Filipino fashion continues to dominate the global stage. The latest to do so is retail giant Bench, which has become the official swimsuit sponsor of the 74th Miss Universe. For the pageant, the candidates will be wearing two collections custom-designed by the “Proudly Filipino” brand. The...
September is often recognized globally as fashion month, with the world’s gaze turned to the western side of the globe as major houses present their visions for the forthcoming spring-summer season. But in the Philippines, one of the hallmark events Manila’s style set looks forward to is the...
There’s something electric about a fashion design competition—especially when it puts the spotlight on fresh, young creatives redefining Philippine fashion. This year’s Bench Design Awards (BDA), held last April 27 at Bench Tower in Taguig, was no exception. With 12 standout collections from...
For years, Bench Fashion Week (BFW) has not only been a hotspot for must-wear styles, but it has also become a platform for budding fashion creatives and brands to reach the next level, and for seasoned designers to present their latest collections. That mission continued in its latest edition,...
ALL SMILES Baekhyun loves hearing the passionate cheers from the audience whenever he visits For such an energetic onstage personality, K-pop idol Baekhyun has a chill vibe around him that shows he’s ready to take on anything thrown his way. Best known for being a member of the legendary...
The rise of the terno, or rather, its restoration to our collective consciousness, has been nothing short of a cultural awakening. At the heart of this movement is the Ternocon, the annual convention and competition that Ben Chan initiated with the Cultural Center of the...
In a previous article in Manila Bulletin , I wrote that the eyes of lifestyle arbiter Chito Vijandre, along with those of his longtime creative and life partner Ricky Toledo, “are a window to the world in all its magnificence and splendor, through eras and epochs.” Chito Vijandre The...
In a time when everyone is jumping on the latest trends, adapting to the newest core crazes, and trying their hand at Hollywood’s method dressing, the designers of Bench Fashion Week (BFW) Holiday 2024 have proved that the best style moments always have a personal story. For years, the runway of...
For fans of K-dramas, Ji Changwook is a household staple. Starring in fan-favorite dramas like Suspicious Partner and Backstreet Rookie , his fans adore him for his smooth acting and good chemistry with fellow leads. Recently, he returned to Manila for his “Moments with Ji Chang-wook,” fan...
Trust Ben Chan to spot talent, even if it’s 8,496.07 miles (13,673.10 kilometers) away. In 2019, two years before his surprise appointment as senior vice president of design at Calvin Klein, Latino designer Willy Chavarria, who had, decades before then, been making waves in American mass-market...
WHAT DOES A MATINEE IDOL SMELL LIKE Actor Daniel Padilla shows off the new Shiroi from his BENCH fragrance collection Our scent is part of our identity. It plays a big role in how we evolve over time, how we want to present ourselves, and how we want others to perceive us. It goes hand in hand with...
ALL SMILES Ahn Hyo Seop speaks to members of the press about his excitement for his fan meet tour in Manila For lovers of K-dramas, Ahn Hyo Seop has become a household name after his roles in iconic series such as Dr. Romantic and Business Proposal . But this wasn’t always the case. Ahn...
