I LOVE #SJP!

Posted on May 18, 2013 by Rajo Laurel

The last two days have been so surreal!  To say that it was like a dream coming true was not enough as I was able to meet one of personal style heroes Ms. Sarah Jessica Parker.  It was one of those serendipitous  moments that just pure luck!

I LOVE YOU #SJP

 

All I wanted was to have a photograph.  I just wanted to have a photo with SJP.  My dear friend Pam Quinones  was styling SJP for SM-AURA!  It was a huge moment for Pam and I am extremely very proud of her.  I joined Pam for a night cap after work and stepped out for a smoke. From the corner of my eye I spotted Sarah Jessica Parker.  I took a chance and went up to her and ask for a photo.  I mean the worst thing that can happen is she tells me no.  So I approached her and  then I started trembling!  My whole body was shaking and nothing was coming out of my mouth.

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The Kathryn Bernardo Photo Shoot!

Posted on May 17, 2013 by Rajo Laurel

I love fashion shoots!  Being part of creating fashion images is intoxicating and one of the joys of working in fashion.  I was invited by Metro to dress up their cover girl for the month of June. This month’s cover girl is rising star Kathryn Bernardo.  I first heard of her through my nieces who are absolutely some of her biggest fans.  I remember how our house would be in total shut down when Kathryn’s show was on TV. Everyone was glued, from the help down to my Mom.  All intensely watching this beautiful young lady.

Here I am with the Genius that is Cary Santiago!

 

As fate would have it she was also my model for the Bench show last year and now I was tasked to dress her up once more.  The shoot was really made more enjoyable as I was working with dear friends from the industry.  Metro invited some of the best fashion designers to dress Kathryn up for the shoot.  When I arrived I was greeted by one the most outstanding minds in fashion today Cary Santiago.  To say that I am in awe of his work is an understatement!  The man is a real genius!  We caught up with Cary and was so happy that we were able to connect again after a long time.

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The Tagaytay Escape!

Posted on May 16, 2013 by Rajo Laurel

I am the type of person that if there is an opportunity to “escape” no matter how short I tend to grab it and make the best experience out of it.  It’s really all about a life and work balance!  This National election gave me and my friends a small window to get some fresh air and to slow down the pace a bit.

The view from my morning run.

 

We wanted to get away but at the same time be near enough to do our civic duty and get back in time to get back to work.  Happily our Sea Princess Tessa’s African Log Cabin was available and we spent the weekend in the lush and green beauty that is Tagaytay.

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Dinner with the Crespi’s!

Posted on May 15, 2013 by Rajo Laurel

Nix and I have been having diners at friends homes more recently which got Nix pining for a house instead of an apartment.  I for one am an apartment lover!  I love it’s convenience, security, we don’t need a staff and we can just lock it up and go.  We do need more space but nothing a good quick editing can readily fix.

I loved how Stephanie mixes her pieces. The allure and patina of age is always very elegant.

 

Having a home can make us entertain more and have more friends over but that discussion is still in process. LOL!  In the mean time we recently had a beautiful dinner over at the Crespi’s.  My dear Stephanie Zubiri-Crespi and her dashing husband Jonathan invited us over for dinner and it was one of those evenings where everyone was having a glorious time that before we knew it, it was midnight.

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MOM!

Posted on May 14, 2013 by Rajo Laurel

I am and will always be  a mommy’s boy!  My Mom is my rock and source of strength.  Without her I literally won’t be here.  I attribute my success to her as she has shown me how to be God fearing, kind, gentle and strong willed.  I love my Mom so much because in her quiet ways she has remained our strength as a family.

We are not a demonstrative lot but let me allow to express to her and to everyone how extremely grateful I am to her!  Happy Mothers day MOMMY!

Another woman who has always been the love of my life is my Lola Betty!  She was my very first client!  I learned from her what true style was all about.  She has unconditionally loved me and helped my make my dreams come true!  I just want to also thank Lola Betty for everything. Even to this day at her glorious age of 93 she still wears my designs.  Thank you so much!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hug your Mom’s for me!

HUGS,

RAJO!

Posted in Life | 2 Comments

30 Years of the FINALE Art Gallery!

Posted on May 11, 2013 by Rajo Laurel

To survive in any industry for 30 years in always a cause for celebration!  The FINALE art gallery recently celebrated this amazing feat by having a very special exhibition.  I missed the opening cocktails but was fortunate enough to come the very next day and experienced the show all by myself!  How luxurious was that?!   I love art!  I think art is the tangible soul of our culture.

There seem to have a duality in the art works. The only requirement was the artist's paint around shapes and not the traditional square canvass.

 

The show was spectacular!  Another testament to the boundless talent that we have on our shores. I was particularly moved by the seeming dualities of the art.  There was a communication that was happening and this is always very good.

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A Magical Middle Eastern Dinner with Marco & Rosanna.

Posted on May 10, 2013 by Rajo Laurel

One of my greatest pleasures in life are my friends!  If there is none thing that I cannot have enough of in my life are my friends.  I am so happy  have accumulated many friends and my circle is always growing and for this I am eternally grateful.

Rosanna's table scape!

One circle of friends that I truly appreciate is my unofficial food group.  We really didn’t plan to be one but we all just ended gravitating towards eating together and just enjoying our company.  Having dinner if friends homes is one of my favourite activities.  To be invited into someone’s home is really a privilege because the sanctity and privacy of a home is always very special.  Nix and I recently were invited to the home of the beautiful couple Marco and Rosanna Ocampo-Rodriguez.  We have known each other for many years and I for one am a huge fan of this beautiful couple. Continue reading →

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Un Regalo Delicato! Uratex’s Best Mattress for Best Mom!

Posted on May 9, 2013 by Rajo Laurel

The month of May celebrates all Mothers out there. This Sunday is going to be extra special as it is Mother’s Day! Uratex is holding a special promo in collaboration with my special pieces for this special holiday! Read about the mechanics below:

 

In collaboration with Our Home, get the chance to win Rajo Laurel dresses for you and your Mom!

  • Buy any Uratex Rajo Laurel Mattress Collection (Trapunto or Scatola) and get a chance to win a Rajo Laurel Dress for you and your Mom!
  • The corresponding amount is correlated to the amount of chances to win!
  • But for every purchase of either a Trapunto or Scatola, a Rajo Laurel Rags2Riches Bag will be given

Uratex is also throwing in a 20% and 15% discount respectively for any Trapunto or Scatola purchases. This promo is exclusive to all Our Home branches and it runs the entirety of May!

For more information, visit the Uratex Facebook Page! http://www.facebook.com/UratexPhilippines

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The 2013 MET GALA Red Carpet!

Posted on May 8, 2013 by Rajo Laurel

The MET GALA for me has always been the Superbowl of Fashion!  I always dream of one day going to the MET gala, imagining what it would feel like to be surrounded by all that fashion?  This event is like the OSCAR’s of FASHION and with the advent of social media it has never been this fast to see what the people are wearing or what everyone is happening.

Alexa Chung dress by Erdem news a bit of editing. I would have omitted those ruffles and made the finish raw, perfect for the Punk theme.

I woke up and BOOM!  My Instagram was like hot with the MET gala event.  Just like always I will be doing my peanut gallery review as this is always fun!  The Theme this year is PUNK!  From Chaos to Couture!  I love the theme as this is close to my heart. I started loving fashion at a tender age of 11 and PUNK was the rage during those days.  I have always gravitated towards striking the balance between 2 polar opposites and  PUNK made me realise this.  I remember colouring my hair green and studding everything I owned.  To this day the PUNK symbol of the safety pin is near to my heart as this is one of my tattoos!.  All in all my dream of one day attending the MET gala is still at arms reach length.  In the mean time let us enjoy all this glorious fashion and celebrate with the rest of the fashion world the glorious MET GALA!

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Flavours of the Visayas at the MANDARIN ORIENTAL, MANILA!

Posted on May 7, 2013 by Rajo Laurel

My dear friend Pauline Goriceta-Banusing is once more bringing the flavours of her beloved Illongo cuisine to Manila!  I can never get enough of her beautiful food which always makes my heart and stomach smile.  The festival last’s only for a week and will culminate on mothers day.  I was lucky enough to sample the food yesterday and my personal highlights were the fresh lumpia, the Kansi which is the Illongo version of sinigang na baka and the Capiz shell fish which was delicious.  Don’t miss out on the Batchoy soup as it was really fantastic.  Overall  I do declare that we have a winner dining experience just waiting to be enjoyed!

I found these servers with Illongo delicacies moving around the tables quite novel and fun.

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