Fashion
Here’s a gift guide to kick off your Christmas shopping
Christmas comes once a year, so why not make your gifts worth the wait?

Here’s a confession straight from this website’s editor: I do most – if not all – of my Christmas shopping at Rustan’s.
To most of those my age and income bracket, this is seen as a seemingly indulgent thing. Actually, it is – although not in the way people assume so. Seriously, if people actually just stop dismissing Rustan’s as a super high end department store (even though it is), they’d find that they can actually get some very interesting and good quality things with any budget.
But the real extravagance lies in the variety of the store’s offerings – from makeup to clothes to home furnishings – and the abundance of cashiers and gift wrapping counters. Shopping in Rustan’s, even at the peak of the holiday rush, remains a breeze. You’d find that even though you’re like me and prone to doing your shopping at the last minute, the experience is anything but a hassle.
Considering it’s a three-floor anchor store in Ayala Center Cebu, it’s natural to feel a bit overwhelmed. Zee Lifestyle is here to save the day, with recommendations personally handpicked by the family who runs the show – the Tantocos.
AMB. BIENVENIDO TANTOCO SR.
The father of Rustan’s and a man renowned for his exceptional taste, Ambassador Bienvenido Tantoco Sr. chooses an array of timeless pieces – from a handsome Piaget watch, to light casual shirts by Ascot Chang, which are sure to delight all men who appreciate clean, classic styles.
PAOLO TANTOCO AND ANTON HUANG
Paolo Tantoco and Anton Huang offer their own elegant selections that appeal to the younger male market with striking shoes from Harry’s of London, and wonderful fashion pieces from Adolfo Dominguez, Faconnable and more.
ZENAIDA TANTOCO
For the CEO’s Picks, Zenaida Tantoco chooses a promising selection of feminine yet stunning pieces such as the Damiani Icon Ring and Loewe Flamingo Bag in red for the glamorous, empowered executive. And for her home, nothing is as luxurious as the masterpieces from Lalique and Lladro.
MARILEN TANTOCO
Marilen Tantoco, on the other hand, lends her keen sense of style in choosing dazzling pieces for the ladies in your life. She recommends luxurious Natori ensembles perfect for the everyday and exquisite tea sets by Bernardaud.
MARITESS TANTOCO ENRIQUEZ
For the ladies with more eclectic tastes, Maritess Tantoco Enriquez recommends unique pieces that are statements in themselves – such as the ZIIO Bracelets, Fendi bag charms and an array of fashion-forward heels by Christian Louboutin.
CAMILLE AND NICOLE TANTOCO
Fashionable young ladies, on the other hand, will be inspired by the stylish picks of Camille and Nicole Tantoco, which reflect a more trendy and contemporary take to style. Nicole chooses clean, crisp looks from one of the newest brands Ricardo Preto and complementing accessories by Longchamp and Fendi. Camille goes for a more flirty touch with relaxed, feminine dresses by Darling London and Catwalk Junkie. She spruces this up with MAC beauty essentials and Shashi accessories.
If you’re still can’t decide on what to pick for yourself or your fashionable friends and family, you can log visit your favorite Rustan’s store and allow the expert personal shoppers and sales associates help you discover the great selections of gifts available for all your loved ones and friends. Welcome this season dressed in your stylish best with picks from Rustan’s in-house designers and luxury retailers.
This Christmas, Rustan’s offers you more rewards as you thoughtfully shop for others. With every gift purchase, get the chance as well to win a once-in-a-lifetime trip to some of the most wonderful destinations in the world.
For every P3,000 minimum single receipt purchase at any Rustan’s Department Store, receive a raffle ticket towards a chance at winning one of three wonderful trips to great destinations: New York City with a private tour around the official headquarters of Tiffany & Co; France, with a stay at the the exclusive hotel of Lalique, Hotel Hochber; or Malaysia, with a fun getaway at LEGOLAND Theme Park and Water Park.
Christmas comes but once a year but there are a million and one ways to celebrate it. Let Rustan’s be part of your memories and help you make the most of every moment. (with PR)
Fashion
Salt, Silk, and Stardom: Ten Reasons Celebrities Wear Amato by Furne One

by Oj Hofer
At Take Me to the Sea, Amato by Furne One unveiled more than a resort/bridal collection — he revealed a world suspended between tides and starlight, where salt, silk, and stardom stitched themselves into every look.
Held at The Hall of the Crimson Resort and Spa Mactan, the show was a transportive experience. As waves whispered beyond the glass, Amato’s gowns swept down the runway like sirens called to shore. Here are ten reasons why global icons return — time and again — to his sea of style.
1. Salt in the Craft
His garments carry the wild grace of the sea — textured, elemental, unforgettable. Every bead, cut, and crystal tells a story shaped by emotion and intuition.
2. Silk in the Movement
Though opulent, his creations float. There’s ease in the drama — cascading motion without weight. Ideal for performers who speak through movement.
3. Stardom in the Vision
Furne doesn’t chase trends — he conjures icons. His gowns command attention while allowing the wearer’s light to radiate.
4. Salt as Spirit
There is soul in the stitching — a deep undercurrent of cultural pride and personal mythology. His work carries weight because it carries truth.
5. Silk as Spellwork
His fabrics don’t just dress — they enchant. Each piece invites touch, reverence, and awe.
6. Stardom in the Silhouette
Furne understands form. He doesn’t simply clothe a figure — he sculpts for presence. For red carpets, concert stages, and film legends.
7. Salt of the Earth
Despite global acclaim, Furne remains grounded. His humility fosters collaboration, creating space for intimacy in the creative process.
8. Silk-Wrapped Strength
There is softness, but never fragility. These gowns are fierce — veiled in elegance yet unapologetically bold.
9. Stardom as Alchemy
Wearing Amato is not mere adornment — it is transformation. A star steps into a Furne One creation and becomes mythic.
10. Salt, Silk, and the Furne Himself
Furne One is the thread. With quiet charisma and a generous spirit, he doesn’t just dress celebrities — he disarms them. And from that space of trust emerges what every artist longs for: wonder.
And in Amato’s world, wonder always wins.

Fashion designer Furne One
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

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.
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