May Magazine Photoshoot: SHINee for Elle Girl Korea and Japan

Korean male group SHINee (샤이니) is featured in this month's Elle Girl for Korea and Japan. SHINee's fashion stands out among the other boy groups for its (almost) perennial quirky and colorful nature. They almost never wear matching stuff as individual style is their trademark. Even when traveling or when they're dressed in suits, the boys always seem to wear something trendy and edgy. And who knew it'd get them far with the ladies? Member Jong Hyun or Jjong caught the eye of hottie Shin Se Kyung, whom he is now currently dating! Jong Hyun (종현), Onew (온유), Min Ho (민호), Tae Min (태민) and Key (키) are featured in an editorial that reflects their unique take on menswear.

Onew (이진기/온유), Taemin (이태민) and Min Ho (최민호)

Jong Hyun (김종현) and Key (김기범/키)

Onew (이진기/온유)

Jong Hyun (김종현)

Key (김기범/키)

Min Ho (최민호)

Taemin (이태민)

Photos: KoreanUpdates

May Magazine Cover and Photoshoot: Shalani Soledad for Preview

Shalani Soledad was once known as our President Noynoy Aquino's girlfriend. Since they have broken up, she has moved on to become a Valenzuela councilor and TV5 host for the shows Willing-Willie and Wil Time Big Time with controversial media personality Willie Revillame. Despite the news surrounding her, she has remained to be the quiet, gracious lady the public first caught a glimpse of. Here she is featured in a dark and romantic setting, wearing pieces from the country's hottest designers. 

White Vest by Noel Crisostomo, Animal-Print Button Down Polo by Camille Co, Sheer Skirt by Julius Tarog and Lace-Up Wedges by Soule Phenomenon

Long Vest by Nixon Marquez, Sheer Maxidress by Marc Rancy, Inner Minidress by Olivia and Fifth and Wedges from Gold Dot

Leather Vest by Nixon Marquez

Leather Vest by Julius Tarog, Sheer Vest worn backwards by Nixon Marquez, Black and White Dress by Eric delos Santos and Boots by Soule Phenomenon

Jacket by Julius Tarog, Gown by Rhett Eala

Photos: Fashion Media PH 1, 2

Makeup: Laneige Water Bank Mineral Skin Mist

Summer is nearing the Korean peninsula so if you're planning to go there soon or are already there, watch out for Laneige's newest product from their Water Bank line, the Mineral Skin Mist, which will help keep skin moisturized throughout the warm days. It revives exhausted skin by providing instant hydration and skin purification with optimal mineralized water and extracts from organic parsley purifying complex and lemon verbena. Optimal mineralized water made specifically by Laneige is made up of special mineral ingredients mixed and helps in skin rejuvenation and hydration.

Price: 22000 원/120 ml

Sources: Amore Pacific, hopeinablog

Photo: Amore Pacific

Store: The Amazing Playground

Having a basketball jersey or varsity jacket customized is now possible not only for your neighborhood or school's basketball or sports team, but also one just for you! Amazing Playground is a local streetwear store offering ready-to-wear and customized apparel. Owned by Amis Quizon Tumang, the store opened in March 2010 and gained much popularity among students and young professionals alike because of their customized jackets, which start at P900.00. Not bad huh? Amazing Playground t-shirts are are also unique as they are in a variety of designs containing positive, uplifting messages, as compared to other streetwear that emphasize on the hard ghetto life, and have attracted a larger audience.

 Ready to Wear Jackets

Customized Jackets

Ready-to-Wear T-Shirts

Some of its clients include world pop idol and Filipina singing wonder Charice Pempengco, musician Raymund Marasigan, businessman extraordinaire Manny V. Pangilinan, television host Drew Arellano and the hosts of sports news program Hardball. 

The Amazing Playground

75 Gil Preciosa Building, Timog Avenue, Quezon City

To order online, e-mail preferred designs to theamisshow@yahoo.com, or visit their Facebook page for more details.

Photos: David Guison for The Amazing Playground, The Amazing Playground Facebook and Multiply

K-Pop: Suzy, Sulli and Ga-In Wear the Same Minidress

K-Pop is a new category featuring your favorite idols and their clothing styles (or should I say, the coordi noonas' style?). First up, we have this report from BNT:

Suzy vs. Sulli vs. Ga In: Wearing the Same Clothes

Miss A’s Suzy (수지), f(x)’s Sulli (설리) and Brown Eyed Girls’ Ga-In (가인) seen wearing the same item has been a hot topic among netizens. In MBC’s Show Music Core and SBS’ Inkigayo wherein Suzy and Sulli are MCs respectively, the ladies were seen wearing the same white boatneck cap-sleeved minidress with a unique red and yellow pattern and a belt (Suzy’s was red, Sulli’s was yellow). As always, Suzy and Sulli caught viewers’ eyes with their clothes and cute charms. In MBC’s sitcom “All My Love”, Ga-In’s dress was worn over a red long-sleeved top and cinched with a red belt, and looked more sleek.

(other irrelevant parts were not translated)

Source and Photo: BNT News

Paraphrased Translation: Aisa de la Cruz

Event: TOPMAN Re-Opening in Robinson's Galleria

TOPSHOP and TOPMAN will be re-opening their flagship store in Robinson's Galleria, Pasig, Metro Manila on 25 May 2011. Event will start at 6:00 PM. I am thankful for the invite that I recieved:

See you there!

June Magazine Photoshoot: Kim Wan Sun for Marie Claire

Korea's "Madonna", Kim Wan Sun (김이선) is featured on the June edition of Marie Claire Korea. She started out in the mid-1980s, made it big in the 1990s and came back last April 2011 with an EP, "Super Love". Her photoshoot was made to match her fiery charisma.

Photos: kfashionqueen

Philippine Fashion Week Holiday 2011: Premiere A

"Premiere A" featuring designers Kristel Yulo, Michele Sison, Philipp Tampus, Ralph Ng and Roland Lirio was the highlight of 13 May, Day 4 of PFW Holiday 2011. Here are some photos of their collections which ranged from the simple and the elegant to the dramatically extravagant.

Kristel Yulo (Status Magazine Online)

Michele Sison (Lorna Llanes for Fasche)

Iya Villania

Nikki Gil

Carla Abellana

Philipp Tampus (stylebible.ph)

Ralph Ng (Camille Co)

Roland Lirio (stylebible.ph)

Designer: Kim Jeong Ju

How does one continuously create beauty for beauties? The Chosun Ilbo takes a peek into the life of jewelry designer Kim Jeong Ju who also has been designing the crown for Miss Korea for the past four years.

From the Chosun Ilbo:

Miss Korea Crown Designer's Fairytale Life

Jewelry designer Kim Jeong-ju creates beauty. She tries to keep an open mind at all times to get inspiration from everything that exists in the world. Her works are regularly seen in TV dramas, films and at award ceremonies and worn by the winner of the Miss Korea beauty pageant.

After majoring in bio-ecology at Kangwon National University, Kim went to Australia. "I'd told everyone in the department that I was going to be a famous designer," she says. "I studied gemology at the Sydney branch of the Gemological Institute of America, and then jewelry design later. I really worked hard doing various jobs at once to fund my tuition. But I didn't mind at all because I was going to be a successful designer one day. I thought about only one thing -- achieving my dream."  

She thinks she has a charmed life because she has been getting closer to her dream step by step. "After I returned to Korea, I was very busy with marriage, having two babies and raising them," she recalls. "I still worked as a freelance jewelry designer, and my works received good reviews." 

When her husband's business took a downturn, she started her own business, Mucha, in the jewelry shops quarter in Jongno to help the family finances. "I got off to a successful start with lots of customers from day one." she says. Words of mouth spread, and she began to get recognition. There were queues in front of her shop to see her jewelry. "I started dreaming of setting up company headquarters in Cheongdam-dong. And miraculously I realized the dream." In 2007 she settled in the upscale district, home to many world-famous luxury brands. 

Her customers include wealthy foreigners as well. One Arab customer bought a very expensive tiara, and she says it is because he comes from a culture that believes that a tiara in the family will make everything well. Kim has designed the tiara for the winner of the Miss Korea beauty pageant for the last four years, and also participated as a judge in regional preliminaries in Seoul. 

She also sponsors various TV dramas and films, so she has met many celebrities and advised them on jewelry. She plans to publish a book based on her experience.

Kim also hopes to grow her company into a world-class brand. "I would like to make jewelry that can introduce Korea's beauty to the world, perhaps using Hangeul motifs," she says. "I'm going to keep working hard to create beautiful work that has never been seen in the world."

Source: Chosun Ilbo

You can browse for her works via the online site of her brand, Mucha.

Philippine Fashion Week Holiday 2011: L'Oreal Paris presents Ibañez and Quisimbing

L'Oreal Paris' show featuring Lyle Ibañez and Yvonne Quisimbing was the highlight of Day 3 of PFW Holiday 2011 held at the SMX Convention Center in Pasay City, Metro Manila. Actress and model Anne Curtis walked the runway that night for both collections. 

Lyle Ibañez (stylebible.ph)

Yvonne Quisimbing (Status Magazine Online)