WE ARE LEARNING Issue #14 - Beauty and Fashion Edition by Joey Sabio

BY ELITE

WA L SEPTEMBER 2012 - W.A.L. MAGAZINE #14

BEAUTY & FASHION EDITION

eyeing the icons SHOPPING-RONE BOYFRIENDS When men shop for their ladies pg. 83

SHAPES & SIZES Flatter your curves with clothing tricks On pg. 66

INKED & PROUD Curious on who etched art on skin? Flip through pg. 70

Hail Learning’s Fashion Mavens TRIM DOWN & SLEEK UP Andre Ong shares his Cohen’s Diet success story

CASH-CACHE! Unravel tips for sweat-free shopping in a click

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EDITORIAL TEAM WAL ISSUE 014 ▪ AUG-SEP 2012

–THE EDITOR’S LETTER:

ditors are wizards of words; masters of the stories they tell. I thought I was born for the by-line until I was assigned to write about Fashion.

The topic robbed me of words. It took the spark out of sharing stories and repulsed me to write. Fashion is superficial, intimidating, and commercially uninspiring—or so I thought. In three cups of caffeine, I came to terms in forcing myself to write something just to meet the requirement. In the process, Google offered an etymology that sparked inspiration: faceon. aceon is an Old French verb that means “make” or “shape”. In the past, clothes were made and shaped to fit people. Today, the unspoken norm compels people to fit themselves in couture. Vanity comes with pain. Beauty assumed artificial heights. Fashion, mostly, devolved into an intimidating and discriminating luxury.

This is why WAL’s issue this quarter devotes itself to revive all the beautiful purposes of fashion: as a philosophy, art, selfexpression, and mode of self-appreciation. Fashion, in the Learning Domain, is how we carry ourselves in the corporate arena. It does not limit us from wearing bold yet proper pieces. Rather, it empowers us to feel good about how we look. It encourages creativity than dictate rules. Fashion in Learning is art and individuality in its truest form. From stories about embracing our curves, how the corporate dress code inspires one’s clothing choices, how fashion makeovers are more than just changing the set of clothes in our closets, to hailed Learning fashion icons to whom many relate to, this issue prides of stories about our own definition of fashion. Read on as we crush the fortress of commercial couture asunder. At the end of the day, fashion does not and should not shape us. We define it.

MA. ROXANNE FATIMA S. ROLLE

CLARA TERESA V. OBMERGA PILLAR LEAD

MA. ROXANNE FATIMA S. ROLLE E D I TO R I N C H I E F

TRISHA ANGELICA V. RODRIGUEZ, JOSE LEONARDO V. SABIO, and EMERSON JOHN E. LOZANTA LAYOUT AND DESIGN

ANGELI MARIXI C. ROSALES and ON T H E C OV ER MICHELLE CELINA L. BONGCO S T Y L E E D I TO R S CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Six people, six very different fashion philosophies. Flip the pages and learn more about our fellow Learning folks’ wit, art, glam and panache!

MA. ROXANNE FATIMA S. ROLLE, CLARA Photohraphed By: Clark Wittich TERESA V. OBMERGA, STEPHANIE Y. AMBOY, Location: Rue Bourbon Bar and St. Francis Shangri-La Place NOVEL DENATOLIO, JUAN CARLOS F. RAMOS, AARON E. CABIGAS, ERIKA MARIZ PINEDA, ANGELI MARIXI C. ROSALES, MA. KRISTINA B. VELASCO, ANGELI A. BUCLATIN, RODERICK M. LAGBAS, PAUL RITCHIE C. GREFALDA, LORRAINE T. BASINANG, JOSE ANTONIO D. FERNANDEZ, MA SUZETTE F. ABELA, ROWENA PATRICIA B. RIOS and ELOUISE M. RENDONABELLON C O N T R I BU T I N G P H OTO G R A P H E R

RENATO FUENTES IBANEZ JR., ZEUS MARTINEZ and CHRISTIAN CLARK A. WITTICH

THE BEAUTY and FASHION EDITION WAL ISSUE 014 ▪ AUG-SEP 2012

–THE PILLAR LEAD’S LETTER: We all have our distinct and unique personal style. Whether we choose to wear jeans with a white shirt and sneakers or a colorful dress with skyrocketing heels, we could all make our own fashion statement. Why? Because style is not about wearing the most expensive designer clothes and following the latest trends. It is all about expressing who we are with the way we dress and present ourselves to the world. This Beauty and Fashion Edition of WAL features the variety of styles that is present in the Learning Domain. It shows that though we are bounded by a strict dress code, we could still dress fashionably and appropriately to represent IBM well. Elite hopes that through this edition, we could emphasize that we do not need to emulate celebrities and try hard to look fashionable. Fashion in Learning in itself is already very vibrant and exciting. By choosing how to express ourselves, we show the world our culture and a part of who we are. The possibilities are endless in fashion, and Elite is here to help us explore and choose our own kind of beautiful. Let us go, play around, challenge norms, know ourselves, and rock the world by living for style.

CLARA TERESA V. OBMERGA

‘ –table of contents

WAL ISSUE 014 ▪ AUG-SEP 2012

contents The Learning Voice

how does the corporate dress code inspire your fashion sense?

Lookbook a.k.a. Fashion Police 11 browse through as real-life models grace IBM’s halls

Fashionista’s Haven

fab finds ONLINE “Windows” shopping means differently for these home-grown shoppers. If you didn’t get the pun, welcome to the 21st Century; you need to read this story.

Embracing your Curves

Fashion on Ink

Fashion Staples

inked and proud IBMers etch their art on skin

invest in what’s timeless

Scene Stealers: Learning Fashion Defined

At Your Best

six IBMers, six very different fashion philosophies

What’s Inside Your Bag? let us peer into some of our colleague’s everyday bags

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three looks, three styles, three beauties – let one work for you!

Of Tux and Wellness

this is a tribute to the women of Learning. let us take pride of both our substance and curves!

fashion never has to solely be for the opulent

he simply wanted to look good in a tux but ended up conquering healthier heights

My POV: Confessions of a Shopaholic’s Boyfriend when men shop for their ladies

: e c i o V g n i n r a e ur L e inspire yo Thoh de co s es dr e at or rp co e th es do w FASHION SENSE? COMPILED BY: PAUL RITCHIE C. GREFALDA

Let’s hear it from the New Hires

KAILA RAYEL D. ALAPIDE I DON’T PARTICULARLY KNOW HOW IT INSPIRES ME. I JUST WEAR WHAT I’M COMFORTABLE AND WHAT IS APPROPRIATE IN THE CORPORATE SETTING.

PAZ INES M. DOMINGO IT INSPIRES ME TO THINK MORE OUT OF THE BOX BY MIX-AND-MATCHING MY CORPORATE CLOTHES. DOING THIS ON A DAILY BASIS IS STILL NEW TO ME, BUT THE DRESS CODE HAS INSPIRED ME TO WORK AROUND A SOPHISTICATED CLOTHING STYLE.

JANUEL CHASE A. PUSTA AS A PROFESSIONAL, THE CORPORATE DRESS CODE JUST FITS ME WELL. IT HELPS ME EXPRESS MY TASTE IN FASHION. MORE IMPORTANTLY, THE CORPORATE DRESS CODE ENABLES ME TO WORK COMFORTABLY.

FRANCES ELAINE B. TRAZO PHYLLIS G. DELA ROSA CORPORATE DRESS CODE IS A BIT STRUCTURED, DEFINED, AND COMPELS ONE TO APPEAR POLISHED AND PROFESSIONAL. IN WHICH CASE, I BELIEVE THAT THE TRICK IS TO FIND AND INCORPORATE BUSINESS CLOTHES WHICH I THINK WORKS FOR ME AND FOR MY STYLE, WITHOUT COMPROMISING EASE. I AM INSPIRED TO AT LEAST WORK IT WITH COLORS.

RALPH LAWREN L. DIONGCO CORPORATE DRESS CODE EXHIBITS CONFIDENCE AND SO PEOPLE CAN SEE A CONFIDENT PERSON IN YOU. IT ALSO GIVES THE IMPRESSION THAT YOU CAN BE TRUSTED AND TAKEN SERIOUSLY.

THE CORPORATE DRESS CODE PER SE DOESN’T INSPIRE MY FASHION SENSE. RATHER, IT IS A SET OF CONCEPTS FOR ONE TO TOY AROUND, REFLECT UPON AND THINK BY. DRESSING UP IS PROBLEM-SOLVING: YOU TRY TO FIGURE OUT EXISTING FORMULAS, COME UP WITH NEW ONES, FIND WORKAROUNDS, AND DETERMINE WHAT WORKS BEST FOR YOU.

And now let’s hear it from the New 1st LOMs

JOSE ANTONIO FERNANDEZ CORPORATE DRESS CODE SERVES AS A GUIDE ON WHAT TO WEAR AND SHOW PROFESSIONALISM; NOT ONLY IN THE WORK PLACE BUT ALSO OUTSIDE.

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orate dress rp o c e th s e o d oice: How The Learning V NSE? code inspire your FASHION SE

BJORN ANDREW M. CHUA IBM’S CORPORATE DRESS CODE INSPIRES MY FASHION SENSE IN A WAY THAT ENSURES THAT I, NOT ONLY LOOK PRESENTABLE, BUT DISPLAY THE PROPER DECORUM THAT SHOULD BE COMMON ACROSS ALL IBMERS. THE DRESS CODE IMPLICITLY CONTRIBUTES TO IBM CULTURE. THEREFORE, HOW I DRESS AND PRESENT MYSELF, ALIGNED WITH THE IDEALS OF IBM, IS NOT ONLY A REFLECTION OF MY PERSONALITY, BUT OF THE PERSONALITY/CULTURE OF THE COMPANY.

THERESE MARIE S. TECSON SINCE MY TUMMY IS GETTING BIGGER, WHAT MATTERS TO ME AT THIS TIME WOULD BE WHICH FITS OR WHAT’S COMFORTABLE. =)

AGA CHRISTOPHER A. LABRADOR I SEE THE CORPORATE DRESS CODE AS A RULE TO BE FOLLOWED. IT DOES NOT REFLECT ANYTHING ABOUT MY FASHION SENSE. WHAT MATTERS IS THAT I WEAR WHAT I AM COMFORTABLE WITH AND AT THE SAME TIME I ABIDE BY THE COMPANY DRESS CODE.

CATHY A. FRIAS I JUST NORMALLY WEAR CLOTHES I FEEL COMFORTABLE WITH.

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Fashion Police If professional ramp models have the catwalk to showcase their fashionably chic clothes, Learning ladies and gents strut on the IBM floor to flaunt their fashionable corporate outfits with character — key pieces that will draw your eyes to check out the whole ensemble of their well-coordinated look. Who says wellput-together pieces are just found on display windows of fashion boutiques, if we have real-life models walking on the IBM floor.

Stef Amboy in a Printed Top Blouse

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Kris Cruz in a Gray and Black Polka Dot Top

Cameele Zaballero in a White Sheer Button Up Shirt Joey Sabio in Brown Chinos

Learning Fashion Police

Aurora Padua in a L Leopard Print Dress

By: Juan Carlos F. Ramos, Angeli Marixi C. Rosales and Erika Mariz Pineda

Ben Lee in a Royal Navy Button Up Shirt

A Alster Labajo in B Brown Leather S Shoes

Bubbles Magpayo in a Gray Turtleneck Shirt

Derek Lagbas in a Khaki Sports Jacket

Arriane Medenilla in a Gray Pencil Skirt

Maiki Bongco in an “A” Line Brown Skirt

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Philip Ilo in a Pinstripe Navy Blue Button Up Shirt

Khay Mendoza in a Printed Dress from French Connection UK

Owen Susa in a White Polo Barong

FASHIONISTA’S HAVEN

Anna Desales in a Fuschia Pink Blazer

By: Lorraine T. Basinang & Jose Anton D. Fernandez

Discover where your closet and pocket will both be on their happiest and tasteful state

Aga Labrador in a Purple Button Up Shirt

Fashion never has to solely be for the opulent. As Blair Waldorf of Gossip Girl puts it, “Whoever said

money can’t buy happiness doesn’t know where to shop”. Knowledge is power and knowledge where to shop

Kat Galura in a Detailed Blouse by Daisy Fuentes

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is fashion! Read on as we share a couple of havens where style enthusiasts can indulge depending on their stash out mood.

FOR WOMEN

WHEN YOU’RE ON A TIGHT BUDGET

WHEN YOU’RE ON A NOT-SO-TIGHT BUDGET

WHEN YOU’RE ON A SPLURGING MODE

Place to shop for clothes (Budget for a piece is Php 500.00 and below)

Place to shop for clothes (Budget for a piece is Php 600.00 to Php 3,000.00)

Place to shop for clothes (Budget for a piece is above Php 3000.00)

a. Market! Market! Fashion Bazaar b. Blouses, Pants, Skirts, Shorts, Leggings etc. c. Php 100.00 and above Location: Market! Market! Bonifacio Global City, Taguig

a. Forever21 b. Blouses, Pants, Skirts, Shorts, Leggings etc. c. Php 500.00 to Php 3,000.00 Location: SM Mall of Asia, SM Makati, SM Megamall, SM North EDSA

a. Power Plant Mall, Greenbelt, Ayala Center and Newport Mall, Resorts World b. Zara, Topshop, Lacoste, Banana Republic, Burberry, etc. c. Above Php 3,000.00

Place to shop for shoes (Budget for a pair is Php 500.00 and below) a. The Landmark Mall b. Platforms, flats, wedges, stilettos, sandals, etc. c. Php 500.00 and below Location: Makati Avenue and Trinoma Mall Place to shop for accessories (Budget for a piece is Php 300.00 and below) a. 168 Mall b. Necklaces, rings, bracelets, c. Php Php 50.00 and above Location: 168 Mall, Binondo, Manila

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Place to shop for shoes (Budget for a pair is Php 600.00 to Php 3,000.00) a. Payless Shoe Source and Charles and Keith b. Platforms, flats, wedges, stilettos, sandals, etc. c. Php 600.00 above Location: Glorietta, Ayala Center and SM Megamall Place to shop for accessories (Budget for a piece is Php 400.00 to Php 3,000.00) a. Forever21 b. Necklaces, rings, bracelets, brooches, hair accessories c. Php 300.00 and above Location: SM Mall of Asia, SM Makati, SM Megamall, SM North EDSA

Place to shop for shoes (Budget for a pair is above Php 3000.00)

a. Power Plant Mall, Greenbelt, Ayala Center and Newport Mall, Resorts World b. Jimmy Choo, Gucci, YSL, Aldo, etc. c. Php 3000.00 and above Location: Makati City

FOR WOMEN

Place to shop for accessories (Budget for a piece is above Php 3000.00) a. Greenbelt b. Aldo Accessories, Raoul, BVLGARI, Pandora etc. c. Above Php 3000.00 Location: Makati City

FOR MEN

WHEN YOU’RE ON A TIGHT BUDGET

WHEN YOU’RE ON A NOT-SO-TIGHT BUDGET

WHEN YOU’RE ON A SPLURGING MODE

Place to shop for clothes (Budget for a piece is Php 500.00 and below)

Place to shop for clothes (Budget for a piece is Php 600.00 to Php 3,000.00)

Place to shop for clothes (Budget for a piece is above Php 3000.00)

a. SM Department Stores b. T-Shirts, Polo Shirts, Button Up Shirt, Dress Shirts, Trousers etc. c. Php 350.00 and above Location: All SM Department Store Branches

a. Uniqlo and Forever21 b. T-Shirts, Polo Shirts, Button Up Shirt, Dress Shirts, Trousers etc. c. Php 500.00 to Php 3,000.00 Location: SM Mall of Asia, SM Makati, SM Megamall, SM North EDSA

a. Suits, Dress Shirts, Necktie b. Zara, Topshop, Lacoste, Banana Republic, Massimo Dutti, etc. c. Above Php 3,000.00 Location: Power Plant Mall, Rustan’s Department Store, Greenbelt, Ayala Center and Newport Mall, Resorts World

Place to shop for shoes (Budget for a pair is Php 500.00 and below)

FOR MEN

a. Tiangge b. Knock-Off Branded Shoes. c. Php 500.00 and below Location: Greenhills and 168 Mall Place to shop for accessories (Budget for a piece is Php 300.00 and below) a. Tiangge b. Necklaces, rings, bracelets, necktie, bowtie etc. c. Php 50.00 and above Location: Greenhills and 168 Mall, Binondo, Manila

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Place to shop for shoes (Budget for a pair is Php 1,500.00 to Php 3,000.00) a. ALDO, Pedro and Traffic b. Sneakers and Leather Shoes etc. c. Php 1,500.00 and above Location: Bonifacio High Street, Trinoma Mall, Rockwell Power Plant, SM North EDSA and SM Megamall Place to shop for accessories (Budget for a piece is Php 400.00 to Php 3,000.00) a. ALDO Accessories b. Necklaces, rings, bracelets, necktie, bowtie etc. c. Php 300.00 and above Location: Bonifacio High Street, Trinoma Mall, Greenbelt Mall, SM North EDSA and SM Megamal

Place to shop for shoes (Budget for a pair is above Php 3000.00)

a. Dress and Casual Shoes (Oxford, Derby, Monk-straps, Slip-ons, Plaintoes, Cap-toes, Brogues) b. Bally, Kenneth Cole, Fred Perry, Salvatore Ferragamo, Zegna etc. c. Php 3000.00 and above Location: Power Plant Mall, Greenbelt, Ayala Center and Newport Mall, Resorts World Place to shop for accessories (Budget for a piece is above Php 3000.00) a. Shades, Wrist Watch, Bracelet, Necklace, and Rings b. ADORA and Pandora c. Above Php 3000.00 Location: Greenbelt, Ayala Center 2012 SEPTEMBER

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FASHION staple INVEST IN WHAT’S TIMELESS! Words by: Elouise M. Rendon Abellon

n the ever-changing world of fashion, most of us struggle to keep up with the times. There are different fashion statements where ever we go – whether we’re students, employees, managers, or stayat-home moms, various fashion statements run amuck. While some personally find it unnecessary to dress up for their job, dressing to impress on a daily basis won’t hurt. Not only does it give you a good image physically, but it also conditions yourself to work. There goes a saying “you are what you wear”, which

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holds true – the more you care about how you present yourself to others, the more you exude a level of confidence that can be shown in the way you dress. As much as it is difficult to keep up and to stay tune to what’s “in”, there are still style staples that remain constant all throughout. These are different fashion items (clothes, shoes, accessories, you name it) that every employee must have in his/her own closet – always bearing in mind that you can always mix and match to your desired taste. Fashion, after all, is a matter of preference, and it’s up to you how to spice things up!

1. THE E PLAIN N WHITE E TEE People may underestimate the powers of this simple one. They say “less is more”, and we totally agree. The plain white tee can turn any dull outfit into a headturner. Just make sure you have the right accessories, and one great advantage of having a perfect fitting white tee? On a Monday, you can wear it with any tailored blazer that you have, and pair it with a pencil skirt the next week, without anyone even noticing the repeat performance. For guys, opt for a plain white tee that best

accentuates your arms, or that can make your chest look big/wide (in short, one that can make you look ‘macho’). Pair it up with a perfect pair of denims, and voila! You look like a movie star.

2. BILLY Y JEAN N Though this song by Michael Jackson is truly a hit, we also say that having a good pair of jeans in your closet will do wonders to your fashion sense (and to your budget as well). It’s up to you if you want to invest in high quality clothes like buying from Zara, H&M, or

Top Shop/Top Man; but if you’re running low and you need a good buy, try heading out to any ukayukay, where your jaw can literally drop with the amount of clothes you can grab. Good jeans are hard to find, so just make sure you’re patient enough to look for one. It all depends on its fit on your bum, legs, waist, and hips. Make sure as well that the length is appropriate to your height. It’s okay if your jeans are a little bit longer, as you can opt to have them altered, or you can also fold them and pair them with cute wedges or killer heels.

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Make sure that your jeans hug you in all the right places. A good pair of jeans can either be skinny jeans (personally the best type for me, because you can pair them with rubber shoes or with heels), or even straight cut jeans. Just make sure that your denims don’t stretch easily when worn a lot, so that’s also something to keep in mind.

3. HAIIL,, THE E LITTLE L E BL LACK K DRES SS We personally would like to thank Audrey Hepburn in Breakfast at Tiffany’s for making this a style staple. Holly Golightly’s famous black dress is definitely a fashion classic: imagine walking in the office wearing a black dress, tailored to perfection. Pair it up with the perfect accessories such as pearl earrings for a classic and simple look, or with a blazer and black pumps to epitomize powerdressing. The great thing about this is it never goes out of style. You can even channel Blair Waldorf’s preppy look by pairing it up with stockings and ballet

flats, with a matching trench coat if you’re really up for it. If you have somewhere else to go to after work, get your chandelier earrings and open-toe stilettos, and you don’t have to buy another outfit for that after-work party.

4. CUT T ME SO OME SLA ACK K The pencil cut skirt has always been trendy. If you’re an avid fan of TV series such as Suits, Law & Order, or Private Practice, you can find that the sexiest (yes, the sexiest) characters seem to be attracted to pencil cut skirts. Here’s why: it hugs you in the right areas, and it accentuates your legs, making them look longer. Pair this up with skyhigh pumps, and you’ll definitely get good feedback. No matter how simple your top is, pencil cut skirts will make your outfit stand out. Some believe that wearing a plain outfit altogether is boring, but we beg to differ. Imagine the perfect white polo, paired with an olive green pencil cut skirt, and black pointed pumps – how else can you go wrong? Go gaga with accessories such as a loose necklace and a good watch; then top it off with your hair tied up in a messy bun

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and eyeglasses if you have a pair. Your imagination working? Ours is too, and this outfit already looks fab.

5. PUM MP IT The perfect black pumps – now who can go wrong with this one? You can pair it with almost anything – your denim jeans, black slacks, pencil cut skirt, and some even dare to pair it with shorts. They say that heels make your legs look longer, and longer will your legs look. The great thing about buying pumps is, most stores have them; you just have to make sure that you find one that fits most comfortably, as fashion requires us to look good, but being comfortable with what you’re wearing is also a must.

6. BLA ACK K HAW AW WK DOW WN For the guys, don’t fret. Black leather shoes are what all it takes to spice up your daily office outfit. Don’t underestimate their simplicity. Just make sure that you have them polished regularly, to keep that shine. Your

black leather shoes will definitely bring your outfits to places – you can pair them with the standard black slacks or even with your best fitting jeans on dress-down days. You can also opt to buy black leather shoes that aren’t completely plain. Some stores like to offer shoes that have minimal detail, so your outfit doesn’t look too ordinary. Lastly, make sure you own a hefty amount of socks that fit your feet perfectly, so you can wear these shoes comfortably. Remember: the inside should always be as good as what’s outside.

7. IT’S S ALWAYS Y BELT YS TER R WH HEN N WE’RE E TOGET THER

Through the years, belts have evolved into different fashion items: what started out as things to tighten loose clothing, have now become accessories that instantly vamp up any plain-looking outfit. Beige/neutral-colored belts are must-haves; for those who opt for more bold colors, red and turquoise have also been popular choices. Feeling curvy? Grab a wide black belt and tie it around your tummy, to create an illusion of an hour glass shape. The great thing about having belts in your

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8 closet is, they never go out of style, so chances of you buying a lot each time is very minimal – something to consider if you’re a fashionista on a budget.

8. THE E CARD DIGANS There’s a reason why most tiangges carry around these things – because they are fashion must-haves. From long-sleeved, to ¾ ones; to sleeveless types, short ones, long ones (that almost mimic trench coats), these beauties will surely spice up your outfit, and ensure that you won’t shiver to death in the office too. These serve as a dual-purpose item: to keep you warm and to make sure you look good. For guys, the equivalent of this one is The Jacket. Try dropping by different department stores, and you might just get lucky. A lot of different brands already offer the “Hugh Jackman” type of jacket. Consider the fit, and its flexibility. Go for neutral colors so you can easily wear them with different outfits. Whether you’re dressing up on a regular working day (match your jacket with your favorite slacks) or on

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dress-down day (pair it up with your jeans and leather shoes), a greatfitting jacket can definitely make a difference, as opposed to a plain polo without a necktie. The jacket can easily be an alternative to the traditional necktie or bowtie as well, if you have to go to a semi-formal function elsewhere.

9. UND DER R THE HE E SEA Yes, never underestimate the powers of great under garments, even if you’re the only one who’ll be able to see it. A polo can fit perfectly if you’re wearing the right type of brassiere, while your slacks/ fitted jeans can look so much better if you’re wearing the right type of “spanks”. Again, what’s inside should be as good as what’s outside, and feeling comfortable with what you’re wearing beneath your clothes will do a lot to your confidence, and with the way you’re carrying your outfit. Knowing that you’re completely comfortable before you wear your office clothes can make a lot of difference, as opposed to being conscious all the time, no matter how expensive-looking your dress can be.

10. PO OLO O PAS SCUAL Guys and girls, the perfect polo will be your best friend. You can choose from an array of colors, and what’s great about this fashion staple is that you can most definitely buy this ANYWHERE. Department stores carry a lot of these, and if you’re lucky, you can snatch items that only cost P200. Polos can be paired with pretty much anything – skirts, slacks, jeans, shorts; can be worn with or without belts, a brooch, and necklaces; can be worn inside blazers, jackets, and even cardigans. What’s great about them too is that it definitely adheres with the IBM dress code (outfits with collared necks), and you can even wear them elsewhere! Parties, DFA meetings, passport pictorials, etcetera. The possibilities are endless. For a more crisp look, opt for a polo that slightly hugs your physique tightly (but not too tight the point that the buttons are about to give way); for a more comfortable look, you can go for the “boyfriend t-shirt” look, by grabbing a loose polo, fitted/skinny jeans, and rubber shoes/TOMS. Again, it’s up to

you to mix and match, depending on your mood and preference.

11. AN ND I TELL LL YOU THIS, NFIDENC N E NC IN CON Yes. Our last “item” is your confidence in wearing all these things. Fashion is not all about the clothes or how good they look on you. It’s also about how confident you are in yourself, believing you can pull an outfit off, whatever it is you decide to wear. What’s great about being an IBMer is that this company embraces diversity – allowing you to embrace what makes you most comfortable, and what makes you express yourself the best (keeping in mind of course, the dress code). One may have the most expensive garment, but lacking confidence can easily be defeated by someone whose outfit may come from an ukay-ukay, but exudes great poise and selfassurance. Nasa pagdadala yan is what they say, and it’s true. If you take a look at yourself in the mirror and find yourself perfectly happy with what you’re wearing, then you’re definitely good to go.

11 “By investing in a good set of fashion “classics” you will find your wardrobe much more versatile and user-friendly. It’s worth your while to spend a bit of time and money finding quality, classic pieces that fit you properly. These items can be worn season after season, worn together for a timeless look or mixed up with the season’s more directional trends.” via - http://aww.ninemsn.com.au/style/qanda/791744/ fashion-classics

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LEARNING

fashion DEFINED

Words by: Ma. Roxanne Fatima S. Rolle Grab a cup of coffee, recline, and relax as we peer into the inspiring thoughts of our Learning Fashion mavens.

fashion is such a pedestrian word.

Everyone knows what it means. Yet not everyone understands its purpose. Sadly, most reduce its meaning to couture, pricey shoes, Paris, and a couple of anorexic girls. On le contraire, “ fashion” is merely the manner of creating our daily ensembles. Tracing to the Old French word, faceon, it simply means “making or shaping”. It has never been limited to glam and glitters. Rather, fashion has always been about making our everyday clothes into an extension of ourselves. This especially mirrors truth in the Learning Domain. We may not be consciously aware of it but the Learning Domain enjoys diverse artful fashion expressions. Yet amidst the many stylish arose six icons voted to represent our common niches.

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CORPORATE chick Office wear is mostly tagged as sleek, crisp, lined, and blackand-white (if not gray). Camila Labog defies that. Voted as a “corporate chick”, she is known for her tribal prints, brightly colored accessories, and over-the-top accents. Despite these, she still comes out corporate-looking. Her technique, she shares, is by sticking with basic pieces like slacks, plain A-line skirts, and a polo or basic blouse. That helps her abide by the IBM Dress Code. She then enlivens her garments with colorful accessories or shoes. A film photographer, gymnast, and an on-the-side theatre actress, Camila is like most artists in terms of picking her fashion accents. Her choices are based on her current mood. “Currently, I am undergoing a necklace phase. A few months back, it was earrings and bangles”, she shares. With her signature pixie-cut hair, chunky necklaces, and vibrant color choices, this sanguine virtual class facilitator describes her style as bold. Never afraid to take on fashion risks, Camila jokes that she thinks of herself as a fashion scientist because she experiments a lot. “There might be times that I have a fashion failure. But dressing up is experimenting! You wouldn’t really know what pieces go together unless you actually try it.” Her joke was admittedly corny. Yet her bold fashion outlook is a league apart from topics of humor. Through this corporate chick, one will understand that the fiercest accessory is genuine selfconfidence. Cliché as that may sound, it still remains a time-tested philosophy and Camila is living proof of that.

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beefy

buff

Through John Ramos emanates a rare “haciendero” leading man aura; the kind that only Spanish teleseryes can produce. John is tall, relatively big built, has a Mestizopointed nose, Castilian complexion, and a protagonist’s pair of benign eyes. Distinct to him is his façade of nonchalance—as if he cares not about the antagonist’s faster-running horse. Undoubtedly, these features won him the “beefy buff” title in Elite’s recent poll. Yet apart from his physical beefy appeal, perhaps it is his passion for healthy living that got him the beefy moniker. As Elite’s former Pillar Lead, John found W.A.L. as an avenue to share his advocacy to spread health awareness in Learning. For him, “Health and wellness is a kind of lifestyle, a choice one has to make.” He finds joy in sports and leisurely [physical] activities as well. What is ironic is that John is as conscious with his health as he is oblivious with the clothes he wears. He defines his style as “simple”. This ANZ practitioner relates his fashion sense to the colloquial “Kunamadampots” principle which is a literal, Filipino contraction of kung ano ang una madampot (i.e. I wear the first thing I can pull from my closet). On a regular weekday, one will find John wearing his staples: dark-colored jacket, long-sleeved polo, slacks, leather shoes, and a ruddiness that healthy (hacienderolooking) fellahs emit.

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GLAM “

girl

I never considered myself a glam girl. That’s an overstatement! I can only say that I’ve always loved dressing up… I feel good when I look good; I feel smart when I look smart.

”

Timid and humble, Kat Hugo was taken aback in surprise when she found out she was voted as a “glam girl”. She may not see herself that way but, to the eyes of many, her affinity to doll up has earned her the title. Often wrapped in dainty wears, Kat’s light-colored office pieces are eye candies for stressed out souls. In skirts, florals, or pastels, Kat flounces on the floor with grace. She prefers a playful, fun, and subtly sexy look. Implied in her refreshing presence and clothes is her light disposition. In fact, when asked about the basic pieces she wears, Kat answered with “a pair of happy eyes and confidence” instead of listing the usual clothes, bags, and shoes. Never limiting fashion to mere clothes, Kat sees fashion as “a place to explore.” Pretty, dainty, and subtly sensual, Kat is the right temper of sassiness and substance rolled in her version of humble glam.

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s s e l e tim E E N I T MA

r ed in an action-sta nn do , ne ri ve ol W le new iscent of X-men’s debonair to a who gs in Suave hair remin br at th ce fa ched with a n he won as denim jacket, mat the numbers whe es rv se de s ga bi level, Aaron Ca ”. “Timeless Matinee er this ANZ practition g in br t, en es pr 1990’s up to From the 1950’s, nably fit. will still be fashio he d an a er y an to ilosophy. oks to his style ph lo s es el m ti s hi ems that Perhaps, he owes but to taste. He de ds en tr to t no es te.” He subscrib , …. taste is inna ve ti ec bj su is e yl nonthough “st self representing m hi es se on ar A , In fact in”. not follow “what’s es do he as ts is m confor at, s Chinos, casual co hi in ily da d te ot Sp or brogues, slipped in loafers tasteful class Aaron expresses r. in a masculine ai

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PRETTY petite In her petite frame, Clara Obmerga is a stylish force to reckon with. A self-confessed fashion advocate, this IOS practitioner believes in the power of fashion. “Through this, we can show the world a portion of who we are – our culture, our taste, our vision, etc. Fashion surpasses boundaries and allows us to express ourselves in whatever way we want.”, she shares. Needless to say, she ensures her daily apparels are well thought of. A fun-loving yuppie, Clara prefers comfortable, flowy tops, sandwiched under a respectable blazer so she can easily bring out the fun after office hours. To create an illusion of “long” legs, she often wears skirts paired with stunning nude-toned shoes. Apart from clothing, the petite fashion aficionado also breathes cosmetics. She works magic with her eyes through studio-worthy make up. For several occasions, she has been tapped to help style and prep models for domain-wide photoshoots. With her versatile and functional style, Clara is known to play with her daily ensembles, color palettes, and fashion pegs not just to suit her own preferences but to also inspire others in her advocacy of power through fashion.

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fox ECLECTIC Neon yellow open toe pumps, black harem pants, and printed halter with hints of yellow on a boxy black blazer—only Chloe can turn these pieces into a classy ensemble. No wonder she spells style as “freedom”; unbound by norms and trends.

Endeared by her teammates as “Madamme”, Chloe’s office attires are eclectic yet sophisticated. Hard to define as her style may be, she still follows color-matching. Chloe ensures that at least two colors of her wardrobe are coordinated. Above all, she takes into heart that what she wears are aligned with the company dress code. What is most impressive about this eclectic fox’s style is her non-discriminating taste in terms of the brand and price. In her words, “I always believe in the saying that what you wear should not be a source of pain, vast expense, or misery” Her closet and rack are lined with clothes and shoes from both branded stores and fabulous bazaars. The larger part of the closet, though, is dominated with trench coats, blazers, and pull-overs. Chloe upholds that each day should be treated as special. Indeed, this reflects in how she turns normal clothes to daily specials.

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Six people, six very different fashion philosophies. Yet one holds true for all: fashion lies not in the fabrics, shoes, bags, or hair. It can simply be confidence, wellness, substance, taste, outlook, or advocacy. The next time you finish the sentence, “Fashion is …”, take pride if your answer is not a clothing brand. Only then can you humanize and define your own purpose of fashion. □

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Out of all the items in your bag, what are the 3 things you CAN leave at home? Nail Cutter – “I’d rather do it at home anyway” Some (or all) of my makeup – “They’re too many and I don’t retouch. I only use them when I need to be somewhere else after work.”

What’s inside your BAG?

Anything unusual or unique in your bag that you can share? Hand-written love letters from Mico – “I read them during tough times” Tickets – Cinemas, Concerts, Museums, Subway, Travels. Snacks – mostly candies and chocolates to “keep my energy levels high and entertain me during heavy traffic”. What type of person would probably carry the same bag as yours? “A girl scout – someone who’s always ready for anything”

Words by: Michelle Celina L. Bongco

Let us peer into some of our colleague’s everyday bags and discover some fun, quirky and interesting things and insights.

Out of all the items in your bag, what are the 3 things you CAN leave at home? Camera, Ipod and Notebook Anything unusual or unique in your bag that you can share? Hello Kitty contacts case – “I love Hello Kitty!” What type of person would probably carry the same bag as yours? The type of girl who needs “to have everything at all times”

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Out of all the items in your bag, what are the 3 things you CAN leave at home? Makeup kit – same as the other girls… too many! Checkbook – “I don’t use it” Medicine – “I can just get from the clinic” Anything unusual or unique in your bag that you can share? Stickers and stationary (mostly Hello Kitty) from Japan “Flower” cord bundler and Lint remover My lomo cameras and photos – instax, etc. What type of person would probably carry the same bag as yours? “A mom. My bag is actually a diaper bag (brand – Mommy Roo) and I did not realize this until I’ve used it. I bought it because it was cute and functional.”

Out of all the items in your bag, what are the 3 things you CAN leave at home? iPad - “I seldom use it in the office.” Umbrella – “There’s no need for me to use it so I can just leave it inside my car” Makeup – They’re just too many Anything unusual or unique in your bag that you can share? Lipton Red Iced Tea – “I always have one bottle in my bag” What type of person would probably carry the same bag as yours? “Someone who needs to be entertained at all times because it has all sorts of gadgets – iPad, ipod, etc” 58

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“Windows” shopping means differently for these home-grown shoppers. If you didn’t get the pun, welcome to the 21st Century you need to read this story.

fab finds

ONLINE Words by: Ma. Kristina B. Velasco and Angeli A. Buclatin

t is a Sunday afternoon and you are itching to buy a new outfit. You excitedly hop on the car and head to your favorite mall. A few ticks on the clock later, you find this enthusiasm die down. Eventually, it transforms into frustration. Questions like “Is this the line to the parking area? I thought this IS the parking area!” and “It’s closing time already? I haven’t gone through all the stalls yet!” crowd your mind.

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In moments like these, don’t you just wish you stayed home? For us, busy Learning folks, especially those who are working on the night shift, time is of utmost essence. We cannot afford wasting it on bad traffic and long lines. Hats off to those who have the patience of a saint; those who brave through crowds to shop. But don’t they have days of strained patience as well?

These are just some of the reasons why online shopping has become a blessing to some. For those living under a rock and is unfamiliar with this phenomenon, as the name would suggest, it is shopping... online. Easy-peasy. All you need is a computer and an internet connection and voila, you are now open to endless shopping possibilities. But after talking to some online shoppers, it’s not as easy as it seems.

SHOPPER’S DELIGHT Rain Mendoza is a First Line Operations Manager and is an Avid Online Shopper. A colleague convinced her to try it out and she never stopped since. She buys a variety of stuff online: from gadgets to plant seeds, you name it! One noticeable thing about Rain when she walks by is her pair of shoes. You guessed it, they were also bought online and delivered to her doorstep.

It is hard to buy footwear without trying it out yourself. Rain acknowledges this. Yet she has learned to ditch the fuss about it. Besides, for her, “whether in physical stores or virtual stores, shoes don’t like my small feet. So, I told myself, does it matter if I can try it on first or not? Yes, there [are] hits and misses; you will just have to live with them.”

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PHOTO COURTESY OF ZEUS MARTINEZ

Rain Mendoza, 1st LOM of ISST ILO — an avid online shopper

She shops both from international and local sellers, which makes her purchases unique. When asked about the advantages of online shopping, she said that it “saves money [since] some items are cheaper online than in actual stores because the merchants tend to avoid overhead costs. [It also] saves time. I am not a mall rat. I actually don’t like frequenting malls, except if I really had to. So online shopping makes it convenient for me.” Although she admits that there are pros in going to the mall for face to face transactions. “The social experience is also more enhanced when one goes to the stores/shops/ malls.” This is why she believes that “online shopping may not be for everyone.” But for those who are willing to try it out, she gave a few tips:

“

One instant fail-safe method is to protect yourself by only placing orders with companies that you are familiar with, as much as possible. Reviews, comments, and feedback on products and services are good avenues to take a look at the legitimacy of the online company or merchant.

”

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COUPON SHOPPING Another way to shop online is through group buying which in the past few years has grown very popular. In a nutshell, group buying sites partner with local merchants so that the latter can sell their products or services at a reduced price. Usually, these deals have a limited quality and are available until a certain period of time. Once a purchase is made, the site will send an email to the consumer which contains the details of what has been bought. This, my friends is the coupon. The buyer Chloe Vega from Manila L&K ILO with her daughter Yzzy would just need to present the coupon to the merchant to avail his or her service/product. The site becomes a showcase of different cheap goods and a wonderland for sale-seeking

Arlene Catanghal of Manila L&K ILO, a former online shop owner

she really needs the product. Some people are enticed to buy things that they don’t need just because the deal is really irresistible. Chloe controls herself and just filters all the deals to select which she would really use. With these tips, no doubt she makes the most out of group buying while enjoying her busy mom’s schedule.

people. One of whom is L&K ILO’s Chloe Vega.

CAPITALIZING ON CONVENIENCE

Chloe is a practitioner under Learning Delivery II and a proud mother to a cute girl named Yzzy. She normally browses through the different group buying sites at home to check the deals and if something is worth buying, then she probably would. But with all the offers, how does she determine which is truly worth buying?

Arlene Catanghal of L&K ILO started as an online shopper herself. That is, until she realized, “Hey, I can do this.. and do it better!” On April 2010, Chicas De Moda was born.

Chloe first checks the price and how large the discount is. Then, she ensures that the merchant’s location is within her vicinity. She lives in Eastwood and it would be convenient if she would not have to travel 3 hours just to get her nails done. Lastly, and the most important one, Chloe weighs if

As a fashion aficionado, she frequents fashion blogs and liked shopping at ukay stores as well. The mix proved an advantage for starting her business. With a mere 2000 pesos as capital, she started scouring thrift stores for things she liked, set up the site over a free networking site and started adding people. A disadvantage of online shopping is getting stuff that only looks nice in pictures. “I’m very particular with the quality of the clothes, so that’s what I leveraged on,” shares Arlene. After 2 months,

she was able to build her brand and started earning regularly (she remembers earning up to 30K a month!). Aside from pre-loved clothes, she also sold bags from her sister’s business (Follow your Heart). Arlene prides herself for being able to open and keep a successful business. She noted being her own boss, being able to dictate her own success and doing something she loves as definite pluses for her in having her own online shop. At some point, however, she said that it became too comfortable for her, bordering on boring, even. She also noted the poor working conditions from going to dusty ukay stores to look for things to sell as a bad combination with her allergies. In addition, the styling, shooting and editing of the photos she posts were not easy feats to do all the time. She decided to close business shortly after she joined IBM. She’s still open in reviving her shop, though, and recognizes it’s potential as a good source of living. Arlene adds, “That’s the thing with online [selling], if you’re smart and you know how to market your stuff it can be pretty easy.”

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fab finds online continued..

READY TO SHOP?

To ensure that you truly enjoy the perks of online shopping, be a smart shopper! Here are some things to keep in mind: Know who you’re dealing with. Sites like Amazon.com and Ebay have buyer/seller protection systems in place to ensure the safety of both parties. Nowadays, however, everyone can set up online shops using common networking sites. Beware of bogus buyers/sellers by doing a little background check. If you intend to keep your online shopping habit, you may choose to build relationships with sellers/ buyers. They might even give you discounts or first dibs on new items. Know what you’re buying. Colors, sizes, product condition, shipping fees, delivery dates, return policy, customer support. You’re buying something you may have only seen in pictures. You don’t want to end up unsatisfied with the product and not having the option to return or exchange. Know what to share. Protect yourself by safeguarding the information you provide. Be careful when sharing personal information such as your address or credit card/bank account information. Check the seller’s credibility or look for sites with strong security technologies such as SSL (check for urls that start with https:// instead of just http://). Research online for other people’s experiences, so that you know what to avoid. Whether buying or selling, the internet has provided us (shopaholics!) with another way to conveniently connect with world. But just the same as normal, faceto-face shopping, we should be extending the same, if not more, cautiousness in all our online transactions. Be a smart shopper!

SIG Session Coming This September

POPULAR SITES ONLINE There are hundreds of virtual shops. If you browse through them one-by-one, you’ll tire yourself. It is best to create your own shopping site list and check those every once in a while for updates. To help you out, here are some of our personal favorites: www.zalora.com.ph

A collection of designer brands for clothes, shoes, accessories.

http://ragerepublic.multiply.com

Good selection of fashion finds

http://dbgadgets.multiply.com Gadgets, gadgets, gadgets!

http://theonlyukayqueen .multiply.com

Pre-owned/ukay clothes on sale

http://asianvogue.multiply.com

Korean shoes and accessories galore

http://dealshelve.com/philippines

The latest coupon deals from different group buying sites all in one place

Happy Shopping!

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n the advent of cosmetic surgery, many Evas have learned to go “under the knife”. They aim for society’s take of a perfect body shape: an hourglass figure and an oval-shaped face. Some more health conscious ladies prefer to work out or undergo a diet plan. This requires commitment and, to a certain extent, money. Yet sometimes, those may not work out still. Even more, maybe some are in that shape for a reason, for instance, they are pregnant. For all these cases, need you and fashion both suffer? Definitely, not. Fashion is a form of self-expression. It enhances and not discriminates body shapes. Fashionable pieces will work for you as long as you understand how to enhance your curves through fabrics, color, skirt cuts, trouser types, and a lot more. In the Learning Domain and life, in general, you need NOT force yourself in a stereotype. Read on, embrace your curves, and be fashionablyempowered.

Do you love your body shape? Yes? Then you are one rare female. Most women would answer “NO”.

types of body shape TIPS

Words by: Ma Suzette F. Abela

The goal is to balance the body by getting more volume on the lower half. Fuller skirts and wide leg trousers can help achieve this. Bright colored-pants or skirts are also welcome to make the lower half seem bigger.

BEST FOR YOU ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪

Fitted bodices with flared Trendy one strap dresses Tunic dresses and bias cuts Bootcut trousers, wide legs and flared jeans Cargos and combats Light coloured trousers Fashionable one shoulder tops Cardigans worn open V necks Colourful skirts Ruched/slouch knee boots for skirts Solid heel over a stiletto

They say this is the second perfect body next to hour-glass. Strawberry-shaped women are gifted with broad shoulders and/or bustline paired with slender legs or skinny thighs. The upper half of the body is bigger than the lower half.

BEST TO AVOID ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪

Oﬀ the shoulder dresses Frill sleeves and puﬀ sleeves Very fitted skirts Tapering trousers or high waisted trousers Straight sarongs Chunky knits Platforms Nude shoes

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apple

TIPS

BEST TO AVOID

TIPS

BEST TO AVOID

The key is to attract the people’s attention towards the higher or lower part of the body and away from the mid part. Layering is a good technique to streamline the shape and emphasize the bust.

▪ Short, boxy jackets ▪ Shapeless straight shift dresses ▪ Bows, belts and other waistline details ▪ Bulky nits, round neck t-shirts (baggy or tight) ▪ High-waisted styles ▪ Pleats and gathers ▪ Very short skirts ▪ Very pointy toes or spindly heels

For more curves, one can go for structured coat with a belt. Small bust is not a problem with high necked tops. Clothes that will unbalance the already balanced body (i.e. big flared skirts and trousers) should be avoided.

▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪

BEST FOR YOU Round like the proverbial fruit, apple-shaped ladies have a rotund midsection. Their waistline is undefined and the hips are wide. On the up side, they usually have fabulous full upper thighs and/or breasts. Thus, they are encouraged to work out these assets to shift the focus from the midsection.

▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪

Empire line and longer length tops Flared maxi dresses and wrap styles Tops with details on the sleeves Flat fronted, semi low rise trousers Boot cut or flared jeans/ trousers Chunky wedges and bright, bold shoes

TIPS

BEST FOR YOU

The objective is to give the upper half a boost to balance with the lower body. Simple shapes and darker colors are better for jeans and trousers to avoid too much attention in the bottom half. Layering can also be maximized on the top half to balance with the bottom highlighting the bust.

▪ Empire line and longer length tops ▪ Flared maxi dresses and wrap styles ▪ Tops with details on the sleeves ▪ Flat fronted, semi low rise trousers ▪ Boot cut or flared jeans/ trousers ▪ Chunky wedges and bright, bold shoes

BEST TO AVOID ▪ Short, boxy jackets ▪ Shapeless straight shift dresses ▪ Bows, belts and other waistline details ▪ Bulky nits, round neck t-shirts (baggy or tight) ▪ High-waisted styles ▪ Pleats and gathers ▪ Very short skirts ▪ Very pointy toes or spindly heels

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One is a rectangle lady if she has a full bust-line and hip-line with about the same width, with little defined waist. More likely, rectangle-shaped chicks have slender legs and arms.

BEST FOR YOU ▪ Skinny/ slim leg jeans ▪ Look for styles with detail on hips/ bottom ▪ Flowing linen trousers ▪ A-line skirts ▪ Shorter skirt ▪ Curve-creating pencil & tulip skirts ▪ Frills, ruffles & bows ▪ Round, high necks & slash necks ▪ Spaghetti strap & racer back vests ▪ Stilettos and kitten heels ▪ Ballerina pumps

▪ ▪ ▪ ▪

Low rise jeans and trousers Sheath dresses Big flares Combats & cargos Very full or big puﬀy skirts Sweetheart necklines are tricky for smaller busts Crop tops and shrugs Baggy tops and tunics Welly-like knee boots with no shape Loafers

rectangle

Pear-shaped chicks are donned with a triangle-body type, well-defined waist, and narrower bust-line compared to the hipline. This is the common body shape of most women. There is a big chance that pear-shaped ladies are endowed with a fairly flat stomach and a full-rounded bottom. These are two things that they can highlight.

pear

TIPS

BEST FOR YOU

Wearing bigger clothing, like the husband’s T-shirt or sweat pants, is definitely a bad idea. Baggy clothes will make one look larger. Body-hugging clothes help achieve sexier curves.

▪ Shirts with an empire waist, a lowcut neckline, side-ties, or a ruched, gathered hem under the tummy ▪ Maternity skirts with a cloth waistband (khaki or black) ▪ Big t-shirt ▪ Bootleg-cut pair made of stretchy material with a cloth or adjustable waistband ▪ Empire-waisted dresses that tie in the back or figure-hugging dresses, preferably with shirring (gathers) along the side ▪ Trendy, sturdy flats

This section is specifically dedicated for the hardworking moms carrying a big weight on their midsection for a wonderful reason- a baby (or babies)! One of the many causes of stress for pregnant women comes from their physical discomfort- thicker waist, excess flab, flabby tummy. But that baby bump deserves some attention during these times.

BEST TO AVOID ▪ Baggy clothes ▪ High heels

Speccial Fashion for

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O T FASHION ON SKIN TO T A T Words by: Roderick M. Lagbas

Inked and Proud IBMers etch their art on skin

ll of us have seen tattoos of many different designs, sizes, shapes, styles, and colors. The people who get tattoos have specific reasons for these lifelong marks, and some even have stories behind each one of their tattoos. Tattooing is also done as an aesthetic alteration of the body. The most basic reason for a tattoo is because it looks good. The tattoo could be a design that is just pleasing to the eye as aesthetics come in to play for many tattoos. Some skin markings are seen as signs of beauty whereas others symbolize the gaining of power or prestige.

Others even consider it as a fashion statement. Some common reasons for a tattoo include expressing individuality and personality. There are different ways to look at expressing individuality through tattoos. Many tattoos are designed to reflect someoneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s heritage. They can also be a symbol of social ranking. Tattoos can be done to fit in. In tribal societies, tattooing was done ritually; A certain amount of conformity as part of the cultural norm; Team logos, military insignia or signal that the wearer is part of the club / affiliation.

ink nked Millions of people have tattoos designed that incorporate their child’s, spouse’s, or partner’s name. Others even treating tattoos as a memorial for Friends or family members who have passed away.

HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN INKED? - more or less 3 years

There are a lot of people who have tattoos designed around special events of their lifetimes. Some represent spiritual status. Others have it as a way of remembering a period or transition in their lives; things like achievements, difficult times, and other special events are often displayed as a lifetime reminder as well. We can say that tattoos created for reasons that are genuinely important to the person will definitely help heighten the enjoyment of the design for years to come. The most important thing to remember is that they are PERSONAL. Whatever the reason, anyone who decides to get tattooed should do it for themselves.

WHEN DID YOU DECIDE TO GET ONE? WHY? 2009, peer pressure. There was a tattoo session at my friend’s house and most of them were getting inked so I decided to have one as well because I don’t want to be left behind! CAN YOU GIVE US A SHORT BACKGROUND ON HOW YOU GOT YOUR TATTOO? I have a bio mechanical tattoo design on my back and this was my first tattoo. I have a Koi tattoo and a Hanya mask, right bicep, Also I have a Tibetan skull inked at my right chest (All of these were inked in Cebu City). The latest that I have is the full name of my first son, inked at the middle part of my chest going to the left most part of my chest.

MARY ADABELLE ARCEO The meaning and significance of my tattoo is quite a private information that i share only with a few close kin. I hope this won’t be an issue. Appreciate that you considered me for this issue.

For my first tattoo, it doesn’t have any meaning or any significance since this was my first one and I just wanted to have a tattoo back then. For the Koi, Hanya Mask and the Tibetan Skull, I decided to have these inked because I love oriental inspired designs and the Koi Fish symbolizes luck and I was born under the zodiac sign Pisces so I decided to have Koi fish. The most recent tattoo that I have is the full name of 4 month old son, I just wanted to have his name inked because he is already part of who I am.

As the saying goes: “To each his own” — and as for our fellow IBMers they certainly are INKED and PROUD.

DARIO BARBA

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ekni HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN INKED? less than a year

WHEN DID YOU DECIDE TO GET ONE? WHY? I’ve been planning to get a tattoo since highschool; it is a testament to myself and based on my life experiences.

WHEN DID YOU DECIDE TO GET ONE? WHY? I wanted to do something significant on my birthday.

CAN YOU GIVE US A SHORT BACKGROUND ON HOW YOU GOT YOUR TATTOO? I always wanted to have a tattoo since forever. I just don’t know what to get. Everyone told me that it has to be meaningful so I had to think hard about it, it took me years to come up with the design only to change it a few months before I got one. I originally wanted to have a vine tat and each leaf or flower would represent significant memories, good or bad. I then realized that those memories would always be in mind and in my heart so I decided to get something that would be pretty and would make me smile every time I see it. It is still significant because it represents my ultimate happy place.

DIMPLE BALLESTEROS HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN INKED? I had mine two years ago. It served me well these past two years. Time wise? It took about 30-45 minutes for each tattoo to get done. WHEN DID YOU DECIDE TO GET ONE? WHY? I got my first tattoo two years ago. I’ve always wanted to get inked and I planned on filling out my whole back by the time I’m 40, so I started my 1st tattoo in June 2010. Three months later, my ex and I broke up and I wanted an adrenaline rush to get rid of the pain (lol) so I decided to get my second tattoo.

CAN YOU GIVE US A SHORT BACKGROUND ON HOW YOU GOT YOUR TATTOO? My first tattoo is an ambigram of my name. I’ve seen ambigram tattoos before and I’ve always thought they looked cool. Plus, it’s a form of identity. I know it sounds stupid to mark your own body with your own name, but if it’s artsy and has a nice design, then why the hell not? My second tattoo is an alibata/baybayin version of my favorite bible verse: Philippians 4:13 (I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.) 74

WAL MAGAZINE

□ SEPTEMBER 2012

CAN YOU GIVE US A SHORT BACKGROUND ON HOW YOU GOT YOUR TATTOO? Wrist tattoo — reflection of my love for music — I want a tattoo that’ll sort of act as a conversation starter — hence have those musical notes formed in a shape of a star — plus i love stars

ADRIAN RIMAS HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN INKED? 6 years. WHEN DID YOU DECIDE TO GET ONE? WHY? I decided to get one when I already had a stable job. Getting a tattoo is not cheap so I might atleast have enough cash to support my new hobby. Why? Because my nanay also has a tattoo and I though getting one would be nice.

CAN YOU GIVE US A SHORT BACKGROUND ON HOW YOU GOT YOUR TATTOO? My cousin had a friend who was recovering from a knee injury and because of that he just stayed at home doing nothing and decided to draw. His friends found his drawings quite amazing. By then, he started to detach an old VHS player motor and created a single needle tattoo machine. I was his 2nd client and since he claimed that he is still a beginner, he only charged me Php500 for a 4inches by 5inches canvas. Up until then, I was into Maori style of tattoo. Maori designs are bounded by curving lines and based on intricate series of spirals. In recent years, what non-Maori people call “Maori designs” is becoming more and more loose, but virtually all legitimate designs will center heavily on spirals. Additionally, most people today with Maoriinspired designs do not get them in the traditional places, often opting instead for the torso as well as the calves (as opposed to the thighs). Sleeves are especially popular, though they were not among traditional Maori people.

Tattoo at the back: “The reward of suffering is experience” — In Arabic font style, I grew up traveling back and forth to Dubai, my mom moved out of the country when I was 6y/o - hence the arab reference - The meaning of the tattoo basically because I’ve gone through a lot of bad experiences since i was a kid, but these experiences have gotten me to where and what I am today

MARA RUTAQUIO

LISETTE LIZO

HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN INKED? Back tattoo – 2.5 years; Wrist tattoo – almost a year

Classic Primadonna Model : Maiki Hair and Make-up : Clara Teresa Obmerga

Hair Feel sexy by achieving that messy out-of-bed hairstyle.

Make-up Match the flirty factor of your hair by achieving a semi-smoky make-up. •

Prep your face with the right amount of foundation, concealer, and pressed powder

•

Shape your brows and fill them with a light brown brow powder

•

Color your eyelids with a matte highlighter.

•

Apply a light brown eyeshadow on the hollows of your eyes and then blend upwards to the crease

•

Apply a darker brown eyeshadow starting from the hollows then blend inwards

•

Using the darkest brown eyeshadow from your collection, color the outer corner of your eyes until ¼ of the crease

•

Apply eyeliner on the upper and lower lash line

•

Curl your lashes and wet it with a waterproof mascara

•

Sweep on a light pink blush for a flushed glow

•

Finally, slick some nude lipstick that does not overpower the glow of your eyes

Blow dry your hair after shower • Apply some mousse • Whip your hair back and forth • Style using only your hand and not • a brush or comb

AT YOUR

BEST

Three looks, three styles, three beauties – let one work for you! Look your best even with a classic black and white corporate outfit. Bring color to your busy professional life and turn heads with your subtle eyes and always red-y lips.

BEFORE

Red Carpet Worthy Princess Model : Monica Hair and Make-up : Novel Denatolio

Hair Wear those side-swept bangs which add excitement to your soft, low pony. Get yourself a nice hair tie, bobby pins, a hairspray • for some stubborn hair, and 5 minutes of time. Pull all your hair to the middle with a brush and • secure it with the hair tie Pin some loose or short hairs, spray the top of • your hair and press it with your fingers, if you have a bangs, put it on the side of your face free some strands for a more girly look. And you’re done.

Make-up Look more sophisticated and professional by doing navy blue smoky eye for a dramatic effect. •

Model : Noemi Hair and Make-up : Stephanie Amboy

Hair Look extra girly and sweet by trying loose curls.

Make-up Achieve that natural look by slightly accentuating your features using just a few colors from your make-up collection.

Curl your hair using a flat iron (rather than using a • curling iron) to achieve loose curls

•

If you want to loosen the curls a bit more, gently • comb your fingers through your hair until you achieve your desired hair style

Apply a matte brown eyeshadow all over your lids to even out the color and hide the subtle veins

•

Apply a darker shade of brown on the crease area only and blend to soften the edges

•

Apply a white eyeshadow below the arch of your brows as well as the tearduct area

You can have the option to let your hair down, poof, • or tie in a ponytail

•

Apply an eye lid primer all over your eyelids

•

Apply a darker shade of gray onto your eyes just a bit over your socket lines. Blend the edges with a sleek and pointy eye shadow brush with a lighter shade of blue

•

Line your upper lash lines with black liquid liner. With the lower water lines, apply a black pencil waterproof liner

•

Apply black eyeliner (preferrably liquid eyeliner)

•

Curl your lashes and coat with mascara

Use an eye liner in a shade of a navy blue to your upper lash line creating a thicker line on lower lids. Use it on lower water lines as well from the corner all the way to the middle only. Smudge the black liner with the blue one.

•

Groom your brows and lightly fill them out with an eyebrow pencil/gel

•

Lightly apply pink blush to the apples of the cheeks making sure to stick to matte blush as we are going for a natural look

•

Apply lip balm and let it set for a few minutes to give moisture to the lips

•

Swipe on a lipstick that is either close or slightly brighter than your natural lip color

•

BEFORE

Make sure your skin is prepped with the right base foundation and conceal all ugly-looking blemishes matched to your shade

Dreamy Darling

•

Curl your eye lashes and put some black mascara in a diagonal manner. Apply mascara on lower lashes

•

Apply a warmer color of blush to your cheeks and blend the edges with some bronzer, and at the apple of your cheeks, chin and on the middle forehead

•

Lastly, fill your lips with a lip balm, choose a nude or a pale color as your lipstick and put some gloss

BEFORE

Instaglam

Instant Make

over of 1 IBMer

Of T u x Wel l ness

husband. They were not as big as me but they were unhealthy none the less. When I saw them lose a big amount of weight in a short period of time I decided to enroll myself as well. The diet normalizes your metabolism so that you won’t store any food in your body as fat, what it does is it makes your body feed on yourself that is why the weight loss is so rapid.

ayne Gretzy once said, “You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.” In Dre’s case, he took the shot and he made it happen. This guy loves to eat and loves food trips and he gave these up when he decided to live a healthy lifestyle. Here’s my interview with Andre Ong, who proved that with perseverance and focus, one can do anything.

T: Was it hard? How did you overcome the temptations. D: The first month was hard because you will constantly be craving, but it was just a matter of mind over matter and that fact that I would be wasting a hefty sum of money if I didn’t push through.

T: What made you change your lifestyle? D: I weighed in at 260 lbs. which presented a lot of health problems, I wake up sluggishly, I sleep all the time and get tired easily; my back hurts constantly; I snore loudly (a sign of obesity) and I found out that I had a fatty liver (another sign of obesity).

rationed, I can only consume this amount of food per day. It was the minimum amount of food my body needs to function, so it was safe but hard since I was used to eating meals for 2 people. The hardest part was eating with people since I coveted their food compared to my bland tasteless dishes, so I sacrificed a lot of my social life since I opted not to go out so I won’t be tempted.

T: When did you realize that you need that change? D: When my friend said he was going to get married, I realized that I don’t look good in a suit because I’m so big. T: Was it a want or a need to change on your part? D: It was both a want and a need, I wanted to change my lifestyle so desperately and I also needed it for health reasons. T: What did you change in yourself? (physical, intellectual, etc.) D: I changed the way I approached food and exercise. I really love food and I hate to exercise so I had to change how I think. I needed to let go of food and embrace a more active lifestyle. T: What diet did you take? Can you explain a bit of this diet? D: I enrolled in the Cohen Diet. I heard it from a neighbor of mine who enrolled to the program together with her

T: What’s your lifestyle now that you are on a diet? (socials, etc) D: When I changed my lifestyle my meals were strictly

T: Your diet is almost finish, how do you feel? D: I feel great! I don’t have any backpains, I don’t snore, I am not sluggish and I don’t tire easily anymore. T: What advise can you share with those who want to change something in their lives? D: A lot of people make excuses that doing a certain task is hard and impossible, they will give a lot of reasons why they cannot do it. But if you really want something so desperately, you will do almost anything, whatever it takes just to achieve it. You just need to filter out the negative aspects, throw them out and set you mind to the task at hand. I always hear a lot of negative comments when I changed my lifestyle, that it will never work, there will be a rebound, all my skin will sag, etc. It’s always nice to see people’s reactions when you prove them wrong. ▪

WORDS BY: ROWENA PATRICIA B. RIOS

MY P.O.V:

b oy fr iend ’s ic ol h a p o sh a f o s n io ss fe n o c Words by: Juan Carlos F. Ramos

emember those moments when you have a reservation in a brand-spanking new restaurant at 8:00pm and arrive there at 9:30pm? Or the times when you go to Shangri-La Mall going through every store twice for almost 6 hours, looking for that one piece of clothing and ending up buying nothing? Sometimes, it’s a pain to have a fashionista girlfriend. All the time spent in a shopping mall, looking for great finds and answering the makeit-or-break-it question, “how do I look?”. Not to mention the expenses and some “ill-advised” tips from friends regarding a new clothing store that opened. These are the challenges that we are faced with when it comes to our women and their fashion. For guys, we know what we want. We look for it in the mall, buy it and go home. For girls, it’s totally different—they go to the mall to look for what they can buy with the money in their pockets, wanting to go home with a handful of paper bags. I thought I would never get how or why most women do all this for fashion. What is the solution for all these? Why not shop for your lady? It is a great way to either surprise her or bond with your significant other. When I did this for my girlfriend, I was able to understand her “fashionista mind” better and why “you should always strike a balance in prints and skin exposure”. There are a few things you need to keep in mind when you reach that boiling point of doing the shopping for her.

Know her size. Guys, this is always rule number one. Never think that your girl is too “big boned” (let’s avoid the F word here). Girls will always have that mentality that if you give them a dress that is 2 sizes bigger, she will think that you perceive her physical body to be enormous—which is not the case. You were just not paying attention on her size when she tries out clothes, or you just think differently and make the most common mistake guys do; you hold the clothing up and imagine your partner in it thinking it can fit her when you should be thinking that it should fit her. Plus, no woman would want to feel like their boyfriend thinks that they are bigger than how they actually are. This is a good way to avoid the dreadful question, “Do I look fat?”

Know her assets/ body type. This is not the same as knowing her size guys, so please do not skip this tip. Look for the areas that will make her beautiful. Every lady is different. But all of them like it when you pay extra attention. Know what gives her confidence or better yet, support her and tell her the clothes she wears that make her look good. Remember, this is your lady and you want to make sure that she is comfortable with you, no matter what she is wearing.

at her wardrobe and get to know her personality. Match everything together and you will understand who she really is and why she chooses to wear specific types of clothing. After this, an additional tip I can give you is that you might want to buy her something that she does not have yet or might support the things she has. For example, she likes wearing leather jackets; you might want to get her a simple white vneck that will go well with what she already has while also showing that you notice how she dresses.

Compliment her. Last tip for all of us guys, give her signs that you are interested and attracted to her. Let her know that you find her beautiful or magnificent when she least expects it. Avoid saying “You look hot!” and try saying “You look stunning.” Show her that we, as men, know what to say and that we sometimes (?) know more words in our vocabulary. It does not matter what her clothes are, what brand she wears or even where they came from.

bought and tell her that she needs to dress up because you guys are going out. Take her to dinner and bring her home on time. Be the perfect gentleman and end the night with a kiss and a “goodnight, you looked wonderful today. I love you.” Then go home; simple and easy but wellappreciated by the lady.

Make her remember that she wears the clothes and not the other way around. It is all about her once you find time to do this special gesture for your girlfriend. What I can say is for you to take into consideration all these tips, execute and do more. Buy her that black dress you saw hanging on the rack. Reserve a romantic dinner for two. Pick her up at her place unexpectedly dressed to the nines. Give her the dress you just bought and tell her that she needs to dress up because you guys are going out. Take her to dinner and bring her home on time. Be the perfect gentleman and end the night with a kiss and a “goodnight, you looked wonderful today. I love you.” Then go home; simple and easy but well-appreciated by the lady. After shopping for her, the next time you feel like you are waiting for her to fix up again for a long time, just know that she wants to be perfect for YOU. She wants to look good for YOU. With that in hand, you already understand her choice of wardrobe so man up and wait for her because you know it will be worth it. Sorry I need to end this, I have to go and buy my lady her dress and pick her up. WISH ME LUCK!

BEHIND

CENES

THE

P R O J EC T V I P

music edition

ber

2011 # 11 Novem

W.A.L

az . Mag

ROCKER BY BLOOD

ine

camila labog

talks about living with her mucisian/lawyer/ heartthrob brother

Hit the Road with Ready. GIG. Go.

DEBUNKING THE MYTH They’re more than just rockstars’ girlfriends

inside!

Usher ƒ Chris Brown+Rihanna ƒ The Script ƒ American Idol Season 10 ƒ The Big 4 Learning’s Music Playlists. Learning 5 Years. Baranggay Hall Pictures

GO MANO Y MANO with Learning’s very own Music Moguls

The

Learning Music Circle UNZIPS

Sending out an email with your testimonials regarding this quarter’s issue to Jose Leonardo V Sabio/Philippines/IBM@IBMPH

page 25.

PROJECT VIP

ber

2011 # 12 W.A.L

. Mag

azin

‘TIS THE YULE SEASON holiday greetings from the Manila

9 Mornings

learning

delivery center

The Filipino Tradition of

simbang gabi

HOLIDAY EDITION

lite

IOO N E DITIION S EDIT HEALTH & WEL LLNES

Decem

SCORCHING. SLEEK. SEXY! SLEEK. SEXY. . SCORCHING.. amboy &

WHAT YOU EAT:

10 Food for the Health

The Most Anticipated Holiday of Every Filipino

NOCHE BUENA The Filipino’s Christmas Feast

page 14

inside!

The Learning Society ƒ Christmas Shopping ƒ Wishlists ƒ Learning Year-End Party ƒ

APR -MA MAY 201 2 MAY

plus! plus! WORK OUT WITHOUT BREAKING YOUR BANK!

WORK OUT WITHOUT Find BREAKING the gym place YOUR that suitsBANK! you best pg.24 Findonthe gym place that suits you best on p.24 GET A TOTAL BODY WORKOUT IN JUST 30 MINUTES. GET A TOTAL BODY WORKOUT Find IN out JUST how on30 p.25MINUTES. Find out how on p.25

or Emailing your answers to the following questions to Ma. Roxanne Fatima S. Rolle/Philippines/IBM@IBMPH

Scuba Diving and Target Shooting with Elle Aguila & Steph Amboy

e aguila steph ell YOU ARE A FILIPINO CHRISTMAS

s c i n a h c e M t s Cgetoanchante ce to win gift certificates by:

inside!

YOU ARE WHAT DIETS DO YOU WOEAT:

RK! Jana Lopez lost Food for the Health 75+ after10 more than 7 mon lbs ths with Cohen’s FROM CORP OR TO CORPOR ATE AL DIE PassTS ion DO For Spo WO rtsRK! Jana And Lope Advz entu lost 75+ re lbs after more than 7 months with Cohen’s FROM CORP OR TO CORPOR ATE Passion For SpoAL rts And Adventure

inside!

Got ideas for the next WAL cover story? Send our Pillar Lead an email at Clara Teresa V Obmerga/Philippines/IBM@IBMPH or approach any Elite member.

1. How many Hello Kitty cameras does Lisette have in her bag? 2. Define group buying. 3. Name three inked people in Learning based on the article: Fashion on Skin

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