DOLL 'EM UP

Barbie

This is taken from my first brush with styling, way back October 2007.

The complete cast.

I was working on the Toyland concept for Marco Polo Davao’s Christmas Catalogue at that time. Thinking Santa’s Toy Factory, I proposed on making the brochure look like an easy read storybook, featuring the most loved dolls of all time, in different scenes taken around the hotel.

Ken

In the pre-production meeting with makeup maven Otoi Mercado and my photographer-friend Paul Borromeo, we locked down the details of the shoot, and came up with the final cast of characters: Barbie and Ken, Raggedy Anne and Andy, Cabbage Patch Kid, a musical clown and a diner girl.

the musical clown

the musical clown 

We asked Jon Nunez of Glam Model House to gather his best models for a go-see. Choosing the models wasn’t an easy task for this project as I had to ask the models to stand, sit, and move like a doll. Good thing Otoi and Paul helped me with the selection process, sharing their insights on who had the most doll-like eyes and expression.

Cabbage Patch Kid

I had about 2 weeks to put together the whole wardrobe for this shoot. I have never worked as a stylist before. At that time, we didn’t have the iTouch or iPad to help me with the costume pegs, and I had to take everything by sheer memory whenever I went out to hunt for the clothes. I did some sketches and sat down with a seamstress for the costumes of Raggedy Ann and Andy, the Cabbage Patch Kid, the diner girl and musical clown. I scoured around the streets of Chinatown and vintage shops to acquire the rest of the costume and props. I even went far north of Davao just to find those vintage skates for the diner girl. The pair of skates were far from the meaning of old and gray, and so I gave in to my inner OC self and painted the whole thing clean and white.

Raggedy Ann and Andy 

The shoot took one whole Saturday to finish. We started with the hair and makeup around 10am, and the cameras started clicking as soon as each model was all dolled up and ready. Hair stylist, Joan Lanch, joined our team, and he did a great job in executing the exact look we had pegged for each character.

Diner girl, MJ.

True to the nature of Christmas and Santa Clause, we are to finish the project with a touch of magic and luck. There were unforeseen instances that we never thought we’d be able to execute or re-touch, but hey, we did. MJ, the diner girl, lost her balance and landed on the floor together with the cocktail glass. She rose again, unscathed and we did a retake of the shot. Paul got so lucky as his camera was able to capture MJ’s pose right before she fell. For Barbie’s shot on the red carpet, we asked our banquet staff to stand in as paparazzis and to hold on to Paul’s extra flash equipment, which he controlled via remote. The flickers and flash made it seem like there were a lot of cameras on location.

I was more than happy with the turnout of the shoot, more so when the pages were already out in print. It was the most exciting and challenging project I did for the hotel at that time, and I was more than proud that everyone were all praises with the images we shot.

Thank you, once again, Paul, Otoi, and Joan for sharing the magic your with me. I look forward to another collaboration of this kind.

- credits -

Photographer: Paul Borromeo
Makeup Artist: Otoi Mercado

Stylist: Meg Sta. Ines

Hair Stylist: Joan Lanch

Models: Glam Model House

CLUB SMITH

The layout of the party invite. Done by moi. :)

Fresh from her successful Annebisyosa concert, multimedia celebrity Anne Curtis enjoyed a down time with her production team in an exclusive party at Marco Polo Davao.

The bartender from Eagles (bar) showed off his flairtending moves.

My boyfriend broke the ice and summed up his courage to approach Anne for a photo.
The of us just followed his lead.

Dubbed as Club Smith, taken after Anne’s real family name, the party took place in a private function room which was transformed into a pink and black themed dance club. Think opulence, complete with chandeliers, mirror balls, feathers, lounge chairs, an open bar, a buffet spread with canapés and French pastries, plus a signature drink named ANNEBITIOUS. 

Anne with the G-Force. Ritz Charles Beltran (fifth from right) is from Davao. #DavaoPride

Anne signing autographs.

DJ Richie, pumped up the beat with a great lineup of music and mixes which got the G-Force dancing in spontaneously choreographed moves. 

My boyfriend had too many shots with Anne (his no.1 crush). For this last one, he had
to use me as his excuse. "Anne, can we have another picture, this time with my
girlfriend? So she won't get jealous?" LOL! :p

THE Stylist to the Stars, Pam Quinones, with my stylist/photographer-friend Ayie.

Anne gamely poses with her concert producer, Gatchi Gatchalian,
and his daughter, Cacai.

Photo bomb!

Wacky and his crush.

This got my daughter jumping with joy. "Meg, 'Twas was nice meeting you! Please say Hi to your daughter (for) me! Love, Anne."

Photos by Wacky Masbad and Ayie Hernandez.
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Story published on my newspaper column, Metro Mom.
A2, INdulge section, Edge Davao, Vol5 Issue 124, 24 August 2012.

IN LIVING COLOR

Photo by Paul Borromeo

Bayo-logically speaking, she’s a Davaoeña born of African and Filipino descent. The lineage is made more evident by the frizzy hair and mocha skin, which have, consequently, helped 18 year old Nikita Pia Ortega McElroy’s modeling career skyrocket its way to success.

Photo file courtesy of Nikita McElroy

Comparable to the hullaballoo that followed the launch of one of the country’s most established clothing brands, for which Nikita models, the buzz about this new and charismatic Davaoeña in Manila did not go unnoticed by key people in fashion and advertising industries.

Photo by Paul Borromeo 

Regardless of what the percentage in the ad said, her bio is as 100% dramatic as any Maalaala Mo Kaya episode. Think Venus Raj in MMK, except that Nikita’s childhood was set in cosmopolitan scenery and that she didn’t join the prestigious Binibining Pilipinas pageant… Well, at least not yet.

Nikita (3rd from left) in the fashion shoot I co-styled with my friend, Ayie, in collaboration with
Leadfoto Studios. Photo by Paul Borromeo.

I first met Nikita in the year-end fashion shoot we collaborated with LeadFoto Studios, for which I styled in tandem with my photographer/stylist-friend. To me, Nikita is more than just a pretty face on camera. She is friendly, down to earth, funny, and full of life. By the way she talks, her life would seem like it is all picnic and party. In truth, her childhood was a difficult one.

Photo by Paul Borromeo

“When I was young, I didn’t have any friends and I wasn’t part of any clique. I was an outcast. Maybe it’s because I look different. To sum it all up, I’d say my childhood was nowhere near normal or ideal.” Talking numbers, Nikita adds, “I can only count a few of those times when I was happy. And that won’t even total to a full set of fingers.”

Photo by Paul Borromeo

Despite the lack of friends, she found solitude in her family, with whom she was able to show off a bit of confidence in singing and dancing. The videoke at home was her saving grace, allowing her to belt out any tune she wanted to. She never got in any of the choral club auditions, but it was her talent in dancing that got her to the final cut of her school’s stage productions.

Photo file courtesy of Nikita McElroy 

Nikita reached her turning point at the age of 14, trying out her luck in performing arts by joining a modeling workshop in one of the malls in the city. “I wanted to do sometime different at that time, to kill boredom over summer time. I didn’t think I had what it took to be a model, and it helped that my mom encouraged me to go for it. I had her full support, though there were relatives who were against the idea of juggling studies with modeling. Nevertheless, I pursued it, even if I had to sneak out of the house to attend go-see’s and join runway gigs and fashion shoots. While I did all that, I began to accept who I really am and see the good in me. Beauty, I realized, is not determined by color. That acceptance helped boost my confidence and develop my love for this profession. Soon, right after high school, I became part of Glam Model House, managed by Jon Nuñez. It was under his management that I got a lot of projects and was able to meet wonderful and talented people --- models, designers, photographers, make up artists, stylists, and event organizers. It was all about building my portfolio and network.”

Photo file courtesy of NIkita McElroy

Determined and hopeful, Nikita grabbed the opportunity offered to her by a TV station, which specifically was for an acting job. She used the “once in a lifetime” code to get her family’s approval of her appeal to move to Manila. Contrary to the job offer, she prayed she would be given a hosting job instead, and that she’d be able to make it big in the modeling scene as well. “I was lucky because I had friends who were already well connected. Still, I had to work my way around go-see’s and some other fashion events. I somehow made a couple of breakthrough’s, even though they were not as monumental as some other models have achieved. I wasn’t bankable at that time for any modeling agency to pick up my name and draw a management contract for me.”

Photo file courtesy of Nikita McElroy 

True to her nature, Nikita struggled in the city jungle and lived every single day full of surprises. Nothing was predictable. One day, she plays the part of a fashion-inflicted teenager, walking the streets of Manila in unisex clothing such as blazers, suits, oversized tops, and combat boots. The next day, you see her getting fit in Zumba class, swimming a few laps in the pool, or jogging to the beat of her i-Tunes playlist. On normal days, she undergoes training under Professional Models Association of the Philippines (PMAP), where she is an official member and is one of the selected few who are being groomed by celebrated artists such as Rissa Mananquil. “She is my idol,” Nikita quips.

Photo file courtesy of Nikita McElroy

In a launch party for a top billed ice cream brand, Nikita was approached by an agent who was looking for models for the upcoming ad campaign of BAYO. The agent took note of her credentials and presented her portfolio to the head honchos. It didn’t take long before Nikita got a call back from the agent, announcing the good news. It was no less than Xander Angeles who photographed her for the ad layout, which was placed in magazines, on internet and billboard.

Photo by Ayie Hernandez

Phones were ringing off the hook, and Nikita was getting more bookings here and there. Not to mention calls from friends in Davao, screaming in excitement over her blossoming career. She may call herself a late bloomer, growing up shy and friend-less during her formative years, but her career is fast advancing at such an early age. To date, she has taken part of the Holiday and Spring/Summer seasons of the Philippine Fashion Week for 3 years in a row. She has also done an editorial shoot for United Colors of Benetton and a couple of other endorsements and magazine shoots.

Photo by Paul Borromeo

Nikita humbly shares her other dreams and wishful thinking. “I hope for bigger things. Ten years from now, I’d probably have found my courage to take my chances in other fields such as hosting, or maybe join the academe. Who knows? I may end up as a teacher here or abroad. The thought of going international, in terms of modeling, won’t hurt either. After all, nothing is impossible. Everyone has to do their own part to realize their goals. You just really gotta have a brave heart, and I never give up even when challenges try to hinder my path. It helps that I went through an unhappy time earlier in my life, because now I get to appreciate my assets and blessings, and know what it is I really want to do in life. I put my heart and soul in everything I do, no matter how big or small.”

Photo by Paul Borromeo

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Story published in my newspaper column, Metro Mom.
A1, INdulge section, Edge Davao, Vol. 5 Issue 122, 22 August 2012.

GLAM UP WITH GLAMOROSA

In one of those boring lunch breaks some 5 years ago, I stumbled on a link to a relatively new fashion haven on Multiply called House of Glamorosa.  The face of the seller looked so familiar to me, like I’ve already seen her on TV or something. Her pretty face exudes drama, fun, and glamour, similar to the kind of dresses that she posted online. Tired and weary, I finally decided to give in to retail therapy to boost my energy, even if the initial intention was only to browse through the shopping site.

What was supposed to be a breather eventually became a habit. Not a bad habit, mind you. I came to love and favour the brand, especially since it is proudly made by a Davaoeña. Whenever my bank account permits, I’d browse through her site, which was relaunched as a Facebook page, to check if there are new pieces I can add to my closet. The selection process is always difficult, time consuming, and, sometimes, even depressing --- as you’d end up wanting to buy everything in every color. The clothes are definitely of high quality and style, and nothing is overpriced. My closet can definitely attest my loyalty to the brand.

House of Glamorosa was conceptualized in 2006 by, then, a budding young entrepreneur named Carine Cabebe. This Accountancy graduate’s first claim to fame was her win in the Closeup to Fame contest in 2005. Hosting and commercial modelling appealed to her for a brief period, as she eventually became engrossed to a more suitable line of interest cum business: fashion merchandise. In 2008, she modified her brand and created House of Glamorosa, an online hub for fashionable and affordable clothes.

A fashion-fanatic herself, Carine understands that women nowadays are not only fashion-conscious, but most especially brand-conscious. According to her, one of the main goals of her online site is to provide closet staples that would complement her shoppers’ existing high end and branded items, resulting to ensembles that exude class and elegance, without having to spend as much.

Her background in Fashion Merchandising in one of the Philippines’ top fashion schools helped a lot in developing her eye for fashion. She personally scours around the world to acquire ready to wear clothing for women, which are inspired by retail giants such as Topshop, Mango, Zara, Forever21 and H&M.

Carine’s exceptional style is evident in the quality of clothes she sells. You can tell each piece was carefully chosen.  Nothing is redundant or plain. The designs are a mix of classic essentials complemented with a pinch of panache and quirkiness to keep up with the latest trends. Each style is limited only to a few shades, with no more than one in stock for each. After all, who would want to be caught dead wearing the same outfit with someone else?

My friends and I frequent Carine’s stalls in Christmas bazaars, and the shop she built in her residence. I’d tag along a friend or two, who have also become Carine’s regular early birds, if I may say so.  “House raids,” as we call it, are more fun coz we get to swim and select through the piles of clothes, before the rest of the population hoard away the good finds.  Just as the saying goes, the early bird catches the worm.

Carine has definitely put a lot of effort in improving her brand and market. Not only does she model the clothes herself (in the company of loyal friends, as well), she also takes care of the dirty work, which include hours of ironing each piece to perfection, polishing some photos on the computer, and carefully setting clothes on hangers and racks. Shipping her stash back and forth, from Davao to Manila, is a different story altogether.

With hard work, she has proudly seen her brand grow. From a simple online shop, it developed into an actual boutique in Davao. Its popularity earned invitations to exclusive bazaars in Rockwell, The Fort, and, just recently, at the SMX Convention Center (for the SUPERB Bazaar, in tandem with the Philippine Fashion Week).

House of Glamorosa is now all set and ready to dress up Davao once again with the latest of its  luxe and trendy wearables, all meticulously chosen to impress the city's most stylish.  Visit Carine’s booth at the Great Kadayawan Trade Fair, happening at the Davao Convention Center from August 16 to 19, 2012.
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Story published on my newspaper column, METRO MOM.
A1, INdulge section, Edge Davao, Vol 5 Issue 117, 15 August 2012.

BOHO CHIC

The effortless charm of twenty-two year old Cheyser Pedregosa reminds me of Serena Van Der Woodsen from the TV show, Gossip Girl. Just like the fashionably famous TV character, Cheyser’s volume of hair looks as if it was styled straight out of bed, her sun-kissed skin glows in neutral palette, and her carefree getup is at every inch oh-so-fashionable. She walks the street with much poise, and exudes an air of affluence despite her sense of practicality in shopping and styling.

In the cyber world, she is better known as TWR, short for The Walking Recessionista, the top rated fashion blogger from North Cotabato. Cheyser’s penchant for fashion is a story that has become more evident in a photo diary of her daily wear, posted online via Lookbook.nu and Blogspot. The birth of her account in Lookbook.nu back in the year 2011 was, actually, her friendly attempt in expanding her social network, which soon became her ticket to internet fame. Her unique flair and Boho chic elegance kept her anonymous for only a brief period as thousands of clicks kept adding to her blog’s hits and view count, linking her posts to other trending topics on world wide web.

While she earned her birth right by winning thousands of votes for each post on Lookbook, she made The Walking Recessionista Blogspot address the mother ship of her satellites in cyberspace. There, one finds a collective display of Cheyser’s fashion intuition, plus the full narrative for each wardrobe inspiration. Her strong presence on Facebook and Twitter supplements her regime and introduces her to virtual minions who find a connection to her personality. Her network grew even bigger as she started Instagram-min’ herself in various ensembles, sorting out photos like she was putting them on scrapbook.

What makes Cheyser stand out from the rest of the fashionably anonymous? I guess it is her unorthodox approach to styling. She maintains her non-allegiance to the do’ and don’ts most people dictate, rules she oftentimes bend in search of her own comfort and identity. Some may call her Miss-Print, but she proves them wrong with her seamless combination of different patterns, which others originally thought of as a fashion no-no. She follows her gut-feel, which comes as a gift on its own, and dresses to her own persona: Not excessively chic; Street smart and relaxed, but not too shabby; Sexy, but not too revealing.

Add to her merit her natural finesse in front of the camera. She consciously poses to look as if she is unconscious of the camera clicks, so each photo would draw more attention to the outfit instead of the person wearing it. She knows her angles and which pose would best highlight the elements that make up her style for the day. Another edge she has over the others is her ability to look insta-glam within budget. She infuses cheap finds (Recessionista find, as she would put it) into each getup, sharing her insights on how personal styling need not be expensive or dictated by brands.

Maybe it is because of her non-conformity to “what’s safe to wear” and her no-nonsense rule of “shopping within means” that made her noticeable, and helped capture the interest of marketing specialists for staple brands and online shopping sites. Advertising and PR strategists knock on her door, offering her the latest samples of different labels --- fresh from their headquarters. To them, she is a person of influence and they are not awarding it for nothing. Cheyser’s stronghold of her own identity rewarded her with an influx of brand endorsements and sponsors from local and international brands. She is the image model of Soul Lifestyle, a Davao-based clothing brand which she regularly wears with much Mindanawon pride. Her collaboration with the cyber-active marketing officers of Soul Lifestyle reinforced Cheyser’s reign in social media. From posing as a living mannequin, she has surpassed “still life” advertising, and discovered the artist in her through short films produced for Soul by its resident 18-year old photographer, Aidx Paredes. To date, Cheyser’s value continues to increase, deserving of endorsements for established brands likes Canon IXUS and So! Fab.

The business in blogging is booming and millions have taken bold attempts to attain a solid standing and acquire a good following. Many aspire to enjoy the perks of being a blogger which also takes one to greater heights, winning front row seats, gifts, freebies, magazine features, VIP treatment, etc. However, value and influence over the social media are not measured by the quantity of posts, but of quality instead. Blogging about fashion is not just for everyone. Oftentimes, people think it’s as easy as taking a snapshot of expensive labels that come with each outfit. You need to have that eye for style and a creative imagination that goes beyond the confines of rules, labels, and trends. You have to make a stand on who you are and which style best describes your character. Credibility is the backbone for each success story of all fashion bloggers, and this is only attained by being your own unique self. It is your true blue personality that will earn you recognition, make you a topic of each conversation, and a bookmark in every online search engine. And Cheyser Pedregosa, the girl who never dreamed of sky rocketing fame, is no stranger to this formula.  
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Story published on my newspaper column, Metro Mom.
A1 INdulge section, Edge Davao newspaper, Vol5 Issue 112, 8 August 2012.