After Rihanna wore a showstopping 55-lb. yellow fur-trimmed, gold-spun gown with a 16-foot train to the 2015 Met Gala, the creator of the majestic dress, Chinese couturier, Guo Pei (kwo pay) rose to international fame. Guo Pei’s designs are distinctly intricate hand-stitched masterpieces showcasing Chinese artisanal embroidery, beading, and overall craftsmanship using silks, crystals, gems, pearls,…
Category: Beauty and Fashion
Denim Street, Kurashiki
Denim Ice Cream, Denim Buns, Denim Sandwiches, drink, and other creative denim-themed products can be found on Denim Street. A short distance away, even the Noren (Japanese curtain in front of a store) which is usually made of traditional Japanese cloth, looks like denim pants! Kurashiki is regarded as the birthplace of denim in Japan,…
Preparing for a Rock n Roll Concert
When I found out three weeks ago that I would get to sing two songs with the authentic rock star, Arnel Pineda, for his upcoming Rock n Roll concert for our village, here were the things I did: PRAYER Pray to see God’s perspective on why He opened this door. SONGS Find out what the…
Tiong Bahru Bakery Singapore
A fourth generation baker, French pastry chef, Gontran Cherrier, behind Tiong Bahru Bakery, wanted to “create a real, authentic experience” with his baked goods and desserts using “traditional French techniques infused with international flavours.” His first bakery was in Montmarte, Paris established in 2010. After two years, he set up his first bakery abroad in…
11 Fashion Tips from Nika Diwa
To be the first Coco Chanel who loves Jesus—that was this pastor’s daughter’s dream.Ever since she was a child, Fashion Blogger, Nika Diwa, had a precocious interest in fashion. Diverging from her father’s expectations of a traditional, simple girl, Nika broke out like dynamite full of fun, energetic individuality… exploring happy ways to put her outfits…
Fashion Talk with Nika Diwa
It occurred to me that Nika Diwa’s name was derived from manika (“Doll” in Tagalog) because she looks just like one. Actually, her parents named her Dominique. It has been such a joy to be around her these last few days and get inspired with her stories — funny, authentic, raw, vulnerable, intelligent, inspiring. She herself…
Nika Diwa: 3 Tips for Bloggers
One day, when Nika Diwa (of http://www.diwadollhouse.com) was eating at Chili’s, an agent spotted her and wanted to recruit her as a Disney Princess for the Disney World parade to portray either Jasmine, Mulan, or Pocahontas. (But her mom didn’t allow her because she was just a teenager then). This day when Nika came in…
Makeup and Beauty Stuff
Once upon a time I used to use department store cosmetics, Lancôme to be specific. But I eventually noticed that years of using it didn’t make me look any more like Isabella Rossellini or Penelope Cruz. I discovered that drugstore brand, L’Oreal, is made by the same manufacturer and I started using that or any…
Nika Diwa: No-Nonsense Fashion Doll
One day when I walked out to the store front, a young and beautiful, wide-eyed, long-haired, petite lady with perfectly tanned skin, dressed in a feminine off-white lace cutout crop top over chic wide-leg slacks was posing for pictures at different corners of the shop. My thoughts went, “She looks like a doll… in the…
BUTTERFLY IN THE SPRING 