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Rafe Spring 2010 Photo Shoot Scene 1
January 30th, 2010
Rafe 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, 2010
Raison 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, 2010
Raison 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, 2010
Can 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.
Richard Christiansen, Chandelier’s creative director and Anthony Keegan, Common Wealth Utilities’ designer (dressed as Rudolph) certainly know how to throw an extravaganza with flowing drinks (served up by studly Santa’s helpers), a full gospel choir (singing disco and R&B classics) and a silent art auction to benefit the New Museum on the Bowery. They were determined to up the ante for their second annual event and that’s exactly what they did.
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).
Last year I missed out on the art and there were some amazing pieces. So this year I was hoping to get something from the auction. Limited edition prints and original artwork from contemporary artists, fashion and art photographers like Stewart Shining, Ian Wright, Lorenzo Martone, Douglas Friedman and Shun Kawakami filled the wall. As soon as we perused the silent auction, Peter and I made our choices. Peter eyed an Arthur Elgort portrait of 70’s model Lisa Taylor while a couple of pieces caught my attention; a print by Lorenzo Martone and another by Ian Wright.
We hovered by the wall monitoring our bids while mingling with friends. Hunky Santa provided a welcome distraction and a great photo op. Fashion photographer Chiun-Kai Shih (we call him Chunky) was so besotted that he kept snapping away at Santa. And who could blame him? Santa claimed someone stole most of his costume…yeah, right! Fortunately, Chunky takes his camera with him wherever he goes and was happy to share these delicious photos with me.
As the hour drew near the bidding got a little heated as people kept upping their bids on their favorite pieces. I was determined to win this time but Lorenzo’s print was getting dangerously close to slipping out of my hands. At the very last minute, as my competitor walked away I penciled my last offer and won! Phew, that was a close call. Peter got his Elgort print as well. In life, timing is everything! The auction raised almost $15K for the museum.
Lorenzo was thrilled I won his piece and told me that he only made one print of this image so I have a one of one! I also won the Ian Wright print. That’s what I call a win-win situation and a great way to end 2009. I just love a happy ending!
Amex Loves Rafe
January 12th, 2010
Rafe Loves…Audrey Chiu
December 17th, 2009
Raison d’Etre: My five sons…
Job: Full time Mom & Rafe’s Hong Kong BFF
Live: Travelling anywhere in the world with my husband!
Happiness: Right here, right now
Brunch: I’m not a brunch person. I’m more a afternoon high tea person and that would be at The Lobby at the Peninsula in Hong Kong.
Drink: Bubbly champagne and most recently, Grey Goose Apple in Halo(because I don’t get bloated and I feel lighter in the morning)
Eat: 59 in Rome. Just off the Piazza del Popolo. Chesa at the Peninsula, Hong Kong
Escape: Firenze, Italy
Read: Lucky, Vogue(America, French & British), Philippine and Hong Kong Tatler
Listen: Lady Gaga, Adele, Karen O
Watch: Cinema Paradiso
Indulge: A really nice vintage Rolex
Shop: Bergdorfs in New York
Fashion: Vintage Valentino, Roy Gonzalez(old world glamour)
Aspire: Stylish eccentrics like Little Edie from Grey Gardens and my paternal grandmother(she would go to church in the 1950s with dyed red hair, red lips and a white dress purposely late..she’s a recluse now and never leaves her room.)
Charity: I support all my mother-in-law’s charities! Amblyopia Children in China, Child Friendly Centre in China, Schools for the Poor, Operation Smile
Dream: I am living it right now.
Accessory: I love Rafe’s designs because I can choose anything from the collection and I can’t possibly ever go wrong. I am always beguiled! You beguile me, Rafe! Yes, I am biased, so sue me! 
I had a serendipitous moment last night…when the bag fell on my head. Then I knew I made the right choice…
Amex Loves Rafe
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Amex Loves Rafe!
American Express has spotlighted Rafe Totengco in advertisements for OPEN Forum,
a new online resource and networking site for business owners. The site is designed to forge meaningful business connections and provide insights from industry leaders and savvy entrepreneurs.
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Rafe is specifically highlighted for his dynamic social media outreach which includes Twitter, Facebook, Stylecaster and Lookbooks, as well as his own blogs Can I Tell You and Rafe Loves.
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You’ll find these advertisements featuring Rafe in the New York Times Business section, the Wall Street Journal, LA Times and the Chicago Tribune. What’s next for American Express and Rafe? An upcoming television
commercial will air during prime time on both major network and cable channels. Stay tuned!
Rafe Loves…Prami Radcliffe
December 11th, 2009
Raison d’Etre: Love, laugh and shop till your hearts content!
Job: Public Relations Consultant
Live: Bali Hyatt, Sanur Bali
Happiness: Life’s simple pleasures; kissing my husband, being with the family, spending quality time with friends and spend some time alone each day.
Brunch: Kudeta, Bali
Drink: Kudeta in Bali, Omm Bar in Barcelona
Eat: Trussardi in Milan, Inopia and MOO in Barcelona, Sarong in Bali, Chateau de la Cevre D’Or in Eze, Montague in London
Escape: Portofino, Barcelona, Melbourne, London, Hong Kong
Read: British Vogue, Instyle, Harpers Bazaar
Listen: Music of the Night by Andrew Llyod Webber, Summer Sun by Koop, First Time by George Michael
Watch: Phantom of the Opera, Billy Elliot, We Will Rock You (theatre shows in West End London)
Indulge: Spas, Siesta, OK magazine, Facebook
Shop: Santa Eulalia in Barcelona, Lane Crawford and On Pedder in Hong Kong, Harvey Nichols in London
Fashion: Stella Rissa, an upcoming Indonesian fashion designer
Aspire: No one in particular. I like to have fun with what I wear though most of the time it ends up pretty simple and it’s my own style.
Charity: Ashram in Bali. Ashram helps underprivileged kids to get opportunities for higher education.
Dream: I am living a dream!
Accessory: I love my Rafe Black “Emma” Convertible clutch. I can dress it up or down and wear it to work, parties or for leisure any time of day. But you get that with all Rafe bags to begin with, they’re so versatile and on trend!
One Day Rafe Charity Sale
November 5th, 2009One day only – Rafe for a Cause to benefit Typhoon ONDOY Victims and Tapulanga Foundation scholars
Date: Saturday, November 14, 2009
Time: 9:30am – 4:30pm
Location: Promocentral Inc., 3/F Promenade Building
Street: 198 Wilson corner P. Guevarra, San Juan, Metro Manila
Phone: 0918.9197590
Email: joy@promocentral.net (Joy Barreiro)
This is it! 100% of the proceeds to benefit the Typhoon Ondoy victims and the Tapulanga Foundation scholars. That means every peso made will be donated. It’s definitely shopping for a cause.
Thanks to Joy Barreiro and Anne del Rosario for organizing this!
http://tapulanga.blogspot.com/2009/11/one-day-only-rafe-for-cause-to-benefit.html
The Tough Go Shopping
October 29th, 2009
Can I tell you…about Fashion’s Night Out? We’ve all heard the line, “when the going gets tough, the tough go shopping” and up until recently lived by that motto. But as the economy crashed, the ‘tough’ stopped shopping resulting in a devastating domino effect that forced businesses to close leaving legions of people unemployed. As sales plummeted, retailers went into a panic, slashing prices left and right training consumers to only shop on sale. For anybody in the fashion industry, this was HELL on Earth! The situation needed fixing!
Rafe Loves…Liz Uy
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Raison d’Etre: To inspire
Job: Fashion Editor of Preview Magazine (Stylebible.ph)
Live: Ortigas Center, Philippines
Happiness: Travelling with friends
Brunch: Four Seasons Hotel, Bangkok
Drink: Gimlet in Barca
Eat: Cantinetta, Rockwell (Manila)
Escape: El Nido, Palawan
Read: Preview Magazine
Listen: I’m very mainstream … So whatever’s on
Watch: Gossip Girl
Indulge: I eat FroYo everyday topped with huge mallows!
Shop: Colette, Dover Street Market, The Mall (Florence), and On pedder (HongKong). I like one-stop shopping! Saves time and energy.
Splurge: A fashionable pad
Aspire: To be a Kate. (Moss, though probably everyone aspires to be her; Bosworth for her easy, nonchalant dressing; and Lanphear, whose style is ferosh!)
Charity: Kythe Foundation
Dream: Big!!!
Accessory: I love Rafe bags because they’re functional and fashion-forward!
