Dear Rissa,
I’m having a hard time buying bikinis at the malls because my top and bottom sizes are different. Is there a store or brand that sells bikinis in separate sizes? Also, please recommend a designer where I can have my swimsuits custom-made. Lastly, I’m tired of the sarong as a cover-up. Where can I get pretty and fashionable cover-ups and alternatives?
Bianca
If your top and bottom sizes differ, look for separates. Check out the swimwear brand Pualani (available at R.O.X. Bonifacio High Street, Taguig). What’s great about the brand is you can buy your bikini tops and bottoms separately, in different sizes and designs. Doing this allows you to mix and match and to create a custom-tailored swimsuit that best fits your body. Pualani is really well-known for their “stay-up” quality and for their flattering styles that don’t compromise function and durability. Pualani swimsuits feature a four-way stretch European fabric that will never lose its shape and fade after a few washings. The soft lining also never stretches or peeks out. The premium-quality elastic in the bikini keeps your suit from riding up. The swimsuit designs are actually tried and tested by surfer girls in Hawaii. The biggest advocate of the brand is Cameron Diaz who has been using Pualani for years. Paris Hilton and Julia Roberts are also fans of this brand.
Another option is to have your swimsuits custom-made. A good designer to turn to is Charina Sarte (telephone numbers 481-6785 and 09178460007). Her shop is located at 3302-C Matanzas St. corner Emilia St., Palanan Makati City, Metro Manila. Collections are also available at Itsie Bitsie Rockwell, Mix Greenbelt, House of Laurel, Tint, and at the Amanpulo boutique. Check out www.charinasarte.com. Apart from swimwear, she also offers chic and elegant cover-ups, beach dresses, and kaftans. Women are sure to fall in love with her designs — her collections are luxurious, feminine, and sexy.
Rissa
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Shaving Grace
I’d like to ask for advice on what’s best to use for razor bumps. I shave my legs so often that they get inflamed everytime I shave or wax.
Cher
Try Tend Skin Liquid Solution. This fluid helps reduce the unsightly side effects of shaving. Tend Skin Liquid helps reduce the appearance of razor bumps, ingrown hairs, and razor burns. It also helps reduce irritation and redness caused by shaving, waxing, and electrolysis. It is safe to use on face and neck (men) and legs, underarms, and bikini area (women). Odor problems from underarms and feet are also reduced with Tend Skin. It even removes ink from the skin.
Tend Skin Solution contains isopropyl alcohol, water (reverse osmosis), propylene glycol, acetylsalicylate, glycerin, and cyclomethicone.
You can also apply hydrocortizone cream.
Tingting
On Juicing and Jersey Dresses
Dear Lucy,
I am really into wellness now and I recently bought a juicer. I read somewhere that you also juice a lot. What are some of your recipes? You seem to have a very healthy appetite, but you do not gain weight. What do you snack on?
I really like your new best-dressed billboard with Kris Aquino. Are you wearing the same top, just different ways? My friends and I were wondering about that because they’re in the exact same color. Do you know anyone who accepts custom-made orders for jersey dresses? How about tailored dresses?
Laarni
Since last week, I have started taking the 5 greens juice — green apple, ampalaya, cucumber, celery, green bell pepper. I also like carrot and apple. I also do Del Monte unsweetened pineapple juice mixed with fresh orange and mango. Wheat grass is great also, with its surprising sweetness flooding your taste buds after the last gulp. We get our fresh wheat grass from Bizu.
In our new best-dressed billboard for Kashieca, yes, Kris and I are wearing the same top just in two opposite ways. We just wanted to showcase how pretty that particular top is. The front is a scoop neckline with three buttons down the top front. The back has a great detail — a wide crocheted strip that is just delightful. Take out the tag and you will not know front from the back and vise versa. Fashion is so much fun that way, you can really think out of the box and just play with it.
Martin Bautista is great with jersey dresses, which is his expertise. He does it effortlessly well. Call Martin at 0917-5665662. Joey Samson is wonderful with tailored dresses, he cuts so well, his design sensibility is not fussy, and his workmanship is impeccable. He is truly a great local talent. Call Joey at 0918-9592541.
Lucy
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Send e-mail to tingtingcojuangco@yahoo.com, ltg@pldtdsl.com, and stylesos_rissa@yahoo.com.