Philstar.com

CHUVANESS

+ Follow Column

In life, Kunihiko Tsuji made children happy with Hello Kitty. In death, he wanted to help the kids of Yolanda victims

by Cecile Van Straten - December 8, 2013 - 12:00am

Tita Virgie Ramos and I share a deep love of anything cute and Japanese.

Clean palettes, bold accessories for Emporio Armani

by Cecile Van Straten - January 23, 2013 - 12:00am

As a kid watching the Oscars on TV, I associated the name Armani with the understated elegance of Jodie Foster and the perfect suits of George Clooney and Tom Cruise.

Vintage travel + '80s Antonio Lopez = Louis Vuitton FW2012-13

by Cecile Van Straten - October 3, 2012 - 12:00am

My fascination with this city started in the mid-’80s when I became close to Joey, a Thai citizen and former classmate of mine at UP Fine Arts.

Dot's incredible

by Cecile Van Straten - June 24, 2012 - 12:00am

For learning about contemporary artists Takashi Murakami and Richard Prince, I have to thank Louis Vuitton’s artistic director, Marc Jacobs.

Lunch with Chuck Hughes

by Cecile Van Straten - March 4, 2012 - 12:00am

Being married to a chef has its up and downs — well, mostly ups.

Lucy Hale: Pretty little Bench girl

by Cecile Van Straten - February 15, 2012 - 12:00am

If there’s anyone who recently had more fun in the Philippines, it’s got to be Lucy Hale, star of the ABC Family series Pretty Little Liars, and now the newest Bench girl.

The gift of scent

by Cecile Van Straten - December 18, 2011 - 12:00am

The French niche perfumer doesn’t advertise or bank on any celebrity endorser to market its products, but it counts among its fans Karl Lagerfeld, Philippe Starck, Andree Putman, Jane Birkin, Christian Lacroix,...

It's all about cacao

by Cecile Van Straten - October 2, 2011 - 12:00am

Unlike our Asian neighbors, there aren’t a lot of chocolatiers in the Philippines. So if you want to taste chocolate that’s not from the supermarket, I can only think of a few: there’s Royce’...

Burberry goes global digital, live from Beijing

by Cecile Van Straten - August 14, 2011 - 12:00am

In 1999, I became Burberry-obsessed when I saw a photo of a taffeta ball skirt in a British magazine. I had to have the skirt, the bucket hat, the cylinder bag, and of course, the scarves — in the classic Burberry...

Thomas Sabo goes Pop Asian

by Cecile Van Straten - August 7, 2011 - 12:00am

Global jewelry brand Thomas Sabo launched its sterling silver Fall/Winter 2011 collection at Dragon-I in Central, hosted by Sara Lee and Thomas Sabo communications manager Hanny Freund, who flew in from Germany...

Meet my next new credit card

by Cecile Van Straten - May 15, 2011 - 12:00am

Not all credit cards are created equal. A quick check inside my wallet shows I have six credit cards. I like my Citibank card for its Asia Miles and free movie tickets, and just like the Eastwest card, it has a high...

Don't be fooled: April 1 is Swatch Zebra Day at Rockwell Mall

by Cecile Van Straten - March 30, 2011 - 12:00am

"What’s up with Swatch Zebras?”

Ready, set, hop!

by Cecile Van Straten - March 13, 2011 - 12:00am

Days before the event, Swatch Philippines president (and fairy godmother to many) Virgie Ramos sent out invitations to her special guests.

Mrs. Cruise is the new face of Kamiseta

by Cecile Van Straten - February 27, 2011 - 12:00am

In progressive countries like Japan, it’s not uncommon to see Hollywood actors and international models endorsing homegrown labels.

Nars attacks

by Cecile Van Straten - December 12, 2010 - 12:00am

Ever wonder how a trend starts, how something you saw or experienced influences your personal style forever?

The Burden of Bea Valdes

by Cecile Van Straten - November 21, 2010 - 12:00am

It seems very few people know that before her iconic pieces made it to the pages of Vogue, accessory designer Bea Valdes was writing for a newspaper.

Success is in the bags

by Cecile Van Straten - October 31, 2010 - 12:00am

Irarely get excited by Philippine-made goods, so when something catches my eye, well, I just have to say it.

xO's Latest Now in Manila

by Cecile Van Straten - September 19, 2010 - 12:00am

When my husband and I started to build a house ten years ago, there wasn’t much choice in furniture you just had to make do with whatever the malls had to offer.

Eye candy at Louis Vuitton's new Bond Street Maison

by Cecile Van Straten - September 5, 2010 - 12:00am

When Louis Vuitton’s opened its newest maison at New Bond Street in London last May, it featured an exhibition devoted to Louis Vuitton ready-to-wear designs by Marc Jacobs.

Muji is the next big thing opening this October

by Cecile Van Straten - August 22, 2010 - 12:00am

Manila, we’re getting spoiled.

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5

Get Updated: