Maite Matute: From fashion stylist to image consultant

As an image consultant, Maite Matute can walk into your wardrobe, combine your accessories with your shoes and makeup and put together the look you would like to adopt for a given day. It’s a skill that has been recognized by advertisers like SM Kids and Penshoppe, both of which have used Maite’s talents to enhance their billboards.

Although following your passion has often been the guideline and mantra of entrepreneurs, Maite was worried that plunging into being a freelance fashion stylist might not bring her enough income. So she spent two years as a fashion editor for Wedding Belle magazine. Her most recent work as an assistant to Raymund Isaac, a respected photographer in the Philippines, afforded her the chance to compromise and squeeze in her styling assignments while collecting salary. Recently, our bachelorette decided to commit herself to follow her dreams and be a fulltime image consultant. It’s a career she has wanted ever since she was six years old when she noticed a beauty contestant “wearing the wrong shoes.” 

One of my goals this year is to get into Fashion Institute of Technology in New York. They have asked me to extend my portfolio and get into food styling and interior styling so they can see my range before they award me a scholarship.

My personal style signifiers are my silver necklace and sandals.

The last meal that truly impressed me was the spicy maki toro at Nihonbashitei. 

A recent “find” is the accessories in The Ramp. I was sourcing for a Penshoppe shoot and found beautiful accessories in Glorietta 4’s The Ramp at Crossings right beside Cinderella’s. If you really scour and look, you will find.

The last thing I bought and loved was my black cardigan from Topshop. I am a cardigan queen and it doesn’t matter how hot or cold it is. I love cardigans.

For grooming and style I rely on myself. For my hair, I go to Alex Carbonell of Studio Fixx. He is the only one who convinced me to cut my hair. 

A memorable place I have traveled to in the past year was definitely Tagaytay Highlands. My friend has this beautiful old-style log cabin with a deck. The minute I entered, I felt relaxed and at peace.

The site that inspired me was my balcony when I lived on the   11th floor of a building on Paseo de Castellana in Madrid. Through summer, spring, winter and fall, I remember that each time I would stand out on the balcony, I would have this warm, fuzzy feeling that I would have a good life.

The best gift I have given recently was the hour I helped Michelle Ongpin to shop for her wardrobe. 

And the best one I’ve received recently is a little stuffed dinosaur that my best friend, Chris, sent me from Madrid. I know it is weird for a 31-year-old to be thrilled but I saw past the stuffed toy; it was him solidifying our friendship throughout the years. 

In my fridge you’ll always find water and Emmental cheese.

My style icon is Charlize Theron, if we are talking modern. She is Hollywood. She has this face where you can make her super edgy and dark, super fresh or glamorous. She even looks good portraying a lesbian. Valentino is also on top of my list. I also really love the old designers Coco Chanel, Balenciaga, Givenchy, Madame Grès… I can go on.

If I wasn’t doing what I do, I would probably be in the corporate world doing marketing or public relations — anything to do with interacting with people. 

The grooming basic I am never without is lip balm.

If a failure of elections is called, my reaction would unfortunately and sadly be that it would be no surprise to me. I have zero faith in the politics today because I feel that everyone is out for their own interest. They do not see the need for the country to improve as a whole. 

When my friends talk about politics, I feel sad. The Philippines is such a beautiful country with such rich resources and yet the   politicians are just out for their own benefit. Part of me would think, “What if a dictator comes in who would think beyond his own benefit? One who would think of Filipinos?” This could be a No. 1 tourist destination. Why are we importing rice when we have so many rice fields? Looking at the Philippines today, it has become so sad. Even I have been guilty of wanting to leave because I feel there is no future here and I find that very sad. Really sad.

In school, I learned how to defend myself against certain people.    

What helped me to conquer fear was the death of my parents, Mario and Tootsie. I was thrown into this kind of a life where things were somewhat stable then suddenly it all went into a tailspin and everything went out of control. I lost my mom when I was 24; a year and a half later, my father died. My mom passed away from leukemia but we had no idea that my dad was sick. I moved to Boracay and he called me on the first anniversary of my mom’s death to say that he had Stage 4 colon cancer. I was standing in the middle of the mall in Boracay and wanted to come home but he told me that I had a job and he wanted me to be responsible. I was orphaned at 26 and that was difficult. Now, when I am afraid of something, I just close my eyes and jump.

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E-mail aurorawilson@gmail.com.