Posts Tagged ‘hotels’
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 »
Thursday, November 12th, 2009
One of my favorite interior designers is Ms. Kelly Wearstler. I discovered her in one of my book shopping haunts a couple of years ago and I was hooked. I really love her style and her fearlessness. I actually have all her books. I knew that she designed a small boutique hotel in Palm Springs so I wanted to take a look at it. The hotel is called the VICEROY, a really quaint resort hotel that has a lot of style power.
The hotel is actually 4 or 5 years old, but you can really feel the regency style that Ms. Kelly Wearstler pioneered and champions . I loved the strong colors and bold gestures. We asked if we could take a look a the rooms and the suites and thankfully, they had some rooms for viewing. I was surprised when I inquired about the prices, as the rooms start at $150 US. That’s like a room in Boracay! I just want to share with you my visit to VICEROY; it’s really an inspiring place to get ideas for future projects.
The VICEROY is located at 415 South Belardo Road, Palm Springs Ca. www.viceroypalmsprings.com
The entrance - bold yellow as you enter! I think it's the hotels signature color.
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Tags: architecture, Fashion Insider, hotels, Inspiration, interior design, Kelly Wearstler, Palm Springs, rajo laurel, Viceroy
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Thursday, November 12th, 2009
While I was in Palm Springs, I just had to visit THE PARKER. This gem of a resort hotel is the brain child of super chic decorator Jonathan Adler. Nix and I are huge fans of Adler’s quirky style. I personally adore the way he just puts things together; you can really feel the joy.
The entrance of the hotel.
I love the entrance of the hotel! I want to do this for my dream beach house!
When I entered the hotel, I immediately felt like I was in my Lolo Doy‘s place in Matabungkay Beach in the late ’70s or early ’80s, for the furniture and the objects that were there reminded me of that house. We then took a tour of the grounds and just had a blast looking around. I wish I had the chance to stay there and just enjoy the hotel. I can imagine myself already with a cocktail in hand and some bright colored clothes just sloshing about! LOL!
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Tags: architecture, beach house, Fashion Insider, hotels, interior design, Jonathan Adler, Palm Springs, rajo laurel, resort hotel, The Parker
Posted in Fashion Insider | 6 Comments »
Monday, November 2nd, 2009
One of my favorite places in NYC has got to be the meat packing district! I just love the scene, the shopping, the energy! It’s one of the places that I visit each time I come to the city. Nix and I spent a few hours with the daughter of my friend Kitty. Thea Jacinto has really grown up to be a lovely young lady. I am so very proud of her as she will be graduating from the Rhode Island School of Design this summer! We walked around the area and just had a blast being tacky tourists!
I love the fall because I can finally wear my jackets! I am a jacket fiend! I tend to buy so much of them, but I hardly wear them because I get hot quickly, so this fall temp is perfect! Nix and I in our fall looks! LOL!
Night scene in the meat packing area!
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Tags: architecture, Fashion Insider, hotels, Meat Packing District, new york city, rajo laurel, travel
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Tuesday, July 7th, 2009
Family weddings always make me extra tense and nervous. My family has been my biggest supporter as well as my biggest critic. So when my first cousin Chemin Teves and his fiancee Marie de la Serna asked me to do their wedding, I was equally excited and anxious. I asked Marie what look she wanted and images of Grace Kelly came to mind. She then told me the most beautiful words that any designer could here from a client…..” I leave the rest up to you!” Those words make me so elated but at the same time scared, because there is so much pressure!
I was still “high” from my ballet coloring so this was translated into an entourage filled with colors like Mauve, Mocha, Nude, Taupe and Smoke. I wanted to play with draping and heavy metal and crystal beadwork. I was really happy with the outcome and the wedding was a blast! I had such a great time at the wedding, however I was drunk by 830pm! LOL! My very best wishes to Chemin and Marie. May you both have a long and blissful life together!
The Grace Kelly-inspired wedding gown made from silk duchesse satin and Chantilly lace.
The bridal bouquet.
Father of the groom Secretary of Finance Gary Teves, and the groom Chemin Teves.
I love this Vanity Fair style shot! This was taken at one of the suites at the Waterfront Hotel! The suites were so beautiful and chika!
My beautiful Mother was the ninang!
My nieces Danielle and Gaia were the flower girls.
So was my precocious niece....Alix. I love how she was twirling her dress the whole day!
The beautiful church!
The bride and groom!
The ballroom was really impressive; it was so big! This was expertly decorated by Cebu's super stylish Rosebud Sala.
A table scape detail! This is what I call simply elegant!
The towering wedding cake!
Thank you to my dear dear friend, Waterfront's General Manager, Marco Protacio. We all had a marvelous time!
HUGS!
RAJO!
Tags: bridal gown, family, Fashion Insider, hotels, rajo laurel, weddings
Posted in Fashion Insider | 2 Comments »
Monday, July 6th, 2009
I was in Cebu for the weekend for my cousin’s wedding, and we all stayed at the Waterfront Hotel in Lahug. I have been a guest at the Waterfront Hotel many times and I feel quite at home there. One of the reasons why I feel so much at home at the hotel is that the General Manager is a dear dear friend. We go way back! As far back as grade school! OMG! The GM is Marco Protacio; he is really such a dear that he made sure the wedding was perfect and it was absolutely beautiful. (I will do a separate entry on that).
What made me excited are the new rooms of the hotel! I don’t know about you, but I love hotel rooms. I love them more when they are beautifully designed. The new rooms at the Waterfront were winners on all levels. The air con was really cold and I love it that way, and the bed was just PERFECT! I love the simple lines of the room, which was designed by one of my favorite designers, Tonichi Mendoza! I am a fan of this man’s work! Take a look at the room!
The tone of the room was really simple and soothing. I love the dark woods and the spare shapes.
My nephew Santino was with me. We were going swimming right after this photo. The room was really cold so he had to wear his hoodie!
A black and white shot of the room!
My niece Stephie lounging on the super comfortable bed! I could have just stayed in bed the whole weekend! LOL!
HUGS!
RAJO!
Tags: cebu, family, Fashion Insider, friends, hotels, rajo laurel, waterfront hotel
Posted in Fashion Insider | 2 Comments »
Thursday, April 23rd, 2009
I had to leave for Cebu for a day to attend a client’s wedding. I stayed at the beautiful Shangri-La Mactan. I have visited the hotel before as I did their uniforms. It was a great break from the hectic pace of Makati. I had the best weather, endless blue skies, and delicate winds keeping me cool.
I had very little on my agenda, so I just took a long lunch and a nice nap. I wish I had more time to enjoy the pool and the beach, but I had to be at the wedding and join the reception. I made a note to myself to come back soon to this beautiful place! I feel like one lucky duck just to be here!
The view outside my original room.
This was my room! I was really happy with it. However, the General Manager upgraded me to a suite and I had to leave my original room. It actually just looks the same except that it was bigger and the bathroom was double the size. I was happy with either, as I was only going to be using it for a night. I was grateful just the same.
I liked the idea of the pocket garden at the center of the buildings. This made me feel nature in the concrete building.
This is the lobby lounge.
I had a nice long lunch at the Tides Restaurant buffet. I zeroed in on the fresh seafood buffet!
I then tucked into the roast beef with grilled vegetables! The beef was really tender! Disclaimer...this is the serving platter and not my plate! LOL!
I also tried these baked fish skewers! These were really tasty.
I ended my meal with these beautiful, colorful and delicious summer fruits!
I then took a nice stroll around the resort grounds. The pool looked so inviting. I felt bad, as I did not have time to test the waters.
This is the view outside my room! Just looking at it gives me peace.
AHHH.....Paradise! My photos were like postcards! I wish I had more time to stay and enjoy the beach and the other facilities. This was the view outside my upgraded suite called The Ocean View Villas.
BIG HUGS!
RAJO!
Tags: beach, Fashion Insider, hotels, photography, rajo laurel, travel
Posted in Fashion Insider | 1 Comment »
Wednesday, April 15th, 2009
I just wanted to share with you how I spent my Easter Sunday! We had a PINK BRUNCH! LOL! You all must know that I love Sunday brunches, and since it was Easter, we had to do something extra special.
I have a friend who is the PR manager of the Le Meridien in Shanghai, and he conceptualized the LA VIE en ROSE brunch! What I loved about it was almost everything was in PINK! Even my PR friend! LOL! Me and my friends had the best time! We specially loved the overflowing champagne! It was the perfect way to celebrate the Resurrection of JESUS! I hope everyone had a fantastic EASTER!
This greeted us as we entered the super busy Le Meridien Shanghai hotel!
The man in pink is my friend Leo Capispisan. He is the main PR man of the Le Meridien in SHANGHAI! A really remarkable man! His story is really something special! Ask me about it when I see you, as it's one for a MAALALA MO KAYA epsiode!
A rose pink chocolate fountain!
Those are my Easter Brunch buddies! (Clockwise) Eddie, Keith,Kelvin, Bob and Nix!
Assorted Martinis all lined up for the taking!
I loved the candy section, where you can fill up your bottle with yummy candy and take it home as a souvenir.
Me and Leo strike a pose! Pardon my wearing Black...I was traveling lightly!
I loved Bob's sunshine yellow shirt!
Me, Eddie and Nix could not resist more photos!
High FIVE!
It took two women to carry the gigantic champagne bottle! Can you imagine what a workout that must have been, as they had to give everyone champagne!
I found the uniforms of the champagne girls very "Richard Prince" of last year's LV collection! LOL!
Bob.. living the LA VIE en ROSE in Shanghai! Thank you Bob, for the wonderful EASTER invitation!
Loved Nix's cropped khaki pants and matching cropped jacket! A casual version of THOM BROWNE...isdatchu?
HUGS!
RAJO!
Tags: brunch, easter, Fashion Insider, food, friends, hotels, shanghai, travel, vacation
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Wednesday, April 15th, 2009
It is no secret that I am constantly in search of the loveliest boutique hotels around the world. I often ask my friends to keep a look out for these tiny gems. I found a really beautiful one recently and it’s called The JIA Hotel. I know that it has a sister hotel in Hong Kong, but in my humble opinion, the JIA in Shanghai is much better. I walked in the lobby and I automatically felt the chic gauge reach level 98! LOL!
I did not have the chance to see the rooms, but I made a mental note to myself that I would stay here next time. We made reservations at the restaurant in the JIA called ISSIMO. It was one of the best meals we had during our stay. The cuisine is rustic Italian. I loved how honest and unpretentious it all was, but the quality of the ingredients really spoke for itself. After this trip, I really need to do a detox from all the eating and drinking that I have been doing! Check out the food! I feel like just by looking at the photos TATABA ka na! LOL!
I felt super proud when, in the corner of the lobby, I spotted a chair made by the very famous Filipino furniture designer Kenneth Cobonpue. Ang galing talaga ng PILIPINO!
This was at the center of the very dark lobby! I like the glass nest of tables. There is a gothic feeling to the way the JIA was designed.
The Harlequin-type mirror lined the stairwell, providing a nice touch!
Above the foyer of the restaurant they had these faux antlers that i found really charming!
Hammered copper walls were a constant feature in the bar! I think I am going to take this as a hint for my next collection as I am having a copper fixation now!
We loved the play of colors in the bar area! The leather sofas and the purple touches were really groovy!
The main dining room! I adore the herringbone parquet flooring.
We started the meal with these stuffed olives with the most delicate breading! I could have eaten this the entire evening!
Then came the Chicken kebabs! They were so simple but really really good! The grilled peppers that came with it were just so sweet and absolutely divine!
We then had an Arugula and ham Pizza! My entire group was just GUSHING with this one! It was as if they never had pizza before! LOL!
I noticed that the plates were too cute! I loved the pattern. In fact, this was the same pattern as the carpet in the lobby! Fancy that?
Our friend Bernard from Borneo joined us just in time for the lamb ragu pasta! It was gorgeous! Check this boutique out at www.JIASHANGHAI.COM. I totally recommend the restaurant - it's a nice rest from all the Chinese food that you eat when you're in Shanghai.
HUGS!
RAJO!
Tags: Fashion Insider, food, friends, hotels, rajo laurel, shanghai, travel
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Thursday, February 12th, 2009
On November 26, 2008, a really sad event shook the entire country of India, and perhaps the world. Terrorists attacked several key tourist areas in Mumbai and killed hundreds of people. One of the most horrible attacks was at the Taj Palace Hotel. This hotel is a virtual tourist destination, situated very near the India gate. It was the face of Mumbai. A total of 151 people were killed in the hotel, and you can really feel the sadness around the area.
I had to pay it a visit and say a prayer for all those innocent victims. As I entered the hotel, a barrage of security procedures ensued. I really did not mind, as I felt safe the whole time. The hotel was indeed beautiful, and as I walked around the area the walls were lined with photos documenting its very rich heritage. I know that Mumbai will triumph over this sad event.
The beautiful facade of the Taj Palace hotel!
Loving this man's style! Notes for my next collection!
Images of the Taj's famous guests.
A tree of life signifying those that perished here. I said a small prayer as I wish that this will never happen again.
Nix with the bell man! Love the Uniform!
A close up of the hotel facade.
Another beautiful building near the hotel.
I am in love with the coat of colors with these crows....they are so majestic.
A view of the Bay. The name bombay is from the Portugese, beautiful bay.
Does the hotel remind you of scary movies? A bit, right?
Hugs!
RAJO!
Tags: culture, Fashion Insider, hotels, india, rajo laurel, travel
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