The Fashionistas

Just for the record, no, you are not staring at a fashion editorial; and no, they’re not the over-willing new faces. We plucked them out of the backstage and put them in front, perhaps the overdue credits they deserve. From makeup rooms to dressing dens, they are the denizens that stitch the style, transform the trends and eat, breathe, and bombard fashion. And what’s best about it is, they’re a tightly explosive team.

Tag them the new fashion elitists, or the budding brat pack of bootlegs and blush-ons, and they’d be fast to raise eyebrows. Contrary to popular beliefs, they’re no slaves of style; it’s actually the other way around. Just when everyone is in a prairie princess spree, none of the ruffles will come from them. Expect distressed wool, hard-angled suits, coffee-stained canvas skirts, or Goth-glam eye shadows. Hence, the stereotype: They are the fashion misfits, and they seem too unapologetic to mind. "Who cares? We don’t! It is us who’s having fun, not them," says Paolo Raymundo, with the last laugh. "And you get used to the stares, they’re expected. But now, honestly, people are being more open to fashion," explains the more optimistic Peewee Reyes, her legwarmers seem too confident for show. And ever the carefree Mich Dulce is fast to add: "But the bottom line is, this is what we do; this is what we are! And at the end of the day, it really doesn’t matter." Perhaps it all comes clear, hate their chunky heels, wooden platforms or spray-painted shoes and you can kiss their bustled, puffed or tailored butts. They won’t give a flying feather boa, definitely.

"Actually, when I work with them, that’s when I get to explore my personal style. With them, I can play with makeup. I can’t always go with the trends and sometimes, I get tired with the same things I do, so it’s really a nice vent to work with them," shares makeup stylist Denise Go, turning muses out of the misfits. They’re actually more than inspiration swatches for each other; they’re a collaborative team. The ultimate octopus of fashion shoots and shows. Imagine the powerhouse cast they turn out to be of three makeup stylists, four fashion designers, two graphic designers, a writer, a photographer, a boutique owner, and a modeling agent. Best of all, everyone is below 30, and more than half hasn’t even reached the 25-year-old mark yet. Young, edgy, creative and collective—the new fashion corporation.

But don’t put them all into a box; their world doesn’t necessarily revolve around each other, much as their revolving closets do. "We don’t even shop together," confesses Rosario Herrera, with less than a hint of disappointment. "It’s more like us shopping at the same places but not really together. But when we’re really thinking of an important purchase and we need to be each other’s critics, that’s when we drag each other down," explains Shani Tan, probably having one too many important purchases. "And it’s not as though our lives only revolve around shopping. We have so much better things to do. Ok, guys, let’s have a board meeting—when did you last shop," inquires Chairman-of-the-Board Paolo, his board meeting earning a lot of laughs. "Like Mich, we really can’t put up with her because she shops in London," he adds again. "Gago! No, I don’t. I shop in his house," she says, saving her luxury.

And, hard to believe, they hardly hangout too, except for, well, "When we work together," says Rosario, referring to those not-so-rare instances when they bump at each other on photo shoots. "Or if a DJs coming or a fashion event comes up, we might spot each other," adds Peewee, an obvious staple of the underground fashion and rave scene, just like each of them are.

But regardless of the absence of hanging-out or mutual shopping sessions, they still are a group, counting on each other when the need arises. And regardless the differences of their tastes, styles, or even levels of inhibitions (or exhibitions), there is only one thing they have in common: They all live for fashion and it’s not really a bad thing. Actually, it’s an explosive blast, an A-bomb of color, cut, and confusion that is ready-to-wear. Question is, are YOU ready to wear them?

Shani Tan

Shani, 23, smiles, "My style is complicated but it all boils down to comfort. There always are factors, like trends and all, but I always choose to wear them with the most comfort possible. But don’t get me wrong, I like to make it interesting much as I like it to be comfy." Interesting definitely is what you’d call her clashing brand of clothing. From her "Sing-Alis" conductor coat to her SM Department Store shoes, you’d know, Shani doesn’t care much as long as it screams her style. It is fun which could go to all-out serious with just a snap of a button, or an industry shape-shift as a corporate graphic artist. "But right now, I’m busy catching up on my sleep." So much for the slacker, or the busy go-getter, it all comes clear, she dresses appropriately, and to hell with corporate dress codes or questioning stares.

Xeng Zulueta

As you can observe, the name rings much more than a bell. It had been a by-line of many photo shoots done under this magazine, and as records show, she added much on the visual fest. She’d endured many rush makeup sessions, tense pictorials, and a bee-line of celebrities. And she wastes no Kodak moment; she has every face touched by her Midas fingers trapped on film. But now that she’s on the other side of the camera, everyone should agree, she’s picture perfect. And whatever lack of color she has on her nudist take on make-up she makes up with her dress-up. "My style is very much organized clutter. I don’t like things too planned so I put things together without much conscious effort. I could whip out a pambahay shirt and where it with a belt and I’m good to go." She’s a big contradiction, and we should know better than thinking it’s a fashion boo-boo. Much of that spontaneity doesn’t just stay inside the closet. From her impromptu Boracay wedding to her career 360-degree turn from Frisco to Philippines, it never fails to put on a little spice. And expect Xeng not to care more.

Denise Go

For girls, nothing could ever complete a look than a good set of MAC, Clinique, or Maybelline. And it could be debated but makeup is a woman’s best friend, not a two-karat princess cut. But for Denise, it’s more than a fashion companion, it’s her bread and butter. And just to be clear, she isn’t getting hungry. She puts her hands to work on many fashion editorials and photo shoots in beauty mags, not to mention owning the prestigious Salon de Orient. She’s the star backstage, and much of her twinkle is loaned in the photos. And she makes sure she dresses appropriately. "I always go for classic. You can never go wrong with it. It never goes out of style. But I must admit, I also go for trends sometimes, but I don’t go to the point that I’d look like everyone else. I’d just get a trendy item and mix it with the classics. None of the fashion overdrive!" Perhaps, like makeup, too much is too much and understated is always elegant. And for Denise, that’s reason enough to shine.

Mich Dulce

There are a lot of words that rhyme with the name Mich. From the perpetually harmless—stitch, kitsch, and rich—to the infallibly heinous, like, er, witch and bitch. And just as you are wondering where my Phonics 101 is taking you, let me remind you that it’s Mich Dulce we’re talking about, and just her simple picture escapes language, but demands words. Much of her personality could probably be attributed to her crowning glory—busy, crazy, unique, and insists a second look. And expect her clothes to put on a perfect match. For us, the supposed uninitiated, it’s a look trapped in the Makati Med Basement, but for her, it’s as simple as everyday work clothes. Over half a decade ago, this 21-year-old started on with the sewing machine and never stopped stitching since. She became a staple in the underground fashion scene, and for sure has had one too many questioning stares or raised eyebrows. And now, as you can see, she made it through the mainstream, got her message across, and control your rolling eyebrows if you must, but she’s now an established name. But however sub-human her work could be, you’d be surprised that her design philosophy takes on a rather manly form. "For me, I think my style is evolving. I started with pink, puffed sleeves and cute Japanese, and I just got over my denim and katcha stage. Now, I’m more into draped and more focused in treatments, because my style really grows with whatever experience I have day by day." And judging from the way and speed she’s going, she would make Darwin proud. She surely has more days to come, and we owe it to her to understand.

Chere Du

"I’m so busy now booking models," with a statement like that, the response would only be two things: either of envy or of high appreciation. She’s only 22, which makes her more respected or enviable. Why not both? With a sense of professionalism best seen on her wear, she doesn’t come any short of mature. "My style is very much versatile. Booking is very hectic so my clothes have to be very functional and presentable. It should go effortless from day to night. It’s corporate with a little bit of spunk." At least it’s nice that she hasn’t gone adult overboard. Nor a trend road kill, she knows much better than that. She carries off the classics with much attitude that could only come off the ramp. So it comes too clear, her models are properly represented, but they should also watch out. It’s not far from happening that this beauty would get all the bookings.

Rosario Herrera

What’s with young achievers these days? Young twenty-something undergrads hoarding millions off dot-com companies, or 23 year-old Rosario Herrera manning the elusive Style Lab representing foreign makeup mavericks to the most respected glossies. That’s enough headlines for a day, as Rosario demands such. Basing from her image she’s very much understated. She’s out with the suits and just wears her company name across her tee, much of a simple approach to endorsements or packaging. Or, rather, fashion. "I like my style to be clean and cool. that’s it! With how I am, how I work and how I dress, it’s just the way I do it." But don’t hurl her the basic white and denim combo just yet. Much of the low key chic comes from the neutrals, reeking organic class every time. From the sea grass panama hat to the brown suede jacket, it’s a pull-out off a beatnik fashion page. Perhaps just like her career, she always has a streamline of "fresh" every time. But she’s dressed for success, just the same.

Peewee Reyes

This is the picture: the I Love New York souvenir tee, schoolgirl plaid micro-mini, stark white leg warmers covering her ultra-chunky baby doll platforms. Her name is Peewee and she’s 23. Quite obviously, she’s stuck in the age of juvenile delinquency and Catholic schoolgirl rebellion, and she carries it off very well. Her Geek Boutique in Seventh on Sixth could as well help her put-up with the image, but she had the signature look long before hell froze over Glorietta. With her chinky eyes, her unmistakably Oriental skin, and her bad-finger on fashion establishments stance, she seems like an import from Japan’s Shibuya district. And she wouldn’t mind the resemblance. "I love anything street and cute. It’s easy to wear, it’s comfy and you can mix it with anything," she says with much delight, like a little girl on sugar-high. Maybe that is more appropriate.

Ge Madriaga

"I’ve had my red hair ever since five years ago," Ge starts on with the loudest accessory on her look. Hard to believe it, since five years ago, none of this circus was even heard of and Pink was still probably blonde. Let’s just say she’s so much ahead of her time and even if it would take people five years to understand her, she wouldn’t really mind a bit. But then again, once you’re done with her hair and get down with her wear, you’d think that the fast-forward had gone in reverse. "My look is very manang or lola, whatever. I really love vintage dresses, the baduy florals, and the drab browns.", she looks with nostalgia, not as though she belonged to that era. She’s a petite twenty something, barely a Martial Law baby. But then what she has is an eye for everything groovy and graphically stimulating, never mind if it’s a three-decade time warp. She’s tomorrow fashion’s golden girl, whipping up her magic from fashion’s golden era. And whether she’s going onward or backward, at least we’re certain, she’s getting somewhere.

Paolo Raymundo

Let’s hurl out the titles, shall we? The Father of Deconstruction, the Grandmaster of Grunge, the Priest of Punk, Fashion’s Boy Wonder, or Styling’s Hottest Commodity. Whatever the label, we know that it takes more than needles and threads. It is the genius that lies deep inside his half-mohawk. At 22, he’s had a few doses of mainstream mileage, from Milkwear to Tyler, but now that he’s done and over the RTW headache, he’ll be boarding a Boeing 707 onwards to where he’ll easily blend in to the fashion climate: New York. But before that, he has to content himself with the generous fashion pages for him to cut, taper, drape, or tamper with. He enters with a tiny anecdote of a fashion mishap that he masterfully turned into a masterpiece. "I needed a good pair of red shoes for this shoot, but I couldn’t find any, so I made one myself." Not that he’s a shoemaker too, he’s just extremely good with Pylox. And that DIY demeanor could as well transform itself into a closet full of paradoxes. "I basically find a balance between any two opposite extremes." From romantic posite extremes." From romantic ff, draping to structured, detailed to muted. And good or bad, we know, Paolo is the master of his own limits, and it’s just because he has none.