AT THE RECENT annual international gift fair in New York, I was able to get the latest buzz on Ricco and Tina Ocampo?s Celestina home line. They were exhibiting their furniture line for the first time. According to my sources, the line was well-received, with Elle magazine reportedly doing a feature on Tina as a bag and accessories designer now designing for the home.
It also received rave reviews from O (Oprah) Magazine?s creative director Adam Glassman, and House Beautiful came by and liked it, too.
The important question, of course, is which of the leading luxury stores will carry Celestina Home? At first it was a toss-up between Bergdorf?s and Barney?s, but the latter won out because it wanted exclusivity, plus a promise of a bigger space at its home floor.
The couple?s home also landed on the cover of the US Interiors magazine, and as I write this, the Ocampos are en route to another important fair, Maison and Objet in Paris.
Congratulations to Ricco and Tina Ocampo!
Heavenly delight
One of my favorite brands for skin care and scents is Farmacia di Santa Maria Novella. It is one of the world?s oldest pharmacies, dating back to the 13th century when it was founded by Dominican monks.
The brand is named after the famed church in Florence. Even in the 21st century, the company has not abandoned the traditional way it creates its distinct elixir, from perfumes, lotions and tonics. It uses the purest and natural products, from fresh flowers, herbs and oils.
I remember only being able to get the products when friends would go to Italy. Am I glad it?s finally in Manila, available exclusively at Essences in Rustan?s.
Retail news
The last quarter of the year will bring in much-needed excitement for those in need of some retail therapy.
The luxury brand Hermes is opening in November. Tory Burch, whose clothes epitomize effortless, Old-World chic, is set to open earlier, in late October. On a personal note, I am happy that Raoul, a Singapore fashion brand is now in town. Along with Massimo Dutti (both located in Greenbelt), it has great dress shirts for men, while Massimo has the best and most comfortable khaki pants.
Over at Adora, making their debut in our shores is French men?s brand Gossuin and Neil Barrett. For women, there are the delightful bags of Anya Hindmarch and sophisticated and elegant lines by Thakoon and Givenchy by Ricardo Tisci.
Twit-twit
If you are a Facebook addict like me, you may want to try out another social networking site, Twitter. It?s just like Facebook, where you can connect with people, update your status (in 140 words or less), express your mood, and identify your location, among others.
But the difference is, individuals are divided into ?Following? and ?Followers.? So far, my Twitter account now has 234 people following me, which means they are updated with what?s going on with me. In turn, I am following 136 individuals, mostly celebrities and friends.
It?s the only way one can be up close and personal with the likes of P. Diddy, John Legend, Ashton Kutcher, Demi Moore, and Oprah. It?s like reading People magazine in real time!
You can also get the news via Twitter. I like to follow GMA 7 and CNN here, as well as some hit TV shows. Now I know when Andy Roddick wakes up, or what Lance Armstrong had for dinner and with whom. Twitter, as I usually tell my friends, is for stalkers minus the danger. One?s followers are harmless but inquisitive individuals who have a lot of time on their hands and just want to be ?in the know.?
The downside when following these celebrities is when you begin to think they are your real friends. Once, when Ricky Martin posted, ?Good morning World, How are you today?? I replied, ?I am fine, how about you?? That was two months ago and I?m still waiting for his reply!
