Soon to rise: RETASSO Collection on Fashion

Retasso Collection on Fashion was a product of a brilliant mind of a man named Ronnie Cabreros. He started putting up fashion shows and events years ago. Since he was exposed into different productions and events, he had the idea of managing talents; models and dancers with the aim of showcasing skills in modeling, dancing and even hosting.
With the help of his assistant, Ms. Jen, they worked hand-in-hand in scouting talents from Antipolo (where he resides) and in Quezon City where Ms. Jen is located.
What is RETASSO Collection on Fashion about? Based from the video clipping, the host had described retasso as "piraso ng pinagtagpi-tagping tela na kinolekta upang makabuo ng isang maganda at presentableng retasso attire."
It is very fascinating to see creative outputs like this. And models were trained not just to do ramp, but Retasso models are also skilled with talents of dancing, singing and hosting. They were also the ones who designs and put personal touches on their creative retasso outfits. That flourishes their creativeness and sense of style.
Retasso had shows in Ever Gotesco Malls- Ortigas and Commonwealth branches, Riverbanks Mall in Marikina, and many other places.
Watch out as Retasso group makes their way into the world of Fashon shows and events. As their tag line says: "Retasso Collection on Fashion- The newest Fashion show in the City"

Simple yet Sophisticated

Seldom have I encountered women who are wearing simple dresses and yet they look so elegant. Even on their casual wears and just walking by the streets on ordinary days. An ordinary day doesn’t mean “ordinary” fashion especially to us women who are very meticulous about how we look. In school, especially for us girls, who are studying at schools which do not require uniforms, are having a hard time to search for dresses everyday just to not look the same each and every day, women who are fashion conscious specially. I have a classmate whom I always notice that even if she just wear a simple printed shirt and just a pair of jeans, with a cute flats (a ballet shoes alike), accessorized by earrings, and bracelet and just a simple make-up she does look sophisticated. She is Marianne Enriquez. She is not the type that wears a lot but can look so stylish.


I asked Marianne about what she does in mixing and matching clothes, how to put accessories together so that it won’t look like a disaster. And also about make ups that she puts on her face so that you won’t look like a clown. She just said that “less is more.” The more you put a lot the more you will look like a fashion victim. It is very important that you wear clothes, accessories and make-ups that you are comfortable with. Being “fashionable” doesn’t mean that what is “uso” we’ll wear or we’ll follow. Also, it is very important to be confident about yourself of what you are wearing even if those clothes are just from the “ukay-ukay” or “tiangge.”, it doesn’t matter as long as you can carry yourself whenever, wherever.


fReShNeY t. QuItAlIg (^-^)

Fashion Ramp

The T3 Foundation Incorporated celebrated its first founding anniversay last August 28, 2009 at the Ynares Center, Antipolo City with the theme: "Programang Aktibo sa Ganda't Ligayang Itinataguyod ang Yamang Angkin ng Ating Bayan" or P.A.G.L.I.Y.A.B. As part of their program was a fashion show entitled, "KARISMA: T3 Fashion Style" showcasing different couture created and designed by Mr. Caesar and modeled by our very own Polytechnic University of the Philippines Ramp Artists and other members of the T3 Foundation Inc. The show has shown different kinds of fashion style. The first was the casual wear which has shown denims with highlights of purple. Then the “Filipiniana”, which the models wore modern Filipiniana clothing and made out of some local products such as pinya and abaka. The next one is the “Sagala” or the traditional Santa Cruzan. Also, “Mascarade” with some avant garde couture and models wearing creative masks. And the last one was the “Wedding” which showcased different wedding gowns, wedding garments for men and for the bridesmaids, flower girls and ring bearers.



fREsHnEy QuItAlIg(^-^)

Mabuhay Piña!

Pineapple fiber or Piña is a strong white or creamy cobweb-like fiber drawn from tall leaves of an indigenous pineapple plant. The fiber is hand stripped from the leaves in lengths of about 18 inches to 3 feet, sun-bleached, hand knotted and spun. As piña fiber recovery is only about 1%, it can take six months to gather enough fiber to produce two pounds of spun piña.

This video is a news clip from Asia Brief, a news channel in China. It features the genuine piña cloth from the Philippines. Pineapple fabric was discovered in the early 18th century. This fabric is use to make shirts being worn by rich businessmen and politicians during that time. This fabric is made from the leaf of a wild pineapple which can be found only in the western part of the Visayan Island, Philippines. Fibers are meticulously extracted from the leaf and made into threads. These sensitive threads are then patiently hand woven into a fine cloth by middle aged women using handmade bamboo equipment. The fabric’s width is 26 to 28 inches. A yard of Pineapple cloth can be done in a week time, working ten hours a day.

Blissfully Unique: Ms. Tessa Prieto Valdes

Who would really think that this life-sized doll, given the image of fashionista and life of the party was a nerd when she was growing up?

In an interview conducted by Herword.com (a site for professional Filipina) Tessa admitted that she was a nerd when she was growing up and it was her brother Louie's death that had caused her to retake priorities.
Her brother’s death from a motorcycle accident has made her shed off any inhibitions, Tessa now takes on the world and lives by her rules without stepping on anyone’s toes.

With this philosophy guiding her, she finds her bliss in becoming the person that she really is. Happy and content with her life, age seems to be nothing but trivial for her.

According to her, turning forty is more even wonderful than turning twenty beacuse you don't have to do more goals. She quoted: "I think twenty would be fun, and forty would be fulfilled."

She described her fashion statement as a mix bag of excitement and confusion. Others might actually think that she is into alcohol and drugs but hey, the truth is she is into yoga and she doesn't do things like that. In fact, she is really a religious one. She even go to Baclaran as her devotion.

Tessa Prieto even shared that she cannot live without her padded bra and thong panties. Padded bra super enhance every thing she wears and she hates visible panty lines. And so, she became really thankful thongs were invented. She decides first on accessories before moving on to what particular dress that goes along with them. One good way of preparing what to wear for an occasion.

Tessa didn't like the idea of depending your fashion style on others. She goes for people who have "reinvented themselves" just like how Madonna and Demi Moore restated their selves.


Another fascinating thing that we can get from this interior designer and columnist of The Philippine Daily Inquirer (PDI) is that she has a big confidence on Filipino fashion designers. She really supports local designers because she believes to their skills and they know their crafts.

Designers are too pleased to dress-up this life sized doll because they can unleash their creative outputs as long as it doesn't require too much boob exposure or anything like that. Despite Tessa's playful taste on fashion, she still refrains from too much exposed flesh and skin.

Among her favorite Designers are Inno Sotto, and Joe Salazar who create her formal outfits for major events. Rajo Laurel and Patrice Diaz do the funkyy and adventurous getup.As a supporter for local fashion, she also tries out the works of up-and-coming designers with the likes of Kate Torralba, Dennis Lustico and Mitch Dulce.

Tessa likes Mitch Dulce's avant-garde style. She thinks that if there is one word that best describes her, it going to be "avant-garde."

For budding fashionistas who look up to Tessa’s spunk and individuality, she points out the importance of being comfortable in your chosen style.

If you think you can wear it, go ahead! Be confident. And most of all, have fun.
-Tessa Prieto Valdes.


*kiao.

Tek Reyes.. The Saga Continues

Be yourself; everyone else is already taken. –Oscar Wilde

In my last blog, I introduced a very interesting girl who has a different sense of fashion. I met her in a mall in Cainta and became one of my closest friends. Her name is Tek Reyes, a college student taking up B.S Nursing, loves to fit tons of dresses in the fitting room but doesn’t buy any, laughs like there is no tomorrow and dips her French fries in Coke float. Perceived as Jologs by people who doesn’t know her but unique and extraordinary according to her friends.

I admire Tek because of her “Be Yourself” attitude. She is very spontaneous and believes that expressing ones individuality makes him/her standout from the rest.

Here are some of the things that I learned from Tek on how to be yourself:

*Find yourself- you must know, understand and accept yourself first.

*Stop caring about how other people perceive you

*Follow your own style- you don’t need to copy other's actions to fit in.

*Develop and express your individuality-whether it’s your sense of style, or even your manner of speaking, if you prefer to do things that are different from most of the people do, then be proud of it. Unless it is destructible to yourself and others.

*Believe in who you are- if you are interested in something that doesn’t interest most of the people, don’t be afraid or hide it; stand up and show your true and inner self.

*Respect others as well-you shouldn’t disrespect people who disagree with you; they have the privilege of being themselves as you do.

*Nobody is perfect-don’t think that being yourself means that you cannot change who you are. If you want to be a person that you can be proud of and there is some way you can improve yourself, go for it. There’s always a room for self-improvement.

Being yourself is celebrating you as an individual, not hiding who you are or changing things about you just to fit in, learning to love and express yourself and be happy with who you are. Don’t worry about anything but being yourself and live life to the fullest!

By Raffonzyl Bonifacio

chiksi (^<>^)

PROFILE:Monique Lhuillier

Filipino fashion has truly gone a long way, national or international arena. Farther--it reached the Hollywood. First come to mind? It’s Monique Lhuillier. Icon in fashion, in line with Vera Wang, Coco Chanel, and other designers in Hollywood and New York City. But how was this wonderful and talented Filipina had made her way to an overwhelming spotlight in fashion designing?

Diane Monique Lhuillier was born French-Filipino in Cebu, Philippines. Her parents are Micheal Lhuillier a former French consul in the Philippines now a jeweler and Amparito Llamas, designer and a former fashion-model. She is the wife of Tom Bugbee, CEO of Monique Lhuillier Inc. Her taste for fashion was influenced by her mother who’s lover of glamour and style. She was exposed to the importance of fashion because of her family’s extensive travels.

Monique decided to study at Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising (FIDM), in L.A. California, at 17, but by then 18 was the qualified age to enter the institution, but because of her perseverance, guts and talent she convinced the administrators. She got scholarship for advance training and she decided to specialized in evening and bridal gowns.

In an interview, by Metro Society she said that Filipina sensibility affected her craft. Growing up with women who are simple yet not ordinary, women who makes the ordinary to extravagant. No wonder why she is known for her “detail-oriented and clean” designs.

Her way to Hollywood started when Josie Bisset’s character in Melrose Place got married. Monique was the one who made her dress. Then it was followed by Kelly Rutherford whom she also dressed up for a show. Since then her name has became a word-of-mouth to Hollywood stars like, Sarah Jessica Parker, Reese Wiherspoon, J.lo, Halle berry and Debra Mssing and many more, and she has become a bigger celebrity than the celebrities she dresses up.Monique

Lhuillier is truly “a person of details” and never a mediocre.

http://www.moniquelhuillier.com/