Fashion 101 from Mariel & Bianca

Mariel Rodriguez and Bianca Gonzalez offer tips that can make girls and women look like celebrities. Bianca and Mariel are endorsers of Meg Clothing line. Both were commercial and ramp models before showbiz beckoned. On stage and television, Bianca and Mariel are aware that what they wear has an impact on their audience.

They feel some kind of responsibility to the public and at the same time they have to express their individuality.

“Do not confine yourself to what people say you should wear. Individuality is important. Wear what you feel is comfortable and what is appropriate for the occasion,” says Bianca. And most of the time, girls going out on a first date are always at a quandary on what to wear. Is it dress down or dress up? Does she have to impress her date with big chunky jewelry? Does she have to wear jeans or a gown? Is wearing shorts okay on a first date? The answers are as diverse as the types of girls there are in this planet.

In their line of work as TV hosts, Bianca and Mariel may be considered image-savvy. They’ve collaborated with designers to create their red carpet looks. They’ve talked with fashion stylists on star dressing. Their exposure through travel has helped them cultivate their own style. For these reasons, Meg has chosen Bianca and Mariel as its image models/endorsers.

Many girls have come up to Bianca and Mariel for fashion advice. These two reveal, “Most of the time, they ask, ‘What should I wear on a date?’ or ‘What’s the best outfit for a date?’”

Some tips from Mariel and Bianca:

Dress for the location and the occasion. Mariel and Bianca advise that a girl should choose her outfit based on where her date is taking her, whether to the mall, a coffee shop, a restaurant or to the movies. Wear clothes you would usually wear to these places, but the trick though is to elevate the outfit one level higher. They suggest, “So if you always wear jeans and a T-shirt when you go to Starbucks, why not wear a skirt or a dress for a change?” Mariel says, “Dapat maganda, pero nothing too flashy, especially for a first date. Dapat yung pinakamaganda mong outfit pero dapat effortless pa rin ang dating. Dapat mukhang hindi ka masyadong naghanda.”

Strike a balance. Related to that is to be tastefully sexy. “Hindi dapat masyadong slutty. Puwedeng may konting sexiness factor,” says Mariel. For a dinner date, Bianca suggests a white polo and black high-waisted pants which are the latest fashion must-haves.

Natural makeup completes the look. A great outfit wouldn’t work if the makeup isn’t right. “Guys prefer the natural look,” says Bianca. “Scared sila kapag mukha kang fully made up.”

Mariel agrees, “Yeah, scared ang guys kapag parang hindi mahahawakan ang mukha.” Both recommend that a nice shade of lipstick and a cheek tint are enough to bring out the natural beauty to give a young lady a lovely glow.

Dress up like you’re always ready for a date. A girl should always look her best, not for anybody, but for herself. Looking great and feeling great are interrelated. “So dress up like you always have a date,” says Mariel.

“In other words,” says Bianca. “Don’t be caught wearing something pangit!”

Cosmetologie ’09

Fanny Serrano, president of PICA (Philippine International Cosmetologists Association), a newly-organized group of hairdressers, make-up artists and salon owners, announces that PICA will stage, as its initial project, COSMETOLOGIE ’09 on Feb. 26 and 27 at SMX. It is a three-day beauty fair offering seminars on makeup (conducted by Serrano), haircut, hair coloring, hair extensions, eyes and lips tattooing, wellness, starting a salon business, and a lot more of interesting beauty topics.

He is also inviting makeup artists to join PICA’s first Touche of Excellence hair and makeup open competition at The Arena, San Juan today, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Celebrity icons will sit as judges. P50,000 plus trophies each will be granted for Best Bridal MakeUp, Best Men’s Cut & Color, Best Ladies’ Cut & Color, Best Red Carpet Look and Best Animé Total Look during the event.  Interested artists can call and register at PICA secretariat at tel. 408-0021or log on to www.pica_tesda.com.