Jessica's Blog

 

"Breakups suck. You know what makes them easier? Re-imagining your happiest times together with none other than Queen B," Cassandra Blackwell writes on her genius Tumblr "Beyoncify My Boyfriend. And we couldn't agree more.

 

Instead of merely deleting/crying over/cursing/denying the existence of all the photos of herself with her ex, as we are all apt to do post-breakup, Blackwell did one better: She slapped him with Bey. "I’m not trying to properly cover him, I’m just slapping him with Beyoncé, and people are really responding to that," she told Buzzfeed. "If imagining yourself at your happiest with Beyoncé doesn’t help, I don’t know what will." So true. Why do some of your best memories have to be tainted when they could be Beyoncified? In fact, this sounds like an improvement.

 

"This was a fun thing that made me forget about the breakup," Blackwell told ELLE this morning. The 19-year-old, who works in retail management in Toronto, says this all started as a personal project that has caught on, fast: "I made the first picture on Twitter a while back and re-posted it this Sunday and it just blew up—my follower count doubled in a few hours. People asked me to do more. So I just made a Tumblr and posted them there. Tumblr seemed like the perfect platform," she said. And the response has been immediate: "I think it's doing so well because everyone can relate to it. It's just fun and innocent I think that's why everyone is enjoying it. I made the blog for my friends and never expected it to get like this.

red homecoming dresses

 

"Incidentally, Blackwell has corresponded with her ex since his Beyoncified self became an Internet sensation. "When the blog started to blow up I reached out to him and made sure he was okay with it and he said it was fine as long as we kept it anonymous and lighthearted and fun," she explained.

 

When we asked her why Queen B, Blackwell said the answer is obvious: "I think it's pretty self-explanatory. When you go through a terrible breakup, you feel miserable and down in the dumps. Beyoncé exudes so much confidence, empowerment, sexiness—the qualities we forget we have in ourselves when we're going through a breakup." As for what she'll do if all the terrible rumors are true and Beyoncé herself goes the breakup route: "Obviously I'll Photoshop Beyoncé's face over Jay Z's. Beyoncé would probably rather date nobody but herself. She's the perfect human so she couldn't do any better." Truth.

 

"The pictures aren’t the best quality, but that’s kind of the point. I have no idea how to use Photoshop," Blackwell told Buzzfeed. Well, we think they're flawless. Plus, Blackwel is paying the Bey forward: Send her your own photos and she'll Beyoncify your ex for you. "I posted on the blog that people could send submission and I've received hundreds," she told us. Bow down, bitches.

Also Read: white homecoming dresses

 

Fancying themselves as the fashion police, netizens zeroed in on Sen. Nancy Binay’s gown during Monday’s State of the Nation Address (Sona) event.

 

“Tell her the World Cup is over and that Brazil lost. Time to return its flag,” one Facebook post read, referring to the yellow-and-green skirt panels on the gown that Binay wore to the Senate’s morning session.

 

Facebook also bloomed with pictures of hot air balloons and ice bags posted alongside Binay’s gown, a rather unflattering two-piece ensemble consisting of a long-sleeved blouse and multicolored, ankle-length tulip skirt.

 

Some also described the senator as looking like a mascot for Korean Air for the high-waisted gown that resembled the Korean hanbok or national dress.

 

Binay’s afternoon gown, a white number also by designer Randy Ortiz, got as much dissing for its draped bodice and serpentine skirt, with netizens comparing its front panel to the “Easter Bunny,” and its voluminous side folds to “the satin lining of a coffin.”

 

Getting as much attention for her outfit was Dionisia “Mommy D” Pacquiao who was tastefully garbed in an immaculate white terno lashed with a tulle skirt, its bodice studded with green sequins.

short homecoming dresses under 100

 

Hair pulled back in a bun and wearing simple pearl studs, she was a picture of elegance, restraint and taste, although some netizens described her gown as “Santacruzan-inspired.”

 

In fact, the usually flamboyant mother of world boxing champ and Sarangani Rep. Manny Pacquiao created such a commotion with her entrance on the red carpet—with kibitzers breaking protocol and crossing the velvet rope to take selfies with her—that House security personnel quickly declared the red carpet pictorial over as they herded the journalists and photographers covering the event out of the room.

 

Gowns and formal wear also proved to be convenient political statements in Monday’s Sona, as allies and critics wore either yellow or peach outfits to signify support for President Aquino or to call for his impeachment.

 

President Aquino has been under fire from several quarters over the Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP) that the Supreme Court had declared unconstitutional.

 

Glitz and glamor

 

For other politicians, government officials and their spouses and guests, the lingering effects of recent natural calamities and political scandals did little to dim the glitz and glamor they had been accustomed to at every Sona event.

 

Less than two weeks after Typhoon Glenda hit southern Luzon, including Metro Manila, politics and fashion converged anew as leading public figures strutted their stuff on the red carpet, with their respective ideas of Filipiniana finery.

 

Leading the pack of fashion mavericks were Sen. Loren Legarda and actress Heart Evangelista, as well as congressional spouse Stella Quimbo and senatorial wife Tootsie Angara.

 

Sen. Grace Poe, on the other hand, looked “presidential,” according to netizens, who posted pictures of her in an off-white creation by upcoming designer Roulette Esmilla that also had intricate embroidery.

 

Legarda wore an authentic Mandaya costume gifted her by the Mandaya tribe of Davao Oriental province.

 

“I’m doing this to celebrate the Unesco inscription on Mt. Hamiguitan as a World Heritage Site,” said the senator who was helped into the outfit by a member of the tribe flown to Manila, according to Davao Oriental Gov. Cora Malanyaon.

 

Legarda’s blouse had geometric designs and was accented with intricate beadwork. The skirt called dagmay was made from abaca and used natural dye. The senator’s accessories—a huge, round, silver pendant called patina and a pair of wooden bangles—were lent her by the Mandayas.

 

Cordillera roots

 

The wife of Sen. Sonny Angara, Tootsie, paid tribute to her Cordillera roots by asking designer Rajo Laurel to fashion a stylized and beaded terno using native fabrics in red and black with touches of yellow.

 

Laurel, one of the event’s busiest designers, accented the skirt’s chevron pattern with black and white bugle beads.

 

“It fuses tradition with modern and stylized elements,” Angara said, referring to her short terno sleeves.

 

Quimbo, a lawyer and wife of Marikina Rep. Romero Quimbo, opted for a terno-cum-stylized Maria Clara gown by Jun Escario. The white number was accented with black lace on the bodice and sides of the serpentine skirt. The net-like material accenting the terno sleeves extended across the back, a design that Quimbo described as a “modern version of the pañuelo.”

 

Quimbo, who also designs and makes footwear, proudly showed off black satin and snakeskin shoes under the Lope Saenz label that went with her outfit.

 

Evangelista, the girlfriend of Sen. Francis “Chiz” Escudero, was easily one of the afternoon’s most photographed personalities in designer Joey Samson’s trademark off-white “caged” terno top, with fitted bodice and godet skirt.

 

Sen. JV Ejercito’s wife, Cindy, wore a red chiffon terno with a fine ruffle finish and horsehair trimmings by Paul Cabral.

 

Also in red was Pangasinan Rep. Rosemarie “Baby” Arenas in a Cabral creation made of Thai silk.

 

Sen. Cynthia Villar wore an orange terno embroidered with vines and cherry blossoms on the bodice that was designed by her cousin Noli Hans.

 

Former actress Sheila Ysrael, who came with husband Rep. Dan Fernandez and their three kids, slipped into a fully beaded and fully embroidered sea blue terno by Gideon Sy.

 

A number of famous personalities tried to avoid the red carpet in vain.

 

Makati Rep. Abby Binay, who came with her daughter Martina, tried to go straight to the plenary hall, but was spotted by a group of photographers who requested her to do the red carpet. Binay, younger sister of Senator Binay, gamely obliged by cutting through the velvet rope. The Makati representative donned a fitted heather gray terno with a series of magenta trimmings on the bodice by her favorite designer, Ivarluski Aseron.

 

 

Daughter Martina had a square patch on her gown that, some observers noted, was actually a mosquito patch—a precaution, perhaps, against insect bites.

 

Marga Nograles, wife of Davao City Rep. Karlo Nograles, made heads turn in Bobby Castillo’s off-white hand-painted Mikado silk terno.

 

A pregnant Timi Gomez-Aquino, wife of Sen. Bam Aquino, asked designer Noel Crisostomo to produce something “light and easy,” and he came up with a mint green terno with beaded ribbons and pleated details on the bodice.

 

Fille Cainglet-Cayetano, who came with her husband, Taguig

 

Rep. Lino Cayetano, opted for a low-key, navy blue terno made of silk gazar and accented with French lace by JC Buendia.

 

Taguig Mayor Lani Cayetano, wife of Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano, wore a lavender Thai silk terno with draped details on the sleeves by her favorite designer Onin Pagsisihan.

 

Laguna Rep. Sol Aragones, a former TV reporter, opted for a red terno with fully beaded bodice and flouncy skirt by veteran designer Renee Salud.

 

New fashion darling

 

Mommy D, the new fashion darling, could not recall who made her gown. “Basta, taga-Maynila (someone from Manila),” she told reporters.

 

Actress Lucy Torres-Gomez came with her husband, actor Richard Gomez, wearing a champagne-colored cocoon serpentine terno by Randy Ortiz that had baroque basket-weave callado and embossed flower embroidery.

 

Angeline Lee-Tupas, wife of House justice committee chair Niel Tupas Jr., wore an off-white stylized barong over a magenta gown by Edgar Santiago.

 

Wearing Laurel gowns were Aklan Rep. Teodorico Haresco’s wife, Yulia, in an eggplant purple gown with embroidery cutouts, and Jenny Montejo, wife of An Waray Rep. Neil Benedict Montejo, who wore a serpentine terno of nude tulle embellished with lilac embroidery.

 

Early bird Joni Villanueva-Tugna, wife of Cibac Rep. Sherwin Tugna, donned a cobalt blue satin gown, a modern take on the tapis by Jo Rubio of Bulacan province.

 

Cecile Guidote-Alvarez wore an aqua Maria Clara from Tesoro’s.

 

Kitchie Ridon, wife of Kabataan Rep. Terry Ridon, wore a strikingly simple terno with a beige bodice and black skirt by Toby Albrando.

 

Former Cibac Rep. Kim Bernardo-Lokin wore an apple green Aureo Alonzo that offset her gold necklace.

 

Dinagat Islands Rep. Kaka Bag-ao went for a monochromic terno by cause-oriented favorite Joel Azebuche, whom her colleague former Akbayan Rep. Risa Hontiveros also chose for her dramatic white jusi barong over a black sheath gown.

 

Quezon City Rep. Alfredo Vargas III’s wife Yasmine’s bold lip color contrasted sharply with her mint green terno by Stephanie Gan.

 

Ilocos Sur Rep. Ronald Singson’s precocious daughter Samantha (“call me Ariel”) and her cousin Elise (“call me Cinderella”), daughter of Ilocos Sur Gov. Ryan Singson, elicited “oohs” and “ahs” with their red-carpet debut. Both wore similar-looking dresses in cream.

 

Cebu Rep. Gwendolyn Garcia wore an old rose, off-shoulder number by Philip Rodriguez that she paired with a brass and mother-of-pearl minaudiere.

 

Nueva Ecija Rep. Estrellita “Ging” Suansing chose an Aseron nude gown with red embroidery, while Senate President Franklin Drilon’s wife, Mila, wore a yellow outfit with an opera-length pearl necklace.

 

Head-turner

 

Easily a head-turner was actress Assunta de Rossi, who walked the red carpet without her husband, Negros Occidental Rep. Julio Ledesma, a frequent absentee in House sessions.

 

Other attention-grabbers were Diwa Rep. Em Aglipay, who came in Boom Sazon’s body-hugging, cream-colored, neoprene terno with strategic cutouts on the sleeves and back, and model-socialite Bambi del Rosario, who posed for photographers in a blue green Mikado silk terno with a serpentine silhouette and draped bodice.

 

As expected, lawmakers from several cause-oriented party-list groups wore their politics on their sleeves, as they donned peach-colored barong, terno and outfits to call for President Aquino’s impeachment.

 

“Dapat managot lahat ng sangkot (Those who are involved must answer for it),” chanted party-list Representatives Emmi de Jesus, Luz Ilagan, Neri Colmenares, Antonio Tinio, Carlos Zarate and actress Juana Change.

 

“We’re supporting [the President’s] impeachment on the basis of Edca and the DAP,” De Jesus said.

Also Read: http://www.graziadress.com/cute-homecoming-dresses

 

For young designers who like to experiment, London Fashion Week is basically an anything-goes playground — and I mean that in a good way. Last season, Meadham Kirchhoff's carnivalesque show featured life-size valentines, Henry Holland had so-called "HOH harlots" partying in a car park, and Toga introduced a rockabilly band and models in cages. London-based designers aren't terribly concerned with keeping things safe and salable — part of the attitude that has contributed to the city's reputation as a hothouse for fashion talent — and that is certainly refreshing after the commercialism of New York.

 

The city draws talent from all over the world: think of Mary Katrantzou, who hails from Greece; Ashish Gupta, from India; the duo behind Ostwald Helgason, who are from Iceland and Germany; Eudon Choi, of South Korea; and David Koma, who grew up in Georgia and Russia. There's a reason they all elected to settle in the Big Smoke, and it's not the weather. Central Saint Martins is one of the best fashion schools in the world, and attracts plenty of A+ talent. The British tradition of eccentricity energizes designers to try new, sometimes wacky, things. The British Fashion Council and Topshop both provide amazing opportunities for young labels — the BFC has partnered with Farfetch in the past, and Topshop has recruited Gupta, Katrantzou, and scores of others for collabs. But the focus has historically been either at the very high end, where it's tough for those experimental types to actually break out commercially, or on the low end — in the form of ephemeral high-street collaborations that provide an injection of cash and notoriety but are a temporary fix. Some lucky young'uns have scored jobs with major luxury houses, like J.W. Anderson at Loewe and Koma at Mugler. But most aren't so fortunate, and fashion is a tough business anywhere, even in the seemingly paradisal city.

red homecoming dresses

 

A new partnership between the BFC and eBay aims to change that. As part of a yearly program, London designers will receive mentorship with an eye toward conquering the contemporary market — and produce clothes that are more affordable than runway collections, but well above fast-fashion prices. The program aims to help give young talent a leg up when it comes to the oft-neglected question of selling their clothes. According to The Guardian, the participating designers — Alexis Barrell, Prism's Anna Laub (above, center), Zoe Jordan (left), Paper London, and Georgia Harding (right) — will create designs at the contemporary price point to be sold at Somerset House, London Fashion Week's headquarters, in September. The BFC’s Sophie McElligott told the paper, "We recognized that a lot of designers can’t afford to start their business by creating high-end artisanal pieces, or by putting on fashion shows, which are very expensive. There is nothing wrong with that system, but it’s not for everyone.”

 

While this will be a small-scale program, it has interesting implications for the future of British fashion, where art, not commerce, tends to rule the day. Contemporary labels like Maje andSandro, from France, and Tibi in the States have lately been excelling at pulling in hyperfashionable customers, though their price points fall well between the H&M and runway extremes. Britain has a flourishing high street — maybe the best in the world, but a paucity of contemporary labels, with the exception of a few homegrown labels like Whistles and Reiss. These brands either don't show at fashion weeks, or favor low-key presentations, allowing them to put more funds toward their businesses. McElligott makes a good point that the runway-and-prestige route isn't the right one for all designers, and some might be better served by directing their talents to the contemporary space. While no one wants to choke off the creativity flowing out of London right now, the industry there is maturing, and with that comes the quest for commercial viability — which happens to come more readily off the runway.

Also Read: http://www.graziadress.com/cute-homecoming-dresses