- The Glamourai + Josie Natori Dress
I was reading a new favorite blog, The Glamourai by Kelly Framel (yes, I am a little late to this scene). Her style is undeniably artistic and completely appeals to the visual artist in me. She has elegance, flair and drama, but always with a sense of fun. She recently designed a dress with Josie Natori that she wore for the launch of her limited edition Coach purse (those who also launched purses that day were Emily, author of Cupcakes and Cashmere; Karla, author of Karla’s Closet; and Krystal, author of What is Reality Anyway?). I was instantly in awe and the dress is amazing. The dress was later auctioned on ebay and the proceeds went to Women in Need, a charity for disadvantaged women (Josie Natori is on the board). The dress sold for $710!
I remember when I first heard of
Josie Natori. I was shopping in Nordstrom looking around for lingerie and left with something from Josie Natori that was perfect. I later found out that she is an award-winning Filipina designer and that she has a whole line, including Ready To Wear. Being a very fashion conscious Filipina myself, that got me thinking: are there other Filipino designers out there? This is just a short list of what I found (with the help of my mom!):
Monique Lhuillier – Designer of bridal wear, but has expanded to ready wear. Her designs can be seen in bridal and fashion magazines as well as on celebrities on the red carpet.
Bench – Casual wear and underwear, plus fragrances and bath and body.
Jose “Pitoy” Moreno – My mom said, “You have to include Pitoy Moreno!” Known as the “Fashion Czar of the Philippines”, his designs have been seen on the runway as well as dignitaries and celebrities all over the world. He is considered a national treasure for his years of artistry.
I’m on the hunt for more, so stay tuned for more designers of my native homeland!
Rafe New York – Internationally known handbag designer. I have one of his bags and featured one of his purses in my “Clutch Performance” entry.