YStyle Picks

MANILA, Philippines - Those who have entered the keywords “Lena+Dunham+Girls” on Google extensively would know by now that Lena’s real-life best friend, Audrey Gelman, served as the basis for Alison Williams’ over-achieving and stuck-up character, Marnie. They would also know that the real-life Audrey appeared on Girls as Audrey, Charlie’s new girlfriend after Marnie breaks up with him. Apart from having a famous best friend and a recurring TV cameo, Marnie pales in comparison to the real-life Audrey: Not only is she  the lauded press secretary and spokesperson for Manhattan Borough president Scott Stringer, she’s also been profiled by The New York Times and Vogue, her apartment’s been photographed for The Coveteur and she was also named one of Complex’s 50 Most Desirable Bachelorettes in NYC. Most recently, she also managed to get rid of her creepy, live-in boyfriend of three years, fashion photography Terry Richardson. Yes, it happened, people didn’t get it, and now they’re dunzo. Apparently the two broke up and started living apart several months ago, but the news only started popping now. At least we know where the whole Marnie-and-Booth-Jonathan saga came from.

Jewel maker

Jewelry designers have a lot in common with talent scouts in the sense that when they spot a rough, unpolished gem, they have the ability to realize its full potential when placed in the right setting. To evoke the beauty of certain gems, Jul B. Dizon designers and craftsmen pair rare stones with intricate designs in order to create an exquisite piece of jewelry. The design brings out a stone’s timeless beauty, so that the women who buy them can pass it on to the next generation. Similarly, when modeling agent Scholastica Parpan first spotted Lucy Torres née Gomez in a magazine, she was convinced that the provinicial lass with ivory-like skin and long, jet black hair belonged in a shampoo commercial. It turned out to be the perfect platform for Lucy because immediately after her first Lux commercial, the public was captivated by the mysterious beauty. It’s no surprise that Jul B. Dizon chose Lucy to be the face of their latest campaign. According to the brand, “The totality of who Lucy Torres-Gomez is parallels our vision of perfection in each piece that we make.”
 

Ramp it up

In case you still haven’t found something to wear for New Year’s Eve, the current offerings of The Ramp Crossings evoke drama and glamour with athletic-luxe pieces: think black and white palette,  sophisticated cuts, Neoprene fabric and lace and leather cutouts. Mix fabrics and incorporate a new silhouette into your wardrobe by trying an ovoid sleeve top, matching it with lace leather skirt and cloth caged heels. Top a Neoprene vest over a sheer midrib top, but show just the right amount of skin with a high-waist midi skirt. Accessories are on-trend with metallic sculpted heels, pointy croc stamp flats and Zebra clutches and kitten heels. The Ramp Man offers similarly adventurous pieces with party jackets, animal print hoodies, track pants, two tone oxfords and lace- up sandals. The Ramp Kids, on the other hand, features reversible cape toppers, party dresses, suede boots,  fuzzy wool berets and smart long sleeve shirts. Just please don’t be the person who brings their kids to the New Year’s Eve party in da club. That’s not cool.

The Ramp Crossings is located ar Glorietta, TriNoma, Quezon Avenue and Shangri-La Plaza. For more information, visit Therampcrossings.com.

Statement pieces

There’s nothing more personal than a piece of bespoke jewelry. 26-year-old jewelry designer Katrina Ong appreciates this sentiment with Flutter Metal Studio, a diffusion of her Flutter Statement Jewelry line, which features handmade costume pieces of semi-precious stones and other precious materials. While the latter tends toward the chunky and gaudy, the former are fine jewelry pieces designed for everyday casual wear. The line includes personalized sterling silver pieces designed and sketched by the designer, and a collection of fine leather jewelry pieces, such as her popular stingray shagreen necklaces. Unlike her costume jewelry, most of the pieces for Flutter Metal Studio are only available made-to-order. Having run her jewelry line since 2011, Flutter Statement Jewelry is now available in the US market and in select marketplaces internationally. Locally, it’s available at SoFa Retail Lab and in Details Shop in Power Plant Mall. To order a piece of bespoke jewelry from Flutter Metal Studio, contact 0917-3096610 or email flutteraccessories@gmail.com. For more information on Flutter and to see Katrina Ong’s latest collections, visit Facebook.com/FlutterAccessories.

Under cova

Boasting clean lines, sometimes brightened with a slim edge of precious stones, Melanie Cuevas’ debut Elements collection for VitoStudio.com showcases the designer’s minimalist, yet edgy, no-nonsense approach to fashion. Prior to establishing her own line of jewelry, Cuevas honed her eye for design working as a magazine editor for over a decade. “My pieces are easy and can be worn alone or layered with other pieces from the line. In a way, there is a sense of fun and playfulness because you can pile it on with jewelry you already own,” says Cuevas. Inspired by the works of famous architects such as Frank Gehry and Zaha Hadid, most of the jewelry in the line looks industrial and sculptural, but some pieces exhibit the kind of curvature found in nature, such as the Hive cuff, the shape of which is inspired by the beehive. Starting with a simple sheet of silver, designs are formed and fabricated, evolving and developing into wearable art. The pieces created by Cuevas are elegant yet appear armor-like and stark, feminine but with an industrial twist.