LARDINI, RUBINACCI AND THAT EXTRA FLAIR

Alfonso Tagliaferri (Previously featured HERE) redefines menswear and what being a man really means through his suits.

(Alfonso in Paul Smith shoes, trousers from Rota in Italy, Bespoke shirt from Rome, Bespoke jacket from Don Raffaele in Naples, Handmade tie from Rubinacci and pocket square from his grandfather)

Personal Style:  Classic Tailored at work, smart casual off work

Favorite Clothing Purchase of 2012: a second hand 60’s silk jacket from Corneliani

Signature sartorial item: Old watches and hats in winter

Favorite designer: Don Raffaele in Naples, Paul Smith,Lardini

Most frequently work items: dress shirts

Favorite places to shop: Naples in Italy, Thrift shops and Adora in the Philippines

Favorite accessory: Cufflinks

Style Icon: None in particular, “Jude Law has a nice look”

Now, all you need is Nonno seated on your lap - think Shah Jahan of Iran! hahahaha

(Photo and Interview courtesy of Metro Society)

BOOK: LIFESTYLE ASIA HOME & AWAY

(Lifestyle Asia's Home & Away, a special limited edition coffee table book now available in bookstores and newsstands)

A big congratulations to Anna Sobrepena, Cheryl Tiu, Cristina Gomez and the whole team on a very successful launch of Lifestyle Asia’s Home & Away, a special limited edition coffee table book featuring the gorgeous homes of Manila society in the Philippines & overseas.

(Top: Amparito Lhuillier and Cheryl Tiu. Bottom: Myself with Alfonso Tagliaferri)

Of course, Cebu Doyenne Amparito Lhuillier, mother of international fashion designer Monique Lhuillier flew in from the queen city just for the event – high five to that! 

MAMBO ITALIANO

Italian actor Andrea Bosca was in town for four days and aside from stuffing ourselves with mozzarella balls the whole night, we decided to have a few glasses of red instead and a platter of cheese at the Lanai.

( Top: Alfonso Tagliaferri, Andrea Bosca and Christian Besler. Bottom: Andrea and myself.)

And oh, don’t forget the limoncello and those bottles of ice cold, lemon flavored beer.

(Andrea Bosca in this year’s Magnifica Presenza, Ferzan Ozpetek’s masterpiece that finally, after years, departs from his usual production. Not bad!)

VROOM WITH A VIEW

"In Search of Italy's Dolce Vita on a '61 Vespa" - Peter Moore and no, this is not my version of Audrey Hepburn's Roman Holiday!

(Suit: Bespoke, Crisp White Shirt from Brooks Brothers, Red socks from UNIQLO and brogue lace-ups from Salvatore Ferragamo - La mia ode in Italia. Grazie Janthina Fong per la foto.)

OK, more like "Roman Holiday" minus Audrey Hepburn, Gregory Peck and Eddie Albert and no, I wasn't complaining. Blame it on the Mozzarella ball!

VOYAGER, ODYSSEY AND A COUPLE OF CIN CIN’S

My lack of posting is due to my lack of full brain function thanks to all the client and brand reports I have been busy working on. I swear, I can even hardly combine my sentences.  I have been swamped with work lately and my recent house move didn’t help at all – blame it on my freaking slipped disc.

Still looking like a zombie and a raccoon, I see myself distracted and frantic for the next few days until my parents arrive from the south and hoping I will be able to think in a straight line again and enjoy a glass or two of Cabernet Sauvignon or better, whiskey on the rocks. Make it 5 glasses, please!

(The Voyager at night)

Just recently, John Walker & Sons Voyager arrived in Manila after docking in Shanghai, Hong Kong and Taipei. The luxury yacht gathered Manila’s crème de la crème to experience the pinnacle of luxury craftsmanship, heritage and modern innovation, and launch the new rare triple malt, John Walker & Sons Odyssey.

(Ingrid Chua Go and Paul Whelan)

(Jules Knight, Oliver Baines, Stephen Bowman, Humphrey Berney and Dominic Tighe of Blake)

(Celine Lopez and Chut Cuerva)

(Secil and Arif Esenc)

(Amelia Ablaza, Florence Ko, Sandie Castro-Poblador)

A literal reproduction of an epic journey, the Voyager will sail through Asia Pacific and 9 key ports of call including Vietnam, Thailand, Singapore, and India.

(Indy Villanon, Janthina Fong, Kenji Ong Lao, Alfonso Tagliaferri, Veronica Mendez and Myself)

(Wig Tysmans, Liza Ilarde-Cuenca and Elbert Cuenca)

(Dennis and Tessa Prieto Valdes)

What still amazes me, an exquisitely crafted, crystal-grade glass decanter has been created to house John Walker & Sons Odyssey. This stunning work of art is a reflection of the nautical heritage and success of the Walker business that perfectly captures the motion and romance of the sea. When gently pushed, the bottle swings elegantly to and fro and as the case is turned, rotates fluidly 360 degrees. When at rest, it will always point up, paying homage to the steadfast and progressive direction shown by Sir Alexander Walker himself.

Tipsy? Not really!

Cin cin!

ART OF THE MATTER: WHEN LOOKING GOOD IS MORE THAN JUST AN ART. IT’S ROCKET SCIENCE.

Style, taste, savoir-faire – these are qualities that make a man.

I have always liked featuring men who best reflect these calibers in their lifestyle and it feels great to be part of a generation of men that is re-defining itself and what being a man really means.


(The bow tie is the only piece of neckwear one should choose when wearing a tuxedo.)

Well cut bespoke dress shirts from Rome’s finest tailors, slim belts in black and braided tan, navy and khaki blazers cut beautifully and tasseled suede loafers - Alfonso Tagliaferri, a diplomat, is obviously having fun, loving life and fearlessly taking over the world.


(Navy blazer, tan penny loafers and khakis during the inauguration of OVO Habitante at the National Museum.)

Most men overlook the importance of a good fitted shirt but not Alfonso – it is almost like lingerie for women. He even makes a simple navy long-sleeved shirt with batik piping he bought during his trip in Bali look bespoke! Now, that’s sprezzatura!

Trust me, a man has more confidence knowing the piece he is wearing under his suit is made for him.

OUT WITH THE OLD. HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Last year went too fast, it’s amazing to see the calendar turn over to January again!




I am totally out with the old but grateful to everyone who has been a part of making my 2011 a blast ( Alfonso, Ingrid, Cheryl, Erika, Tessa, Janelle, Christina, Irene, Mario, Lester, Smiley, Carlo C., Carlo P., Carlo R., Carlotta, Ana, Ryan, Ivah, John, Monica, Alexei, Anton, Jacobo, Kristian, Karla, Kath, Sven, Finn, Jean, Michael, Christine, Anton, Gayette, Anna, etc) though midway turned out to be a bitch, I still managed to keep my head up.

Hoping 2012 will give me more reasons to smile and be a springboard for an explosion of more blessings in the next twelve months.

This year is all about looking to the future, having more balls and pursuing your dreams with fresh energy.

Excited? YES! Happy New year!

AU REVOIR MANILLE, BONJOUR PARIS !

Au revoir, Tessa! Bonne chance dans votre nouvelles aventures dans the City of Lights!


(T: Tessa, Myself and Alfonso, B: Finn and Alfonso)


(Arrun and his jaeger bomb)


(T: Irene and Sigrid, B: Finn trying his best to give birth HAHA!)

We will all miss you! Á votre santé!

ON WHITE WALLS, ANTIQUES AND GOOD TASTE

Growing up down south, my mom relied on coffee table design books from the local bookstore and hand-me-down copies of Architectural Digest, Country Living and Domino from her sisters in the US. Those books and magazines not only gained my mom some free time from her shop but also influenced my mind-set at a very young age – what could possibly be better than that?

For most, however, good taste is rarely as easy as that perfect wicker couch at our cozy lanai or that antique Chinese medicine cabinet turned into a huge display of art from mom and dad’s trips abroad. While there’s no formula for success, I have noticed in the hundreds of homes I have visited that dazzling design scheme never fail to catch my eye, but it is the spaces that are actually lovely to be in resonate and are truly memorable.


(Andy and Kate Spade's beautiful home.)

I am a big fan of two of my mother’s sister’s homes. The Lopez-Vito sisters need not to announce the beauty of their homes. Lacquered in white that makes every wall and ceiling glow, huge canvas and ikat print-slip covered throw-pillows, blissful bed linens and a collection of traditional antiques married with orientalia, and a striking collection of art from local artists and myself. For me, it’s pure perfection!

I am currently on the state of repainting my flat again from white to eggplant (deep purple or whatever you want to call it) and I believe in most successful spaces, you don’t see everything at once. The more time you spend in them, the more you discover.

Like my friend Alfonso’s newly lived-in 1970’s modernist home, it exemplifies what the French call bien dans sap eau – at ease in its skin. It’s just that he isn’t French, he’s Italian. A variety of local plants vie to outgrow one another surrounding his tiled pool and three undressed antique wooden saints atop a wooden consul table, a thrift find from flea market. His coral wall with crawling ivy and a massive canvas couch from Rome.

Perhaps that’s the secret recipe for effortless elegance; a carefree sense of confidence, a lack of pretension, and a mindful appreciation for comfort and care.

GOOD MUSIC, SAND AND A SHOOTING STAR

Three hours of sleep, two and a half days of sand, sun, booze, great friends, good music, random tricycle rides and a huge serving of pizza from Luca’s. Grazzie! And yes, Kath and I saw our first shooting star!

(Alfonso enjoying his first out of town trip in the Philippines! Yipeedoo!)



(Cocktails with Sygrid, Irene, Tessa and Carlotta)


( Sven looking good in pink and Carlo in his sartorial Italian trunks haha)

Thank you Mindoro!