Table of contents for December 2018 in MEGA

Did you spend your 2018 with a purpose? Did you give 100% on your career, work on your well-being, pursue your passion? Did you nourish relationships that really matter? It is in this opportune time that I get to quiet down and reflect on the things I’ve done or failed to do so as the year winds down to an end. If you managed to do at least half of your resolves from the beginning ofthe year, I say give yourself a pat on the back. To even acknowledge or set out a goal is a huge step, while accomplishing them, is another feat in itself. Although I like to visualize and project what I want to happen in the future, I think it’s more important to focus on the…

A day following an extended long weekend, energies were understandably sluggish and a slow burn, but not for Heart Evangelista-Escudero, who despite a fairly early call time was already bright and bubbly from the red-bricked corner of the studio where she was being dolled up for the day’s itinerary of shoots. Despite casting our sight to the illuminated section of the space in increment of seconds, we found ourselves getting drawn for longer periods of time, which is a clear testament to how her beauty is one that consistently draws you in. Hers is a face one will never grow tired of, even with years in the industry tucked under her belt, as well as a recent resurgence on the dynamic landscape of the world wide web. With an infectious…

STYLE TIP Don’t be afraid to mix colors. The more the merrier!…

What was life like when you were 18? Was it filled with eventful out-of-town trips or nights when you barely remembered a thing? Ah, youth. The desire for eternal youth may be tale as old as time, but such is not the case for Nikki Huang. Ahead of her years, Nikki’s routine involves advocating for the environment (as she is a National Youth Council member of the World Wide Fund organization and was recognized as Youth Champion for one of the UN’s sustainable development goals) and immersing herself in the family business along with her parents Anton and Nina Huang. At present, Nikki may be on her gap year, but she has a series of commitments to attend to on the daily, all while preparing for her university applications. Her…

By LYN ALUMNO . PRECIOUS PLUMAGE Closing the show were feathered creations, almost resembling the symbol of hope and unity, the Agila…

It’s hard to talk about Philippine fashion without making mention of Randy Ortiz. Throughout his illustrious 30-year career, Ortiz has pioneered what many today consider the modern Filipiniana. Generally, a designer’s background, like anyone else’s CV, tells you a little bit about their aesthetic: Where they honed their craft, who inspired them, all mixes together to create the unique alchemy that becomes their personal handwriting. Enticed by his parents’ fashion sense, Ortiz took his fascination for tailoring and traditional Fillipino designs, and turned it into a small backyard business. It wasn’t until 1998 when the young designer ventured into mainstream fashion, with the help of his mentor Bobby Novenario, who asked the latter to create a men’s line for his luncheon show at The Manila Hotel. The rest as they…

If we judge solely based on the account of her social media timeline, it is baffling how style icon, online personality, wife and mother, Cat Arambulo-Antonio, does all that she does on a daily basis, all while exuding a sense of fun that is genuinely warm and unapologetically real. A diligent documentation of her day-to-day would reveal in varying increments everything from snaps of her twirling OOTDs, taking her kids to ballet, golf tourneys or college immersions, practicing her makeup skills to her many social obligations and even detailed accounts (read: administering) of her self-love journey. From an observer casually going over the drawls of social media, it can be exhausting just looking at how she effectively and efficiently manages to do it all, all while looking her very best.…

IN FULL BLOOM A spritz of these perfumes instantly transports you to an infinite garden of dainty florals. Embody the feminine spirit with the radiant notes of roses and other blossoms layered with a fruity base. CONCRETE JUNGLE Wander the city with these contemporary scents that undeniably capture the dynamic energy and vibe of the bustling metro. Clean, bright, and energizing, this is the perfect fragrance for on-the-go modern individuals. AFTER DARK Michael Kors bottled the essence of sensuality in these fragrances that exude allure every spritz. This combination of addictive floral notes and sultry aromas delivers a luxurious and irresistible finish. PERFECTLY RIPE A spray of these juicy scents will leave you with a lingering luscious feel. Reminiscent of a warm afternoon walk in an orchard, these refreshing perfumes…

Ever since Dyson unveiled its revolutionary blow dryer, the Supersonic, it was quite obvious that a complementary hair styling tool wasn’t far behind. True enough, after some years spent in research and development, the brand recently introduced its latest offering, the Airwrap Styler. With all the other hair styling tools available in the market, what makes the Airwrap different among others? MEGA flew to Bangkok to discover exactly that. AIR BENDER Dyson has always prided itself for creating products that are revolutionary and considered as game-changers. They often start off by addressing a problem. In this case, the need for a hair device capable of whipping up different styles in a convenient all-in-one tool. Maximizing the use of their special patented technology known as the V9, the brand used its…

''What is luxury for you?” In a fashion point of view, luxury has been redefined by new style makers dictating the game. From Virgil Abloh’s “quotes” on Louis Vuitton’s menswear collection, and Alessandro Michelle’s continued maximalism at Gucci to Riccardo Tisci’s successful new Burberry, and even the much-critiqued creations of Hedi Slimane for Celine, what separates a designer’s perspective from a legendary luxury fashion house’s rich history? What does it take for synchronicity to bloom? This issue, we define great alliances that redefine the meaning of luxury in the modern times. We begin with the classic beauty that is Heart Evangelista-Escudero, as she partners with iconic retail brand Kamiseta with a collection that perfectly embodies the marriage of luxury with her inspring paintings and the brand’s easy and ready-to-wear aesthetics.…

I consider myself as someone who is obedient. I stop at red lights. I follow speed limits and I stand behind the yellow line in queues. I execute what my boss wants and more importantly, I listen to my parents. I’m do this because I have respect for the law, for process and for elders who have more experience and wisdom than I. I’m obedient because I feel like when I do obey, things will go smoothly and in my favor. But why do bad things still happen to me? For thirty years, I’ve conceded to the fact that after good luck comes bad luck. It has always been this way. I only learned lately that the reason why bad things happen is because I lack balance. I’ve been living…

Wilder than wild, these three!—@kathryl_63 via This is by far the best Maymay fierce looking aura I have ever seen in a magazine cover. She really is something. I love the way she executes every time in front of a camera. —@ling_jade Via Such a head-turning ravishing beauty! —@btjdnluv via Proud of you @edward_ barber! Thanks mega! —@thina_1686 via This is fierce and wild, too. Love it. So proud of Edward. You’re making your presence in the fashion industry as well. Keep it up!—@newmw_fan via James simply doesn’t have a single bad angle!—@btjdnluv via IG My G! This 3 could pass as brothers!—@jobrystyliste via…

Everyone spends most of December in disbelief. We’ve ticked all the days off our calendars unconsciously, making it through the lowest of lows, and soared through the smallest of victories without even knowing it. What would you do if you only had 31 days left from the year? You indulge in life’s luxuries. Luxury meaning exclusivity, purity, class and sophistication. Luxury enthralled on things that are not necessarily tangible. Live lavishly as we give you the best of the best in our year-ender issue. In Best Buys, we dish on your next wardrobe essentials for fall with pleats, leather and blue hues. Sequins are the life of the party in Get Ready to Wear, and we celebrate the on-going revival of Philippine fashion with the most celebrated designers in the…

20s ULTRA LIGHT BEAMS A slice of skin stands out amongst the sparkles 30s SHIMMY SHINE Dark sequins emit sophistication and class 40s BRIGHTLY BURNING Make them green with envy as you conquer the evening STYLE TIP Complement your outfit with statement accessories STYLE TIP A simple turtleneck top can elevate any outfit…

IN THE LOOP Channel stackable style with either the double or triple loop Panthère de Cartier models HARD CANDY Wear Cartier’s latest offerings in infinite variations, either full stacked or on its own…

The holidays are tough. Fun, yes, but tough; after all, there’s horrendous traffic, endless gift- and party-related obligations and family reunions that are equal parts sweet nostalgia and bitter passive-aggressive showdowns. Why not come clean? After all, you’ve Marie Kondo-ed your place (or at least tried to), so why not do the same with your so-called loved ones? Read how one writer hesitantly does a sort-of how-to in Relationship. Speaking of coming clean, why not do it for your online life as well and delete that Finsta. And if you don’t know what a Finsta is, then you’re probably going to want to read all about it in this month’s Feature Story. Lastly, we give in to the one indulgence that the makes the season oh so merry: food. Read…

Knownfortheirlineoffunctional,funandfashionable bags, Kipling has become a ubiquitous sight in many of world’s busiest cosmopolitan cities—Manila included. This fall, the brand launched its #ArtOfBusy campaign and its Art and Art M bags. Available in a range of sizes and designs that range from sleek and professional to kitschy and colorful, these lightweight and durable bags—made out of Kipling’s signature nylon—were made for the hustle and bustle of a busy city life. The Art M bags have made life on-the-go even easier with specialized compartments—perfect for busy city folk. Kipling is available in leading department stores nationwide…

BLACK TIE A soft smoky eye is perfect for projecting the subdued sultriness of Italian beauty icon Monica Bellucci—one of Colaianni’s celebrity clients. Blend SISLEY Phyto Eye Twist in 11 Copper, Phyto Ombre Glow in Amber and Ombre Eclat in 19 Ebony. Finish with a dab of Phyto Lip Gloss in 2 Beige Rose. CLUBLAND The graphic eye of the 60s will forever be a party look for the coolest girls. Update it with pretty colors and a see-through base. Try SISLEY Phyto Teint Eclat, then smudge Phyto Khol Perfect in 7 Snow on the lids and line with So Intense Eyeliner in Deep Black. DAYTIME BEST Brunch with your closest gal pals? Sunday lunch with the family? Opt for a pretty and polished look with a colorful twist—it’s the…

Having well-shaped and brushed-up brows can make all the difference in your day. My brow journey when I was still new in the industry and my makeup artist friends would always tell me that shaping and filling in one’s brows is the best thing to make a face symmetrical. Since then, I would put effort on grooming my brows every morning, even if it’s the only type of makeup I would wear that day. But when I met Momoi Supe and witnessed his brow artistry, my whole perspective on brows changed dramatically. It’s no wonder that people are lining up to have their brows done by him. An interior designer and makeup artist by profession back in 2015, Supe’s curiosity with brows started when he had to accompany a friend…

PRE-STYLING DRYER: Preps hair for styling using a quick but dispersed airflow. Designed for all hair types, its goal is to give hair the ideal moisture level before using the curling barrels or brushes. SOFT SMOOTHING AIRBRUSH: Works to create body and volume to limp, flat hair at the same time giving a smooth, blow dry finish. 40MM AIRWRAP BARREL: Creates loose curls or waves for thicker hair. 30MM AIRWRAP BARREL: Gives voluminous curls or waves for most hair types. FIRM SMOOTHING AIRBRUSH: It works to give a straighter style with less frizz. Designed to tame and smoothen unruly, thicker hair, with firm straight bristles to lessen tangling. ROUND VOLUMIZING BRUSH: It creates volume and shape to fine hair. THE DYSON AIRWRAP STYLERS: • Dyson Airwrap Volume and Shape is…

Literature of the fictional, fairytale sort has long conditioned us to believe that despite whatever arduous path and consequential harrowing travail plays out, the hero (and yes, heroine) will have their happy ending—always. However, going through our individual realities have corroded this idea, forcing us to toss it aside in favor of something more straightforward and well, less encouraging. We are often reminded by everything from modern philosophies, contemporary laws and even moral high-horsing on social media, that the deliverance and comeuppance we get at any given circumstance is what we deserve. This often causes a strain between the hopeful and the hopeless, forcing us to question: Why do bad things happen to good people, and conversely, the other way around? Despite her own struggles, which are nothing short of…

STYLE TIP Wind things down with a richer, deeper red for a more restrained take on the look-at-me classic…

Hello MEGA, With everything being done online these days, as well as with the saturation of information that comes along with it, hardly anything shocks me anymore. And that desensitization is alarming, especially for someone who has sworn to really live life to the best of my given abilities. However, every time I flip through the pages of your magazine, I always get a renewed sense of vigor on many stories, truths and insights you put to print. For example, I was especially interested in the sexual harassment story in your features section, because it truly put things into perspective. Yes, everyone is taking great strides in the #MeToo conversation, but this piece made me really understand the scope of the issue, knowing where it begins and how it should…

STYLE TIP Prints such as stripes or plaid add personality to your look…

At the heart of Uffizi Gallery in Italy, lies the mythological masterpiece of painter Sandro Botticelli. The Birth of Venus, a depiction of a moment from Greek mythology, in which the goddess of love Venus, emerges from a shell, formed by the foam of the cresting waves has become one of the most heralded paintings of the Renaissance. A symbol of hope, beauty and divinity, this incomparable work of art is rich in allegorical references to antiquity. The rebirth of design in the Philippine setting has been protuberant at present, where designers have been given different canvases, different mediums and different subjects to paint. Much can be said about Gianicka Garcia, a young designer bred from Benilde’s School of Design and Arts. As one of the students who showcased their…

It all started out of boredom. After hearing about it from a cousin and her friends, I had decided to make a finstagram—simply finsta for short—a “fake” Instagram account set to private that is only shared with those closest to you. Not too long after, I found myself enjoying this little space I had created for myself, possibly even more than any other social media account I’ve created before. Majority of us might have felt a certain type of pressure when posting a photo on Instagram. Perhaps it stems from choosing a photo that would fit your perfectly curated feed. Or anxiety might kick in the seconds before you click ‘upload,’ thinking about whether or not your followers would like this bikini photo over the other. With a finsta, all…

It all started, as with many things nowadays, by something on the internet. Diane Yap was fresh graduate working in communications when she felt the bug to create something, something she could call her own. Inspired by her father’s journey as an entrepreneur, she set out to look for a business idea. It turned out to be as easy as finding it on the internet. “I saw this beautiful box of exquisite flowers and instantly fell in love with it,” she says. “I imagined how special a woman would feel upon receiving something so pretty. During that time, since no one was doing boxed elegant flower arrangements in Manila yet. I decided I wanted to be the first.” She met up with her best friend Lauren Gavino, who, coincidentally, was…

An indulgence, whether it’s the kind that gives in to temptation or the one that absolves one of sins, seems almost gratuitous in these trying times. And yet it doesn’t seem wrong, to take care of oneself, to invest in things that are well made. What’s essential after all are those that last, those that mean something. Read about the latest work of art from Dyson, straight from EIC Peewee Reyes-Isidro in Beauty Feature. There’s also a feature on go-getter Camille Padilla, owner of Glow Skin Clinic in Beauty Blog, and another on self-made artist, Momoi Supe, in Artist Confidential. Lastly, we muse on the lessons we’ve learned in balancing our beauty indulgences with the realities of life in Thesis. Perhaps we can hope for enlightenment, maybe even salvation.…

It must follow that the proprietor of a skin clinic would put a premium on her own skin, and it is true for Camille Padilla, owner of Glow Skin Clinic at BGC; makeup is only secondary. A thorough skincare routine including exfoliating twice or thrice a week is part of Camille’s commitment, which she says she thanks herself for daily. As a result, she can face the day with very minimal cosmetics: a small amount of CHANEL Vitalumiere Aqua Ultra Light Skin Perfecting Makeup “with a generous amount of LA MER Renewal Oil—I find that this combination gives the most natural and healthy glowing look,” she says, along with CHARLOTTE TILBURY Life Changing Lashes, BENEFIT Roller Lash, MODEL CO Cheek + Lip Tint in Rosy Red and SK-II Mid Day…

"Your job must be so much fun.” That’s what everyone tells me when they find out that I’m a beauty editor. It’s immediately followed by, “So what’s the best [insert product category here] that I should get?” I always reply, half-jokingly, to check out our beauty awards issue. If they’re really determined, I ask them a series of questions—what’s your skin concern, skin type, lifestyle, beauty philosophy, budget, etc. They usually check out by the third question. In order to know, you have to take the time to learn. And yes, it’s never easy. I’ve learned quite a lot, about beauty, about style and about projecting an image since the first time I saw makeup that made me dream (Cover Girl InCondition LipBlush) and especially when I started working in…

Long before Kim Kardashian-West and Bella Hadid deemed it cool to slip into the once abhorred chunky dad sneakers trend, Britney Spears was already dancing her way to pop star royalty in the early 2000s with the OG Skechers D’Lites. Nearly two decades later, the heritage pair are making a comeback and oops, it looks like we are hitting this baby one more time. Over at the local front, the Skechers D’Lites have also made a major comeback, hitting strides among the who’s who in show business and style. Now ubiquitous, a clear standout would be from the fiercely creative and fashionably bold, Nadine Lustre. Unafraid to take risks in many facets of her life, from fashion to her career, the multimedia star has proven herself to be a force…

FASHION ALEXANDER MCQUEEN , Shangri-La PlazaMall,Rustan’sMakati; BALENCIAGA , Greenbelt 5; BENCH , Power Plant Mall, SM Mall of Asia, SM Aura, SM Makati, SM Megamall; BERSHKA , Glorietta 2, SM Megamall; BVLGARI , Greenbelt 4, Rustan’s Makati, Shangri-La Plaza Mall; CALVIN KLEIN , Greenbelt 5, Shangri-La Plaza Mall, SM Megamall; CHARLES & KEITH , SM Megamall, Power Plant Mall; CAROLINA HERRERA , Greenbelt 5; CHARRIOL , Greenbelt 5; CHLOÉ , Adora Greenbelt 5; DISTINQT , <4/F PCCI Building, L.P., Leviste St., Salcedo Village, Makati>; FENDI , Shangri-La Plaza Mall; FOREVER 21 , SM Mall of Asia, SM Aura, SM Makati, SM Megamall; FOLDED & HUNG , SM Megamall, SM Aura, SM North, Eastwood Mall; GIVENCHY , Shangri-La Plaza Mall, Greenbelt 4; GUCCI , Greenbelt 4, Shangri-La Plaza Mall; H&M ,…

AVEDA While it is understandably normal to neglect a few things over the course of the holidays, here are a few things to consider as early as now: 1.) Don’t forget to give a gift to that special someone, and 2.) Give a little more extra TLC to your hair. With this mind, Aveda introduces us to the Damage Remedy Intensive Restructuring Treatment, a formulation meant to strengthen hair with nourishment and deep repair. Packed with quinoa protein, Meadowfoam seed, castor and jojoba oils, follicles are strengthened, split ends are mended and finally, volume and shine is taken care of. Taking a step further, Aveda is offering the full Damage Remedy range as a bundle for the holidays, which you can give as a gift to someone special or even…

STYLE TIP Ease on to the very specific trend by incorporating western accessories such as a big-buckled belt or cowboy boots…