One day in February, the Watson's section of SM Makati was adorned with Cherry Blossoms to underscore the arrival of SakuraBella, a line of body-care products in the country.Pink was the dominant color, but one lady clad in white ensemble made some heads turn. She looked divine!
Her name is Rissa Mananquil—former president of the Professional Models Association of the Philippines (PMAP), supermodel, columnist, and teacher. She played the fiancée of Aga Muhlach in Kailangan Kita, which also starred Claudine Barretto.
Her belt and shoes are both from Charles and Keith, a footwear brand that originated in Singapore. Her skirt is from Issey Miyake, a Japanese fashion designer known for his "technology-driven" designs. Her top is from SM.
Yes, even the topnotch models get some of their fashionista's stuff from Henry Sy's mall.
"Fashion doesn't have to cost a lot," Rissa simply said in an ambush interview.
This is the same dictum followed by another supermodel Tweetie de Leon-Gonzales, who became famous in showbiz as Faye—the wife of Enteng Kabisote, played by Vic Sotto, in Okay Ka Fairy Ko.
Tweetie shared, "Fashion doesn't have to be expensive for you to be stylish."
She was wearing a Maldita top and Zara pants. Her shoes—which cost 3,500 pesos—are from Virtual Mae, an online store operated by Mae Sergio.
The in-demand endorser was effortlessly fabulous. She said another rule in her style book is "Don't look contrived."
Her necklace was from her own jewelry line TdLG, which she described in stylebible.ph as "classically quirky" and "dressy bohemian."
Meanwhile, Rissa was wearing only one piece of jewelry in the event: her engagement ring! Yup, she recently got engaged to restaurateur and sportscaster Paolo Trillo.
And in a sea of people, it was easy to spot the models.
The soon-to-be-bride said poise just comes secondary. "Just be comfortable with what you're wearing because no matter how simple your outfit, it makes you shine if you're comfortable and confident."
Tweetie added, smiling, "And don't take it too seriously."
