27 closets worth raiding

by Philstar Global

In 1922, a team of British explorers cracked the secret entrance to King Tutankhamun’s tomb, unearthing, in no particular order: a gold throne, gilt chariots, jars of perfume, overflowing baskets filled with gemstones and jewelry, a fleet of miniature ships (to lead him to the promised land in the afterlife), and numerous relics from childhood.

Todays royals or celebs, as tabloid mags anoint them would probably settle for their walk-in closets, thousand-dollar construction marvels with floor to ceiling racks and temperature-controlled sealed cabinets, as their burial site, with a personal assistant curled humbly at their feet, an iPhone glued solidly to her manicured hands. Instead of hieroglyphs, OOTD images paper the walls. Loubs and Blahniks, their jewels. It bags, their mementos.

Pyramids, after all, are so last millennia.

In The Bling Ring, the Sofia Coppola flick chronicling the felonious pursuits of a group of enterprising teens bent on robbing celebs, the closet of Paris Hilton is the modern day shrine” complete with stripper pole, lights and sofa pillows embossed with her likeness.

We tasked todays tastemakers to choose a closet worth raiding. Who has a closet worth a potential felony record? Read on and find out.

Ryan Gosling closet! Not because he is super hot and I wanna smell and feel him from his clothes; because I love wearing menswear. And he’s got that perfect style I like. Hoping to take home some of his stuff after the closet raid as my souvenir

Jessica Yang, model

I’d love to raid the closet of Gwen Stefani. She’s the ultimate cool chick in my book. She has two personas: rocker babe and now high fashion sophisticate

Michelline Syjuco,

artist

Angelina Jolie because she melds glamorous classic and rock ˜n roll.

—Rocio Olbes, designer

Nick Wooster. I consider him a fashion icon. I would love to see his shoe collection and what other unique styling elements he has hidden in his closet.

Roy Macam, photographer

“I would like to raid the closet of the Olsen twins because two is better than one. From the fur, the vintage gowns, the beat-up Birkins and their to-die-for estate jewelry collection, I want it all!

Janina Dizon, jewelry designer

I’d love to raid Vince Uy’s closet! I saw his walk-in closet the other week and I wanted to steal everything! His shoe collection is amazing!

BJ Pascual, photographer

Erin Wasson’s. I wanna count how many boots and hats she owns. I actually also wanna raid her home… Ha-ha!

Valerie delos Santos, model

Tilda Swinton’s and Stella Tennant’s. These two are my ultimate style icons. Androgynous, minimal forever.

Jo Ann Bitagcol, photographer

I wanna raid Eugene Tong’s closet, he’s the style director of Details magazine. Because I can relate to his personal style, mixing street wear and high-end pieces. Also maybe Pat’s, my partner in Proudrace, so I can get all my clothes back.

Rik Rasos, Proudrace designer

Chris Evans closet is one I would like to raid because I love him. I want to smell his scent on the clothes. I want to take a lot of his shirts home because I am pretty sure it will fit me. I would probably wear his boxers every night. I can style his button-down shirts to make it look more feminine when I wear them to work. Eventually, when he starts looking for his things and finds me wearing them, we just might end up walking down the aisle. I am very confident this will happen.

Candy Dizon, jewelry designer

If I were his size Tom Ford. He is perfection

Sidney Yap, stylist

I would love to raid the closet of Iris Apfel in the 60s. I have a high tolerance for mothball smell.

Joyce Makitalo, designer

I would like to raid Park Soo Joo’s closet. Because she has this unique style of dressing: playful, weird but still genuine. I want to steal all her clothes! I hope it fits me. Ha-ha!

Chat Almarvez, Ford model

Nigo/Tomoaki Nagao, founder and former creative director, BAPE. First, I will go to his closet, then on the way out, I will head on to his Warhol artworks and vintage tin can toys!

Ryan Vergara, photographer/Everywhere We Shoot

The Vogue closet. Just because it’s bound to have the newest, hottest and latest in the fashion world.

—Pauline Juan, Preview EIC

I have many but my topmost is Anna dello Russo’s wild collection of luxury from her hats, jewelry to shoes. I can live in her closet and be happy doing inventory.

—Lucille Dizon, jewelry designer

Lauren Santo Domingo. Love the way she dresses. It’ a good balance between edgy, cool and easy.

TC Alvarez, designer

I would love to raid the closet of Daphne Guinness. She’s not just a fashion icon, she is a curator.

—Meryll Yan, Mega publisher

I would love to raid the closet of Queen Raina of Jordan. I think she is so beautiful and her style is impeccable. Each time I see a photograph of her, I am intrigued and inspired.

Rajo Laurel, designer

Victoria Beckham! I love her style and I love her husband even more! Ha-ha!

Jessica Tan Gan, designer

Whose closet would I raid? If only to see what he has stashed from his travels, I would very much love to break down the wall of Eman Pineda’s closet. Or maybe Robbie Antonio’s, his collection of shoes, watches, portraits and all.

Dennis Lustico, designer

Alonso Mateo;s closet. That kid has amassed so many clothes, shoes and sunnies, it’s mind-boggling. The clincher? He’s only five years old!

Agoo Bengzon, Preview beauty editor

Anna Wintour. I want to see all the types of clothes she owned, the shoes and accessories. Her style is totally her own, is relevant then and especially now.

Ruby Gan, retailer

Definitely Tony Stark’s closet! Who wouldn’t want to have several versions of the Iron-Man armor? That would rock!

Val Weigmann, model

I really want to raid the shoe cabinet of Janina Dizon. I love her clothes too but my midsection is not at all suitable for peek-a-boos. I admire her taste and style sensibilities.

Patrice Ramos Diaz, designer

I’d like to raid Celine Lopez’s closet and steal only one piece of clothing: her Madame Gres gown!

Maureen Disini, designer

I’d like to raid my sister Liz’s closet. Not just so I can have some of my clothes back but because she has a lot of oversized pieces (and bags) that I can use and never, ever return. Plus it makes me feel happy thinking m still thin enough to be able to fit into her pieces

Vince Uy, Preview creative director

MUSEUM OF ME

by Michelle Parsons

For several years, real estate mogul Robbie Antonio has been working on his DREAM project.  He has spent countless number of hours examining great works of art and studying architecture design to such a degree that his interest and enthusiasm borders on fanaticism.  Aptly named “Obsession”, one part of the project will be an art gallery filled with 35 portraits of Robbie himself.  At a cost as high as $250,000 per painting, the walls will be lined with works by internationally known contemporary artists such as David Salle, Kenny Scharf, and Julian Schnabel.  Now referred to as the “Museum of Me” by the public and media, this gallery will only be ONE room of a 25,000 square foot home that is currently under construction in the Philippines, being designed by world famous Dutch architect and urbanist Rem Koolhaas.  Built in an exclusive neighborhood of Manila and at an estimated cost of $15 Million, the home (called the “Stealth” by Robbie) will be a series of boxes stacked together in an irregular pattern with a rooftop pool and waterfall.  

When word of Antonio’s dream project got out, it would be an understatement to say social media lit up.  This is exactly the type of story the public loves to comment on, and almost everyone (but me) seems to have a strong opinion about.  Words such as egomaniac, narcissist, elitist, vain and selfish were used the most often.  Some went so far as to say he is not in touch with reality or part of society, and that he was born with a “silver spoon in his mouth”.  He was also attacked for his business partnerships and friendships with Paris Hilton, LaToya Jackson and Donald Trump.  Some even suggested that he probably avoids paying his taxes and compared him to Imelda Marcus, the former First Lady of the Philippines who allegedly owned 3,000 pairs of shoes.  A small minority, however, defended his right to spend his money anyway he wanted while an even smaller group just described him as simply a “patron of the arts”. 

What interested ME the most about the public’s reaction was that not one of the comments I read was written by anyone who actually knew Robbie.  Yet practically everyone wrote with such certainty, and most were ready to convict him based on the limited facts that were presented.  This made me think of ALL the times I have also jumped to such a  quick conclusion about another, how easy it was for me to “label” someone that I had never met or hardly knew.   I know we are all guilty of this, but what bothers me is that so many people these days are so steadfast in their opinions that it’s impossible for them to be neutral or objective…. and almost no one is capable of giving anyone else the “benefit of a doubt”.  

Although I know next to nothing about Robbie Antonio other than what I reported above, and have no desire to defend him personally, why do we assume that someone who pays $20M+ on his house and art work does not also CONTRIBUTE to society just as much as anyone else?   Why do we judge someone based on the home they live in, the clothes they wear, the cars they drive or the number of charities they support?  In a capitalistic society where there will always be inequities in wealth, what should matter most is NOT how people spend their money but how they treat others.  How many times have we heard of a wealthy person who writes a big check to some charity to impress others (or get rid of guilt) and then goes home and kicks their dog or beats their wife and children?  Whatever good energy was created by his donation has just been cancelled out by how he treated his family.  Is this the type of person we want to applaud and support?  The amount of money someone has (or how they choose to spend it) will never tell the whole story of who they really are behind closed doors.  

Very few of us are capable of being a Mother Teresa, and I personally don’t want to live in a world where everyone was.  We are all here in this world on SEPARATE paths working on different things.  I don’t know what Robbie Antonio is working on in this life, or what his joys or struggles are.  I don’t know if he is a good guy or not.  I just think he should have the freedom and choice to contribute to society in his own way.  If there is a Judgment Day when we are done with this life, I believe that acts of kindness will be given greater weight than dollars contributed.

Let the balls begin

by Philstar Global

Right smack center of the rainy season, the ball season is also upon us. But if you’re thinking of the stiff, upper-lipped, full-on powdered faces doing a rigid on, then think again. Things have changed quite a lot in this scene that after a whole night of event hopping, you realize that, indeed, “you had a ball!”

The folks at Lifestyle Asia, now in their 26th year, jumpstarted the season when they welcomed the Queen Mother of Bhutan, Her Majesty Ashi Tshering Pem Wangchuck  (try saying that five times) who was such a regal royal that everybody wanted to come over and meet her. And so they did. The whole town was abuzz and went all out just to show the Queen how we welcome our guests.

Perfect match, if you ask me. Bhutan is known for measuring the country’s output by its Gross National Happiness, something that sounds very… us. And so, the Lifestyle Asia Ball proceeded with the usual fanfare  glitzy lounges for Globe Platinum and Tattoo, flashy cars, champagne, the works. But knowing the people behind the glossy, namely editor in chief Anna Sobrepeña, publisher Cheryl Tiu, even senior editor Cristina Gomez and the rest of the LA team, it was definitely more than that. Yes, the luxe part they got down pat, but remember, in any ball (and this goes for all people who throw parties) one must never forget the fun part  that’s what makes it unforgettable.

And so I arrived straight from taping for my show right on time when everyone was dancing. A flash mob, it turned out! I was having late dinner with this month’s cover girl Tessa Prieto-Valdes and then I saw people jumping off their seats and hopping onto the dance floor! That was a YouTube worthy moment. I stayed polite and didn’t need up Instagramming every moment. I reserved the highlights of the event to come out in this space.

For the fourth straight year, Mega did it again! Each year, when the calendar hits the 12th of June, Mega magazine, that glossy fashion mag that truly makes Pinoys proud, turns things a few (actually, many) notches higher. The Mega Pinoy Pride Ball this year was one for the books, as it has been making history by paying tribute to global Pinoys who make the wheels of change turn faster for all of us so we may become version 2.0 versions of ourselves.

I’ve also had the honor of hosting all four years straight of this groundbreaking event. I was extra emotional this year, seeing how far this momentous milestone has gone, thanks to the visionary efforts of Mega founder, president, and CEO Sari Yap and her amazing team of creative thinkers and gung-ho doers. They went beyond the magazine, took to television, invaded cyberspace just to reach out to you, modest Filipino reader, televiewer, blog reader, fashion lover. New media, new ways of looking at things, a new Mega, catered for you.

The Mega Pride Ball started on a high note, literally. Regine Velasquez ascended onto the stage, singing Narito Ako. And then came a fashion parade of the best of the Mega YDC All Star finalists, each flaunting the best of Filipino design talent. Each suite displayed the best of Filipino talent, from Elmo Magalona and Kean Cipriano to Jed Madela  each one dishing out vocal calisthenics like no other, accompanied by a full orchestra.

In between all this, the global Filipinos were  awarded. A rousing chorale rendition of Paraiso ushered in the awardees, and one could see from the diversity of their achievements that, indeed, the Filipino has arrived. I was holding back my tears, it was deeply moving. But I didn’t want to host with Issa Litton and G. Tongi with super tears in my eyes. It was a happy, no, joyous occasion. Everybody in free-form Filipino attire, on Philippine Independence Day.

All balls are not created equal, this one was one for the books. Kudos to the OneMega Group!