meet gertie hermanos, our petite designer friend with huge talent! proof that good things indeed come in small packages.
gertie with representatives from sassa and models wearing her designs.
gertie and i became friends in a fashion school where we both took a course in pattern-making. in the middle of our series of classes, she started working in a company that specializes in swimwear and active wear.
in no time, this brand, sassa, came out with some of the most attractive fashion for the beach: bikinis, tankinis, rash guards, board shorts in very exciting shapes and colors! this year, with their ever-growing repertoire of items for the active woman, they came out with a collection of sports and gym wear: tank tops, pullovers, capris, jazz pants and zip jackets, all with the trademark fresh and youthful vibe that has come to be known as sassa.
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like any christmas break in the philippines, many urbanites start heading to coastal areas for some holiday fun and frolic in the sea and sand. as for fiji, we get a wave of tourist arrivals from the frigid northern hemisphere, wanderlusters averse against the bitter cold to bask themselves under the pacific sun.
it’s fun to fashion-watch holiday tourists in the resorts. it’s like walking into a brochure. of course, it would be so rude to just snap photos of resort guests who come here for rest, relaxation and privacy, so just trust me that most ladies wear bright printed sundresses, wide-brim hats, oversize sunglasses and rubber flip-flops. while this kind of ensemble is very apt for the nature-inspired vibe of the island, sometimes i get to see some jordi labanda-esque tropical wear which i happen to favor an awful lot.
instead of invading the tourists’ private space by taking sudden photos, i assembled some diva-style tropical outfits in polyvore taking cues from the famous pop-art of jordi so you can get an idea of what i’m talking about. to make it more timeless, i stuck to neutral black and white with denim. plus washes of gold because i love how they reflect the sunlight and how they complement the sparkle of the sea.
poolside
resort shopping
clubbing
a few tips on how to look like a fashionable work of pop-art in the resort:
over-accessorize. if you want to look like a diva, there are times you have be fearless about wearing jewelry at the beach or poolside (that is, if you don’t intend to swim; you’d rather not risk losing them in the water). sleek or chunky watches, thick or piled-on bangles, bumblebee or aviator sunglasses, unique hats.
wear figure-skimming outfits. as much as possible, keep away from babydoll dresses and other cuts that de-emphasize your figure. you can only wear an oversize top if it is a sheer cover-up over your bikini.
limit prints. solid colors, especially deep shades, make you look leaner and, combined with the previous tip, even taller. if you want more color in your tropical diva wardrobe, opt instead for wide stripes or color-blocking.
give your flip-flops a rest. no diva will be caught dead in these. rock your strappy sandals.
nail polish. hands with bold nail colors make a strong statement. and they look fantastic holding that glass of mimosa. toenails with the same or complementing shade makes a fabulous end to your bare legs.
waterproof mascara. abundant lashes with your naturally glowing skin, thanks to the tropical sun, makes you look like a complete knock-out.
sun-seekers, hope you have fun in the holiday sun!
the sarong competition last wednesday was the first category judged in the week-long miss south pacific pageant here in fiji. seeing the ladies in this versatile piece of garment made me want to buy my own… actually, it made me want to buy many. i guess it never really occurred to me to get one long ago in the philippines because i usually wore sundresses in the beach. besides, i never really went to the beach regularly to merit a dire need for a sarong, knowing well i wouldn’t have the courage to use it in the city.
anyway, now i’m here and now i want one. or many.
i just learned a few days ago that the sarong is better known in the polynesian islands as pareo. don’t you just love that word? the way it tumbles down your tongue?
what’s a sarong/pareo? from 1worldsarongs:
Sarongs are many things to many people. Throughout history the world has known the sarong by different names as well.
For instance, the people from the South Pacific islands of Tahiti and Hawaii call sarongs, “Pareos”, in the Southeast Asian countries of Indonesia , Thailand, Malyasia, and the Philippines it’s called a “Surong”, in India a similar garment is named “Sri” and Africa they call it a “Kanga”. In ancient times of Rome and Greece it was named a “Toga”.
We choose to use the Indonesian name “Sarong”, because it’s the most popular name today and where the majority of Sarongs/Pareos/Kangas are made. Sarongs are mainly manufactured in Indonesia, but they are being made all over the world… There are as many names as there are ways to use a sarong!!!
Some people call sarongs handmade creations of art. Others call sarongs bathing suit cover-ups. It doesn’t matter what you call them. It matters what you do with it. Essentially, there is a very long list for how a sarong can be used.
with that, the best instructional video on how to wear the pareo is found here.
the video below is also very helpful, though imho not as entertaining as the one in the link above. certainly worth watching nevertheless.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j_LyRktKMOs&hl=en_US&fs=1&color1=0xe1600f&color2=0xfebd01]
if you consider getting a pareo (or more if you already have one!) after watching the videos, you might want to check out my favorite designs:
l-r: bright tribal print from seaspray; abstract mosaic with beads from la perla; colorful sheer from seaspray
be forewarned though: buying one will lead to the same phenomenon in that cliche potato chips slogan…
as i am now in a resort culture, my first fashion entry coming back from a dry spell is reasonably one about resort collections.
it wasn’t too long ago when the fancy term “resort” made its way into the glamorous jargon of annual fashion events, squeezing itself among the blur of fabrics that are “spring-summer” and “fall-winter”.
so what exactly is the resort collection?
though the term gained solid existence only in recent fashion history, resort wear itself goes far back when the wealthy jet-set formed a viable market for high fashion appropriate for escaping the bitter winter as they fly off to warm tropical climates. it used to be primarily made up of light materials, gossamer fabrics, billowy hats, open footwear and multifarious swimwear, but designers have now considered the other side of the jet-set who run off to aspen rather than the bahamas by including toasty materials, furry hats, snug boots and warm gloves.
my favorite pieces from resort 09 collections:
badgley mischka
luca luca
narciso rodriguez
nicole miller
rag & bone
while girls in many countries blessed with year-long sunshine prefer their wardrobes to consist mainly of jeans and shirts, i think it would be a fine idea to introduce some dresses and hats (yes, hats. why is it that not many women wear hats in the philippines?). i like jeans and shirts too, but i find myself wearing dresses more often here in fiji. they are more comfortable under tropical heat, plus they are easier to pack and wash. and i always wear a hat.
don’t forget your sunscreen.
last saturday’s tokyo p.o.s.h. launch was both an intimate and a limelighted event. there gathered were close friends and family who laughed and told stories amidst the sporadic camera flashes and the ubiquitous microphones held up by mediapersons and presspeople covering the launch. held at the stylish cafe mondial in silver city, we enjoyed an evening of cocktails, fantastic hors d’ouerves c/o chef josh chin of le cordon bleu, and desserts from lia’s. the evening was highlighted by a fashion show and a tutorial on how to use tokyo p.o.s.h.
so what exactly is tokyo p.o.s.h.?
About Tokyo P.O.S.H.
Women have been called a great many things, but rarely are we seen as decisive, committed and firm, especially when it comes to fashion, hair and make-up, and sometimes even men. Fickle and footloose, we like to play around with our looks and hunt for the latest trends, and while this is easy enough to do with clothes and make-up, it’s harder to change one’s hairstyle on a daily, or even seasonal, basis. Waiting is the operative word. We have to wait for it to grow, wait in line at salons, wait for it to dry…it’s all waiting, with frustrating results at times. How do Hollywood A-listers do it? Jessica and Eva’s graceful waves, Katie’s smart bob, Debra’s hot curls, Gwyneth’s smooth silky locks, a super model’s mod bangs, a socialite’s ponytail… Through hours and thousands spent at a salon under a stylist’s and colorist’s expert hands, that’s how. But what’s a normal girl with a normal budget to do? Head over to get a Tokyo P.O.S.H (Put On Styled Hair) clip-on hair extension, that’s what!
gorgeous, up-to-the-minute hair need not come with a heavy price tag... nor with a long-term commitment.
These extensions come in a dizzying array of styles: there’s wavy, straight, permed, short, long, shoulder length, short pony, long pony, big curls, small curls, straight bangs, wispy bangs, you name it and they got it. May Aquino, the fashion-forward owner of Tokyo P.O.S.H, makes sure the styles, colors and highlights of the extensions are suited to Asian complexions. Unlike most extensions, these do not involve weaving, sewing, braiding or gluing. They’re simply clipped on, given a toss and a shake or some finger-combing, and they’re all set! Made with high quality fiber from Japan, these extensions look and feel natural. Unlike full wigs, which can be fussy to put on,feel quite hot and look “fake”, clip-on extensions are worked into your real hair in a manner so clever no one will ever guess they’re not genuinely yours! They’re lightweight and as long as you put them correctly, they will last you the whole day and night! Yes, even with all the dancing, jumping, bumping, and grinding the hair will stay put.
Lest you think these are only for fashionistas or confident, flirty women who love to party and be seen, think again. They are so easy to put on and maintain even students can wear a different hairstyle to school everyday, possibly to match their moods. Office gals can opt to look like serious career women or fun, stylish executives by sparing only a few minutes each morning choosing and clipping on their extension. Moms can surprise their husbands and kids and look styled, despite being harassed and always on the go. Women who are easily bored with their hairstyles, those who are impatient for hair to grow, lazy ones who can’t be bothered to maintain, but want, long hair, those who are insecure or have bad-hair days, budget-conscious gals who are afraid to cut their hair, those who love change, or are afraid o change —Â this product is for you. It’s fashion without the commitment or the hassle. You can buy as many styles as you wish, after being taught ONCE how to clip it on, you can go home and do it yourself! It’s easy to maintain and store, and most importantly, it won’t break the bank! It’s and irresistible deal, one you don’t even have to think twice about.
tokyo p.o.s.h.'s array of styles
behind the concept is denise aquino, a bunka fashion college (only the most renowned fashion school in asia!) alum in, where else but japan. it was in tokyo where she first experienced “fast fashion,” how hard it was to cope with the speed of changing styles and how challenging it was to just even take part in it.
she shares, “i realized that to truly to inhale and understand japanese fashion… i just have to join them, and be one of them. but to be one of them required a lot of time and thinking. to be able to look as good as they do, i had to wake up at 5:30am and spend two hours getting ready for school!
“after having a chat with one of my classmates… she shared to me their secret. put on hair extensions. no, they are not like the ones we see in manila. they are literally snapped on in seconds!
“i went from looking like jennifer aniston to victoria beckham to nicole richie in just a few minutes. i fell in love in an instant! they are not only easy to use but are very affordable too. i even got to try on the katie holmes bangs!”
nine carlos and denise aquino. denise is wearing a tokyo p.o.s.h. clip-on hair extension.
you too can have long locks like denise.
the fashion show featured the lovely ladies of ideal models wearing the creations of fimp (fashion is my passion) by shekinah armenta and tanline swimwear by baby santos. the models were styled by terre hernandez and dandy ramos. they all, of course, had fabulous hair courtesy of tokyo p.o.s.h.
swimwear by baby santos of tanline and hair from tokyo p.o.s.h.
outfits by shekinah armenta of fimp (fashion is my passion) and hair by tokyo p.o.s.h.
swimwear by baby santos of tanline and hair by tokyo p.o.s.h.
now that we have convinced you that these clip-on hair extensions are simply to die for, we come to the most frequently asked question: how do you put it on and how difficult is it to put on?
it’s so easy, it took the stylist only a few seconds to put it in place. you can definitely do it to your own hair.
how to put on your styled hair
so easy it took kino (pro stylist from ideal models) literally just seconds to put it on! you can certainly do it yourself.
et voila! instant hairstyle!
now anyone can have the waves, the curls, the french bangs, the short bob and many other hairstyles without the commitment and without spending a fortune!
visit tokyo p.o.s.h. at sm supercenter, frontera verde, c5, pasig (near tiendesitas).
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