Editor’s picks: What makes a woman stylish?
My favorite quotation on style comes not from a fashion guru, but from pop artist Andy Warhol who said: “How can you say one style is better than the other?”
He believed that style is something subjective and that everyone should have the freedom to express his own style.
With this Warholian viewpoint in mind, I walked into the new Chloe store in Greenbelt 4, and when I saw three familiar faces — Anne Curtis-Smith, Heart Evangelista and Solenn Heussaff — I decided to ask their opinion on what makes a woman stylish.
I wasn’t going to judge them. But looking at their favorites by Chloe, I liked what I saw: Heart and Solenn both chose the shell dangling earrings in gold brass-studded shell studs. Anne liked the camera bag in shiny leather. And chain tassels adorned with synthetic pearls. Heart favored the bracelet hobo bag in grained leather. Solenn spotted the wedge shoes and wore the vintage gold brass chain with the brand’s signature detail. All three loved clothes by Chloe.
The Chloe store — opened with Anton Huang and Nikki Huang of Stores Specialists, Inc. and Candice Wang of Chloe Asia Pacific presiding — was a neat vision with limestone, stainless steel and leather.
“We are excited to expand our presence at Greenbelt 4,” said Laurent Malecaze, president and CEO of Chloe. “This is our first cross-category boutique in this most important market, the Philippines, where we will build a customer base and continue the maison’s dialogue through our creative designer Chemena Kamali.”
So back to the question: What makes a woman stylish? Anne, Heart and Solenn give their answers.
Anne Curtis-Smith: A woman of style is someone who dresses according to how she feels — whether she’s confident or she’s having a bad day. Dressing is a way of expressing herself. And that’s exactly what a woman of style does.
Heart Evangelista: A woman of style would be somebody who just throws something quickly on, style would be innate to her. It's not necessarily the clothes, but it's how she meshes her life with what she wears and how she feels. And I feel like style is all about feeling as well.
Solenn Heussaff: A woman of style is someone who can carry herself and just be comfortable being herself in whatever she wears.
Scene & heard
Cecile Licad back for concerts
Good news for Cecile Licad fans and lovers of classical music!
Licad returns to the Philippines this September to perform in a concert with the Philippine Philharmonic Society (PPO) to be presented by Rustan’s and Cartier on Sept. 24 at the Metropolitan Theater.
Anton Huang, president and CEO of Stores Specialists Inc.(SSI) and Rustan’s, is spearheading this Licad concert. The two have been friends for years. Anton’s mom, Nedy Tantoco, has been Licad’s patroness the past decades when the internationally-celebrated pianist would come to Manila for concerts organized by Nedy. She would always stay in Nedy’s house where she practiced on her grand piano.
When Nedy passed away last year, the baton was passed to Anton, who is now chairman of the PPO Society Inc. (PPOSI).
“This concert is one of the final projects passionately championed by my mother for Licad and the PPO, and I am deeply privileged to continue her vision by presenting this as a fundraiser for the PPO through the PPOSI of which I am chairman,” said Anton.
Licad will also perform in outreach concerts from Sept. 27 to Oct. 20 in Baguio, Pinto Gallery, MiraNila, Iloilo and Catanduanes, with music empresario Pablo Tariman overseeing these.
Look what we found at Chloe
This ballet-inspired footwear, called Ghil- lies flats, comes also in kitten heels at the new Chloe store in Greenbelt 4.
Quote unquote
Cecile Licad: “Maestro Claudio Abaddo once told me: ‘Usually people would ask me about a performance or music. But of all things that I never expected a fan to ask me was this question: What shampoo do you use ‘cause your hair is so soft when you conduct?’ And Claudio said ‘Johnson Baby Shampoo’ and he started laughing.
“Little comments like this, I treasure. For everyone is human no matter how great they are.” — From the IG of @licadc
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Follow the author on Instagram and Facebook @milletmartinezmananquil. Email her at milletman88@gmail.com and mmmananquil@philstarmedia.com.
