The Philippine Online Chronicles

2011 was filled to the brim with glamorous fashion outings, trend reinventions and resurrections, their appreciation encompassing a wider reach thanks to technology. We saw young and old alike, experimenting with clothes to express their love for the seemingly trivial industry. From that lot the youth are showing promise for the future of our local fashion scene, whether by encouraging individuality of style, pursuing passions, or promoting the country’s talent. They are the Philippines’ emerging fashion icons, characters we are sure to see more of in the seasons ahead.

Jasmine Curtis-Smith

But what is a fashion icon? No doubt they are the trendsetters, the style savants whom many look up to for inspiration. Today’s breed, however, is not just glitz and glitter; they try to defy all expectations of them. They prove that being clad in beautiful layers of clothing does not always mean all they can do is be pretty.

Take for example Jasmine Curtis-Smith. Many say she is following her sister Anne’s footsteps, and it would not be surprising if she becomes as ubiquitous as the It Girl soon. A teen fresh into the world of Philippine showbiz, Jasmine already has quite a following because of her sweetness and innocent charm, which local retail brand Bayo took notice of.

She is the face of Love, Bayo, a line of hip and trendy clothes for girls her age. Although the brand image fits her well, she has also begun to experiment with different styles, some of which make her look like a grown woman. Off-cam she dresses with a boyish appeal and the industry takes that into account, all the while grooming her into becoming a fair lady. She is sure to get more endorsements as her fashion sense further develops.

Vern Enciso

Like many, Vern Enciso made her mark in the World Wide Web with her outfit and makeup diaries. Polished and pretty with a dash of sexiness—that’s her style recipe. She dresses up with effortless sophistication and admits she “can never go Boho.”  That’s because Vern’s choices are often structured (inspired by Liz Uy, she said) and fitted to her body, coming together as almost formulaic. However, to match her age, she also looks to Whitney Port for style suggestions. And she adds character with her hair—pulled up or flowing down one shoulder, those black strands give depth to her ensemble.

She juggles makeup artistry, modeling, blogging, and writing. Through these, her name and face made it in print media and even online beauty campaigns. You would think she has little time left to socialize but her personal blog posts will tell you otherwise. Already commanding positive attention at 18 years old, Vern is a student with many aspirations that she is certain to achieve early.

Patricia Prieto

The world of blogging teems with fashionable minds, and it includes Patricia Prieto. Having a model for a sister, she began understanding and appreciating the local fashion industry early. She studies its technical and entrepreneurial aspects as a student of the School of Fashion and the Arts. Additionally, she models, dresses actress and fellow style maven Julia Montes, and helps the creative direction of acclaimed fashion designer Rhett Eala. This 21-year-old is privy to the ins and outs of the glamorous business.

But glamor is not commonly associated with her fashion sense. Playing with textures and layers, she tries different styles that, thanks to her genetic material, always turn out good against her tall, lithe frame. She is often in bright splashes of color or starkly contrasted neutrals, but a certain air of the hipster (sometimes punk, glam-rock, and grunge) persuasion is evident in her ensembles. The playfulness and surprise keep her readership steadily growing.

Julia Montes has been in the limelight since she was a kid, so it is amazing to have witnessed how she grew into a lovely young woman. Luckily she was cast as maldita Clara in the remake of the hit series, because truth be told, the antagonists are always made-up and dressed better than the characters they act against. With her milk-white skin and caramel hair, it was easy to be endeared to her despite the wickedness of the character she portrayed. Now Julia can be seen performing in Sunday variety show ASAP, wearing more trendy outfits that allow us to see more of her style. No doubt, she is pretty and glows in any clothing you give her, poufy tulle skirt or leather dress.

Most of them show off her womanly curves. But that is a good thing—how else will a blooming lady with thousands of young fans send the message that she is ready to take more grown-up roles, without going the nude-magazine-cover route? Recently, she was paired with an established actor in a new telenovela, and in Philippine entertainment this only means one thing: we’re going to see more of her—on TV and outside of it—soon.

Screen capture taken from StyleBible.ph.  Photos courtesy of Jasmine Curtis-Smith, Vern Enciso, Patricia Prieto and Camille Co