froulala

A Glimpse of Old Saigon

2011-06-22T22:49:00.002-04:00

Formerly called Saigon, Ho Chi Minh, still retains a bit of its French colonial charm. These photos were taken on my first visit to the city in late 1999. I am off to HCM today for a quick leisure and business trip. I am extremely excited to catch up with my best friend (we're like sisters), Christine, and her family and explore the new changes of this bustling metro.

Ho Chi Minh City Hall

(Hotel de Ville de Siagon)

built in 1902-1908

Saigon Central Post Office

The Gothic building was constructed when Vietnam was part of French Indochina in the early 1886-1891. It was designed and constructed by the famous architect Gustave Eiffel in harmony with the surrounding area.

Saigon Notre-Dame Basilica

On 7 October 1877, Bishop Isidore Colombert laid the first stone in an inaugural ceremony. The construction of the cathedral took three years. The two bell towers were added in 1895. All the original building materials were imported from France. Tiles have been carved with the words Guichard Carvin, Marseille St André France. Some tiles are carved with the words "Wang-Tai Saigon". Many tiles have since been made in Ho Chi Minh City to replace the tiles that were damaged by the war. There are 56 glass squares supplied by the Lorin firm of Chartres province in France. The cathedral foundation was designed to bear ten times the weight of the cathedral.

to be continued....

Coraled

2011-06-21T23:42:00.002-04:00

A few days ago, Stacey Bewkes of Quintessence, posted a photo of the necklace I made for her. Thanks Stacey for the shoutout! Now that it's officially summer and I'm 877 nautical miles (1625 km) from the equator, I've been wearing a lot of coral.

I joyfully take out old pieces and sometimes rework them,

Or make something new and mix them all up

with pieces I've bought from my travels.

Another old favorite that I can't part with is

Joanna Lhuillier's white bag with the most delightful

beaded marine treasures.

My It-Bag for naughtical adventures....

corals found combing the Batangas shore

summer 2010

Paisley Party

2011-06-18T14:47:00.001-04:00

–noun

1. a soft woolen fabric woven with a pattern of

colorful and minutely detailed figures

2. a shawl, scarf, tie, or other article made of this fabric.

3. a silk print simulating this fabric and weave.

4. Also called paisley print-

a pattern resembling the design or figure on this fabric or material.

The New Oxford American Dictionary, page 1229, provides the following definition of the word:

paisley – a distinctive intricate pattern of curved, feather-shaped figures based on a pine cone design from India. ORIGIN – early 19^th century, named after town of Paisley, Scotland, the original place of manufacture.

paisley

1834, from Paisley, town in southwest Scotland,

where the cloth was originally made.

The town name is lit. "church," from M.Ir. baslec ,

itself from L. basilica (see basilica).

Persia is credited as being the first country known to have created boteh designs that have since come to be known as paisley motifs. Boteh is an anglicized version of the Hindi word, buta, which means “flower.” These stylistic shapes were incorporated onto the surface of fabrics that originated during the Safavid Dynasty of Persia (1501-1736).

Later, the design was quite popular with Iranian weavers during the Qajar Dynasty (1795-1925). Paisleys made a comeback in the 1960s, and most especially, in the 1990s when they were utilized in wallpaper, ties, and other wearing apparel. In earlier times, Kashmiri (paisley) shawls were given as part of a dowry, or for a ceremonial occasion.

Paisley Motif Has Roots in Shawl Making

The patterned shawls with paisley motifs were woven in Kashmir, a fertile valley in the Himalayas, since about the seventeenth century, according to Susan Meller in the book, Russian Textiles: Printed Cloth for the Bazaars of Central Asia (New York: Abrams, 2007).

Members of the British Army served in India in the second Anglo-Sikh War (1848-1849) that established British control via an annexation of much of the Punjab. The soldiers brought home Kashmiri (cashmere) shawls and as a result, the popularity of paisley designs soared and lasted for approximately one hundred years, not falling out of favor in Europe until the beginning of the 1870s.

Hand loomed and hand woven goat hair was originally used to make paisley textiles. The weavers used a twill pattern in which the warp was alternately wrapped, creating an uneven surface. The natural fiber used was collected wool called shah tus or King's wool. That soft fleece was highly prized and was saved to create the highest priced shawls.

Going through my pile of sentimentoes, I found these postcards that I've loved forever. My soul sister and dear friend, Christine Laddaran-Chua, brought them back after her study abroad program at Oxford in the early 90s. One of these days, I will take them out again, perhaps frame and hang to be admired or use as just because note cards to send to loved ones.

definitions taken from dictionary.com

brief history from Patricia L. Cummings

Southern Treasures

2011-06-17T12:00:00.000-04:00

A few months ago, Maricris Encarnacion, my Where at Cebu editrix who wears many interesting hats, gave me this assignment for the May-July 2011 issue. It's been a long time since I've visited a few of Cebu's notable heritage churches. No doubt, I am looking forward to revisit while I'm in town. Amazing photography by Erwin T. Lim, one of the top photographers in the country.

"Cebu is the earliest European settlement established in 1565 by Spanish conqueror, Miguel Lopez de Legazpi, making it the oldest city of the Philippines. The city counts its beautiful old stone churches in the South part of its historical treasure trove. Albeit overlooked and somewhat languishing in different states of disrepair, they fiercely remain woven into the fabric of people’s lives. Royal Spanish ordinances from 1573 specified that the principal church should be visible from all sides and be above ground level in order to “acquire more authority”. The Church was the largest property owner in colonial cities so urban space was planned around it." --- M. Te, Where at Cebu

"Let’s start 40 kilometers south of the city, Carcar, named after a town in northern Spain. Here sits the second oldest church of Cebu, St. Catherine of Alexandria Church. Built in 1858, it took 16 years and three friars to finally finish it. The minaret shaped twin bell towers of solid geometric pylons act as buttresses but are integrated as part of the simple façade. Embellishments are limited to the geometric flora on the spandrels, the blind rose window below the upper recessed arch and the carved Augustinian symbol above it. It is noticeable that all the twelve apostles were carved in white except for Judas, who was done in black. Fr. Manuel Rubio Fernandez who was instrumental in finishing the church construction executed the refined touches. It would be ideal to have a tasting of Carcar’s famous chicharon (pork rinds), ampao (rice crispies), and bucarillo (caramelized coconut strips) before moving on." --- M. Te, Where at Cebu

"The architectural style leans toward Spanish or Mexican Baroque. The first master builders and artisans mainly came from Mexico where the Spanish colonization started. Special conditions of the country were considered: typhoons and earthquakes, tropical weather, termite attacks, and human invasion. This led to the christening of Philippine church architectural style, “Earthquake Baroque”. Furthermore, integration of Chinese and Muslim forms and style elements are visible. The technique of air-dried red brick made from a mixture of coral lime and/or loam and sugar cane juice was learned from the Chinese. Moorish elements or Mudejar style are evident in grills and balustrades, bas-relief carvings, and minaret like bell towers." --- M. Te, Where at Cebu

"The municipality of Argao, 26 kilometers south of Carcar, is named after the sali-argaw trees that grew in the area. St. Michael the Archangel Church was constructed in 1734-1788. Valuable artifacts, the original altar, figures of angels sculpted on its brass-studded portals still remain. The 5-storey belfry, considered one of the best in the Philippines, was constructed in 1830. It has 8 bells, 5 of which are still in good condition, a clock, and an organ built locally by Spanish or Mexican organ builders. It is one of the remaining fourteen pipe organs and one of the 3 in Cebu built between the Spanish Baroque (17^thcentury) to Neo Gothic (19^th century) periods. The now unplayable instrument has wind chests and channels constructed from a big piece of narra wood. Religious murals on the ceiling were executed by two of the best church muralists, Canuto Avila and Reynaldo Francia, during the early 20^th century. The simple rectangular façade is divided into three levels and segments with the use of Corinthian columns and horizontal cornices surrounding its beautifully arched entrance. Before leaving Argao, make sure you take torta to go for the car ride. They are known for the dense cakes made with egg yolks, pork lard, sugar, flour, and leavened by fermented coconut." --- M. Te, Where at Cebu

"The oldest stone church of Cebu is in Boljoon, Church of Patrocinio de Maria, and 37 kilometers south of Argao. Founded in 1599, a fire in 1782 decimated the first structure that had a gorgeous painted ceiling. The town is in a picturesque cove on a sliver of land between the sea and rocky hills. With topography prone to Muslim attacks, a blockhouse or dakung balay was constructed along with the church. It is a sizeable quadrangular fortress made of meter thick coral stonewalls and tile roofs. Artillery equipment and a telegraphic system were installed in the fortress for protective measure. Today the blockhouse serves as the bell tower."--- M. Te, Where at Cebu

"An organ installed in 1880 at the choir loft still remains. Intricate carvings and bas-relief adorn the interiors. A communion rail with ornate silverwork was stolen from the church. Its square belfry built in 1701 still exists today without its silver bells. Stolen during a raid and never recovered when the Muslim vinta (vessel) allegedly sunk because of their weight. The Boljoon Church portrays the best sense of the Philippine colonial past truly making it a cultural treasure. It was declared a National Historical Landmark in 1999." --- M. Te, Where at Cebu

"Often, we travel far away to marvel at the conspicuous but there is much to appreciate from off-the-beaten-path journeys. Cebu’s historic churches are a repository of our rich heritage and culture. One can add a historical bent on a Visita Iglesia during Semana Santa and get extra mana credit. Filipinos are a superstitious lot and strongly believe that a wish made during the first visit to a church is always granted. Armed with a healthy dose of wishful thinking and Proustian wisdom along the way, ---“the real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes but in having new eyes”; a heritage hopscotch to the South is strongly urged." --- M. Te, Where At Cebu

Skylines

2011-06-16T13:43:00.002-04:00

Despite being semi-packed days ago, it took me awhile to decide what to leave behind yesterday. Its incredulous to have separation anxiety with my desk. I wanted to pack my reading pile too hoping that I'll finish them all this summer. When I realized that I would have to give up non negotiable accessory space in my suitcase, that idea quickly went out the window. Suddenly, the thought of a Kindle appealed to me for the first time but I'm still old school when it comes to holding a book in my hand and dog-earring pages.

The lunar eclipse also did a surprise number on me. I couldn't find my camera and a jewel box with precious contents which really got me all worked up.

I'm fervently hoping that the blue crocodile box will surface sometime soon.

It was hard to leave Charlotte not knowing where it is but the warm send off and profusion of tight hugs consoled me some.

My NYC layover was harried as I ran around to get a couple of things and dropped by Tenpenny for a quick meal before heading to JFK. Recently reviewed by Sam Sifton of the New York Times, the tables on my row all came after reading it.

We compared notes and each bite packed a lovely flavorful punch. The couple who sat next to me went twice within 4 days.

Perhaps it was Tenpenny's signature cocktail unforgettably called, The Unstrung Harp, with a chaser of prosecco, I was ready to melt into my seat by the time I boarded.

7 hours later, I woke refreshed after days of mad rushing.

Cathay Pacific's entertainment selection has always been topnotch. Normally so restless, I can only do movie marathons on long haul flights.

film 1: An Education - a coming-of-age film I've been wanting to see

film 2: Love and Other Impossible Pursuits - heartwarming family drama

film 3: Incendies - a brusque and riveting tale about war and family

read the Sagittarius chapter on Susan Miller The Year Ahead 2011

Finally used up all my 15 hours and landed in Hong Kong,

my favorite airport.

very user friendly and great duty free shopping

showered, bought a Father's Day present, lounged

3 hours later, I boarded for my 2.5 hr flight to Cebu

I remember an exchange with my dear friend, Cornel Chiriac,

while we were on the way to

Santiago de Compostela last Sept 20, 2007.

Buckled up on Ryan Air's sardine seats, he said,

this is my favorite part as the plane ascended to meet the sunrise

and Frankfurt-Hahn grew small beneath us.

I, on the other hand, have always loved the landings,

the speed rush before the grounding halt.

Just how I would run to a loved one and stop at a hug.

Plane to plane. City to city

Just like the first time.

flight soundtrack: So Far Out to Sea and Barefoot

The latest album, Giants by Chicane, has its signature ambient hits and some cheesy trance. Still love it tho and brings back memories of wild abandon in many sunny shores and seeing them live in Manila.

*photos are from personal archives*

Bookworm Weekend: Yves Saint Laurent & Pierre Bergé

2011-06-12T21:00:00.022-04:00

Unwinding from NYC Design Week (mid-May), my stylish friend, Betty Lyn Eller and I caught L'Amour Fou by Pierre Thoretton at The Paris Theatre. It was a magnificent film recounting how YSL and Pierre Bergé came together, their life, love, deep connection, their massive trove of beautiful objets d'art that filled their amazing properties, and the astounding farewell auction of these beautiful things. There will never be a collection this diverse, tasteful, well curated, and planned with exact detail. It is truly a reflection of their personalities, lives, and uncompromising desires.

The partners worked with equally talented names---the late architect and decorator Bill Willis, designer Jacques Grange, architect and decorator Francois-Joseph Graf, garden designer Louis Benech, architect and landscape artist Pascal Cribier, garden designer Madison Cox, and the late landscape artist Franz Baechler to express their vision.

These 2 beautiful tomes continue to be an inspirational delight and a must have for the library. This was one of my go to gifts for some designer friends last year.

The Private World of Yves Saint Laurent & Pierre Bergé

The Yves Saint Laurent Pierre Bergé Collection

The following photos are of my recent jewelry projects.

The peacock is a vintage brooch that I've converted into a necklace.

a broken coral that I will use as a pendant or ring

These tassels were from an old worn pair of Italian boots I picked up in Rome. I came home one day to find the left pair gone and found out that our friend's dog chewed on them. A part of those boots live on in this new necklace.

trailer

Colors of Summer

2011-06-12T08:48:00.001-04:00

I've spent most of the week packing for the summer season and wrapping up work since I'm off to Cebu to work on some SNUG products in between spending time with loved ones. It seems like all I do is chase time. Either I don't manage time well enough or it feels like there's just never enough time to do ALL the things I want to do. Last Saturday---friend and brilliant photographer, Steve Cook, came by and captured my Saturday morning. He caught all my packing mess among a few other things. It seems futile but I do keep trying to pack light. I've already sent a 300 lb box ahead full of gifts and just-in-case sartorial combos and I'm now onto my 2 1/2 suitcases that are almost my size. I may be small but I have Napoleonic tendencies when it comes to juju-jewels and packing. All the photos are by Steve except for my official Frou La La summer 2011 tableaus.

Vizcaya Museum and Gardens

2011-06-05T18:03:00.005-04:00

I took a break from laying out and cocktailing this weekend and looked through some sunny photos and saw these from my archives. I frequently visit South Florida to see my aunt and uncle. The last time I did, good friend Carmen Natschke of The Decorating Diva fame, strongly urged a visit to Vizcaya Museum & Gardens.

I'm so glad I took the drive to Miami from West Palm Beach,

it was such a treat.

James Deering, 1916

"Vizcaya was home to James Deering and a large staff that managed the estate. Deering occupied Vizcaya only in the winter months, from 1916–1925, when he died. Deering was a Vice President of the International Harvester Company, which produced agricultural equipment for a worldwide market. He chose a bayfront site in Miami for his tropical winter home because of the location’s temperate winter climate and his appreciation of the native hardwood hammock. In addition, his father, William, had already settled in Coconut Grove and his half brother, Charles Deering , would soon develop an estate at Cutler, in what is now south Miami-Dade County. The latter is now operated as The Deering Estate at Cutler. " --- vizcayamuseum.org

Architect Burrall Hoffman, 1912

I'm including photos from Women's Wear Daily at a recent third annual Vizcaya Preservation Luncheon where they say, big hats and head-to-toe black prints were the reigning trends.

entrance loggia

"At the time of Vizcaya’s construction, Miami’s population was around 10,000. More than 1,000 workers were employed in the Vizcaya project, including laborers and craftsmen from the Caribbean and Europe. In addition to the house and gardens, the complex included a farm, livestock, and a variety of other service facilities covering 180 acres on both sides of South Miami Avenue." --- vizcayamuseum.org

Secret Garden workers, 1916

the secret garden

Village in 1917

entrance hall

"When he began building his winter home, Deering engaged the assistance of Paul Chalfin , a young New York painter, to supervise the entire project. Deering and Chalfin traveled throughout Europe surveying residential architecture for ideas and obtaining components such as doors, wall panels, mantels and ceilings that would be incorporated into the proposed home. Also working on the project were architect F. Burrall Hoffman and Colombian landscape architect Diego Suarez . " --- vizcayamuseum.org

painter Paul Chalfin

"The house was intended to appear as an Italian estate that had stood for 400 years and had been occupied and renovated by several generations of a family. It has 34 decorated rooms with 15th through 19th century antique furnishings and art objects. The house appears to be only two stories high but between the main public rooms and the bedrooms, there is an intervening level with 12 rooms for servants and service. Vizcaya intends to open these rooms to the public in the near future, thereby introducing new stories about those who lived and worked at the house." --- vizcayamuseum.org

James Deering's library

banquet hall

music room

the cathay

Deering's sitting room

Deering's bathroom

I was particularly taken with his shaving stand positioned in such a way that he would have a water view while shaving in the morning.

I took this photo of the other side of the bathroom.

James Deering's bedroom

guest bedroom

reception room

breakfast room

Perhaps it was the afternoon light streaming in, the breakfast room glowed. I loved the eclectic explorer flavor of the room with chinois touches.

flower-arranging room

The kitchen was a favorite of mine as well. Handsome hanging copper pots and pans always attract me and the immense hardware of this oven is gorgeous.

east loggia

the tea room

embossed ceilings and walls leading up to the tower

also featured in one of the guest rooms

another desired area was the hallway

that contained a smattering of one of a kind pieces

here's my adorable nephew, Zar

staircase photo from the museum archives

detail shot of stone barge from the museum archives

gazebo

view of the villa from the gazebo

Vizcaya aerial photo

"The expansive gardens combine elements of Renaissance Italian and French designs. Suarez and Chalfin worked for seven years, perfecting the design of the gardens as one vast outdoor room with the elements serving as complementary parts of an integrated area. Key features include the many fountains, a central pool surrounding an elevated island, the elevated Mound with its small house, or “Casino,” statuary, and several themed gardens." --- vizcayamuseum.org

landscape architect Diego Suarez, 1969

marine garden

south terrace to the mound

maze garden

David A. Klein orchidarium

After Deering’s death in 1925, a minimal staff maintained the house. The hurricane of 1926, which devastated much of Miami, extensively damaged the house, surrounding grounds and formal gardens. Deering's heirs, Marion Deering McCormick and Barbara Deering Danielson, contacted the estate's original designer, Paul Chalfin, who oversaw the first restoration of Vizcaya in 1933-4. The McCormicks and Danielsons attempted to operate the estate as an attraction, but another major hurricane in 1935 overwhelmed their efforts. Eventually most of the land was sold for development. In 1952, Deering’s heirs generously conveyed the main house and formal gardens to Dade County, for a sum below the actual value. In 1955, The County exercised an option to acquire the village as well. Deering's heirs donated the estate's substantial furnishings and art to the County on condition that Vizcaya be used as a public museum in perpetuity. Over the years the effects of South Florida’s elements have taken their toll on Vizcaya, making constant restoration and the installation of a climate control system a necessity." --- vizcayamuseum.org

We ended the day at the charming
Casa Tua restaurant.

It houses a members-only club and 5-suite boutique hotel
personalized and designed by Michele Bonan.

The cozy feel of the restaurant goes with its
well executed rustic menu.

grilled octopus

ravilolini del plin with sauteed mix mushrooms,
truffle pecorino, and black truffles

*photos are from personal archives (taken December 2009)except for most of the historical professional images and the fashion photos are from WWD*

Post Memorial Day

2011-05-31T09:21:00.003-04:00

Happy!

It's officially wear white and strawberry season!

photos taken on a PCH drive detour, 2006

I have journeyed along the Pacific Coast Highway twice

and it's definitely a bucket list must if you haven't yet.

the lovely food purveyors at

19 Charles Street

came up with this pasta with strawberry tomato sauce.

hmmm, i'm already dreaming about it.

Bookworm Weekend: The World of Gloria Vanderbilt

2011-05-30T16:03:00.001-04:00

One of the highlights from our Withit Design Tour in NYC

was meeting Wendy Goodman,

the author of The World of Gloria Vanderbilt

Before reading this book, I didn't know much about Gloria Vanderbilt except for a mishmash of fashion spreads and tabloid stories. Withit gave all the design tour attendees our books but I would have bought it after the discussion with Wendy Goodman.

"My mom is a survivor, but she has none of the toughness that term often implies. She has strength, great stores of it, but she has refused to develop a layer of thick skin to protect herself. She remains vulnerable. It is a difficult and sometimes painful choice. She wants to remain open---open eyes, open mind, open heart. It's cost her, but she has succeeded. There is no one I know who is so open to the new: new experiences, new opportunities, new love, even if it means loss. She truly believes the best is yet to come, that great adventures are out there, just around the corner. She may have been born into a world that no longer exists, but she lives in a place about to happen." ---- excerpt from the special foreword, by Anderson Cooper, a fitting tribute to his mother.

Annie Leibovitz, 2006

Vanity Fair

my signed copy

Gloria driving a pedal car in Paris. Her mother had moved the family to Paris in 1926 after Reginald's (her husband) death. Gloria led a nomadic life in Europe until she returned to America in 1932.

photo by Horst P. Horst

At 17, in Beverly Hills wearing a tabletop dress by Howard Greer. Tabletop dresses looked good from the waist up when stars were photographed sitting in restaurants and nightclubs.

Richard Avedon, 1956

10 Gracie Square

Richard Avedon, 1960

outfit by Mainbocher

February 1969 cover

Town and Country

Francesco Scavullo

Horst P. Horst, 1970

outfit by Adolfo

Gloria portrayed the gyspet style early on. Her bedroom with Wyatt Cooper at 45 east Sixty-seventh Street was one of the most famous rooms in modern decoration. Gloria covered every surface of the room with a collage of quilt pieces, including the lacquered floor.

Growing up, nanny Dodo and grandmother Naney made up what Gloria called "the Caravan". The Caravan was home to three--Dodo, Naney, and me. It was steamer trunks, packing and unpacking on ocean liners, in hotels, on trains, on rented houses in Paris, Cannes, England. It mattered not where as long as we three were together."

Juliana Force, Gertrude Vanderbilt Whitney's assistant and the first museum director of Whitney Museum of American Art, influenced Gloria's style. The floral pattern on the floor, accomplished with many coats of lacquer over fabric inspired the patchwork quilt room.

Wyatt and Gloria Cooper with sons Carter and Anderson

Jack Robinson, 1972

Summertime

Jack Robinson, 1972

gingham on gingham

Summertime, Long Island

Gloria Vanderbilt, 1976

the original designer jeans

Beekman Place

Woven into these beautiful and glamourous photos are lovely stories and lessons well told by the author. Here's Gloria's thoughts after surviving the tragedy of her son, Carter's, suicide:

"Don't give up, don't ever give up, because without pain there cannot be joy, and both are what make us know we are alive. You have the courage to let the pain you feel possess you, the courage not to deny it, and if you do this, the day will come when you wake and know that you are working through it, and because you are, there is a hope, small though it may be, a hope you can trust, and the more you allow yourself to trust it, the more it will tell you that although nothing will ever be the same, and the suffering you are working through will be with you always---you will come through, and when you do you'll know who you really are, and someday there will be moments when you will be able to love again, and laugh again, and live again. I hope this will come true for you as it has for me."

Gloria and Anderson with the portrait of

Gloria's mother by Dana Pond in Paris, 1923

Gloria Vanderbilt book signing

at Ralph Lauren's 888 Madison Ave store

Wendy Goodman, Ralph Lauren, GV, Anderson Cooper

Wendy Goodman

She also co-wrote another must have tome for the design library,
Tony Duquette

and is the editor of Home Design Guide, New York Magazine

Ms. Goodman's take away lesson: "But the one thing that is evident in Gloria Vanderbilt's life is that her strength and resolve and invincible warrior spirit didn't come from the wasteland of imagining "what if." Her incredible journey has been built on dealing with "what is," and the hard work and courage it takes to transform the uncontrollable in life into something positive and enriching. Andre Breton's observation that "childhood is the only reality" is the mountain that has to be scaled in life. Some make it over and others do not. "

These powerful words resonated with me. I have never let my not so rosy childhood or any circumstances thereafter deter me from living life to the fullest. Anything is possible.

I have always been a fan of Wendy Goodman's Home Design Guide features in New York Magazine. Meeting her was a real delight and honor.

here with Betty Lyn Eller, Regenia Payne, Amy Huff

Do you have any practical advice for creative individuals, or anyone, in fact?

I think you trust yourself, love yourself, and all will be well. I think it’s important to have an image of what you’re striving for and what you’re working towards—what you’re hoping to be. I want to be the best I can be for as long as I can.

--taken from Psychoanalyzing Gloria Vanderbilt on Vanity Fair

Bookworm Weekend: Savage Beauty

2011-05-30T03:44:00.004-04:00

I couldn't agree more with this statement.

I order books as often as I can; leaving them on loosely organized to-read piles only to languish as such for a good while. These are subdivided into the following: to read now, to read soon, to read later, to keep, and to read quickly and pass on. Aside from a few good pieces of furniture, dinnerware, sentimentoes, and wardrobe keepers, there are old books and magazines in storage, waiting to be read and reread. Some magazines are a few years old but I can't bear discarding until I've gone through them from cover to cover. I hope I'm not the only person who has this awfully long backlog around here. After an inspired design week in NYC recently, I took this long weekend to process the inspiration by delving into the latest coffee table book to arrive. I received the book before seeing the exhibit at the Metropolitan Museum but didn't open it. I knew that this would be a keeper and got some for my fashionista friends as gifts.

Alexander McQueen's Savage Beauty

a tableau with my seed pearls and brass necklace
on the left skull

and the layered pearl and scrolled medallion necklace
my friend, Carla Herrera, made.

expressing a bit of romantic primitivism with

a carved boar tusk necklace

I love the vivid explosion of Spring interpreted in these S/S 2011 shoe collection by Sarah Burton. This was just how I felt while viewing the MET exhibit, awash with a sense of wonder and madness, shrouded in extreme light and darkness. The scope of his artistry was incredible and one doesn't really grasp its layers until you see all of it together in full force. I left wondering what could have been if he didn't leave too soon. But then maybe this is enough; he gave so much of himself in every creation.

McQueen's Autumn Winter 2010 Collection

the installation in the Romantic Gothic gallery

Dante, autumn/winter 1996–97

Black wool felt embroidered with gold bullion cord
From the collection of Isabella Blow courtesy of the Hon. Daphne Guinness

In McQueen’s Words

“I spent a long time learning how to construct clothes, which is important to do before you can deconstruct them.” Self Service, Spring/Summer 2002

It’s a Jungle Out There, autumn/winter 1997–98

Jacket of brown pony skin with impala horns; trousers of bleached denim

In McQueen’s Words

“The whole show feeling was about the Thomson’s gazelle. It’s a poor little critter—the markings are lovely, it’s got these dark eyes, the white and black with the tan markings on the side, the horns—but it is the food chain of Africa. As soon as it’s born it’s dead, I mean you’re lucky if it lasts a few months, and that’s how I see human life, in the same way. You know, we can all be discarded quite easily. . . . You’re there, you’re gone, it’s a jungle out there!”

McQueen quoted in Caroline Evans, Fashion at the Edge: Spectacle, Modernity and Deathliness (New Haven, Conn.: Yale University Press, 2002)

Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious, autumn/winter 2002–3
Coat of black parachute silk; trouser of black synthetic; hat of black silk satin
Hat by Philip Treacy for Alexander McQueen courtesy of Alister Mackie
Courtesy of Alexander McQueen
Photography by Sølve Sundsbø

In McQueen’s Words

“This collection was inspired by Tim Burton. It started off dark and then got more romantic as it went along.”
Numéro, July/August 2002
“Life to me is a bit of a [Brothers] Grimm fairytale.”
Reuters, February 2001

VOSS, spring/summer 2001

Red and black ostrich feathers and glass medical slides painted red
Courtesy of Alexander McQueen

Photography by Vogue

Andrew Bolton: This particular dress came from a collection called VOSS, which was all about beauty. And I think one of McQueen’s greatest legacies was how he would challenge normative conventions of beauty and challenge your expectations of beauty—what we mean by beauty. This particular one is made out of ostrich feathers dyed red. And the glass slides are actually microscope slides that have been painted red to give the idea of blood underneath. And there’s a wonderful quote in association with this dress, where he talks about how there’s blood beneath every layer of skin. And it’s an incredible, again, very powerful, powerful piece.

In McQueen’s Words

“There’s blood beneath every layer of skin.”

The Observer Magazine, October 7, 2001

VOSS, spring/summer 2001

Courtesy of Alexander McQueen

Photography by Vogue

Jacket of pink and gray wool bird’s-eye embroidered with silk thread; trouser of pink and gray wool bird’s-eye; hat of pink and gray wool bird’s-eye embroidered with silk thread and decorated with Amaranthus

In McQueen’s Words

“I want to be honest about the world that we live in, and sometimes my political persuasions come through in my work. Fashion can be really racist, looking at the clothes of other cultures as costumes. . . . That’s mundane and it’s old hat. Let’s break down some barriers.”

Nylon, February 2004

Irere, spring/summer 2003
Ivory silk organza, georgette, and chiffon

Andrew Bolton: One of the highlights in this gallery is a dress called the “Oyster” Dress, which is made up of hundreds and hundreds of layers of silk organza, almost like a mille-feuille pastry. And the collection told the story of a shipwreck at sea and the subsequent landfall in the Amazon, and it was peopled with pirates, conquistadors, and Amazonian Indians.

And I think that what’s interesting about this particular dress is you see how McQueen evolved as a designer in terms of the fact that he was always well known as a tailor. With this particular dress, you see a much softer approach. As Sarah Burton explains:

Sarah Burton: He wanted this idea of it—was almost like she drowned—and the top part of the dress is all fine boning and tulle, and the chiffon is all frayed and disheveled on the top. The skirt is made out of hundreds and hundreds of circles of organza. Then, with a pen, what Lee did was he drew organic lines. And then all these circles were cut, joined together, and then applied in these lines along the skirt. So you created this organic, oyster-like effect.

Andrew Bolton: He learned softness at Givenchy; he learned draping at Givenchy. And this particular dress, I think, is a real tour de force of the couture and is a great reference to the skills that McQueen learned at the ateliers at Givenchy.

In McQueen’s Words

“Working in the atelier [at Givenchy] was fundamental to my career . . . Because I was a tailor, I didn’t totally understand softness, or lightness. I learned lightness at Givenchy. I was a tailor at Savile Row. At Givenchy I learned to soften. For me, it was an education. As a designer I could have left it behind. But working at Givenchy helped me learn my craft.”

Purple Fashion, Issue 7, Summer 2007

It’s Only a Game, spring/summer 2005

Lilac leather and horsehair

Courtesy of Alexander McQueen

Photography by Vogue

"He knew exactly what he wanted, and he knew exactly what he saw didn’t look right on you, and what he wanted on you. So fittings were very . . . they weren’t long and exhausting at all. They were quick. I love when someone just knows and tells you from A to Z exactly what they want. I love that.

I know his looks when I was watching—as a spectator watching the show; they were drastic with women. A lot of people thought, “Oh, he doesn’t like women.” But it’s not true; Lee loved women. It’s just a show. It’s a performance. Those were the most terrifying shows to do as a model but then, after, the most fun because you pushed yourself to do something out of your comfort zone, you know?"---Naomi Campbell

In McQueen’s Words

“[In this collection] the idea of the chess game meant that we looked at six different types of women, women on opposing sides. We had the Americans facing the Japanese and the redheads facing the tanned Latinos.”

Another Magazine, Spring/Summer 2005

Widows of Culloden, autumn/winter 2006–7

Cream silk tulle and lace with resin antlers

Courtesy of Alexander McQueen

Photography by Vogue

In McQueen’s Words

“When we put the antlers on the model and then draped over it the lace embroidery that we had made, we had to poke them through a £2,000 piece of work. But then it worked because it looks like she’s rammed the piece of lace with her antlers. There’s always spontaneity. You’ve got to allow for that in my shows.” Big, Autumn/Winter 2006

Sarabande, spring/summer 2007

Nude silk organza embroidered with silk flowers and fresh flowers

Courtesy of Alexander McQueen

Photography by Vogue

this was one of my favorite collections of all time

see an old blog post here

The Girl Who Lived in the Tree, autumn/winter 2008–9

Coat of red silk satin; dress of ivory silk chiffon embroidered with crystal beads
Courtesy of Alexander McQueen
Photography by Sølve Sundsbø

Andrew Bolton: This crimson coat and delicate empire-waist dress culminated a collection from 2008–9, inspired by the queens of England. As Sarah Burton explains:

Sarah Burton: It’s an enormous volume of fabric that at the neck is all bulleted and at the hem is all bulleted. But although it’s duchess satin, it still appears very light. And I think he wanted this sort of, you know, this regality but a lightness to it.

Andrew Bolton: The collection, called The Girl Who Lived in the Tree, was dreamy and romantically nationalistic, albeit tinged with irony. Sam Gainsbury produced the runway show for the collection, which featured an enormous tree wrapped in transparent grey silk:

Sam Gainsbury: Mostly Lee would have a very clear idea of who the girl was, and then from that point he would decide where she was, and then he’d decide what she was wearing. He had an amazing tree in his garden in Fairleigh, in his country house, and this tree had always fascinated him. So for me it was about the beauty and the power of this tree.

Andrew Bolton: McQueen conceived a fairy tale about a girl who dressed in beautiful black rags—presented during the first half of the show. When she met her prince, she descended from her tree, and her wardrobe exploded with the color, opulent materials, and jewels you see here.

In McQueen’s Words

“I don’t really get inspired [by specific women]. . . . It’s more in the minds of the women in the past, like Catherine the Great, or Marie Antoinette. People who were doomed. Joan of Arc or Colette. Iconic women.” Purple Fashion, Summer 2007

The Horn of Plenty, autumn/winter 2009–10
Black duck feathers

Courtesy of Alexander McQueen
Photography by Sølve Sundsbø

One of the most compelling items in this particular gallery is an ensemble that’s made out of duck feathers dyed black, which gives the impression of a raven. A raven was a Romantic symbol of death. It’s an item that’s very melancholic but also very romantic at the same time. It came from a collection called The Horn of Plenty. And The Horn of Plenty was a collection that was very much inspired by the 1950s haute couture. And you even see the silhouette here; you see the very nipped-in waist, the huge shoulders. McQueen loved a very hard shoulder and a very small waist. So even in this particular garment—even though it seems so extreme—he’s still referencing 1950s couture. He’s still playing with the proportions that he loved so much. And feathers play such an important role in McQueen’s work. He loved birds. And feathers was a material that he would revisit again and again in his work.

In McQueen’s Words

“It is important to look at death because it is a part of life. It is a sad thing, melancholy but romantic at the same time. It is the end of a cycle—everything has to end. The cycle of life is positive because it gives room for new things.” Drapers, February 20, 2010

Jellyfish

Plato’s Atlantis, spring/summer 2010
Dress, leggings, and “Armadillo” boots embroidered with iridescent enamel paillettes

Sarah Burton: I think with Plato’s Atlantis, it was real perfection the way he executed every single piece. But knowing Lee, he would have probably gone somewhere completely different after Angels and Demons. He would always surprise you, and that was the joy of working with him, is he would always take it somewhere that was unexpected.

Every time he would take up a different theme or a different angle or a different technique and he would always push it forward, like, relentlessly pushing forward. And you could never really predict what he was going to do because he was so much his own person. His vision was so pure. And he was really funny, and he was really good fun to work for. And, you know, he was incredibly loyal and incredibly inspiring.

Andrew Bolton: McQueen once remarked, “I’m overly romantic,” but it was precisely his romantic yearnings that propelled his creativity and advanced fashion in directions previously considered unimaginable.

In McQueen’s Words

“[This collection predicted a future in which] the ice cap would melt . . . the waters would rise and . . . life on earth would have to evolve in order to live beneath the sea once more or perish. Humanity [would] go back to the place from whence it came.”

Plato’s Atlantis (spring/summer 2010) program notes

“There is no way back for me now. I am going to take you on journeys you’ve never dreamed were possible.” WWD, February 12, 2010

Cabinet of Curiosities gallery

balsa wood skirt

1999

Alexander McQueen

Andrew Bolton

curator of the exhibition

To McQueen who considered himself an artist,
fashion is just the medium.

He believed that fashion should touch you emotionally.

He felt that deeply, deeply, deeply.

text about the clothes are copied verbatim from here

the exhibition has been extended. click here for details

Easter Chronicles|Fish Tales: Day 7&8

2011-05-29T01:04:00.007-04:00

Day 7: April 15, 2006

We trolled back to Pilar from Pansukian amidst these deliriously gigantic waves. I took these photos while sitting on edge as these waves came up to the side. Siargao Island's Pacific-facing reefs are situated on the edge of the Philippine Trench or Philippine Deep which makes it popular for ocean fishing and surfing.

The world's second deepest spot underwater is in the Philippines.
This is about 34,440 feet (10,497 meters) below the sea level.

Along the way, the FBF caught a wahoo which provided a welcome distraction amidst scary thoughts of the deep.

We circled the rocks slowly hoping to catch more fish before heading back to Pilar, the fishing village but didn't catch any more.

Lunch was at the home (which is also a no frills bed and breakfast) of Junior Gonzales, the local living fishing legend. His better half, Jean, is famous for her seafood fare and banana bread. This crustacean bounty was served for lunch with a vinegar, soy sauce, lemon, and garlic dip.

It was a lazy afternoon so we spent some time with the children in the neighborhood. The bicycle bell of the ice cream man came a calling and we treated the kids to a round of sorbetes.

Day 8: April 16, 2006

Bong and Hyde, our hosts, saw us off as we left Pilar with light hearts and easy smiles.

We saw many gorgeous vistas along the way.

A rainbow archway welcomed us as we approached Leyte. Oh, It was magical.

Leyte is most famous for its role in the reconquest of the Philippines during World War II. General Douglas MacArthur waded ashore on Leyte, saying "I have returned", on October 20, 1944. However, the Japanese did not give up so easily. The four-day Battle of Leyte Gulf was the largest naval battle in history.

MacArthur Landing statues

We stopped by the fabled isle of Limasawa and feasted on the steamed crab Jean sent with us for lunch. Limasawa is where they say, the first mass in the Philippines was celebrated on March 31, 1521, an Easter Sunday. The Magellan's Cross shrine is located on the highest point of the island.

Magellan contented himself with having them do reverence to the cross which is erected upon a hillock as a sign to future generations of their alliance.The solemnity with which the cross was erected and the deep piety shown by the Spaniards, and by the natives following the example of the Spaniards, engendered great respect for the cross. “Not finding in Butuan the facilities required by the ships, they returned to Limasawa to seek further advice in planning their future route. The Prince of Limasawa told them of the three most powerful nations among the Pintados [Visayans], namely those of Caraga, Samar, and Zebu. The nearness of Zebu, the facilities of its port, and the more developed social structure (being more monarchial) aroused everyone’s desire to go thither. Thus, guided by the chief of Limasawa, passing between Bohol and Leyte and close to the Camotes Islands, they entered the harbor of Cebu by the Mandawe entrance on the 7th of April 1521, having departed from Limasawa on the first day of that month.” Translation of Spanish text by Fr. Miguel A. Bernad

After earning my golden jojoba crisp sea legs on this trip, I now look at my thunder thighs with more love and respect. Those extra kilojoules stored in my cellulite do have a purpose, after all. I may have added years to my weather beaten forehead but it was worth it. The best things in life are truly free. As cliche as that sounds...

I asked myself again the question that a few people asked me. Was this true love or delirium? There was true love but neither love nor delirium made me want to go on this trip. It was the willingness to live a full life without missing a beat.

I learned from this particular trip that it was important to feel each sensation to the marrow, smell the tendrils of existence, grasp every morsel in my small hands, and taste the underbelly of raw textures.

Such earthiness propels me to max it out as it keeps me grounded. The intricacies of the jaded world I'm treading on has never been experienced with more clarity and appreciation. At the end of the day, a full life is the only way to prepare for a good death.

We made it to Cebu just before sunset where the soft rays collided with the jagged shadows of the hills. A friend once said that there's something deeply spiritual about watching the sun rise and set because it's the comfort of the inevitable. I concur and joyously bask in its shades of light and darkness, adding more hues to my already colorful canvas.

Easter Chronicles|Fish Tales: Day 5&6

2011-04-24T20:03:00.002-04:00

Day 5: April 13, 2006

Not used to waiting, my patience was being tested. Still no catch, I was getting restless. Instead of daydreaming about big catches, the endless blue made me mentally wander off to the nether regions. As much as one respects the sea, sometimes, it can't help but play tricks on your head. Well, I brought the perfect book for that day. Alain de Botton's Consolations of Philosophy. I picked the book up years before while at Heathrow on a quick stopover after a tearful adieu in Milan with someone who was never meant to be.

Here's an excerpt of the Amazon review---"consolation for a broken heart in Schopenhauer, consolation for inadequacy in Montaigne. Epicurus, usually associated with a love of luxury, is a solace for those of us without much money--and de Botton learns from him that "objects mimic in a material dimension what we require in a psychological one." Enough said.

We ventured further to the ocean this time near the payao (a local term for FAD -Fish Attracting Device). It is a blue water artificial reef composed of an anchor, line and coconut leaves just below the water surface. Looks like it's the place to be as we saw a group of boats here.

Whew, finally got the skunk out of the boat with the first fish caught!

The sea must have felt our anguish because we caught 15 yellowfin tuna that morning! My arms ached from reeling them in but oh, it was such a good ache and the adrenaline rush was addictive.

We went back to Pilar and saw a friend just hoisting up

his big catch of the day, a sailfish.

see the boat on the left , that's the small 27 ft Malasugi boat

we used to venture out into the Pacific Ocean

We asked him to sashimi our catch

I posed with his fish while he got busy

payao or FAD (Fish Attracting Device)

Sated and still fresh from the morning high, we went back out to the payao or FAD that afternoon and caught eight more. Similar to the morning scene, it was like the designated social spot in the middle of the ocean with everyone gathered about.

The colors of the sky as it progressed into the evening were beyond gorgeous.

Capped our day with a marvelous sunset and the rising full moon. The sea was calm and our journey back to Pilar was illuminated by the moon. I laid down, looked up the magnificent sky to thank God who I really felt was in the details at that particular moment.

Day 6: April 14, 2006

Siargao is also the surfing destination in the Philippines and we passed by Cloud 9 which has a worldwide reputation for thick hollow tubes. This right-breaking reef wave discovered by traveling surfers in the late 80s was named and made famous by American photographer, John S. Callahan. He published the first major feature on Siargao Island in Surfer magazine in March 1993. Callahan has put the island on the international map and has drawn thousands of surfers and tourists to Siargao.It now hosts the the annual Siargao Cup, a domestic and international surfing competition.

The sea was glassy as we headed for Pansukian, the exclusive resort in the area, owned by Nicolas Rambeau. Nicolas is a bon vivant of many interests. Aside from having a museum grade shell collection, he also taught me how to cook foie gras when we cooked for the former Philippine president, Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in another island in the Pacific. But that's another story for the books.....

Pansukian was purchased by the outdoor furniture company Dedon and is now called, what else, but Dedon Island. They are currently working with Jean-Marie Massaud, to make it a Dedon playground. The small resort's homey yet exclusively luxe vibe is what attracted many disciminating guests worldwide then. I wonder what it will be like after the makeover.

If you want a quiet and pristine getaway,this is the place to connect with yourself and nature. It was the perfect setting for Good Friday. I read the scriptures as the birds chirped. At dusk, we lounged on a Dedon daybed by the shore with a fine bottle of bubbly as we waited for the moonrise. Lovely smiles and warm whispers....

Easter Chronicles|Fish Tales: Day 3&4

2011-04-24T17:01:00.004-04:00

Day 3: April 11, 2006

View Fish Tales Day 3 in a larger map

We ventured down to Bucas Grande for a day cruise. Lush mushroom shaped limestone rocks sprout from shimmering aquamarine, turquoise and emerald waters. I truly wasn't prepared for the unimaginable splendour beyond.

They are very similar to the Rock Islands of Palau, Micronesia but what makes Sohoton Ecotourism Park a protected landscape and seascape are its sandy coves, islets and lagoons, long stretches of sugar fine beaches, exotic flora, fauna, and wildlife that inhabit the area. These include tarsiers, two kinds of hornbills, the serpent and white-breasted eagles, green sea turtles, and 19 kinds of fruit bats.

The park has 13 inland lakes but

the pièce de résistance is Sohoton Cove.

Entry to the hidden lagoon is ONLY

during low tide and by paddleboat.

Our guide took us in and out of this cove.

Each visit is only limited to two hours

or the entry is flooded when the tide comes in.

There is no other way out in this particular area of the park.

time's telltale signs

The Horseshoe, a stalactite landmark,

is the only way to recognize the Cove

among the many identical ragged cliffs and islets.

magical

couldn't help but marvel and luxuriate in its beauty

There was so much to absorb, interesting characteristics only nature can pull off.

My photos don't even do it justice.

Here are a couple of images from the Philippine tourism website:

My reverie was interrupted by a swift whoosh and a cry of pain that strongly echoed.

The FBF accidentally hooked himself with a fishing lure.

On tenterhooks, I frantically searched our first aid kit for something to macgyverize with. The hospital is in Socorro, 40 minutes away, by water. Thankfully, Steve Brown (bless him!) , had a 'trout hook remover' in his kit that he didn't even know he had. I conveniently moved away and let the men handle the 'situation'. I was only useful for hydrogen peroxide and neosporin dabbing.

After that little episode, we took it easy in the afternoon

and explored the outline of Bucas Grande as we trolled.

crabbing

a precociously sweet boy

Play a film fantasy and you'll find the perfect setting...

Blue Lagoon

Survivor

Lord of the Flies

From Here to Eternity

The Beach

Combed the shore and put these together

over some Pinot Grigio.

On our way back, we refueled at Dapa before heading home to Pilar.

Unforgettable smiles that tug at your heart strings.

Day 4: April 12, 2006

Pilar-Daco-Pansukian-Pilar

We started out at 9ish and trolled the ocean again. We spotted Junior Gonzales on his Kingfisher. Junior is Pilar's living fishing legend and he was playing guide that day to the famed jeweller Hans Brumann. It was fascinating to see him fight and reel in his dream catch and first sailfish. He struggled with it for about half an hour until it landed. Junior must possess the secret language of the sea since he was with us too when I caught my only two sailfish.

On this bright and beautiful day, I soaked up more sun while waiting for some fish to come around. Got antsy so I mindlessly read Sophie Kinsella's, Can You Keep A Secret? as we trolled and trolled....and trolled.

We stopped by Daco Island to say hello to Bong Castillo's son, Shoji and his friend, Michael, who were with the other men. They left very early in the morning and stopped here for lunch and siesta before another afternoon fishing run.

Sayo, Shoji, Michael and Co.

Sayo and his lovely family

I met Sayo on my first visit to Siargao. He has accompanied us a good number of times out in the ocean. We went drift fishing together once. Drift fishing takes place from a boat that is not anchored but is drifting with the wind and current. There were 4 of us on this outrigger boat from sundown to sunrise. Let me digress a bit here.

Drift fishing the way the locals do was in my bucket list. The FBF and Bong didn't think I would survive and kept asking me right before we left if I was sure since there was no turning back until the next morning. Ever since we visited Siargao, I was charmed and intrigued by the simple life of fishing folk. I felt that if they do it everyday, at least, I could try and see what it was like. We found a spot in an hour, got settled, ate a simple dinner of rice and fish by the glow of the kerosene lamp. We chatted, sat in silence, smoked, and took turns catnapping. Lulled by the sea and darkness and a slight chill, it was meditative. The liberating suspension of not knowing where we were once it got dark, where we were headed, and what was under the deep allowed a sweet surrender that I've never experienced. It was like that for many hours except for the frenetic squid fishing when we realized not a single fish was biting. As the sun slowly crept up in the morning, the men instinctively knew where we were and immediately pointed to the direction of Pilar, our base. How they do it without a GPS amazes me when it's all a sea of blue. We didn't catch some tuna but we had pounds and pounds of squid that Sayo happily sold at the market. The experience strengthened one of the lessons that my yoga guru, Tulsi, has been trying to impress upon me. That it's ok to detach, let go, not take control, and go with the flow. Words that are always easier said than done.

Sayo's dear wife served us these freshly picked coconuts

with makeshift scoops.

While at Daco, we did a quick house tour of our friends, Billy and Marlene Mondoñedo's, gorgeous contemporary island home. Designed by top Philippine architect Ed Calma, it took about two years to build the house partly due to the logistical challenge.

My favorite part of the house is this bamboo loggia hung with

antique Japanese glass fishing floats/buoys.

We stopped by Pansukian Resort to get some wine.

When one can't catch any fish,

might as well drink like a fish!

Later that night after dinner, we went on a moonlit cruise along the mangroves.

to be continued....

Day 1&2 here

Easter Chronicles|Fish Tales: Day 1&2

2011-04-24T16:08:00.002-04:00

This was a post I started last Holy Week but never finished. I've decided to do so this week and reposting the first two parts from last year. As Confucius said, when you teach a man how to fish, he will eat for a lifetime. I learned a good bit about myself on this trip and would like to share some thoughts and photos that were published under my Gypsy Queen column from Cebu's Sunstar Daily in 2006.

April 2, 2010

Growing up, we observed Holy Week strictly with the supervision of my deeply religious grandmother, Gliceria. I followed the drill like a convent-bred schoolgirl. Later on, it morphed into bacchanalian holidays that she would not have approved of. After years of pious observance, then of revelry, I think I found a balance during this particular time of my life (2006) when I went on a week long fishing trip on the Pacific Ocean with a former boyfriend. I'll call him the FBF and no, he didn't become a former after this trip either. I will always be thankful to him and our dear friend, Winsor White, for teaching me how to fish. Winsor White is a highly regarded furniture designer who went to the esteemed Kendall College of Art and Design. He started his career at Baker Furniture when it was still owned by Siebe Baker and has had many interesting stints working with furniture greats like Paul Maitland-Smith among others. Winsor is now in his 80s and continues to live life to the fullest in every way by designing, fishing, traveling, staying in love, and enjoying the fine things in life. Truly an inspirational character.

Winsor White

I am not what you would call outdoorsy or adventurous but I'll try almost anything once. The FBF was an avid fisherman who wisely and slowly angled me into the sport. My first time to Siargao was on board Winsor White's luxe El Gato Negro with a tuna tower.

I landed an 18 and 22-kilo sailfish on my own. Yes! I reeled them in myself based on IGFA (International Game Fish Association) guidelines. Whether it was beginner's luck or sweeet sailfish carpaccio, I was immediately hooked! They normally catch and release but I took them back and hung them as trophies for my first photo op 'cause it would be hard for someone my size and lack of experience to land two at the first go. I will write a prequel about this following the Fish Tales Series.

it's not a mirage, what you see on the right is a sandbar

Day 1: April 9th, 2006

There had been much pre-embarkation skepticism amongst our friends (or frenemies?) and fisher folk that I wouldn't survive the nine-hour one way trip on board the Malasugi, a 27-foot center console. Someone even asked, "why are you doing this? is it love or delirium?" The well maintained Malasugi, though utilitarian in looks and amenities, had a great reliable engine (sorry, not capable of remembering engine models). The FBF had gone on a few similar journeys so his expertise and experience was something I didn't even think twice about. This particular time though, I strongly conditioned myself that luxury is not about the of the vessel but attitude. Armed with a bit of that, basics that felt like luxuries, liquids and a fruit platter (except for bananas since they're considered bad luck for fishing), we set off at the break of dawn.

While enjoying majestic seascapes, absorbing the rays and breeze, I dropped my all time favorite Gucci aviators with cool monogrammed lenses in the water three hours into the trip. Perhaps it was Poseidon's way of telling me that I shouldn't care too much about how I looked out in the ocean and there's nothing wrong with the polarized sunglasses that didn't look too cool with my embroidered caftan.

We stopped by Maasin, Leyte to refuel and ate the CPA (chicken pork adobo) and rice that Eva, the cook, lovingly made for us the night before. It is commonly packed for Filipino mountaineers and travelers because it keeps well without refrigeration. Brunch was at Steve and Jenn Brown's home by the water. Packing some marmite along with his fishing gear, Steve joined the journey on his boat from here.

Along the way, we met fishermen who brave the ocean on these bancas or outrigger canoes. I can't complain about the size of our boat if these men handline fish day in and out on these.

The ride was pleasant most of the way as I read Wei Hui's Marrying Buddha. Her semi-autobio of risque adventures and esoteric interests was a good beach read. The waves got bigger at the turn of the Pacific but I was too eager to see land to even bother much. Here's a rudimentary map of our journey.

View Fish Tales in a larger map

We docked at Bong Castillo's home away from his Cebu home just in time to view the sunset from the deck. He was so taken by the bucolic charms of Pilar, Siargao's fishing town, that he built two cottages along the waterfront village.

He made an effort to maintain its rustic appeal by blending in with the simple architectural landscape but equipping them with modern conveniences. Nature meets nurture.

Day 2: April 10, 2006

Woke up to the crowing of cocks and oinking of the pigs in the vicinity and warmed up to some tai chi, yoga and pilates with the other ladies.

Time felt like it was moving slow for some reason. I suppose this is what happens as one decompresses from the city.

By midday, I had been around the village and literally did some window shopping.

upcycled ingenuity

petromax lamps attached to styrofoam buoys

for night fishing

I knocked on doors to chat with the friendly locals while surveying their wares. Mind you, we weren't being rude. Many times, they would have their old wares left out in the open. Most are keen to have new things. The FBF thought that the shopping bug wouldn't hit me here but we took home an eight seater wood dining table with a solid plank top , a pair of black crows and some bric-a-brac. Shipping was via slow boat. In a country of 7,100 islands, when there's a will, there's always a waterway!

loved the vintage outfit so she gamely posed on her stair landing

In the afternoon, we trolled along the

three rocks of Port Pilar but didn't catch any fish.

As soon as we docked, I hurried to the mercado to buy dinner.

This yellow fin tuna, about 5' long, just came in.

I posed with the fish before it was weighed in.

We had some mighty succulent medium rare steaks that night.

to be continued...

Nipponese Dreams

2011-03-20T21:18:00.002-04:00

a wordless post as thoughts keep reflecting on Japan

*photos taken from a Japanese magazine

I bought in NYC 2 years ago

Hyper Holiday

2011-03-04T18:58:00.004-05:00

I have been in an extremely hypnagogic state for the last couple of weeks. A week of jetlag, the onslaught of work, chores, and errands are beating me down. My dear father, who I'm missing terribly, thinks it's due to the following reasons: I'm better fed at home, pampered with massages and acupuncture, didn't have to do any sort of physical labor (his term for basic household chores), and lived like a lady of leisure. Shades of a perfectly marbled cow's life seem so distant now as I type away from the kitchen counter listening to the dishwasher hum.

I remarked to Melanie, one of my best friends from college, that I am so unlike this. To which she replied, lamentably, "it's our age, dearie." Having recently turned 35, I shuddered at the thought while lying in bed. Vanity immediately got me back on my feet as I reached out for La Mer's Eye Balm Intense on my night stand ready to regain my footing.

Just emptied my postal box the other day and still opening a few holiday surprises. Christmas in March is still ok in my book as long as the weather is below 50F, though we've been having some spring flings at 70F the past days. Just as well, it suits flashbacks of my charmed hyper holiday which started last mid December in New York....

Irwin Feld Design's It's A Snow Day

material development research at a glitzy showroom

slipped into BG to pick up resort Louboutins

and stepped out in time to marvel at the
Unicef Baccarat snowflake

photo credit
Arrived Cebu in time for my birthday surprise

cleverly crafted by best friend Joanna Lhuillier

with the help of other besties

then along came Christmas

New Year crept up soon after

watching the fireworks

with my family

from the garden

was magical

It was the end of a very interesting decade,

to say the least.

so much to be thankful for

more to look forward to

everyday is a reason to celebrate

no matter what...

goals. resolutions. plans

are recorded

in the hopes that they will spring

to life from these pages

make time for family and friends

nurture oneself

unlock a few mysteries along the way

make dreams happen

create. sing. dance

days and nights are passing too quickly

2011 has been off to an amazing start

but there are days when I feel I'm not doing enough.

i'm happy to realize that i've been living my sage friend's advice

on his annual holiday card:

"find and fill in the blanks to your taste"

My dear friend, Jean Moraros, creates a beautiful holiday card every year. I posted his last card here. He is an artist in many ways with a beautiful soul. His aura and peaceful sensibility radiates. It is a delight to open his card in March as I'm stressing out about work. A healthy reminder that I have been doing what I'm supposed to be doing and always at the right time and place even when it doesn't seem to gel on days like this. Click on the photo to enlarge so you can seek your own adventure as well.

p.s. Hyper Holiday not over yet....will be sharing about our Cebu Mardi Gras in January and Lunar New Year

Bling on the Blingage

2011-02-22T13:30:00.004-05:00

Needless to say, I've been away from the blogosphere for a long time. Last December, I packed my bags for a 5 (that turned to 8) week holiday to Cebu. When I'm home, I put my blog breaks on and use all the time to spend with loved ones and get some me time. Online time is limited to work emails and instant messages on Twitter, Facebook, and Skype.

Before going on holiday, I normally have froulala tableaus

to help me pack wisely and organize wardrobe essentials for the trip.

I love mixing hi and lo for a gypset style with trinkets

I've collected over the years.

Basic colors red, black and gold come to glam life
when expressed in different materials and textures such as

corals, onyx, feathers, shells, shagreen,
braiding, knits, and embroidery.

The babouches are an old purchase from
a Casablanca souk 11 years ago

and the military vest is from
Marche aux puces de la Porte de Vanves

Still channeling more gold and mixing old and new

into my holiday wardrobe,

I made a ball and chains bracelet to go with

the traditional Philippine tambourine necklace

laid on exquisite piña fabric.

Piña is a pineapple fiber made from

the leaves of a pineapple plant.

It is combined with silk to create fabric.

Staying close to cultural roots keep me grounded.

Sticks and Stones may break my bones but

layers upon layers of Color and Gemstones

will never hurt me.

Inspired by the colors and textures of exotic travels

and smells of not too distant lands.

This Decodent necklace made with

jade, coral, and rhinestone balls was inspired by

a Shanghainese art deco vibe (hence the name).

It was the perfect accessory for

an impromptu trip to Singapore

during Chinese New Year.

This Hip-Hop necklace with galenas dipped in gold and silver was inspired by talks on gold futures. I wanted to add a dash of Midas touch when we debuted in High Point last Fall.

It goes well with both my silver and gold pieces whether

I'm wearing a black dress or just a plain white tee and jeans.

I think it looks rather fierce juxtaposed against one of my favorite vodka brands, Crystal Head Vodka . Alex bought it for me on one random trip to ABC knowing I would like the bottle. I liked it even better when I read that it is filtered over diamonds and has no artificial additives. "Quadruple distilled and filtered three times through charcoal followed by triple filtration over Herkimer Diamonds, Crystal Head Vodka is exquisitely packaged in a skull bottle crafted by master artisans at Milan's Bruni Glass Company. This "pure spirit" is produced in Newfoundland, Canada, without any artificial additives such as glycol, citrus, or sugar."

Organizing these wardrobe tableaus start when I put on my almost everyday uniform of yoga wear on mornings when I'm not rushing about. I pick through my accessory pile and set them aside. When I need a break from office work and selling furniture, I create in other ways and BLING it on! Christine from On a String bead shop in Myers Park helps me fasten my ideas together with her deft hands. She also has a fabulous selection of beads which I incorporate with my collection.

Turquoise + Pink

2010-12-28T10:00:00.003-05:00

Birth, 1986

Keith Haring

www.nouvellesimages.com

*for Dara Acusar, my friend who

fearlessly decided to be a single mother

Le Messager

Pascal Versavel

Collection Galerie Privee

www.editionsvp.com

*for Carmen Natschke, The Decorating Diva

Series 1, No. 8, 1919

Georgia O'Keeffe

Stadtische Galerie im Lenbachhaus, Munchen

*for Meredith Jackson, jewelry designer

Ganesh, 1992

Niki de Saint Phalle

serigraph, 65 x 50 cm

Langue Bleue, Waterguns design 2000

Collection Galerie Privee

froulala

A Glimpse of Old Saigon

Coraled

Paisley Party

pais·ley

Southern Treasures

Skylines

Bookworm Weekend: Yves Saint Laurent & Pierre Bergé

Colors of Summer

Vizcaya Museum and Gardens

Post Memorial Day

Bookworm Weekend: The World of Gloria Vanderbilt

Bookworm Weekend: Savage Beauty

Easter Chronicles|Fish Tales: Day 7&8

Easter Chronicles|Fish Tales: Day 5&6

Easter Chronicles|Fish Tales: Day 3&4

Easter Chronicles|Fish Tales: Day 1&2

Nipponese Dreams

Hyper Holiday

Bling on the Blingage

Turquoise + Pink