I liken the way summer hits Manila to being thrown into the mosh pit of a rock concert heaving with sweaty, head-banging, hip-gyrating, fist-pumping fiends grooving as hard as they can to your favorite song while you’re tossed around like Hell’s Angels’ pinball. It comes out of nowhere, takes you by surprise and before you know it, everyone’s having more fun than you are. The heat wave surges into the city, eradicating the final traces of cool weather and with it, the smell of the last time it rained. The calm and almost romantic atmosphere in the city is immediately replaced by a dizzying, chaotic season that dedicated 9-to-5ers like myself are doomed to experience only from the prison of their cubicles. In the few steps it takes to get to my car, my eye makeup melts right into my cleavage and that hint of perfume I strategically placed behind each ear is overpowered by the scent of my body’s reaction to the heat, which smells as if I went clubbing on EDSA. Central air conditioning in the building I work in turns off at 4:30 on the dot, and I work till 7:00. Whoever said that women glow instead of sweat clearly did not work in my building at the height of summer. I can’t help but miss being a student once summer rolls around. Lunch breaks at the mall begin to feel claustrophobic because every place I go is peppered with students on summer break, fueled by an excitement only familiar to me after 10 cups of instant coffee. Even cocktails after work don’t seem to do the trick anymore because my favorite nighttime haunts have been invaded by minors in miniskirts and college students with credit cards. I feel like a doomed joyless spinster saying it (and hopefully others will share my sentiment), but I can’t help but miss being like those kids.
Although my heart goes a bit squishy at the thought of being 17 again, the reality check that immediately follows those brief moments of summer-induced, self-indulgent existential anguish does highlight a major perk in my book. Sure, I miss being in college, living on an allowance and most of all, going on summer vacation, but now that I work for The Man, I also happen to make my own money. And it’s quite surprising how much retail therapy can raise your spirits. This season, I’ve decided that being confined to the city with my fellow 9-to-5ers shouldn’t equate to depriving myself of the summertime spirit. Just because I can’t hit the beach like everyone else doesn’t mean summer in the city has to be a total drag. Sure, it’s not what it used to be, but I figured that channeling my frustration to these fantastic, fabulous and totally fashionable finds will make pounding away on my keyboard in the heat totally worth it. Who knows? Maybe when the minors in miniskirts see how a paycheck and some serious retail therapy can be all the sunshine you need in a seriously sweltering season, they might be just a little bit jealous of me.
Wherever you wander, you’ve got to have soul. This summer, mischief making and day-tripping in the Manila metropolis isn’t complete without the hottest name in RTW right now. That’s Analog Soul, a brand making waves for its funky shirts, hoodies, bags and jackets. With highly stylized graphics and collaborations with artists such as Pepper Roxas, Lala Gallardo and Mike Sicam, and endorsers such as DJ Owens Sun, DJ Marie Garcia, and rock band Fastpitch, Analog Soul is definitely not your run-of-the-mill shirt shop. The brand successfully stands out against the tired, mass-produced, clever catchphrases and mundane graphics featured in countless display windows around the country. Analog Soul’s versatile style easily transcends the typical  being tropical, urban, Eastern and Western all at once  in search of true individuality. The results? Hip, edgy fashion for amplified living.
Check out Analog Soul’s store at the Rockwell Power Plant, or visit
www.analog-soul.com or
www.analogsoul.multiply.com for more information.
Artist and jewelry designer Ana Villalon’s pieces for her jewelry line, BohemiAna, have adorned exclusive members of society’s young elite for years. PR maven Celine Gabriel, model Cat Juan and Young STAR columnist Michelle Katigbak are avid fans of these bright, funky and elegant knockout pieces, each an embodiment of Ana’s charming and vivacious personality. BohemiAna features capiz shells hand-painted by Ana and adorned with precious metal and gemstone embellishments. The designs range from tropical fauna to religious iconography to vibrant caricatures. The little firecracker fashionista recently released her BohemiAna Luxe line, which features jewelry boxes containing personalized charms and pendants inspired by "sun-drenched coastlines, breezy tropical winds and turquoise, warm waters," which you can mix and match to make bracelets and necklaces. This summer, ditch your bulky Swarovski bling for something light, playful and classy such as the pieces BohemiAna has to offer.
Check out BohemiAna’s Luxe collection at ROSITI Jewels, 114 V. Rufino Bldg., Legazpi Village, Makati City or log on to www.bohemiana.com for more information.
Just because you can’t hit the beach doesn’t mean you have to succumb to a pale-skinned summer! You can work on your tan wherever you want to, whether it’s by the pool, in the front yard or right on your balcony. Just make sure you’ve got a killer suit on to match that hot new complexion. Check out the glimmering, multihued and sexy designs of beach-hopping artist and designer Twinkle Ferraren, whose swimsuits and beachwear have been spotted at popular summer getaways from Boracay to Batangas. The sweet, petite designer’s individualistic approach to design (she can make washable dresses out of paper), unique concepts (her fashion week collection was inspired by jellyfish) and meticulous eye for detail have made her a notable ingénue in the design industry.
"I love designing and making my own patterns and printing my art doodles on clothes," the designer says. "For summer ’07, I’ve decided to play around more with that concept, mixing and matching materials and fabrics to create the look."
Inspired by urban pulses, watercolor skies, graffiti-free art and nature, each piece in Twinkle’s summer collection is guaranteed to brighten any summer, even if it’s spent in the gloomy city.
For more information, visit
www.t-w-i-n-k-l-e.com or email
twixie@gmail.com.
Wisdom and wisecracks are always welcome at
whippersnappergirl@hotmail.com.