News: Ed Westwick for Filipino Brand Penshoppe

 "This just in: Chuck Bass will be modeling for Filipino brand Penshoppe and visiting the Philippines soon." 

Yes, you read that right, actor Ed Westwick, more popularly known as CW's Gossip Girl's Chuck Bass is the newest Hollywood star to wear Filipino, as he is the latest brand endorser for Penshoppe. Other foreign celebrities who modeled and are modeling for Filipino brands include Alicia Silverstone, Natalie Portman, Kate Hudson, Katie Holmes and Petra Nemcova (for Kamiseta) and Mandy Moore (for Penshoppe). Penshoppe is a local brand that specializes in casual wear, denims and underwear. This was confirmed officially just a few minutes ago via Penshoppe's official Twitter account:

The young actor will be visiting our shores next month for his promotional shoot, to be shot by reknowned photographer Darren Tieste, so do watch out for that! 

Photo: JustJared

News: How to look hot in your new pair of rain boots

Heavy rains hit Metro Manila earlier this evening as tropical storm Chedeng (Songda) entered the Philippines. It's the second tropical storm the country has experienced in two weeks, the first one being Bebeng (Aere). These storms signal the coming rainy season and serve as the cue for us to buy boots! Here's an article from the JoongAng Daily that gives tips on how to wear boots. Unlike here in the Philippines, South Koreans still shop for boots outside of the rainy and winter seasons. This article is for all boot-loving ladies not just in Asia but around the world.

How to look hot in your new pair of rain boots

To look slimmer in rain boots,
wear short pants or a mini dress.
By Kwon Hyuk-jae

Shoes are always a high priority for women when it is pouring rain. 

“It’s not easy to flaunt your stuff when it’s raining. In your everyday, worn-out shoes, you appear drab. But you do not want to wear your brand new shoes when it’s pouring,” said Lee Jung-yeong, 33. 

What’s a woman to do?

More women are putting rain boots on their shopping list, and those who already have a pair, might even be looking forward to a rainy day. 

Rain boots are no longer a burdensome and heavy pair of long rubber shoes. Brands such as Hunter, Aigle, Rockfish and Outsider have stepped up with designer boots. 

Prices range from 80,000 won ($74) to 300,000 won. 

“Compared to last year’s trend of black and dark blue colors, this year’s trend has been more about pink, purple, yellow and fluorescent colors,” said Kim Hoon-sung, Lotte Department Store accessories merchandising and shoes chief merchandiser. 

And vertically challenged women can breathe a sigh of relief now that high-heel rain boots have entered the market. 

Colorful designs have been incorporated in many of this year’s products. Some even have buckles and buttons, while Walker boots use laces.

Fashionable vs. unfashionable calves

“First, interpret your own clothing style,” suggests Hunter spokesman Kang Jee-young. 

For professionals, it is recommended to match a business-casual look with purple or greener dark-colored rain boots. 

For those in hot pants or miniskirts, try to match this bright look with bright-colored boots. 

For a more vintage look, wear light brown or khaki-colored boots with flower patterns on the side. 

A warning for those with thick calves: “If your calves are thick, instead of wearing pastel-colored boots like pink or sky-blue, go with chocolate, black or dark-colored boots to match your pants in order to pull off a long and skinny-legged look.”

It is important to consider the length of the boots upon purchase. 

Medium-length boots blend well with colorful clothing, giving off a cute appearance. 

Keep in mind that it is best to buy rain boots made from natural rubber because it has a firm flexibility that doesn’t stiffen up in cold environments; avoid those made from Polyvinyl chloride, or PVC.

Baggy clothing plus rain boots is a no

When it comes to rain boots, the lack of a heal is always an issue. 

“For people to avoid this dilemma, it is best to wear leggings or skinny jeans, or clothes that are not baggy with the boots,” said Aigle spokeswoman Lim Yoo-ra.

As for tops, stay away from baggy clothing. 

Consider your rain boots as part of your entire outfit. Incorporate them into what you’re wearing, and vice versa.

For instance, the combination of a casual hooded shirt, a miniskirt and colorful rain boots gives off a bright and active appearance. 

But if you want to avoid the rest of your outfit distracting from your sexy new boots, wear a black or white achromatic top and skinny pants. You can also match the color of your pants to that of your boots. 

If you want to push the envelope, wear a scarf to match the color of the boots. 

Rain-boot maintenance

A new pair of rain boots can easily be ruined by just a second of negligence. In order to maintain the sturdiness and elegance of your boots, it is important to take care of them. 

First, wipe away any water still clinging onto the boots with a neutral detergent.

If the inside of the boots are filled with moisture or water, use a dry towel to wipe them dry. 

If your boots are made from rubber, it is important to dry them in shade, away from any direct sunlight. (Sunlight can damage or deform the material.) 

Finally, after the boots have completely dried, stuff newspaper into the boots to absorb any excess moisture and to keep the boots intact. 

By Lee Do-eun [estyle@joongang.co.kr]

Here are some rubber boot styles you can try out for the rainy season. Check them out at YesStyle or FashionSuzy:

Holly - P4330.50

Holly - P4980.07

7Color - 79,008 원/

Source: JoongAng Daily

Photos: YesStyle (1, 2) and Fashion Suzy

News: Middle-aged men want to wear like actors Cha and Kim

All over the world, middle-aged men look up to the likes of George Clooney, Brad Pitt and Antonio Banderas for clothing styles. So who do South Korean men look up to? They look up to actors Cha Seung Won (차승원) and Kim Myeong Min. Here's the latest men's (or should I say ahjusshi (아저씨)?)  trend news from Korea Herald:

Middle-aged men want to wear like actors Cha and Kim

Men in their 40s have chosen actors Cha Seung-won and Kim Myeong-min as fashion leaders they want to imitate. 

A survey by Chaeil Industries showed 14.5 percent of men wanted to dress like Cha and Kim. 500 men between the ages 40 and 49 were surveyed.

The department head of Galaxy marketing team Han Ju-young said the survey was conducted to get a glimpse of the sense of taste and the tendencies of men in their fourties. “It seems like Cha was voted for his classy style and Kim for his charismatic looks,” Han said. 

By Yun Suh-young (syun@heraldm.com)
Intern Reporter

Source: Korea Herald

Photos: Dramabeans and MyungMinInternational

News: Ministries, Seoul City Take on Fashion

Who says politics and governance can't be fashionable? In March, the Philippine Consulate in New York featured Filipino designer Dita Sandico-Ong in an eco-themed fashion show. This May, the Korean government has vowed to provide support and projects for the Korean fashion industries. Everywhere around the world, governments are recognizing the value of going chic to promote national identity, heritage and talent. Read on to find out about the South Korea government's plans for the local fashion industry:

from the Korea Herald:

Ministries, Seoul City take on fashion

A view of the trade show “Blueprint” from Asia Fashion Exchange 2010. (Asia Fashion Exchange)

Two government ministries and the Seoul local administration agreed Wednesday to join forces to promote Korea’s fashion industry. 

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Ministry of Knowledge Economy and Seoul Metropolitan Government pledged to cooperate on fashion-related projects under the agreement signed at Seoul Palace Hotel. 

The three governmental organizations will run a Fashion Industry Policy Council to manage projects. The council will have three goals ― promoting star fashion designers, promoting South Korean fashion brands and building a strong infrastructure for the local fashion industry. 

“What I have always heard from fashion insiders was that it would be a big help for the development of the fashion industry if many projects led by the Culture Ministry, Knowledge Ministry and Seoul City were organically connected and combined. It is a bit late, but the three organizations prepared a policy council,” said Kim Jong-yul, head of the Cultural Content Industry Office at the Culture Ministry.

The organizations have launched many projects to promote South Korean fashion designers and fashion brands overseas in recent years. Although the projects were welcomed by fashion insiders, they were also criticized for being inefficient as they often overlapped with each other. 

For example, under the same goal of promoting up-and-coming Korean designers to overseas markets, the Culture Ministry has been running a project named “Concept Korea,” the Knowledge Ministry, “Korean Preview in New York” and Seoul City, “Seoul’s 10 Soul.” They shared similar in content, encompassing a showcase and fashion fair. 

The organizations will keep the names of the separate projects but will search for ways to better link them to one another. 

Meanwhile, Seoul’s 10 Soul, a Seoul City-led fashion project, will hold a promotional event at ion Sky in Singapore on May 20 during Asia Fashion Exchange which will be held from May 13 to 22 at Marina Sands Bay. 

Asia Fashion Exchange is composed of “Audi Fashion Festival” which will host a line of fashion shows featuring famous fashion brands including Missoni and Ungaro; a trade show named “Blueprint’; a fashion design competition titled “Star Creation” and an Asia Fashion Summit featuring 30 fashion experts from all around the world. 

Eight Korean fashion brands ― Alani, Beyond Closet, Doii Paris, Jardin de Chouette, KAAL E.SUKTAE, Steve J & Yoni P, Sue Comma Bonnie, The Studio K ― will be participating in the trade show. 

By Park Min-young  (claire@heraldm.com)

Source: Korea Herald

News: Wedding Fashion Not Just for the Bride

Here in the Philippines, wedding fashion is definitely not just for the bride but for everyone involved. It's an interesting contrast to Korea, wherein wedding fashion is just starting to flourish. Here's the latest article from the Korea JoongAng Daily:

Wedding fashion not just for the bride

What was once been a casual private ceremony for stars has now turned into a pseudo red-carpet event. With a slew of recent celebrity marriages, photos of well-known wedding guests are splashing the pages of fashion magazines. Stars pose at the wedding for photos just as if they were walking down the red carpet of a film premiere, while fashion gurus sift through a list of the best and worst dressed guests.

And the public is taking note as to what is hot and what is not. Unlike banquets or award ceremonies, weddings are a part of everyone’s life at one point or another, so the fashion worn there can be easily adapted by ordinary people. Fans are running out to buy their favorite actor or singer’s dress or tux, so that they too can be the “It” girl or guy at the next wedding they attend. Here are some tips to add a touch of celebrity to your own wedding guest attire.

Add edge to the classic feminine dress

The textbook guest attire for women is a feminine dress or skirt. But being typical is not the trajectory that celebrities with a cut-above edginess take. Lee Su-mi, curator of fashion consulting company PFIN said that flamboyant dresses with frills and ribbon decorations are not a tempting choice for stars. 

“While ordinary women put on ladylike looks, stars prefer wearing luxurious yet chic [clothing],” explained Lee. 

For example, both actress Kim Min-hee and singer Lee Hyo-ri opted for wide pants instead of wearing fluttering skirts to recent weddings. The two fashionistas wore plain shirt-like blouses. 

Actress Shin Min-a also broke the golden rule of wedding-guest style by wearing a peach tuxedo jacket with short pants at the wedding of actor Jang Dong-gun and actress Go So-young. The jacket she wore was copied and is selling like hotcakes as the “Shin Min-a jacket.” 

“Putting on a tailored jacket or pants makes you look like a professional woman from the city,” stylist Choi Hye-ryun said. “But it would not look pretty to wear short pants if you don’t have slim legs.” 

 

1. Couples can get in the wedding spirit by matching the colors on the man’s tie or shirt with the woman’s accessories.

2. The key to wearing all black is to make it look fun, and not too dour like you are going to a funeral. A sleeveless, low-cut top or short skirt in black are perfect for spring or summer weddings.
3. You can wear the taboo white if you spice it up with a colorful bag or shoes. Black and white together are great for a more sophisticated look.
4. Wearing a jacket and pants in light pink or beige will make you look bright and seasonal

Finding the right combinations with black and white

It has long been taboo to wear all white to a wedding out of consideration for the bride. Instead, it is better for wedding guests to pick light pink, blue, ivory or beige. Notwithstanding, when it comes to wedding outfits chosen by stars, white is often a frequent choice. 

Stylist Choi said that whether white looks good depends on how you wear it, adding that a combination of white and another color can look smart. 

For example, actress Han Ga-in wore a white blouse with black pants at the wedding of actor Kwon Sang-woo and actress Son Tae-young. At Jang Dong-gun’s wedding, actress Kim Nam-ju’s white skirt matched well with a blue blouse. 

The key to wearing all black is not to look too stuffy or serious, like you are going to a funeral. One way to avoid this is to select a sleeveless, low-cut top or short skirt. 

“Adding a slightly different material like leather or satin will lift a dull mood,” stylist Seo Jung-eun said. “Picking bright shoes or a bag is another option.” 

Open-toe shoes are also a savvy way to make black look far lighter. 

Couples go with subtle color matching

Star couples often come to weddings matching. By harmonizing colors, a couple can get in the wedding spirit without looking too identical. 

At Jang Dong-gun’s wedding, actor Kim Seung-woo wore a sky blue jacket with blue pants that matched with his wife Kim Nam-ju’s blue blouse. Actor Yoo Ji-tae and actress Kim Hyo-jin always go with a “black and white” wedding-guest look. 

“If it is too much to wear the same color, take advantage of accessories,” stylist Park Man-hyun recommends.

Ladies can choose to match the color of their shoes with their partner’s trousers, or men can match their tie to their partner’s dress. 

Luxury brand sponsorship

Though weddings are private events, the attention paid to guests’ fashion has turned the wedding into another neck-and-neck race of style. 

“Stars cannot help but care about their looks whenever a camera flashes,” Park said. “More and more stars are getting advice from professional stylists.”

Luxury brands looking to get in on the trend are using wedding-guest fashion to promote their clothing and accessories. Celine, a French luxury fashion brand, has been a leader in this area. Actresses Shin Min-a, Son Tae-young and Ha Ji-won wore the brand’s products as wedding guests, and the clothes these stars put on sold out not long after the weddings. 

“Those who were not aware of Celine came to know the brand, and it helped [with sales],” a brand spokeswoman said.

Whenever a celebrity wedding is announced, luxury brands compete to sponsor star guests. A stylist who works with a celebrity guest might receive clothing from a slew of brands that want to sponsor the guest, but will choose only a few of the items to wear. Luxury bag and jewelry designers will often get word of what guests are wearing to an upcoming wedding and then suggest accessories.

Some celebrities, however, will try to hide the fact that they were sponsored by a luxury brand. They will mix and match different brands together to avoid rumors that they are promoting a certain brand of clothing. 

While luxury sponsorship is not an option for most people, there is no shortage of look-alikes for the fashion conscious. 

By Lee Do-Eun and Kwon Hyuk Jae


Source: Korea JoongAng Daily

News: Korean Makeup Trends Find Global Following

Taken from the Chosun Ilbo:

Korean Makeup Trends Find Global Following

First there were TV dramas and K-pop, and now Korean makeup style is becoming a global fad. Already the makeup styles of Korean actresses and young pop groups influence fashions in China, Japan and Southeast Asia, where the Korean Wave first started, but recently American and European women, too, have been learning the techniques on YouTube, which features hundreds of videos promising to reveal Korean "beauty secrets."

◆ What Is the Appeal?

Beauty expert Lee Kyung-sun says the videos started being uploaded from all over the world about three years ago. In the early stages it was mostly Malaysian, Filipino, Thai and Taiwanese women who posted videos on how to make up like Kim Yu-na, Song Hye-kyo and Kara, but now the trend is expanding to the U.S. and Europe.

Another beauty consultant said, "What foreigners are especially interested is Korean women's natural-looking skin and one-point technique that highlights just one part of the face. They want to emulate the Korean style of light makeup that leaves the skin looking natural, rather than slathering thick makeup all over the face."

◆ From Test Market to Trend Leader

U.S. channel WNBC's program "Extra" reported in September last year that Korean makeup techniques were embraced by many Hollywood stars. Now, large cosmetics companies in the U.S. and Europe are recognizing Korea as a leader in beauty trends, a shift from the country's traditional image as a test market. A spokesman of cosmetics brand MAC said, "Until two or three years ago, Korea was simply regarded as a country where we test new products before the official launch as it has a huge demand for cosmetics goods, but now things have changed and we think that we should read trends in Korea first."

MAC's Studio Fix Fluid Foundation N18 and Behave Yourself Lipstick were launched after studying the reaction from Korean women. Beauty consultant Pi Hyun-jeong said, "Wherever in the world I go, I get questions about the secrets of Korean women's natural-looking beauty. I think Korea can look to the position of a global beauty trend leader like Paris and New York."

Domestic cosmetics brands have been riding the wave of this popularity, holding promotional events and makeup demonstrations in China, Japan and several Southeast Asian regions, while planning to launch or expand new branches in U.S. and Europe.

Source: The Chosun Ilbo