You know that summer is here when you see flip flops make their fashionable presence felt.
Ipanema, a more popular Brazilian flip flop brand, launched Gisele Bündchen’s Hot Sands Collection via a tropical-themed fashion show complemented by Coco Cabana summer wear.
Managing director of ELRO Corp. Patxi Elizalde said, “The collection embodies the warmth, joy and optimism of Brazil and its locals. These visions were translated to beautiful nature-themed pieces that complements the sunny season of summer.”
The collection features summery and beautiful sandals with a trademark bow design, which ranges from platforms to sandals.
During the launch, Prestige and SM Advantage cardholders enjoyed a 10 percent discount for their Ipanema Gisele Bündchen Hot Sands purchase. The offer will be available for the whole month of March. SM Department Store Ladies, Teens and Bags Group vice president Eugene Saw said, “We have collaborated with Ipanema to give our valued customers an exciting offer just in time for summer. They will get 10 percent price off on their Hot Sands purchase when they present their Prestige Card or SM Advantage Card at any SM Department Store branch.”
(The new flip flop collection is available at SM Department Stores, Bambu and other leading boutiques and stores nationwide. Ipanema is exclusively distributed in the Philippines by ELRO Corp.)
Stars of the ball
An elated Michaela “Pinky” Puno, organizer of the Philippine StarBall, was seen very happy about the success of this year’s StarBall’s Dance Festival. Instead of the usual dance competition done in the previous years, the event held recently had 11 couples, the best in their dance categories, who showed the Philippine audience six different styles of dance — International Latin, International Standard, American Smooth, American Rhythm, Theater Arts and the Argentine Tango.
Pinky and her partner Slava Sergei opened the dance festival with a modern Viennese waltz choreographed by Taliat Tarsinov. Ten-time dance champion Gary McDonald was the show’s emcee. Theater Arts, a new addition to the festival, had heart-stopping performances from Hannah Karttunen and partner Victor Da Silva. Filipinos are already avid fans of Yulia Zagoruychenko and Riccardo Cocchi, world champions in Latin. Other world class champions Arunas Bizokas and Katusha Demidova, Mirko Gozzoli and Edita Daniute, Michael Malitowski and Joanna Leunis, Jose de Camps and Johanna Zacharewicz, Michael Zarinov and Galina Detkina, wowed the audience with their respective dance routines. Argentine Tango, also a new addition in Philippine StarBall, had world champions couples Miriam Larici with Leonardo Barrionuevo and Carolina Zokalski with Diego di Falco perform the current rage in Manila.
The audience clamored for more, a good sign of another successful StarBall next year!
The art of beauty
Top Japanese skincare and makeup brand Shu Uemura unraveled a passion-filled night for beauty, fashion and the arts. Host Tessa Prieto-Valdes and Shu Uemura’s Nina Solano welcomed guests as L’Oreal Philippines managing director Luc-Olivier Marquet paid tribute to the beauty of life.
Set at Robot Supper Lounge in Makati, guests witnessed the transformation of this club lounge into the house of Shu Uemura, where creative art forces crafted their own interpretations of art in beauty. Museum type art exhibitions, including those created by the master, Shu Uemura himself, were on display. Video screens flashed with historic milestones, from false lashes designed by Shu through the years to the different mode of makeup looks Shu created season after season.
New and advanced products were also available for viewing and testing. A first in the local contemporary art scene, Shu Uemura collaborated with Manila’s top featured artists to exhibit their interpretations of the art of beauty, inspired by some of the brand’s most popular philosophies. These artists included Lotho Lotho, Jujiin Samonte, Jo Ann Bitagcol and Camille Co.
Models cum DJs Ornussa Cadness, Sanya Smith and Mia Ayesa brought the house down with their sexy music.
Guests reveled the night away with signature Robot drinks called Lady Gaga and Berry Temptations. The toasts and after party wouldn’t be complete without the luxurious taste of Tulloch Wines exclusively distributed by The Wine Depot.
(Shu Uemura is distributed locally by L’Oreal Philippines.)