emulates the movement of the liquid flowing over ice”, said Rafe Totengco.
“We’re really excited to combine two irresistible temptations — Baileys and shoes — in a way that benefits a great cause during the holidays,” said Dana Yerid, brand director for Baileys. “Whether you’re enjoying it with friends at a holiday party or a small gathering at home, Baileys adds ‘yum’ and delight to the season’s festivities. Slip on a fabulous pair of designer shoes with your favorite party dress, pour a glass of Baileys and you have everything you need for perfectly delicious holiday get-togethers.”
Rafe Loves…Aimee Tran
January 26th, 2010Raison d’Etre: ”..in various degrees of longing, wistfulness, passion & agonizing confusion- the best of mankind’s youth start out in life. It is not even a view for most..but a foggy, groping, undefined sense of raw pain & incommunicable happiness. It is the sense of enormous expectation, the sense that one’s life is important, that great achievements are within one’s capacity, and that great things lie ahead..” -ayn rand
Job: professional hedonist.
Live: “move in waters shore to shore…” (bon iver)
Happiness: “Oh Yeeeeaahhh!” -Kool-Aid guy while bursting thru a wall
Brunch: Dim Sum in HK or Shanghai! Charcuterie set ups with local mongers…. glorious!
Drink: Ciroc vodka -on ice. –freshly squeezed grapefruit juice + Belvedere. tart & bitter Seville oranges.. fresh pressed apple juice… beers brewed by trappist monks in Belgium..
Eat: anywhere there’s love in the food…. pho on the streets of hanoi… hue food spreads in a buddhist temple… raw vegetables from the garden; straight into your mouth… white truffles… fat crispy/ chewy/ greasy NY pizzas.. NY bagels…tennessee BBQ.. canadian maple… perfectly tempered swiss chocolate…. glorious stinky cheeses… oaxacan tamales… tinola & crispy pata in the ‘ppines! singapore chili crabs! MANGOSTEEN!! Cebu mangos.. late summer georgia peaches that juice down your face… California avocados!! -proper artisan bread,- with the delicate crispy crust, shiny/ moist insides with a beautiful irregular crumb.. In-n-Out animal style burgers!
Escape: COUCH TIME! with T.V! & clean blankets & magazines & cocktails!
Read: Fountainhead. Brothers Karamazov. Lonely Planets. Wind up Bird Chronicles. Zen and The Art Of Motorcycle Maintenance. Calvin and Hobbes. On Food and Cooking. Smut.! hehehe. MAGS: W. Vogue. New Yorker. Surfer’s Journal. Food Arts.
Listen: Rachmaninoff…Bon Iver…Mason Jennings.. Alkaline Trio… the sound of the cello… any sound that aches my heart..
Movies: Thicker Than Water. September Sessions. delicatessen. 2046. In the Mood for Love. Bleu. Cinema Paradiso. Sin City. Labyrinth. Amelie. Lynch. Battle Royale. Old Boy. Lady Vengeance. Bring It On. Old Disney’s. Babel. The Incredibles. Ninja Scroll. Army of Darkness. Ratatouille. The Sound of Music. Old Kung-Fu movies w/ my dad.
Indulge: everything…
Shop: RAFE!!!!! ~Craftsmen..Swiss watches.. Italian leather & cashmere.. Thai silk.. Vietnam pearls…(-I dress like a gypsy.) for make -up: Chanel: MAC: NARS.
Fashion or Splurge: Tom Ford. Louboutin. Marc Jacobs. Paul Smith for men.. Austin Scarlett/ Uli Herzner & Christian Siriano from Project Runway! So many more talented people…
Aspire: YOU!
Charity: Worldwide Orphans Foundations & Surfrider Foundation
Dream: I like: when I dream that I’m flying. I DISLIKE: dreams w/ my teeth falling out.
Accessory: Rafe is hotHAUTEhot! -**thanks Mare for bringing Rafe into my restaurants & introducing me to the AMAZING creator of my coveted purses!!!! ***
Rafe Loves….Aimee Tran
January 26th, 2010Raison d’Etre: ”..in various degrees of longing, wistfulness, passion & agonizing confusion- the best of mankind’s youth start out in life. It is not even a view for most..but a foggy, groping, undefined sense of raw pain & incommunicable happiness. It is the sense of enormous expectation, the sense that one’s life is important, that great achievements are within one’s capacity, and that great things lie ahead..” -ayn rand
Job: professional hedonist.
Live: “move in waters shore to shore…” (bon iver)
Happiness: “Oh Yeeeeaahhh!” -Kool-Aid guy while bursting thru a wall
Brunch: Dim Sum in HK or Shanghai! Charcuterie set ups with local mongers…. glorious!
Drink: Ciroc vodka -on ice. –freshly squeezed grapefruit juice + Belvedere. tart & bitter Seville oranges.. fresh pressed apple juice… beers brewed by trappist monks in Belgium..
Eat: anywhere there’s love in the food…. pho on the streets of hanoi… hue food spreads in a buddhist temple… raw vegetables from the garden; straight into your mouth… white truffles… fat crispy/ chewy/ greasy NY pizzas.. NY bagels…tennessee BBQ.. canadian maple… perfectly tempered swiss chocolate…. glorious stinky cheeses… oaxacan tamales… tinola & crispy pata in the ‘ppines! singapore chili crabs! MANGOSTEEN!! Cebu mangos.. late summer georgia peaches that juice down your face… California avocados!! -proper artisan bread,- with the delicate crispy crust, shiny/ moist insides with a beautiful irregular crumb.. In-n-Out animal style burgers!
Escape: COUCH TIME! with T.V! & clean blankets & magazines & cocktails!
Read: Fountainhead. Brothers Karamazov. Lonely Planets. Wind up Bird Chronicles. Zen and The Art Of Motorcycle Maintenance. Calvin and Hobbes. On Food and Cooking. Smut.! hehehe. MAGS: W. Vogue. New Yorker. Surfer’s Journal. Food Arts.
Listen: Rachmaninoff…Bon Iver…Mason Jennings.. Alkaline Trio… the sound of the cello… any sound that aches my heart..
Movies: Thicker Than Water. September Sessions. delicatessen. 2046. In the Mood for Love. Bleu. Cinema Paradiso. Sin City. Labyrinth. Amelie. Lynch. Battle Royale. Old Boy. Lady Vengeance. Bring It On. Old Disney’s. Babel. The Incredibles. Ninja Scroll. Army of Darkness. Ratatouille. The Sound of Music. Old Kung-Fu movies w/ my dad.
Indulge: everything…
Shop: RAFE!!!!! ~Craftsmen..Swiss watches.. Italian leather & cashmere.. Thai silk.. Vietnam pearls…(-I dress like a gypsy.) for make -up: Chanel: MAC: NARS.
Fashion or Splurge: Tom Ford. Louboutin. Marc Jacobs. Paul Smith for men.. Austin Scarlett/ Uli Herzner & Christian Siriano from Project Runway! So many more talented people…
Aspire: YOU!
Charity: Worldwide Orphans Foundations & Surfrider Foundation
Dream: I like: when I dream that I’m flying. I DISLIKE: dreams w/ my teeth falling out.
Accessory: Rafe is hotHAUTEhot! -**thanks Mare for bringing Rafe into my restaurants & introducing me to the AMAZING creator of my coveted purses!!!! ***
Rafe Loves…Karmele Sagastasoloa
January 15th, 2010Raison d’Etre: To learn and to evolve…
Job: I work in a Shipping Agency
Live: Bilbao, Spain
Happiness: Travelling the world with Santi(my husband), family & friends !
Brunch: La Viña, for the best pan tomate or anywhere I can have jamon iberico….
Drink: Vinos in Bilbao with friends and esp. Apikale near my place is a favorite !!
Eat: My mom’s kitchen and all kinds of pintxos (tapas) in Bilbao & San Sebastian !!!
Escape: L.A. where I always have a great time with the De La Cruz sisters & friends !! Biarritz for my weekend trips with Santi in his motorbike !!
Read: Books; Biographies.
Magazines: I love them all…..especially home decor issues!
Listen: Bossa Nova
Watch: Always enjoy watching romantic comedies….
Indulge: Rakel’s excellent chocolate truffles and palmeras de chocolate of Pasteleria Arrese in Bilbao—the best !!!
Shop: Rafe’s website, Zara, Massimo Dutti, Inarkadia & flea markets everywhere…..
Splurge: Recently had the best Spa experience in the Canary Islands….
Aspire: for her sense of style….Carolina Herrera (the daughter)
Charity: Tapulanga Foundation
Dream: live well, retire young and travel the world !!
Accessory: I love everything Rafe creates !! I seldom wear any other bag. But I have to thank my friend Janice who takes care of my orders…..The totes are my favorite, big and fits everything ! Rafe’s shoes are very comfortable and eye catching too !!!
Rafe Loves…Karmele Sagastasoloa
January 14th, 2010Raison d’Etre: To learn and to evolve…
Job: I work in a Shipping Agency
Live: Bilbao, Spain
Happiness: Travelling the world with Santi(my husband), family & friends !
Brunch: La Viña, for the best pan tomate or anywhere I can have jamon iberico….
Drink: Vinos in Bilbao with friends and esp. Apikale near my place is a favorite !!
Eat: My mom’s kitchen and all kinds of pintxos (tapas) in Bilbao & San Sebastian !!!
Escape: L.A. where I always have a great time with the De La Cruz sisters & friends !! Biarritz for my weekend trips with Santi in his motorbike !!
Read: Books; Biographies.
Magazines: I love them all…..especially home decor issues!
Listen: Bossa Nova
Watch: Always enjoy watching romantic comedies….
Indulge: Rakel’s excellent chocolate truffles and palmeras de chocolate of Pasteleria Arrese in Bilbao—the best !!!
Shop: Rafe’s website, Zara, Massimo Dutti, Inarkadia & flea markets everywhere…..
Splurge: Recently had the best Spa experience in the Canary Islands….
Aspire: for her sense of style….Carolina Herrera (the daughter)
Charity: Tapulanga Foundation
Dream: live well, retire young and travel the world !!
Accessory: I love everything Rafe creates !! I seldom wear any other bag. But I have to thank my friend Janice who takes care of my orders…..The totes are my favorite, big and fits everything ! Rafe’s shoes are very comfortable and eye catching too !!!
Naughty and Nice
January 13th, 2010Can I tell you …about my favorite Christmas party? Every year I get inundated with invites to celebrate the holidays. Which one to go to and can I go to all of them? Such a dilemma! It had been such a dour year (recession hello!) that I was looking forward to lifting my spirits and ending the year with some yuletide cheer. Unfortunately, I can’t make it to every party but there are a few on the top of my list. One of them is Chandelier Creative’s Holiday Bash. Their first party last year was so much fun. I met a lot of new people, almost bid on some art and had copious amounts of champagne. So when I got their grandiose invite this year I put it in my outlook calendar marked urgent.
The Noho loft where their offices are was filled with balloons, a towering Christmas tree, a hot dog and popcorn stand as well as the requisite open bar. The crowd was equally fabulous as one might expect from this boutique design firm. Designers Francisco Costa and Peter Som, Gossip Girl’s Amanda Setton, fashion editors Stefano Tonchi and Marcus Teo, models Jessica White and Julie Henderson sipped champagne, nibbled on hot dogs and got their photos taken with a hunky Santa (a trainer in Richard’s gym).
Naughty and Nice
January 13th, 2010Can I tell you …about my favorite Christmas party? Every year I get inundated with invites to celebrate the holidays. Which one to go to and can I go to all of them? Such a dilemma! It had been such a dour year (recession hello!) that I was looking forward to lifting my spirits and ending the year with some yuletide cheer. Unfortunately, I can’t make it to every party but there are a few on the top of my list. One of them is Chandelier Creative’s Holiday Bash. Their first party last year was so much fun. I met a lot of new people, almost bid on some art and had copious amounts of champagne. So when I got their grandiose invite this year I put it in my outlook calendar marked urgent.
The Noho loft where their offices are was filled with balloons, a towering Christmas tree, a hot dog and popcorn stand as well as the requisite open bar. The crowd was equally fabulous as one might expect from this boutique design firm. Designers Francisco Costa and Peter Som, Gossip Girl’s Amanda Setton, fashion editors Stefano Tonchi and Marcus Teo, models Jessica White and Julie Henderson sipped champagne, nibbled on hot dogs and got their photos taken with a hunky Santa (a trainer in Richard’s gym).
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