stylefaerie interview: XIOMARA'S GIRLS

Tell us about your girls.
My dolls are called Blythes. They’re highly collectible dolls that a company in Japan called CWC and Takara manufactures every month with different styles and themes.

What's your girls' signature style?
I really gravitate to the woodsy-woodland type look. I always imagine them to be mushroom gatherers rather than urbanite divas. I also like doing whimsy Tim Burton-ish type of clothing but I really have to smoke corset making.

I am most fascinated with your Twin Outfits project. Are they becoming you or you becoming them?Definitely not the latter. Haha! I have favorite outfits that I wish I could wear everyday so I copy them or get inspiration from them for Blythe dresses. The girls can then wear them till I get tired looking a the same ol’ outfit.

Do you prefer shopping or creating for their clothes?
A little bit of shopping but I want to try as much as I can to make them. It’s an artists’ pride thing. If there are clothes out there that I think I can’t make with my amateur seamstress hands and they really wow me over, I’d buy them as long as they’re not over $30. If they’re worth more than that then I try to inspire myself to make an outfit that would be worth more than my imposed Blythe wardrobe budget. I buy shoes though because I can’t make those. I actually have more Blythe shoes than dresses!

What's the biggest challenge in customizing their outfit?
For me everything looks good on a sketch because my sketches are pretty detailed but when the design is interpreted on fabric, it doesn’t look as stellar. I don’t know how I manage to do that every time. It gets debased as a finished product. Also, puff sleeves, I’ve been doing them forever and I still can’t perfect them!

Who's your favorite girl?

(don't worry, they won't be reading this blog)
Ooooh this is almost like a sacrilegious query. Haha. Let’s just say that the ones that were not my favorite were the ones I adopted out. If I was asked this question at gunpoint I would have to say my petrol haired Princess a la Mode Blythe. She just seems mermaidish to me, you know me and my fascination with scaly maidens...

I heard they're insanely expensive. How does your purse feel about that?
My purse or my husband? Hehe. They are somewhat pricey but it kind of helps to know that they have excellent resale value. I have a doll worth $ in the secondary market. It’s pretty much like owning jewelry, you own them for the prestige of owning something that has an excellent value. I am justifying. If I ever quit this Blythe mania, I can always sell them and not lose any money. Also, I make and sell dresses, I’ve bought girls with the money I make from my guerilla dress shop.

Do you plan to buy more dolls? Who's next in line?
I choose my girls according to hair color. The stock clothes come in second but not really a priority since stock clothes don’t stay on the girls for too long. I let go of a bright yellow haired Blythe to get the shocking pink haired one that I’ve always wanted. I want a blonde and a mossy green haired Blythe. Still waiting for CWC/Takara to come up with her.

So is it an addiction or a kind of lifestyle?
I would say it is more of an addiction than a lifestyle. My life doesn’t really revolve around my Blythes since I collect other things as well but Blythes fuel my creativity when I’m at home. With my other vintage toys, they’re just shelf denizens.

Lastly, why blythe dolls? and not barbie dolls or ball jointed dolls?
Blythes seems to have an ambiguity when it comes to age. Unlike Barbies or Momokos which look like adult women, Blythes can get away wearing childish frocks or lavish ballgowns. And then there’s that whole big head big eyes Japanime fascination that never seems to leave my psyche.

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Xiomara has been a graphic artist since she was 4 years old.

stylefaerie interview: LUCILLE UMALI

what is style to you in terms of fashion statements?
For me, it is your way of showing what you are, you're creativeness, your signature you!

does your mood affect your styling?
YES. like how the economy affects our everyday living(eherrm), my styling would wholly depend on my mood. Haaay girls...

describe your everyday getup - say, going to the office?
First of all, I never go out in the house without makeup on or at least a defined eyes. Like I said, everything would depend on my mood but one thing is for sure, I never go to the office or anywhere with just a plain shirt and pants. Sometimes I go to the office as if im on my way to a party or a photo shoot or a costume party! Hahahahaha

do you believe in trends? do you create or follow one?
Yeah sure! It's important to be aware of what's the latest in fashion or anything for that matter. Yes i am a follower but I make sure to put the signature me in whatever trend i follow.

and what's your kind of signature?
Hmmmm... I'm not sure, I should really ask the people who always see me in my daily grinds. But I'd like to think that I have this sexy spunk signature. Hehehe

which of you is your favourite - curly or straight? your hair i mean.

I loooooooooove my curly hair! I miss it so much! but the two hairstyles represented the different eras in my life. Hahaha. I just cannot linger forever in one style, we all have to update our look and take it to another level. I'm livin' my new hair now.

do you think styling should be more than less?
more on creativeness and common sense, less on dumb choices of ensemble.

where do you shop?
I'm a pretapersonal - ukay adik! I am always drawn to that relief good smell, kung asa ang ukay, I'm there!

i find your wardrobe colorful - is that seasonal?
My wardrobe is extremely colorful! and it's never seasonal.

do you have style influences?
Japanese fashion is... impeccable! and I get easily influenced with anything or anybody, even the strangers I see on the streets or malls.

name one item that's a no-no.
White shoes if you're putot or you just simply cannot carry it with style.

how do you find yourself dressing up 20 years from now?
Still FABULOUS!!!

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find more of her bright musings here.

lucille on graffiti and lucille with shades : photography by jude crisostomo

stylefaerie interview: CHAD MANZO

is looking stylish important to you?
In terms of the current trend, not really. I believe style is something very personal. What makes you look good, makes you feel good. To each his own poison.:)

do you have style influences?
The japanese. They're a race born with style.

what are your fave places to shop?
Favorite......hmmmm....internet, thrift shops, ukay2, basically anywhere I can get my hands on things i like to own.:)

what's the story of your tattoos?
My flies stand for nothing. They dont have a meaning or whatever, I just figured it would look good on me, so I got it. The ones on my arms symbolize the equated value between hardwork and successs.

do you think anyone can have tattoos?
It's anyone's guess I think. Some people look good with it, and some just dont. Depending on what the tatto design probably, but like I said, it's anyones guess. If they feel good having it, why not?

are you a trend maker or a follower? or does trend mean anything at all?
I do not feel i belong to both. Hahahaha. I just do not like looking like everybody else. I do not believe in trends, in terms of fashion and I do not like to follow or be followed. I think a trend is just there to represent the current generation. It's a fact of life, merely a rite of passage to young people. The necessity to belong gives birth to trends.

do people like what your wearing?
Hahahahaha. That i do not know for sure, but I do receive compliments from friends and I am thankful for that.:)

what's your favourite accessory? why?
Shoes. I know they're not accessories, but they're in a league of their own. They either make you look barbaric, or they make you sophisticated. Shoes have a way of telling others what kind of person you are and make for good bragging rights to others. Hahaha!

do you prefer brands or no-name goodies?
Both. I guess it all depends on what type of item youre looking to buy. There are just some items that call for an investment. Like shoes, sure the fakes are easier to buy, but in the long run, you're sacrificing quality on something you will use on a daily basis.

everytime i see you, i caught you in a different wardrobe. Of all the shows, what was your favourite?
Most favorite? Whenever i am home. No one gives a f*ck about what youre wearing. Hahahaha.

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Chad Manzo is a graphic artist by day and musician by night.