Fashion

Bee Urgello’s Closet is as Glamorous as We Thought

Bags, shoes and couture gowns make the closet of this Cebuana Queen Bee a glamorous sight.

The crown is the first thing that caught our eye once we entered Bee Urgello’s all-white closet. Sitting on a pillow in one of the most visible spots in the space, it’s the diadem that’s usually awarded to the lady who wins Queen Philippines, the pageant for alternatives. It’s surprising that it’s here then, considering Bee had won the title back in 2011. “Mommy Cary,” she says, referring to revered designer and Queen organizer Cary Santiago, “told me that I can keep it here, because I’m the Queen that’s most active in events.”

Bee’s all-white closet allows her pieces (and herself) to truly stand out. Her beloved collection of Chanel bags are a focal point, though.

Of course, it’s not like Bee needs a crown to stand out. Whenever she makes an appearance, she does so in carefully thought-out ensembles that make the most of her enviable height and svelte figure—and the various Best Dressed awards certainly reinforce her sense of style.

“Dressing up makes me happy, and it completes me,” Bee shares as she shows us the different outfits she had planned out for the shoot—namely a body-conscious red dress, and a black and white combination that she felt played up her proportions. As we go through the rest of the clothes, she told us to concentrate on the racks that stood by the closet door. “Those are the ones that I haven’t worn yet,” she explains.

“Its just my favorites,” Bee answers with a laugh when we ask her why some shoes get displayed outside her cabinets. For easier reference, she devotes each shelf to a certain brand–this one features her Yves Saint Laurent pairs.

The items that fell under that category actually took up two racks, filled from end to end with pieces from brands like H&M and Zara, as well as creations from local designers. “I always say that shopping is better than sex. A dress or shoes will never hurt or leave you like a man does,” she says with a laugh.

The collection shows off different sides to Bee’s style—from the trendy see-through sheaths with floral embroidery, to the more classic looks of jersey jumpsuits and black dresses. Then there’s her collection of evening gowns, with figure-hugging silhouettes and intricate detailing, that she wears for her official appearances. A yellow dress with cut-out details from Cary Santiago and a blue one with a bejeweled neckline from Harvey Cenit hang at the end of one rack. “Those are really new. The one from Harvey Cenit I’d just picked up,” Bee explains. “I can’t wait to wear them!”

Of course, its not just all about Chanel–Bee’s other designer bags het their own space inside one of the wardrobes, and are arranged neatly for when she’s in the mood to switch it up.

But it’s not just about clothes—with its white walls and cabinetry, Bee’s closet has various areas to display the other part of her collection: her shoes and bags. “They’re my babies,” Bee jokes as she shows us her Chanel bags, which occupy their own shelf on one end of the room. Next to it, a wooden shelf houses her designer shoes, organized by brand for easier dressing.

Drawers on one side are filled with various accessories, and Bee laughs as we move to open another cabinet. “Don’t! Those are my pang-balay,” she exclaims. “Not stylish at all.”

Fashion

Ravens, Runways, and Revelations: A Glimpse of Amato

by OJ HOFER | photo credit JOSEPH ONG | jewelry ROYAL GEM

Fashion had become as instinctive as breathing—so natural that one scarcely noticed it. Yet, after seasons adrift in sartorial limbo, the piercing peal of Birds of Prey by Amato Furne One jolted this archipelago’s fashion scene to attention. Amato’s spectacle soared beyond mundane couture, drawing me from the quiet of my atelier to the intoxicating front row at the reinvented Tops in Busay—from the low murmur of machines to the electrifying brouhaha of the style set.

: A lattice dress with an aureole, beautifully bedecked with Birds of Prey, opens the show.

: A winged bustier frames the face with bold curlicues.

: A fringe dress with a farthingale rustles mysteriously in the nocturnal stillness.

: A bell-shaped T’nalak dress, woven with vivid dreams, sways with mystery.

: A T’nalak ballgown, shrouded in black mesh, catches the moonlight like a whispered secret.

: An entrance-making tulle and T’nalak off-shoulder ensemble commands attention.

: A crystal-studded bodysuit paired with a vinyl trench coat burns with fierce intensity.

: A red lacewing butterfly emerges, shedding the remnants of a tattered cocoon.

: A fiery ensemble, cloaked in phantom glamour, leaves an unforgettable impression long after the wearer’s exit.

Amato is not merely a label; it is a visionary ideal stitched in silk and dreams, a symphony of artistry that transforms yarns, fibers, and fabric into fashion phantasmagoria. Under the deft hands of Furne One, Amato has adorned the world’s most fearless icons—Beyoncé, Lady Gaga, Katy Perry, Jennifer Lopez—women who, like his creations, embody style, strength, and spectacle. His couture is not merely worn; it takes flight, transforming the wearer into a mesmerizing apparition of fleeting beauty—a phenomenal vision that lingers long after the moment has passed.

But how does one conjure such fantastical transformations? To offer a glimpse into the mind of this visionary, we posed three playful questions:

Oj: If you were a bird, would you soar as a mighty raptor or scheme as a clever corvid?
Furne: I’d be a raven—sharp-witted, shrouded in mystery, and draped in the perfect shade of midnight. Its inky plumage matches my flair for dark romance; because even in shadows, I prefer a little drama.

Oj: What would be your most formidable power?
Furne: As a raven, I straddle the seen and unseen—transcendence is my superpower.

Oj: What bird would you absolutely refuse to be reborn as?
Furne: Never a turkey—too commercial, too festive, and far too likely to end up as Thanksgiving dinner.

Fashion

Lucky Colors of 2025: Harness the Energies of Emerald Green & Carmine Red for Success

Thom Browne Cropped tweed jacket

by Oj Hofer

With the Year of the Wood Snake underway, understanding the significance of lucky colors can help align us with its energetic flow. Rooted in Chinese astrology and Feng Shui, the year’s fortifying shades—emerald green and carmine red—offer mindfulness and good intention attracting luck, and fostering personal growth.

Emerald green, associated with the Wood element, symbolizes renewal, clarity, and inner peace. In the year of the wood snake, its dynamic energies will empower and inspire you, fostering growth, renewal and wise transformations. The hue is ideal for moments of self-reflection, study, or creativity. Wearing or incorporating this shade into your space enhances balance and mental focus.

Carmine red, linked to the Fire element, embodies passion, confidence, and vitality. This year, which according to the Bazi Four Pillars Chart, has a lack of metal, earth and fire elements, it will bring balance and the propitious energies. It’s perfect for professional meetings, decision-making, and moments requiring assertiveness as a splash of red can energize and embolden you throughout the day.

Stella Macartney vegan Leather tote

Stefano Ricci silk tie with paisley print

To fully harness their benefits, use these colors in a contemporary, mobile context; through clothing, jewelry, bags and accessories. Alternate between these two potent tints based on your needs. For example, wear green for calmness and clarity when you are going into stressful and mind challenging meetings or appointments. Choose red when you are going into places or situations where you need courage and motivation such as fashion galas, elite socials, prestige affairs, VIP gatherings and so forth.

Saint Laurent crepe de chine mules

Optionally, you can also choose to wear these colors inconspicuously in small details, such as a garnet or jade bracelet, or a ruby or emerald pendant and earrings set. Men can wear a burgundy or forest green tie or pocket square, or casual polo shirts with poppies or with botanical prints, or jade and garnet jewelry. Doing so can subtly align your energy with the year’s vibrational flow.

Jan Leslie emerald bracelet

Daily Mood Cuff Links with red tiger’s eye tubes

The use of colors is more than just aesthetic choices or preferential picks. Colors can serve as energetic tools, reminding you of your good intentions and keeping you mindful of you daily motions. Effecting an optimistic mental state in the wearer, they can effectively shield you from negativity while fostering prosperity and emotional balance. Thoughtfully incorporating them into your wardrobe and surroundings ensures that you move through 2025 with confidence and the right intentions.

Embracing emerald green for tranquility and carmine red for strength are intentional, mindful choices that have the power to transform your energy and shape your path forward. May you have the best of luck in navigating through Year of the Snake with harmony, energy, and the power to attract good fortune.

Events

The First NUSTAR BALL

Janine Taylor, June Alegrado, Jackie Lotzof, Frances Siao, Ina Ronquillo and Christine Pelaez

The NUSTAR Ballroom, a magnificent venue at the NUSTAR Resort and Casino in Cebu, sets the stage for last night’s first-ever NUSTAR Ball.

Black was the color of night at the Zee table.

Glamorous guests from Manila and Cebu converged at the NUSTAR Ballroom, an exquisite venue within the NUSTAR Resort and Casino in Cebu. The evening unfolded with a seated 5-course dinner. The opulent feast started with Beetroot Salmon Gravlax, adorned with caper berries, caviar, set with delicate edible flowers; and a main course of Compressed Pork Belly with Crackling Skin and Baby Scallops. Another highlight was the auction of coveted items like Dior and YSL handbags, a limited-edition Bulgari watch, and an exclusive 2-night stay in Nustar’s opulent 3-bedroom villa—complete with a private pool and a dedicated butler. The charity evening benefited the Cameleon Association, an NGO based in Iloilo City created in 1997 that developed a global approach to act on the causes and effects of sexual violence against children.