Be my lady

MANILA, Philippines - When one is named Lady, one cannot help but expect a woman of the utmost femininity, grace and poise. It’s a difficult name to live up to considering the formal title of “Lady” connotes nobility, refinement and social status but Lady San Pedro (yes, Lady is her first name) isn’t one to disappoint. Petite, svelte, and classically pretty, Lady isn’t so much lady-like as she is, actually, a lady.

As a freelance designer, writer and all around creative, Lady is currently visiting Manila for her best friends wedding. Despite being jet-lagged and under the weather from a whole week’s worth of wedding festivities, she comes for her YStyle shoot in high spirits, excited, accommodating and overwhelmingly pleasant.

Lady, who won first prize in Alberto Guardiani x i-D Magazine’s international shoe design competition for her Flutterby shoe back in 2012, is already hard at work on projects back in her new home in Barcelona, where she moved permanently with her boyfriend a few years back. While her award-winning shoe design has since been expanded into a permanent line by Alberto Guardiani and is sold at Corso Como and Colette, Lady keeps busy with several freelance design projects of her own, including animated illustrations for a Barcelona bike brand, design materials for an international client in Chicago, contributing regularly as a writer for the Barcelona Miniguide and updating and flexing her creative muscles on her blog ladylikes.com, which she curates and fills with design inspiration and her own photographs and articles.

Fashion

Underwear? La Senza, Victoria’s Secret, Calvin Klein. T-shirt? American Apparel. Day bag? Louis Vuitton Alma Epi goes everywhere with me. Accessory? Pearl earrings. Designers? I can’t afford them but I adore the dresses by Delpozo’s Josep Font, and those by Ulyana Sergeenko. Shopping mecca? It’s been a long time but I loved the shopping in Siam Paragon. Naturally, Bangkok carries sizes for petite frames. Boots? I’ve amassed a couple since living in a country with four seasons but what I’ve ended up using the most are a pair of high-heeled zip-up boots from Ralph Lauren, and a pair of low-heeled ones from Spanish brand Uterqüe. Both are black and have a pointed-toe. Flats? Ferragamo Varina flats are remarkably sturdy. Sneakers? I still only have a pair of Nike Frees I bought in 2007, which I’ve maybe worn 15 times at most.

Self

Femme fatale? Anouk Aimée in La Dolce Vita. Michelle Pfeiffer in Batman Returns. Lana del Rey in all her videos.

Vacation destination? I loved Rome and Dubrovnik. For weekend jaunts, Bordeaux and Toulouse. Top three TV shows? Mad Men, Nip/Tuck and SATC. Artist x Fashion collab? Ones that really made an impression on me were Vuitton x Murakami and Prada x James Jean. With Vuitton x Murakami in particular, the incorporation of themes from the realm of anime seemed to signal a shift in the perception of luxury. Who inspires you? Can’t think of any one person in particular. I do admire people with discipline, and I envy those with stamina. Necessary extravagance? Perfume. Favorite place? At home with the pets. Movie/s? Just quickly, and in no particular order: Cinema Paradiso, LOTR Trilogy, The Sound of Music, Le Scaphandre et le Papillon, The Ten Commandments, Plein Soleil, The Mummy. Song (right now or always)? Audition song? Haha, back when I did theater, it was always I’d Give My Life for You from Miss Saigon. Color/s? Black. White. Fashion icon? Marie Laforêt in the 1960 film Plein Soleil.

Home

Where do you live? In the Sant Gervasi neighborhood of Barcelona. Favorite art? Right now I like Alex Katz and Antoni Tàpies. Luggage? Longchamp, Victorinox Flowers? For the home, anything white. Gadget? I’m not that much into gadgets and upgrading devices, but my MacBook Pro and Sony Alpha Nex 5 are so integral to my work life and personal life. Neighborhood restaurants? In our neighborhood I like La Criolla, which is part-bakery, part-restaurant, with a lovely indoor terrace and such random morning sightings as Barcelona football stars and retired folk having wine at breakfast. A cool dinner place is Black at La Royale, which is built like a speakeasy within a gin and burger joint. You go through the men’s room and into a nearly pitch-black room where they offer a vodka-and-caviar-centered degustation menu. Drink? A drink I picked up since moving to Barcelona, vermut, is taken as an aperitif both before dinner or on Sundays before lunch. For post-dinner drinks, I like Hendrick’s with tonic, Frangelico with lime and Canadian Club with ginger ale. Snack? I always have nuts in the pantry; almonds, walnuts, macadamia and pistachio. I don’t buy junk food because I devour them.

Beauty

Beauty product? I don’t know how it sneaked its way into my essentials but YSL Touche Éclat has become a favorite. Skin product? Kiehl’s Midnight Recovery Concentrate is magic. Hair Product? I get keratin treatments so I need to use sulfate-free products. Shiseido’s Senscience range is still the best I’ve tried bar none. Soap? I’m not particular with soap, but would automatically reach for Dove. Nail polish color? Nails, I haven’t had a manicure in years. Toes, I get red, nude, white or a deep, dark berry, depending on the season. Hairdresser? I’ve been loyal to Backstage BCN in Barcelona for nearly three years now, which is the longest I’ve stuck to one salon ever. Facials? Can’t remember the last time I had one! Scent? Most recently acquired are Jo Malone’s Wood Sage & Sea Salt, and Aura by Loewe. Staples are Balenciaga Paris EDP, J’adore Dior and Chanel no.19.
Photos by KIMI JUAN, Makeup by ANACLETA PAREDES for MAC Cosmetics, Shot on location at CAFÉ YSABEL