Archive for November, 2009
Monday, November 30th, 2009
I recently was invited to a beautiful ball and I wanted the share with all of you how lovely everybody looked. I really look forward to this annual event because everyone really dresses up and literally have a ball. In many ways, it’s like a grown up PROM. LOL!
Prom has always been special to me, because this is how I really started as a designer. My classmates would come to me and ask me to design their dresses and I would tear the sheets out of my notebooks and draw their gowns. This spirit is what I cherish and try to capture up to this day. The ball was held at the super chic Makati Shangri-la hotel! I had a really great time that evening. What is not to love? There were so many beautiful people dressed so elegantly and the bubbles just kept on coming! LOL! Enjoy the photos!
The minute I arrived for cocktails, I spotted the ILONGO contingent in full force! I consider them my family in the south! BIG HUGS all around!
Bumped into my fantastic designer friend Dennis Lustico here with Nix.
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Tags: Anne Curtis, Audrey Chiu, ball, ball gowns, Camille Mathay, Divine Lee, fashion, Fashion Insider, friends, gowns, Macky Mathay, parties, rajo laurel
Posted in Fashion Insider | 21 Comments »
Friday, November 27th, 2009
I have always loved Ms. Anne Curtis, for me she is one of the most beautiful young actresses we have in the country. I actually have never had the chance to dress her up. It has always been a dream for me to dress this young lady but I never had the opportunity.
This is about to change! LOL! (enter-thunder&lightning!) The powers of the universe sent her to me and finally I am able to experience dressing up the beautiful Anne Curtis. Actually it was Liz Uy, who sent her my way. LOL! She needed a FULL-ON COUTURE gown! I was just so happy to oblige.
It’s moments like this when I feel like channeling my inner fairy god-mother! LOL! I selected two gowns for her to try on and I advised her that the gown should feel right. I wanted her to wear my gowns using my Japanese-OBI collection. I have been collecting these fabrics since I was like 17 and I finally got the chance to use them.
This was the first dress she tried on, its a vanilla silk tafetta column gown with the vintage OBI in the center.
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Tags: Anne Curtis, double train in carmine silk tafetta, Japanese-OBI collection, modernized version of a watteau, rajo laurel, vanilla silk tafetta column gown with the vintage OBI in the center
Posted in Uncategorized | 22 Comments »
Friday, November 27th, 2009
Nix and I were still on a “Thanksgiving” high from Cirkulo that we were still craving for some more Turkey! LOL! Good thing Kitty made plans for all of us to congregate in Pepato in Greenbelt.
Pepato is the restaurant owned by celebrated chef and over all glamorous entrepreneur Margarita Fores. It has been quite a while since I ate in Pepato and I was really looking forward to dinner. The restaurant must have opened a good 4 years ago but it still maintains this really edgy feel to the interiors. I believe the restaurant was designed by Mr. George Yulo but I am not certain now, copper and texture are the main components of this design, as well as graphic shapes.
I love the restaurant and I feel really at home there. The staff of Margarita are really warm and since I see them often in many events and parties its like having dinner at a friends home.
The meal was beautiful as we started out with some wine, which unfortunately was not cold enough for my liking so I had them cool this further. We ordered all our favorite dishes . We all had a really good time and left the place really happy and thankful! We all expressed how blessed and thankful we are because if you really think about it there is so much to be thankful for!
When we entered the restaurant I spotted the beautifully cooked turkey in the corner. We all knew that this was a good sign!
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Tags: amuse-bouche, angulas pasta, Cerveza negra beer ice cream, cream filled barquillos with salmon caviar, fried eggplant strips, Nix Alanon, Pepato, rajo laurel, ravioli with crab meat, Thanksgiving dinner, Tonypet Albano, Turkey
Posted in Uncategorized | 3 Comments »
Thursday, November 26th, 2009
I celebrated a triple whammy of an evening recently celebrating Thanksgiving, the going away party of my darling Malu and the birthday of my friend Joey Carpo. We held it in our favorite restaurant, which doubles as our club house: CIRCULO! My extended family was there, as I am a proud member of the Carpo clan. You can call me a Carpo chick anytime.
The menu was absolutely wondeful, lovingly prepared by Chef J Gamboa. We had a Thanks giving feast which started with pumpkin soup, then we had some beautiful asparagus served with chopped eggs. Then we had the turkey, which was smoked to perfection. It was the juiciest turkey that I have ever tasted in like forever. The secret is in the basting, as you inject this with a super secret sauce. LOL! J outdid himself with the stuffing. I am a stuffing kind of guy and his version was heavenly, filled with wild mushrooms, panccetta and other herbs. I ate one bowl to myself! YIKES! The sidings were just as great, the gratin potatoes were so smooth they kill me!
The birthday cake!
My extended family!
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Tags: birthday dinner, Chef J Gamboa, Circulo, dinner, Fashion Insider, food, friends, Joey Carpo, Malu Gamboa, rajo laurel, thanksgiving
Posted in Fashion Insider | 2 Comments »
Wednesday, November 25th, 2009
During the cocktails, I approached my friend Vicky Veloso-Barrera, one of the head researchers for the SLIM retrospective, and asked if I could go ahead and view the collection for my blog! I wanted to take really good shots of the collection. I really wanted to share this with everyone as I feel that the SLIM legacy has to be experienced by all. What she gave us all is a tangible face of who we are as Filipinos.
This entry is quite long, so please bear with me. Vicky filled me with so much juicy details that I hope I can remember it all. The exhibit is defined not chronologically but through the various elements that SLIM used when she was designing. Elements like Shape, Line, Surface, Influence and Brides, all of which were an integral part of her artistry.
I tried to capture as much images and information as I can but the best thing really is to visit the show itself. The show will last till March and I intend to bring my entire team and staff to the show early next year. This is one show NO ONE should miss out on! To everyone involved in creating this masterpiece of a legacy, I say THANK YOU! This is really how it should be done! I could feel the true effort in creating something of this magnitude!
CONGRATULATIONS! What an amazing feat! ENJOY the photos!
The exhibit showcased more than 100 items of clothing and artifacts that showcases what Philippine Haute Couture looked like from 1947 to 1990. The exhibit showcased more than 100 items of clothing and artifacts that showcases what Philippine Haute Couture looked like from 1947 to 1990.
The lady on the right is SLIM! She is Salvacion Lim- Higgins. I stayed up all night trying to read her book. She is a fascinating lady!
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Tags: exhibit, fashion, Fashion Insider, Inspiration, national museum, rajo laurel, Salvacion Lim-Higgins, slim, slims, vintage gowns
Posted in Fashion Insider | 33 Comments »
Wednesday, November 25th, 2009
A few months ago, I did an entry on an extraordinary woman called SLIMS. Her real name in Salvacion Lim-Higgins. I stumbled upon her work while I was asked to sit on the panel for the National Artist awards. I saw just a glimpse of her work and I was fixated. Little did I know that there was a grand retrospective in the works to show everyone the SLIM legacy.
I was invited to come to the gala held at the National Museum. The minute I drove up, I was left speechless! There was a red carpet leading up to the majestic columns! I felt I was like this was the closest thing to the Metropolitan Gala in New York! When I entered the museum, the entire room’s energy was on high gear! There were so many beautiful people. This was natural, of course, as the evening was being hosted by two of the most glamourous publications in the land: Preview and Town & Country! Everyone who loved fashion was there!
I decided to create this entry in 2 parts, one focusing on the party and the other on the exhibit. The retrospective will last till March! I encourage everyone to come and visit the SLIM show at the National Museum. Trust me when I say that your heart will SOAR!
MABUHAY SI SLIM!!!!
I excitedly whipped out my camera as I drove up the entrance!
The red carpet leading to the entrance wished that I had a super long train! Gentlemen in suits would escort the guests to the lobby!
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Tags: fashion, Fashion Insider, friends, national museum, preview, rajo laurel, Salvacion Lim-Higgins, slim, slims, the slim gala, town and country
Posted in Uncategorized | 16 Comments »
Tuesday, November 24th, 2009
I have been meaning to create an entry for my newest collaboration project called “W” by RAJO. It’s a men’s line that will be exclusive to SHOE MART! The Wharton people actually approached me early in the year if I was interested to design for them. I was a bit hesitant at first because I did not know the brand. After careful study and research, I realized how great the quality of Wharton is, and I was also greatly impressed at the price points because it is really well priced. I wanted to challenge myself in designing a complete mensline.
The collection will still be available in the store by February next year. However, something is in the works as we are planning a trunk show on DEC 11. I will definitely invite all of you to the trunk show so you can experience the line that I created.
The concept of the line is all about the small details. I have always believed that menswear is all about the small special details, those quiet touches that really make it designer. It does not have to scream, but once you notice this, you begin to appreciate it more. I thought about my own shopping habits and what I really wanted in my wardrobe, like a smart fitted black jacket or a white shirt with a slim collar or a striped shirt but with a play on the cutting.
I chose my friends to try the collection on so that they can show the media and give me some feedback, as essentially they were all wearing the prototypes. We all had a great time at The Establishment, enjoying the food and drinks and just chilling! I just want to thank The ONG family for trusting me on this one, I know that this will be venture will be smashing success! So mark your calendars for the Trunk Show on Dec 11 (Details to follow! LOL!) Be the first to experience “W” !
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Tags: collaboration, contest, Fashion Insider, friends, men's line, menswear, rajo laurel, W by Rajo, Wharton
Posted in Uncategorized | 26 Comments »
Monday, November 23rd, 2009
For the last six months Nix has been working on The Mansion all the way in Pampanga. He would tirelessly head over there 4 to 5 times a week to do the interiors of the most exciting club that would literally jolt the North. This weekend was the grand opening and we all packed our bags and headed over to the enclave to witness and experience what the Mansion is all about.
I do not know where Nix found the Ceramic Jaguars but they were really cool!
The facade!
The Mansion is the brainchild of Divine Lee and Tim Yap, who wanted to bring the fun and elegance of what they love in a night out to the beautiful people of the North. I had the chance to take some photos hours before the opening. I did not take my camera during the event itself because I just wanted to enjoy the evening.
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Tags: bar, club, Divine Lee, Fashion Insider, interior design, Nix Alanon, pampanga, rajo laurel, the Mansion, tim yap
Posted in Fashion Insider | 29 Comments »
Monday, November 23rd, 2009
I was so excited when I received my invitation to ESCOLTA, the newest hotel dining experience in the country at the Manila Peninsula Hotel. I really loved the concept of using Escolta as reference. You see, Escolta was like the streets of Paris in Manila during its heyday.
Old world and new world Filipino flavors welcome you to Escolta!
I was really proud that the I was asked to design the uniforms for this restaurant. I used the 18th century Barong Tagalog as a starting point and modernized this. The launch was super successful, with flowing champagne and the most delish spreads! I think I may have drank a wee bit more than usual because I was spinning in my head minutes before I went home. It was all in good fun though, as I was happy to see so many of my friends.
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Tags: Escolta, Fashion Insider, friends, hotels, rajo laurel, the Peninsula Manila, uniforms
Posted in Fashion Insider | 5 Comments »
Friday, November 20th, 2009
I have always loved the store KISH. I come there quite often just to get inspired and loose my thoughts. When Ito Kish texted to invite me to his newly expanded store, I automatically said yes. I asked him if I could go early though, as I had made commitments already for the evening. Happily, he said yes.
After work, I went to LRI where Kish is located and as I ran up the stairs, I saw Ito. I gave him a huge hug and asked him to give me a tour. I was so surprised at how big his store had become. The store is arranged like a mini maze and with every turn, you’re taken to a different place with distinct themes, Scandinavian in one corner and modern minimal in the next. However, there is a very European/Parisienne feel to the store now, with the bleached and sanded floor.
I loved these concave mirrors from Canada, plus this chair is just sooooo CHIC! That's Ito posing for me. LOL!
This is Ito Kish. He was kind enough to give me a personal tour of his newly expanded store.
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Tags: Fashion Insider, friends, furniture, interior design, Ito Kish, Kish, rajo laurel, store
Posted in Fashion Insider | 9 Comments »
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