Posts Tagged ‘Rafe blog’

Rafe Loves…Sarah Cristobal

Tuesday, August 3rd, 2010

Raison d’Etre: To have an amazing tan. (Kidding!) To love and be loved. (Only child syndrome.)

Job: Senior Fashion Editor at StyleList.com, freelance writer; charitable do-gooder, extreme motocross, mime, professional juggler, globe-trotter (most of these are true)

Live: The Village, NYC

Happiness: Sitting with a glass of rose on a beach in VilleFranche. Oh, and my family and friends being healthy and happy of course. (Wine first though.)

Brunch: Pastis in NYC, Sylvester’s in Northampton, MA

Drink:  Elderflower Martini at Hotel du Cap, Penny Drop at Standard Grill

Eat: The Standard Grill in NYC, La Fontaine Gaillon and Brasserie Lipp in Paris, Miramar in Barcelona

Escape: Anywhere with a beach! South of France, Tulum in Mexico, anywhere in Spain

Read: Cat Fancy, New Yorker, Harper’s Bazaar, Grazia, Vanity Fair, Coastal Living

Listen: Hard to pick a favorite. Currently really liking the Karen Elson album and Whitest Boy Alive. Also have a penchant for Yanni.

Watch:  Saved by the Bell reruns, Welcome Back Cotter, Dora the Explorer, you know, the usual.

Indulge: Designer shoes and dinners with friends. Also tanning and Saved by the Bell reruns.

Shop:  Colette, Barneys, Zero Maria Cornejo

Fashion: Peter Som, Costello Tagliapietra, Dries van Noten, Isabel Marant, Alabama Chanin

Aspire: It varies from 1960s era Jane Birkin to Susan Boyle pre-makeover which makes it very hard to get dressed in the morning.

Charity: Free Arts, NYC Ballet, Edible Schoolyard

Dream: To one day get the call that I am indeed a distant relative to Cristobal Balenciaga and therefore will have full access to his archives. Also to star in an off-Broadway production of “Cats” and be a world renowned Scrabble player.

Accessories: I love Rafe accessories because they are organically cool, accessible and lovely, just like dear Rafe.

Rafe Loves…Karmele Sagastasoloa

Friday, 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

Wednesday, 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

Thursday, December 17th, 2009


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.

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.

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

Friday, 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!

Rafe Loves…Liz Uy

Friday, October 23rd, 2009


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!


Rafe Loves…Adinda Bakrie Ong

Friday, October 16th, 2009


Raison d’Etre:Who doesn’t want to be loved?
Job: Philantropist
Live: Different city each month but mostly in Jakarta
Happiness: Spending time with family, friends and helping others through charity.
Brunch: DimSum in Hong Kong
Drink: The best cocktail at Longrain in Sydney. The best bar is Mercer Soho
Eat: L’Avenue in Paris, Tsukiji fish market in Tokyo
Escape: Rent a boat in Napoli, cruise along Positano, Amalfi coast then stay for two days on the island of Capri
Read: Power Hong Kong
Listen: Right now i’m loving Kings of Leon but I will love ABBA forever!
Watch: (movies) As a movie freak, this question is harder than what’s the square root of 123456 with no CALCULATOR! Hmmm…My fair lady, St. Elmo’s Fire, Pretty Woman, Braveheart, American History X, Disney Movies!
Indulge: My wardrobe!
Shop: All the stores in the West Village in NY
Fashion: Peter Pilotti and forever Carolina Herrera
Aspire: Grace Kelly and Queen Rania (Yes, I love Royalty!)
Charity: My job but mostly helping orphans in Indonesia.
Dream: World Peace…Hello!! And for the day to come when Magnolia makes calorie-free cupcakes!
Accessory: I love Rafe’s designs because they get better with time. They coordinate with most of my outfits and they’re so functional. I end up picking them again and again just like eating my favorite snack. Plus it doesnt hurt that they’re simply divine!

Robert Geller: Modern Romantic

Wednesday, October 14th, 2009


Can I tell you about…Robert Geller. I met Robert last year through a common friend over lunch and I was instantly smitten. He’s laid back, thoughtful and genuine. He’s also a rising star in the menswear industry. Hailing from Hamburg, Germany, he moved to the USA to study at the prestigious Rhode Island School of Design. Upon graduating, he worked at Marc Jacobs, then became a partner and co-designer for the label Cloak and eventually launched his eponymous menswear label in 2007. He was recently named the winner of GQ magazine “Best New Menswear Designer in America” competition and was nominated for the CFDA Perry Ellis Menswear Designer of the year. Levis also collaborated with him on a capsule collection that just launched this September in Bloomingdales. Over al fresco lunch near his downtown Tribeca studio; we caught up and talked about everything under the sun…style related of course.
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Mid Summer Night

Tuesday, September 8th, 2009

Can I tell you…about David Straube and Jim Kloiber’s rooftop party. Every year since I’ve known David and Jim they throw a fabulous sunset cocktail party to celebrate the summer. It’s a much anticipated event and one I don’t like to miss.I went with my PIC(partner in crime), fashion designer Peter Som and we met up with Jim Larkin and Aidan Kemp.
Who can resist a rooftop party with spectucular views of the city from every vantage point. Their rooftop is perfect because it spans the entire length of the apartment building so it can fit a large crowd quite comfortably and they’ve renovated it so it feels like you’re on the chic Above 60 Thompson rooftop bar lounge.They always manage to draw in a great mix of friends; editors, stylists, publicists, art directors, writers, designers,event planners and random cuties. You can be sure to run into several people you know which always makes for a good time.There wasn’t a required dress code but since the guest list are comprised of people who are sartorially inclined, within the first hour the “theme” was pretty obvious. We were mad for plaid! And by that I mean madras plaids or ginghams. From shorts to shirts, this pattern kept turning up as guest upon guest ascended up on the roof.At one point, Sam Spector asked Prabal Gurung, “Did I miss the memo?” Shai Tertner on the other hand loved the pattern mix. “I feel like I’m part of the ‘in’ crowd”, he teased.The second theme was the solid navy polo shirt…Ralph, Lacoste or Abercrombie. I mean, really are they any others worth wearing?
As the sun set and the drinks flowed, things got a little out of hand…quelle surprise! Chris Constable got hold of one guest’s ginormous black and white hat and before you knew it, people were trying it on and striking campy poses.Eventually Chris grabbed Tenten Wu’s stilleto and started vogueing.Then he got up on one of the deck chairs in effort to mimic Jennifer Beals…much to everybody’s amusement. And when David tried to offer him a hand to get down, Chris mistook it as an invitation to dance. At this point, everybody was in tears laughing so hard. I love Chris’ joie de vivre!As the evening wore on, some of us were getting a little peckish, so when Bruce Pask mentioned that he felt like getting a burger, we all got excited. It was all so spur of the moment but we dashed out and headed to the East Village. Bruce took us to Black Iron Burger; a tiny pub known for its selection of micro brews and its signature Black Iron Burger. The menu is straight to point: burgers, a couple of salads, sandwiches and fried green pickled tomatoes. Several beers later, burgers and fries consumed and appetites sated, we rolled out unto the street and called it a night.I love summer nights like this. A great party with friends, a last minute dinner, and lots of laughter. What’s not to love?! Soon enough, the season will be over and it will all seem like a mid summer night’s dream.

Rafe Loves… Rachel Sheedy

Monday, August 31st, 2009


Raison d’Etre: Good Lord, if I knew the answer for that I wouldn’t be so nutty!!!

Job: Talent Agent, Don Buchwald and Associates

Live: Tribeca, NYC

Happiness: My cat La’Pu

Brunch: Capsouto Freres and I always order a souffle’.

Drink: Sunset cocktails at the Tugu Hotel in Bali.

Eat: I miss my nanny’s knishes!!!

Escape: Bali!!!

Read: A really good script!

Listen: Radiohead and Rock’n'Roll!

Watch: I love movies of all kinds! I can watch 5 in a row and frequently do at festivals.

Indulge: “SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE” , I cry every time I watch it.

Shop: Barneys and if I’m feeling like the hunter I go to Century 21.

Fashion Splurge: I have a weakness for YSL and can never have enough Dolce.

Aspire: No one has walked my path, I aspire only to be myself and be extraordinary at it.

Charity: Children and animals have the greatest innocence and the purest hearts…they need to be protected and cherished.

Dream: Of true love and peace in my life.

Accessory: I name my handbags and my favorite right now is my Rafe black patent tote bag. It fits everything, I swear! I call her “Bon” because she was my Bon Anniversaire present right before I left for the Cannes Film Festival.

Rafe Loves…Reggie Jacinto Barrientos

Monday, August 24th, 2009

Raison d’Etre: The ‘I love you mom’ greeting each waking moment.

Job: Winning the mega-deals for my clients. I’m a lawyer.

Live: I live for vacations!!!!!

Happiness: Long weekends with my family and having friends stay over in my house

Brunch: One that can last at least two hours

Drink: The bar in my red kitchen stuffed by Felix to the brim with all kinds of alcohol like there is no tomorrow.

Eat: Founti Agadir, 117 Rue Monge, Paris

Escape: Paris

Read: I don’t have any magazines because I sleep instead of read.

Listen: Lighthouse

View: Disney movies with my kids, most recent is Ice Age 3

Indulge: Two and a half hour massages every week

Shop: Outlets in the US!

Fashion: Prada or Rajo Laurel

Aspire: Carolina Herrera

Charity: Begins at home – my staff is my extended family

Dream: To retire at 40 (hmmm…. Not doable, maybe at 45)

Accessory: Love my Rafe bags. Each one of them is unique from the clutches to the work totes. They’re very organized inside so I have place for everything and they never go out of style so they’re worth the investment!

Thursday Socials

Wednesday, August 19th, 2009

Can I tell you…about Thursdays in the city. New York’s best social events are always held on Thursdays, always has been, always will be. I don’t know why but it is. So a few months ago, on a crisp Spring Thursday, my friends designer Peter Som, writer Rima Suqi and I decided we’d party hop.First stop was Shinique Smith’s opening at Yvon Lambert’s gallery in Chelsea. I met Shinique a few years ago through my girlfriend and museum curator Christine Y. Kim and we instantly hit it off. She’s funny, warm, thoughtful and a prolific artist. Her work has been steadily gaining momentum and was recently among the chosen few at the Rubell Family Collection show entitled “30 Americans” in their gallery in Miami.Shinique’s mixed media style referencing pop and urban street culture through collage and painting has made her a rising star in the Art World. This show was entitled,“Ten Times Myself”. I was blown away by the show…her pieces were exuberant, powerful and energetic. Her work blurs the lines between sculpture and painting seamlessly.Art openings always draw in an eclectic crowd and it’s great for people watching. As we were heading out, we bumped into fashion editor Emil Wilbekin wearing his Rafe satchel. I love an unexpected Rafe sighting!Next up, we headed all the way downtown to Crosby Street, on the edge of Soho and Chinatown to the Super chic design store/gallery De Vera. On this insider street address, you’ll find Derek Lam, Jil Sander, Ted Muehling and Opening Ceremony. It’s a destination but it’s worth the trek. Federico de Vera is a good friend and an insanely talented jewelry designer, curator and collector of objets d’art.His store is like a mini museum of the most exotic artifacts from around the world and he has impeccable taste. His store is filled with exquisite examples of deities and Philippine saints, vintage Venetian glass, Japanese and Chinese lacquerware, and updated Georgian and Victorian jewelry.Federico’s own jewelry designs are to die for. The guest list was an impressive mix of architects, artists, interior designers, editors and fashion designers.Can you imagine my excitement when Pierre Hardy walked in? If you don’t know who Pierre is, you should! Can I tell you…he’s major! On top of designing his own collection of shoes for men and women, he also designs Balenciaga’s women’s shoes and Hermes’ fine jewelry and women’s shoes. He’s a designer’s designer.I told him I had several of his shoes and he was so gracious about it. Listen, when somebody adores you like I do him, how can you not be thrilled?! When I meet people who are so effusive about their love for my designs, I’m always flattered and humbled at the same time.All those cocktails leave me hungry and it’s impossible to eat at these events…as much as I try to nibble. So Peter and I dashed to the Lobster Shack up the street for a proper meal while Rima stayed to mingle some more. That was a fun night. Note to self: Thursday Socials are always great!