Lauder speaks volumes

When renowned makeup artist Tom Pecheux was hired as creative makeup director for Estee Lauder in November last year, it was with an eye to inject fashion, fantasy, naughtiness and above all, youth into the 64-year-old brand. Until her death in 2004 at the age of 96, the grande dame herself, Estee Lauder, ruled the roost with staggering acumen and foresight. After all, it may not be common knowledge, but under the Lauder Group of Companies, we’ll find such established brands as Clinique, Jo Malone, Bobbi Brown, Aveda, Aramis, La Mer, Origins, MAC and Smashbox. And in 1998, when Time magazine came out with its list of Influential Business Geniuses of the 20th century, the only woman on the list was Estee Lauder. So that’s some kind of legacy and brand equity Tom Pechuex was taking on as creative director of Lauder’s personal signature brand.

Estee Lauder Philippines was out to combat the inclement weather and launch the Pure Color Lipstick Collection at the Opus, Resorts World. That’s 19 shades that encompass the fashion rainbow and what Estee Lauder Philippines did was tag a personality to four of the more basic shades; so for Coral Red, Plum, Nude and Pink respectively, we had Priscilla Merielles, Isabelle Ledesma-Gonzales, Cesca Litton and Grace Lee. Each celebrity exudes her distinct persona; and it was interesting to note how they found a perfect partner in their lipstick shade-of-choice. A highlight of the evening was the specially made box of chocolate truffles “guised up” as shimmer balls — something I’m certain Estee and Tom would have readily approved of, and smiled about.

Kudos then to the team of Sandra Lacson, Liz Pe Aguirre, Myr Lao and Mel Lerma for holding back the tropical monsoon, and creating their own pocket of sunshine and glitz, if only within the confines of the Opus club and dining lounge. It was an evening of pure enchantment, pure friendship and Pure Color.

From past to future

Our past and our future, as seen by noted authors, in these two novels.

In these two novels, war and its attendant impact on our lives becomes the grist for stories and literature that place us under their spell. Daniel Wilson’s futuristic Robopocalypse is cinematic in scope and execution; while John Sayles is himself a noted filmmaker, and good friend of the Philippines. His Moment In the Sun is a monumental opus that critically looks at the United States and its period of expansion and colonialism at the turn of the century — i.e the Spanish-American War of the late 1890s.

Robopocalypse by Daniel Wilson (available at National Bookstore): In this world of smart phones, smart cars, Transformers and AI (artificial intelligence), Daniel Wilson dares to take a step further and creates a gripping story about AI going independent and deciding it’s best they take over, and reverse the roles of master and worker. Believing that mankind is destroying the world and its resources, the machines fall under the command of AI Archos, who efficiently plots the overthrow of humans. Global in impact, the book takes us from the United States, to Japan, Afghanistan, London and on to Alaska, where the final confrontation takes place. Humans who are part machine, and surprises like the Freeborn Squad — machines who are liberated from Archos’ influence, all add to this fast-paced read. Wouldn’t be surprised if optioned by Hollywood and coming soon to our favorite theater! And Wilson does a great job creating resourceful and individualistic human heroes.

Moment In The Sun by John Sayles (available at Fully Booked): At close to a thousand pages, just handling this book is a chore in itself; but hopefully, we won’t be daunted, as the book is a careful exposition of a particular juncture in American history, a juncture with special repercussions to us here in the Philippines. The time is 1897, and in the midst of the Klondike Rush to Alaska, there’s also the bombing of an American vessel in Havana Bay and the start of the Spanish-American War. Once again, this is a novel that is global in scope; and what Sayles does effectively is create very personal stories, then set them against world events. The multi-strand narrative works like a charm! There’s Hod, a prospector in Alaska, Royal, a Negro drafted to fight in the Caribbean, and Diosdado, a Filipino who  works with the forces seeking independence from Spain and being surprised by American designs. An absorbing read, with the chapters of Diosdado of special interest, as he interacts with the likes of Gregorio del Pilar and Emilio Aguinaldo.