Present teens

One prefers to wear the always-reliable tee top matched with a nice pair of jeans for comfort and simplicity; the other, however, is bolder and braver ­ — she opts for more embroidery and embellishments to accentuate her outfits and make her stand out in a crowd.

Even with the obvious difference in their everyday style (and home networks!), these two young fashionistas both share the warmest of smiles — those that are as hot as the coffee fix on that Tuesday afternoon and the scorching temperature outside the shop.

“In dressing up, comfort is key,” muses 15-year-old Empress Schuck, a Star Magic talent. “I love it when an outfit hugs my body and fits me perfectly,” she adds, even referring to the red tee she’s wearing. Empress, who was an award-winning child actress, points out that even if she joined the industry at quite a young age, she is more of a homebody. “I’d rather stay home than go out. Anyway, I have to make up on my rest and sleep,” she says.

On the other hand, actress and singer Glaiza de Castro is more daring with her fashion style. “I like to mix and match clothes,” she says, “Even before I joined show business, I already loved experimenting with outfits.” The 20-year-old GMA-7 star singles out jackets among her favorite pieces. “I also don’t understand my fancy for jackets. Maybe because even if you’re only wearing a simple outfit and you wear a jacket, the total look becomes more okay. You’re kind of making a statement already,” she gushes.

Empress’ laidback fashion sense and Glaiza’s experimental take on style are only two of clothing brand Bum Equipment’s latest offerings to the teen fashion scene. Being celebrity image models of Bum have evidently changed the lives of these two youngsters.

“I was thrilled because even though I have an outfit sponsor before, endorsing a brand is different,” says Empress excitedly. Adds Glaiza: “It feels good and overwhelming to know that this certain clothing brand entrusts its image to us.”

Empress and Glaiza both knew that Bum Equipment’s image relies on them as endorsers. They put prime importance in doing their part in making sure that the brand’s confidence and commitment to them are not put to waste. Judging by the apparel brand’s good performance and market share, Empress and Glaiza are surely delivering.

“Of course we feel the pressure in terms of fashionable dressing,” says Glaiza. “We have to look good on the Bum clothes that we’re wearing because how we look reflects the brand’s image as a fashion brand.” Empress relates that they take it as a challenge to constantly improve on their styles. “We browse the Internet and read fashion magazines to keep up with the trend,” she shares.

Currently, both girls are taking time out of their busy schedules to promote not only the brand but its causes as well. Empress and Glaiza hop from one school to another to lead the campus tour of “Bum’s Maxville High — Project Earth.”

In cooperation with 103.5 MaxFM, music and fashion gracefully fuse together to present the clothing brand’s latest Holiday collection of trendy pieces, which includes environment-friendly jeans and shirts, in a fashion show cum music festival featuring bands like Sopiz.

Empress Schuck and Glaiza de Castro lead the pack in teen fashion scene as these young headturners give a chic twist to every classic style.

(Prepare as Bum’s Project Earth campus tour invades the following schools: Mapua Institute of Technology on Nov. 14 and San Sebastian College on Nov. 19.)