MANILA, Philippines - The next fashion star. The next Filipino to conquer the fashion arena is none other than Rose Anne de Pampelonne. She is an interior designer-turned-fashion/accessories designer who?s been based in Paris.

TNT was the first to share the news of her home being featured in Elle Décor US about two months ago. What?s more amazing is that the house was designed by Rose Anne herself.

This month, her accessories line was featured in In Style, worn by superstar Rihanna. We hear that US Vogue will feature her again very soon?the second time for the fashion bible. The first was about two years ago when it included her Nepalese-inspired clothes in an article titled ?Secret addresses in Paris.?

To Rose Anne, congratulations, and do continue to make us proud!

Balenciaga in Manila

When Asia?s fashion empress Joyce Ma was in town, she checked out Greenbelt 5 and was pleasantly surprised to see that Balenciaga would open in Manila. She asked, ?Are there buyers??

The answer is a resounding ?yes,? gauging from the crowd that regularly checks out Balenciaga?s first freestanding store in the Philippines.

Elaborately designed by Nicolas Ghesquiere, Dominique Gonzales-Foerstier and Thomas Powell, the new boutique has a luxurious and futuristic ambiance, giving the perfect setting for Ghesquiere?s cutting-edge designs.

Bestsellers on display include a wide array of highly coveted handbags, shoes, jewelry and eyewear from its latest Fall-Winter collection.

Congratulations to Jappy Gonzales, the store owner and true visionary. His Homme et Femme store at Shangri-La Edsa holds the best luxury labels?from Lanvin to Chloe, Costume Nacional, etc. Visit the Balenciaga store at Greenbelt 5 for a unique shopping experience.

Must-read magazine

Vanity Fair September Issue. On the cover of the finest magazine on the planet is none other than Carla Bruni-Sarkozy. The title poses the question: ?Is she the next Jackie O?? And adds, ?So France (and its President) fell for its enchanting First Lady. Liberte, Egalite, Nudite.?

Bruni-Sarkozy, the most beautiful First Lady ever, poses in a red gown on the top floor of the Elysée Palace, and shares a tender moment (in her bedroom) with Monsieur President Nicolas.

Also in the same issue is a nice blast from the past?the original supermodel gang of Naomi, Linda, Christy, Stephanie, Claudia and Cindy. Now, this issue is to-keep!

International journalists

The Adora group headed by Eman Pineda invited top international journalists recently to mark the store?s opening. I was invited to most of the events given in their honor.

They were very curious about the Philippines. Before Eman?s invitation, they never thought much about the country. But once they were here, they enjoyed the people, the cuisine (specifically Margarita Fores? food) and the sights.

They went to Intramuros on a fun and fabulous sightseeing tour by Carlos Celdran. They had a fabulous dinner in the home of design consultant Anton Mendoza. They went shopping at Greenbelt 5, and even had a two-day stay at Abaca resort in Cebu.

I am in touch with some of them who are still gushing about their experience, which they are writing for their magazines (Vogue Japan and Vogue Italy) and newspapers (International Herald Tribune and Financial Times). They can?t wait to come back!

Hola Isabel!

In a recent issue of Hola Magazine, spotted holding a Celestina bag was none other than Europe?s most elegant woman, Isabel Preysler.

She was on the cover with daughter Chabeli and grandson Alejandro. This forever glamorous grandmother is looking more and more beautiful in the photographs taken at Chabeli?s home in Miami.

Hairy diplomat

Facial hair on men can be attractive, especially when properly maintained and groomed. That is, of course, if they grow in the right places.

Sometimes though, through some gene mutation and bad luck, they can sprout in odd places?the ear, for example. At a cocktail party, I was introduced to a diplomat and was quite appalled to see what looked like a spider growing on both sides of his ears. I could not, after that, look at the prawn cocktail, no matter how delicious (I?m sure) or nicely decorated it was. Thus, I am declaring war on unsightly hair growths.

Another unsightly growth is hair on moles, on one?s back and hair creating uni-brows. But the most criminal offense are moustaches on women.

I am either blessed or cursed by not having so much hair, hence the fact that I have 12 strands that grow on my upper lip. But when women have more than these, they should join the circus (think: the bearded lady).

I am not being harsh. Today, there are ways and means to get rid of these hairy monstrosities? waxing, cutting, laser, etc. One can go to a salon or even a dermatologist. There really are no excuses, trust me. Make the earth more beautiful; get rid of them or nuke them!