It's nice to indulge in trendy clothes, but one should never be without classic pieces that you will keep on wearing for the rest of your life - provided you don't gain too much weight, of course! Aside from black, colors that will never go out of style are red and white. Combine them with classic, flattering cuts and you've got clothes that will serve you well in any occasion and setting for years to come.

Pond's, the skincare brand, collaborated with Plains & Prints to deliver a collection that is inspired by prominent women in the beauty and fashion industry. The muses Rissa Mananquil, Patty Betita, Divine Lee, Bianca Valerio, Mai Kaufmann, Kelly Misa, Apples Aberin and Celine Lopez are known for their beauty and sophisticated style, so these qualities are reflected in the 22 dresses created by Plains & Prints.

In the picture are Pond’s senior brand manager Jacqueline Yuengtian and Plains & Print's creative head and owner, Roxanne Farillas talking about the collaboration. Both brands wanted to celebrate the beauty and style of the muses. The colors, red and white, are taken from Pond's Age Miracle and Flawless White themes. The launch happened at Red Restaurant in Makati Shangri-La hotel.

So, without further ado, here are pics from the fashion show as well as the gorgeous eight muses!

I didn't buy much. I initially wanted to buy something to wear for for Preview magazine's Best-Dressed Ball this Saturday, but I figured that everyone else had the same idea so I perished the thought.

I look neurotic. Slept late last night. Wearing no makeup here.

I lost all common sense for the first two hours of being in the store, just trying to drink in all the beautiful things. I was tempted to buy so many dresses! Good thing my practicality kicked in. I have tons of dresses from my very own online store so why bother getting from somewhere else unless I really needed to? So, I stuck to the basics and got lovely accessories to wear with my little black dresses.

I swear, this whole outfit will be my uniform for the next month or so!

I spotted these really cute heart-printed sneakers. I almost didn't get one, because this is the last pair in my size! They're super cheap at P499. The material appears to be canvas, while the inside is padded. I run a lot of errands so I need comfy shoes that I don't mind ruining (unlike my Sebagos. I'd die if the rain and mud breaks down the leather).

I just came from the Forever 21 official launch/ private sale and oh boy, was it crazy! "Crazy" may sound too much, but it's really the best word to describe it. There was an undercurrent of hysteria as the doors officially opened to the most stylish denizens of Manila for the first time. 

A chosen few were given the chance to get first dibs on everything, so the evening was all about shopping! The place was packed. You can spend an hour in that place and not see everything. The Forever 21 flagship store in Megamall A is like a stand-alone department store: there's underwear, accessories, basic cotton pieces, shoes, and all kinds of dresses to fit every age group and budget. There is also a line for men, so F21 really has got it all for you (not surprising since the company that brought it to the country is SM).

If you stop and think about it, our world is going to hell. We've overreached ourselves as human beings by taking more than we need, more than what our planet can sustain. It's depressing, especially when we feel powerless to stop the environmental degradation even within our own little slices of earth. The poor suffer most because of it, but in one way or another, all of us are affected.

There are so many things we can do to help the environment, but we should all begin with ourselves. It's easier when we start with our hobbies - if you're reading this, you're probably into beauty and fashion. It's a good thing that brands in the industry have made a tentative move to participate in the so-called green fashion philosophy by providing products and services that give back to the planet in some way. 

Some recent examples are Pureology, which donates to a recycling facility in Rizal, and Zara, which sells 100% organic cotton tees. There are also the newly launched Rajo Laurel Tree Bags.

The Tree Bag Project is an initiative of Rags2Riches, Inc., a social business enterprise, in collaboration with Mr. Rajo Laurel, Anthill Fabric Gallery (another social enterprise), the Indigenous Weavers of Bangued, Abra, Wood Crasftmen of Pardo, Cebu and the San Carlos Development Board, Inc., our Tree-Planting partner. It is a project for a cause that empowers four communities and plants a tree for every purchase of the Tree bag.

Mr. Rajo Laurel enthuses, "What makes this project even more significant is that we have fused four communities in creation of the bag. We have the weavers of Abra who created the linen fabric of the bag made from scrap thread. Then we have the women of Payatas who braided the handle made from scrap fabric.

I liked the silver and blue, but pink is still my favorite color! I ended up snagging these dark pink Sebago Docksides because I figured it will go with more outfits and look less dirty over time. See there, that's me being practical. I want to be able to wear these for as long as possible!

I've been using these boating shoes for a week so much I'm actually even wearing it right now. The insides are lined with super soft leather. I love how the shoes hug my feet and feel light even with the thick rubber sole. They're made for walking - in style, of course!

Anyway, as promised, here are a few outfits that I came up with these shoes!

You may (or may not) know that I'm the buyer for the Ukay Manila Store. I visit ukay stores all over the metro to find unique pieces to sell on the online store I co-own. I'm proud to say that the store has been successful in its first year, but more than that, I'm proud that I don't just sell ukay-ukay - I live in it!

There are some pieces that I simply don't have the heart to sell. Sometimes, I find something that I know won't sell, but it's just too unique or cheap to not buy. There are so many beautiful things in an ukay, more than what you'll find in a run-of-the-mill department store. Cheaper, too. That's why most of the clothes I have in my wardrobe are thrifted.

Here are a few outfits I came up with in a fit of boredom. I took pictures so I'll remember to wear them since I absolutely hate being late just because I keep changing my clothes!

After a meeting yesterday I visited Rustan's Makati to check out the makeup. I love Rustan's makeup - they've got the best! Literally. I wanted to get the NARS Laguna bronzer, then the Laura Mercier Spring palette (which is so gorgeous and pigmented by the way - definitely worth the P2,450 price tag), but then I changed my mind the last minute after realizing that I have too much makeup as it is. I thought to get shoes and a bag, for a change.

I trawled Rustan's for half an hour before I spotted the perfect bag for me! I've always been intimidated by LuLu, a brand based in New York, because I thought that the bags are too expensive. Much to my surprise, they're actually affordable! This tote bag is just the right size, done in the softest of leather with edgy chain accents. This would go perfectly with all my outfits.

I was at the PFW Opening Night last Wednesday to witness the top designers and retailers in the country show off their latest designs. I made it to the Visions and Trends/Design Fusion Collection where Anna Leah Salvador, Aries Lagat, Benjie Pañizales, Don Protasio, Enrico Carado, Happy Andrada, Harley Ruedas, Jaki Peñalosa, Jan Garcia, Martin Bautista, Mitzi Quilendrino-Bustos, Nolie Viñeza, Norman Noriega, Patrick Galang and Raoul Ramirez presented. SM also showed off their latest designs already (or soon to be) available in their department stores.

Click here for more photos by Francis Tuason for thePOC

I love PFW for what it is trying to do - to showcase Filipino talent, especially young designers who are trying to get a leg up on the first rung of the fashion ladder. However, I think that the designs, while beautiful and obviously made with attention to detail, are too safe. To put it bluntly, some of the designs were unoriginal. A lot of the pieces showcased in the Visions and Trends show were cocktail dresses or evening gowns that capitalized on existing trends or took their inspirations too literally to the point of becoming costume-y.

I once spent a summer working in the Senate for my practicum credits. I was often at Senate hearings and loved observing the senators as they fight to make the laws of our land. Since I was a member of a senator's staff, I get to sit directly behind the lawmakers and take notes. One day, Loren Legarda was presiding. She was wearing a fitted purple jersey top with 3/4 sleeves. Imagine my horror when I noticed that her bra straps were already down her arms! She probably couldn't feel it because her top was too tight!

Moral lesson of the story: even mega-rich senators wear bras with loose straps. If you love your old bras too much that you don't mind suffering through embarrassing booboos every time you wear them, then you shouldn't leave home without this!

So what does Inti-Mate do? It simply holds your bra straps in an "x" across your back. This means that you don't have to worry about falling bra straps anymore! Aside from that, you'll be able to wear racer-back tees without having to show tacky bra straps.

This product is especially helpful to women who like sports as well as those who are into sexy tops. Oh, it's also heaven sent for lazy daisies like me who absolutely hate removing convertible bra straps and criss-crossing them manually. It's so frustrating! And can get confusing. I know you know what I mean.

One pack contains three units in different colors: black, neutral, and clear. It's nice how they just bundled everything together for convenience! If I remember correctly, it's only P250 per pack.

I have always believed that Filipinas are some of the most beautiful women in the world. We hate the color of our skin, the curl of our hair, the challenges we have to face right here in the Third World - but I believe that these things make us strong and beautiful. But come, I'm biased. 

Nationalism is a hot commodity right now because of the elections. We have t-shirts from Collezione, Bench, and now, a huge fashion show from Ayala Malls. Filipina, Bravo! is an exhibit  that seeks to pay homage to Filipina icons by interpreting them with contemporary fashion.

Participating designers include the legendary and timeless Patis Tesoro and Criselda Lontok; the unquestionable queen of knits Lulu Tan Gan; the famed femme favorite Patrice Ramos-Diaz; silk heiress Katrina Goulbourn; Bonne Bouche’s Michi Calica, Elena Bautista and Emi Jorge; contemporary and fashion forward designers Tippi Ocampo, Kate Torralba and Hindy Weber-Tantoco; easy fashion for the working woman from Yvette and Choc Religioso and Arlene Sipat; award-winning Mich Dulce for Myth; supermodel-turned-designer Tweety de Leon for Myth; acclaimed bag designer and SoFa founder Amina Aranaz; exquisite accessories designer Ana Rocha; and pearl excellence from Jewelmer. via The Daily Tribune

It's a grand showcase of the hottest colors and cuts this season. There's a lot of whites, nudes, and blacks mixed with shocking pops of color in blue, purple, and red. The designers have a preference for loose-fitting, flowy dresses as well as body-hugging empire cut cocktail numbers and high-waisted body cons. Of course, the traditional baro't saya was featured.

A ton of pictures after the cut! 

I am a fan of clothes with a healthy dose of romance. Nudes, whites, pinks, and beiges are some of my favorite colors to wear this season too! That's why I am floored by Johnson's Body Care and Bayo's collaboration called the Soft Look Collection. The well-designed pieces are done in delicate lace, chiffon, and satin, shamelessly featuring a lot of ruffles and runching. The whole collection's main focus was showing off one of our best assets this summer - beautiful skin.

I love, love, love the Soft Look Collection. It is so me! Anyway, I took photos of the complete line for your viewing pleasure. Tell me what you think! Check out last year's Johnson's Body Care launch too, and compare.

The gorgeous, skinny, and elegant Sarah Meier was host for the night. I love her blue eyeshadow and nude lips. Her makeup was immaculate.

Class and simplicity 

Kate Torralba is best known for her bright and quirky designs that cater to those with young, adventurous hearts. For this summer she has created a daring but still wearable collection called Tightly Knit. I say daring because the collection has her trademark bright colors while also showing a lot of flesh and wearable because I can see Pinays, however conservative, wearing the pieces on the beach. I know I would!

Fit and lean. KT was inspired to do the collection when she did one of the pieces that's part of the grand prize in the Nestle Fitnesse Challenge contest last year. “I was inspired by a project with Nestle Fitnesse earlier this year, wherein a coat dress I made was given as a prize to one of the winners of the weight-loss challenge. It made me think about getting fit for the summer and showing off a great body,” she shares with Style Bible.

Close-up of the pretty knit fabric

I love the embellishments on the straps and neckline. Kate used large, colorful stones. Perfect for the beach!

This is my favorite outfit in the collection. It proves that you don't have to wear skimpy bikinis to look sexy.