Fabulous fashion & food
Charina Sarte’s fashion philosophy has always been founded on combining sexy with elegant. Form-hugging, with flashes of color and verve, they’re dresses for confident women, comfortable with their take on career and life.
Recently, Charina’s shop at Greenbelt 5 saw her unveiling her Pre-Holiday Collection, a trunk show that combined hot new fashion, with delicious food, drinks and energetic music. For this new collection, Charina played with jewel tones, providing a stark contrast to her familiar “black and whites.” These jewel tones added luster and sparkle to her outfits, imbuing the dresses with added drama and flair. And to give a twist to this new collection, Charina also played with new fabrics and textures namely, leather and techno spandex. The spandex was especially interesting, as while quite unforgiving, they flatter the toned, fit bodies of those who would wear the outfits, like a sheath. It’s sexy, given a new dimension!
On hand to provide the delectable culinary treats was Trish Panlilio and her nawwTy’s Kitchen, a custom-catering service she established just late last year, and which has taken off like wildfire. Shameless plugging this, as Trish is my ex; but that also makes me highly qualified to vouch for the goodies coming out of her kitchen, as in a previous life, I regularly enjoyed her trademark Black Squid Ink Paella, and her Prime Rib. Chalk it up to her Pampanga roots, but whether serving up Filipino, Spanish or Continental dishes, there’s a certain elan employed, making the dishes not only a feast to the eyes, but also worth their weight in the eating. For the Charina Sarte event, Trish concentrated on bite-size canapés, an array of dishes that teased the taste buds of those who attended.
To complement Charina’s presentation, accessories were also on hand — the luxurious minaudières from Gabriel-Martel, evening clutches that have already been noticed by buyers from Europe, specifically Spain. With both Celine Gabriel-Lim and Andrea Martel at the helm of these evening bags, you can be assured of taste and innovative design. To cap off the event, music from DJs Ornussa and Sanya of the Zombettes kept the fashion motif consistent, and running!
(For those interested, visit the Charina Sarte store at the second floor of Greenbelt 5, Tel. No. 720-2613. For more information on nawwTy Kitchen, call 0918-9369854 or e-mail nawwtyskitchen@gmail.com.)
Funny Bones
Writing comedy is never easy, and it’s far easier to fall flat on your face attempting. With these three authors, one is in sure hands: Jonasson gave us The Hundred-Year-Old Man..., while Coupland coined the term Generation X. Shelvin’s novel is his first published work, and it’s hilarious.
The Girl Who Saved the King of Sweden by Jonas Jonasson (available on Amazon.com and at Fully Booked) Jonasson is at it again, with this fiendishly plotted novel that couches his hilarious, yet acute observations about world history, politics and social issues. He’s like Sweden’s modern-day answer to John Irving. This time we’re treated to the parallel lives of Soweto orphan Nombeko, who, while illiterate, is a budding math genius; and that of Ingmar, Swedish monarchist turned staunch republican when his slavish devotion results in his being “mugged” by the King. Throw in South Africa’s clandestine nuclear weapon arms race, Mossad agents, Ingmar’s twin sons Holger (1 and 2), and an atom bomb that doesn’t officially exist finding its way to Sweden. Wonderful!
The Perpetual Astonishment of Jonathon Fairfax by Christopher Shevlin (available on Amazon UK) Suffused with humor and attitude, this debut novel is a real charmer about modern misfits. Jonathon is a young Harrods assistant shopper, befuddled and astonished by what life throws his way. Lance is a security analyst more concerned about the cut of his suit and hair than his personality or intelligence. Together, they form an unlikely trinity with fifty-something, Emma Peel-wannabe Jane. When “top secret” documents pertaining to conspiracies involving crooked politicians and registered scapegoats fall into Lance’s hands; one scary assassin, and Jonathon’s girl of his dreams, fall from the sky, with entertaining, page-turning results.
Worst Person Ever by Douglas Coupland (available at National Book Store) Coupland’s lead character Ron Gaunt is the kind of man that if you see heading towards you, you cross the street fast! A B-unit cameraman sent to a tropical island for a Survivor-type show, Gaunt leaves a swath of gross faux pas, and politically incorrect interjections; leading to outrage, international incidents, and even multiple homicides. We meet ex-wife Fiona, Neal, the street vagrant Ron decides he can bring along as his assistant/slave, and the various women who Ron decides are in need of his amorous advances. Reading this novel is like watching a train wreck; Ron has no redeemable social value, but he’s never less than fascinating! Modern man as a funny disaster.
