Style Souk: Fashion, music, fragrance

MANILA, Philippines - For one long weekend, the Gallery at Greenbelt 5 came alive as it was transformed into a marketplace full of fashion finds and music.

From April 26 to 29, Greenbelt Style Souk, sponsored by Ayala Malls, The Philippine STAR, and Tiger 22, with participating sponsors Visa, Globe and Samsung, brought together 16 fashion and beauty brands that offered as much as 70 percent discounts on select merchandise. Participating brands 7 for All Mankind, Accessorize, Azucar, Bayo, Benefit, Boone Bouche, Bratpack, Charina Sarte, Gola, Jun Escario, Gymboree, Michelis, Religioso, Silver Finds, XOXO, and House of Obagi each had their own booth set up at the Gallery, allowing shoppers to find great clothing, accessories, and skincare deals all in one space.

Style Souk was more than just a shopping event, though, as beauty and fashion experts also held forums and talks every afternoon followed by live sets from musical acts. Thursday was all about scents with the Fragrance Forum presented by Juicy Couture with Prestige Brands Philippines’ resident fragrance expert and trainer Arnaud Marolleau and hosted by Bianca Valerio.

Inno Sotto presided over the April 27 Fashion Talks sponsored by The Philippine STAR.

“There are 150 ingredients in an average fragrance,” the fragrance expert revealed during the forum. “That is why fragrances are very expensive.” Marolleau then proceeded to give tips to the audience on how to make the most out of their costly perfumes. First is how to spray them on. “Apply your fragrance in a V-shape,” he advised. “Make five to six sprays; be generous with yourself because you work hard and deserve to smell good.” He also noted the body areas that can maximize scent: the neck and shoulder area “because this is a very romantic spot”; between the arms and body, both the left and right side, to help diffuse the fragrance every time we make gestures while walking and speaking; and at the solar plexus where the body creates the most warmth. “If you have long hair, spray some perfume on it a bit to diffuse the scent with every hair movement,” Marolleau added.

After the forum, shoppers and forum attendees were treated to DJ Alinep’s live music mixes.

Friday was packed with back-to back activities, starting with Fashion Institute of the Philippines’ hair, makeup, styling, and photography seminar for fashion spreads. This was followed by Fashion Talks with designer Inno Sotto, also hosted by Bianca Valerio and presented by The Philippine STAR.

During the talk, Sotto opined, “For 2012, it’s about tone on tone, anything that is monochromatic. Mix several shades of blue or pink or yellow in one outfit.” Sotto cited navy blue and chocolate brown as the latest alternatives to the usual neutrals and safe non-colors. “They go with almost anything, and they go beyond the color trends for the season and even the whole year.” The color of the year remains to be the warm orange and any other hue that approximates it, such as saffron, mandarin, and tangerine. “Fashion is all about illusion — always!” Sotto emphasized to the audience. “Fashion is not necessarily what is good today, so you have to wear what is good for you most of the time, if not always.”

After Fashion Talks, The Techy Romantics provided music for the first part of the evening with DJ Alinep mixing music for the rest of the night.

Jewelmer presented a talk on All about Pearls on Saturday followed by Benefit’s Summer Beauty Class with stylist Alyanna Martinez and blogger and beauty editor Mica Tuano-Fuentes. Bizu served cocktails early in the evening before Your Imaginary Friends played a live set, and DJ Alinep once again rounded up the evening with his kind of beats.

Style Souk wrapped up with a Sunday that was all about shopping and music, with the DJs of Jam 88.3 hosting different activities.

The Greenbelt Style Souk is a yearly event that offers shoppers a different kind of buying experience. Aside from putting together some of the hottest local and international clothing, accessories, and beauty brands in one place, there are discounts aplenty and customers get to learn of the latest in fashion and beauty from industry insiders for free. Add in live music from some of the hottest musical artists in the country and you get a marketplace unlike any other.

* * *

Check out Glorietta Style Souk, held on May 3-6.