To get the ball rolling, I decided to submit myself to our virtual fitting room—stripped off the purple dress and slipped into honeysuckle, the color of the year. My personal verdict: I think I look perked up and radiate high spirits! So I’m definitely adding this to my wardrobe!

Here’s Len Aquilizan, checking out honeysuckle on her skin. We’ve traded her little black dress to the bright and bold honeysuckle. The verdict: The color of the year lifted Len’s already energetic aura. Feminine yet feisty!

Didi Paterno looks radiant in tourquios but with the honeysuckle switch, her allure leveled up several notches! Subtle power!

Ina Mendez sparkles in a gold top, but after slipping into honeysuckle, she looks sparkly and delightful as  pink champagne. Her over all aura elevated to unseen heights!

Thanks for sending in your photos. Hurray for honeysuckle!

Color of 2011

If 2010 had a calming Turquoise, then 2011 is ready to spring an exciting surprise with the flamboyant Honeysuckle, the Color of 2011. Honeysuckle is an intense reddish-pink that’s simply bursting with energy, verve and vigor – exactly the color we need to uplift our spirit and bravely carry us through 2011.

According to Leatrice Eisman, Executive Director of the Pantone Color Institute, the company that sets the color standards for the fashion and home industries, the bright red-pink Honeysuckle draws its positive characteristics from its powerful bond with its mother color – red – the most physical viscerally alive hue in the spectrum.

It’s about time we make bold and confident statements with the strikingly festive Honeysuckle. It’s alluring and engaging. It’s a potent color that gets the adrenaline pumping – “ a brave new color, for a brave new world”, to quote Leatrice Eisman.

As a fashion color, Honeysuckle can produce a refreshingly healthy glow when worn by both men and women. It’s a vivid, eye-catching shade that works perfectly well for day and night in women’s apparel, accessories, cosmetics or men’s shirts, ties and sportswear.

Pantone's honeysuckle shades

Could Honeysuckle work its attraction on you?

Let’s find out! Send us a photo of you in your fave dress, light colored preferably, and we will simulate Honeysuckle. We will post that photo and you be the judge — do you wear it well or does it wear you. Let’s have some fun!

Use a comb to pull down your bangs.

Section your bangs into two

Hold the scissors diagonally, then trim the tips below the comb.

Voila!

There are times when you just gotta try DIY bangs. So here’s how to do it. One tip though… never do your bangs when you’re in a rush or stressed.

What you need for your DIY bangs:

• Cape. if you don’t have a cape, use a nylon scarf to protect your skin from stray hairs.
• Clips
• Comb
• Scissors specifically for hair. Don’t just grab the nearest pair of scissors!

Simple DIY bangs nstructions:

• Use a comb to pull down your bangs. The tips of your eyebrows are the guides for until when’re your bangs should be. Put the rest behind your ears.
• Section your bangs into two. Gather the upper part in a clip.
• Comb your bangs from underneath, then estimate the length you want to trim.
• Hold the scissors diagonally, then trim the tips below the comb.
• Unclip the upper section, then follow the length of the lower section.
• Comb through and brush off the cut hair with a face brush.
• Voila! Simple DIY bangs can look chic and polished, if done the right way.

Color coding your clothes begins in your closet

A lot of us women tend to be on-the-go all week long. Here’s a time saving tip for getting dressed in the morning. Save 50% of your time by color coding your wardrobe. This is how we do it: It’s best to start with the neutrals. We begin with the whites, creams, beiges, browns, grays, blacks. And then we can continue with the colors like the pastels, the light yellows, pinks, all the way to the brighter colors.

This way, the visual is clearer to the eye and it’s easier to pick out colors from day to day. Isn’t color coding your clothes easy?

Choose an outfit in minutes!

Your sunblock as base

We’re going to focus on how to apply the perfect base. And my model today, if you haven’t figured it out, is my sister Michi.

Sunblock protects your skin and acts as a base for your foundation to hold on to. Apply lightly.

Check the foundation on your jawline

Question: Marie, do I have to use a brush or can I use my fingers?

Answer: You can actually use your fingers coz the fingers help warm up the product more but I’m using a brush for hygienic purposes.

When choosing the best shade of foundation, apply the different

Foundation can double as concealer

shades on your jawline and select.
Use light and gentle downward strokes. Downward because facial hair grows in that direction.

There is no need to put too much foundation on the forehead.
 Foundation can also double as concealer. Apply evenly on each eyelid.
 Make sure to apply foundation on the corners of your nose and mouth.

Pat the puff on the powder on the lid, and gently roll the puff on your skin. Focus on your T-zone because this is where it gets oiliest.

Now that's what you call a smooth finish!

And there you have it! You’ve just learned how to apply the perfect base.

Hang 'em up

Here’s a time-saving tip on gauging how often you wear your clothes. It’s what I call a hanger reminder. After you put your outfit in the wash, and it’s laundered, when it comes back up, just hang it the opposite way. You’ll know that you’ve worn it pretty recently.

Now isn’t this a quick and easy device to keep you from repeating your clothes?

Let's see... what's my next outfit?

Marie shows Michi how to apply concealer in this video.

The eyes are the windows to the soul and are one of the first things people notice about you. So, if you spent long hours at the office or danced til early morning light, dark circles under the eyes is not a fashion statement. Most of us just apply concealer haphazardly and leave the house without taking the time to blend it in.

Putting in some care, Marie shows us how to apply concealer with ease on Michi’s eyes. (Now Michi, what were you doing last night?) All you need are:

Apply concealer with a wedge

• cream concealer
• brush
• wedge sponge
• loose or translucent powder
• powder puff

Here’s how to do it:

1. Choose a concealer that matches your foundation or is one shade lighter.
2. Apply concealer with a synthetic brush underneath the eyes using a gentle, patting motion.
3. Brighten the look of your eyes — apply concealer on the top of the eyelids. Blend, blend, blend. You can also use fingers to apply concealer around the eyes. The warmth of your hands helps melt the product into the skin. Wedge sponges can also be used since you can use the smallest tip to press the concealer into the skin.
4. Set in the concealer using loose or translucent powder. Gently roll the powder puff onto the eye area, making sure not to wipe out what was applied.

Now it’s your turn — apply concealer and show us your fresh face!

Sisters on Style celebrates Meralco Makeover

In line with Meralco’s new Meralco Appliance Calculator and brand new look for it’s website – Sisters on Style was invited to host an event for beauty, fashion and lifestyle bloggers last December 3, 2010 at the Meralco Theater Lounge.

I’ve always wanted to learn how to lower my monthly electricity bill. So when Meralco called Sisters on Style to spearhead an event with Manila’s top lifestyle bloggers, Marie and I  jumped at the chance.

Meralco kicked off the afternoon to announce the arrival of the new Meralco Appliance Calculator (M.A.C.) and unveil the new clean look of the new Meralco website. In connection to this, Sisters on Style was present to give the latest fashion and beauty tips on staying stylish this holiday season while sticking to a budget. More on this later.

The bloggers sat at their own desktop computer stations to learn how to maneuver the new Meralco Appliance Calculator. If you want to better manage your electric bills and want to know how much each of your appliances cost you in electricity expenses every month, the M.A.C. can be your best friend.

Since the M.A.C. aids helping any home or business economize while enjoying all the comforts of their appliances, we tied this concept in with our own current topics: My fashion topics were:

How do I Style my Jeans into Multiple Looks?

We showed  bloggers how to give their favorite pair of jeans 6 different looks such as the:

• geek chic
• bohemian
• tough and tender
• vintage vibe
• the classic look
• glam gal

The Double Sided Sash DIY Project

Sisters on Style giveaway sash

The double-sided sash is such a versatile fashion accessory that every woman can easily create on her own. Here’s a simple version I designed. The bloggers ended up going home with a giveaway of this sash. Sashes were given away at the Meralco event to electrify the existing wardrobes of the lifestyle and fashion bloggers who attended.

Amp Up Your Holiday Fashion
Six New Ways to Wear the Little Black Dress

Styling the Litle Black Dress in two minutes

The bloggers engaged in an on-the-spot ‘Style your Little Black Dress” and it was interesting how their individual styles shone through. It was pretty difficult to come up with just one winner. And the winner was Lee Shen Embuscado Gee. She took home an opulent Michi Calica silk evening purse in vivid violet!

Christiana evening bag

The afternoon was finished off with a lively Q and A portion were our lifestyle bloggers threw their fashion and beauty concerns at Marie and I.

Thanks to bloggers Trixie Esguerra, Iris Camille Mejia Acosta, Hannah Villasis, Phoebe Ann Ramos, Michelle Cu-Martinez and the other wonderful bloggers present.

A little bit of fun with fashion and lifestyle bloggers after checking out the Meralco Appliance Calculator

Check out the Meralco Appliance Calculator.

Aaaa! Something bungled up when we made changes. We’re getting back the site up and running as soon as possible. In the meantime, hop onto our Sisters on Style FB page for updates.

Thanks for your patience and understanding!

My four Little Black Dress Looks

Planning to wear your little black dress for the holidays? Even if it’s the most festive time of the year, you can still get away with wearing your favorite little black dress. The holidays are about office parties and family get-togethers and all girl nights out. If you’re on a tight budget, here are surefire tips to help you dress up that little black dress.

little black dress + metallic flats

Little Black Dress Look #1: Brunch

Wear a chunky sweater and add a wide belt. Finish up the look with metallic flats and a medium-sized purse.

little black dress + colored blazer

Little Black Dress Look #2: Preppy

Throw on a colored blazer. Accessorize with a colored headband. Finish off with patent lace-up oxfords to bring a preppy vibe to the look.

little black dress + animal print stilettos

Little Black Dress Look #3: Layering

Layering is huge this season. Tuck a thin gray turtleneck under the dress for a casual look. Add a black patent belt. Finish off with a jewel-toned bangle and animal print stilettos.

lbd + chunky necklace

Little Black Dress Look #4: Statement necklace

A chunky statement necklace will ensure that you’ll be the life of the party. Finish off with red stiletto heels or electric blue pair of stilettos.

With your little black dress, you’re sure to be current without going over your holiday budget.