Tres Marias
Any mother would be so proud to have any one of these young ladies as her daughter. I am proud to call each one niece. I'd like to introduce to you Lani, Sarah, and Alexa.
Since I've known them, I've admired their sweet manner, bright and happy demeanor, and their individual sense of style. Each differs in her taste but in summation I would describe theirs as flirty, pretty, and polished. Think of classic style icons Audrey Hepburn, Sophia Loren, Grace Kelly, three cherished Hollywood favorites who graced the silver screen and countless magazine covers. Lani, Sarah, and Alexa exude a brilliant mix of fun, sophistication, and demureness.
Here the three sibling fashionistas model their individual looks and talk about a few of their favorite things -- career, fashion, and food. Thanks for doing this, Lani, Sarah, and Alexa! We love and miss you! xoxo
A Conversation with Lani Brillantes-Quiazon
Lani got married just over a year ago, so I asked her to share her inspiration and thoughts on designing her wedding dress.
Place of work?
Philippine General Hospital, Manila
Position?
Dermatology resident
What was it like to plan your wedding? What was your inspiration?
I would have to say that designing my wedding gown was one of the hardest things I've had to do! I had so many ideas and so many things I wanted, I wasn't sure how to put everything into one.
I would have to say that in the end, the deciding factor was the church. The church we picked was new and modern and clean, but still had some elements of an old, grand church. That set the whole tone of the look of our wedding, and not just my gown but the whole entourage's.
Similarly, that became the goal for the whole look: elegant and beautiful, with some modern and rustic touches.
I wanted something that felt old world romantic, so I knew I wanted lace. I also knew I wanted something a little more traditional, so instead of a tube top I chose 3/4 sleeves. My non negotiable point was I wanted something with a lot of volume for the skirt! It took me a long time to decide if I wanted a tulle or taffeta skirt. In the end, I was afraid it might look like a prom dress, so I decided on taffeta. To make it a little different and a little more current, I decided on having a cut out in the back. :)
Who are your favorite wedding designers?
Some of the designers I enjoyed looking at were Marchesa, Monique Lhuillier. I also loved Grace Kelly's wedding gown! :)
A Conversation with Sarah Brillantes
Place of work?
I work for a social enterprise called GET or Global Electric Transportation. We create electric vehicles made to replace the common gas guzzling “jeepney” public utility vehicle in the Philippines. Aside from replacing the number one cause of air pollution in the country, we also aim to provide jeepney drivers with better livelihood by providing them constant employment and full benefits.
Fashion icons?
I follow a few of my favorite fashion bloggers:
- Nicole Warne www. garypeppergirl.com
- Kristina Bazan www.kayture.com
- Wendy Nguyen www.wendyslookbook.com
I love how they are able to integrate classic styles with trendy pieces, and vice versa. I especially like how they are able to mix up corporate looks for the work week with casual outfits for the weekend.
Who is your favorite designer?
No favorite designers, yet, tita!
Who has inspired your style the most?
My sisters! We all wear the same size, so we all share clothes. We also have different styles so I love to mix and match different pieces from each other’s closets.
What’s one piece of clothing/accessory that you must have?
I love a crisp white button down blouse. Aside from being a staple for the office wardrobe, it pairs really well with jeans or shorts. For shoes, definitely a nude pair of pumps!
Favorite place to shop?
Favorite stores are H&M, Forever 21, Mango, Cotton On and Zara (mostly for inspiration!).
Favorite place to eat?
At home! I love my mom’s cooking and there’s nothing like eating a home-cooked meal. I also love Filipino, Chinese, Japanese and Italian!
A Conversation with Alexa Brillantes
Place of work?
I work in a real estate company called Rockwell Land. I work in the Design & Planning Team as a Landscape Architect, so we take charge of the landscape design of our new projects (mostly we are known for our residential condominiums, but we have office and retail buildings as well).
Fashion icons?
I like the classic styles of Audrey Hepburn and Jackie Kennedy because they always looked chic. But when it comes to modern time fashion icons, I really like the famous fashion bloggers Kristina Bazan and Nicole Warne. Their styles are very classic and effortless.
Who is your favorite designer?
I don't have a favorite designer, I just have my favorite stores to shop from (Mango and H&M).
Who has inspired your style the most?
I like to look at the styles of the fashion icons I mentioned. But I also think my sisters, mom and Amma (grandma) have also influenced my style. Actually the three of us have kept some vintage pieces from Mom and Amma because they're such timeless pieces!
What's one piece of clothing or fashion accessory that's a must have?
A pair of nice fitting basic jeans and/or black flats.
Your favorite place to shop is...
Mango and H&M.
Your favorite place to eat is...
Any Italian restaurant!
“Each differs in her taste but as a culmination I would describe theirs as flirty, pretty, and polished.”