THE OTHER MAN IN MY LIFE...... KEVYN

ME AND KEVYN

We have been together since 2008
We have been through a lot.
He experienced the frenzy of Manila
The cold winters of Austria and Paris.
He has been to the desert, the ghost town, numerous hotels in Dubai.
He has been poked, damaged and repaired.
I clean him every week
And re arrange whats inside him.
Though he has put on soooo much weight
I don't think Ill ever replace him.
He holds my secrets, my ammo for every job
He is the other man in my life.... my make up kit, KEVYN :)

PHOTOGRAPHY BY ARIAN MARCOS

WHAT IT FEELS LIKE TO BE A BOY

WHAT IT FEELS LIKE TO BE A BOY....

PUT DOWN THE TOILET SEAT

LET US LATHER UP BOYS

IT'S HARD TO SHAVE, YOU KNOW

WAS IT A CLOSE SHAVE?

TIE: PHOTOGRAPHER'S OWN

CUFF LINKS: PHOTOGRAPHER'S OWN

WHITE LONG SLEEVES: G2000

WATCH: SWATCH

CORSET: LA SENZA

SINGLE BREASTED JACKET: MANGO

PANTSUIT: ZARA

TANK TOP: MANGO

OXFORDS: ZARA

When the month of June started, I was thinking of a good way to celebrate what is now universally known as the Pride Month and writing a feature on Pride Month is in a way my homage to the person who made me follow my dreams as a Make Up Artist.... KEVYN AUCOIN.

If you have read some of his books, he discussed the difficulties of growing up in Louisiana as a homosexual. He was confused, afraid to disappoint his parents, he was ridiculed, he was bullied. Kevyn's life is a testament that one can overcome these obstacles, be loved for who you really are, be successful and be fondly remembered and missed.

This is indeed a very sensitive topic, hence, I was quite hesitant to write this, but, in a world where people say that they have accepted a lot of things I think its about time that we finally accept that homosexuality is not a disease.

I have read a lot of stories where teen agers decide to end their lives because they are confused, afraid, those who have decided to come out are often bullied because of their sexual orientation. What they need is guidance, love and acceptance, more than anything else. These kids who have unfortunately have passed away could have been the next Herb Ritts, Meisel or Aucoin. I am a parent myself and should I be in the same position, I swear that I will not love my kids any less than I do now, in fact, I'd love them more.

Pardon me for a longer post than usual, but this post is very personal and among all that I have written, this one is close to my heart.

He has been gone for a long time and though I never had chance to meet him, I will forever be grateful for the inspiration that he has given me, still gives me through his work and the life that he lived..... THANK YOU MR. AUCOIN

Styling: Anna de Leon

Photography: Rob Abi

ICONS

VOGUE Cover done by Mr. Meisel, which I am lucky to have.

ONE OF THE EDITORIALS THAT MS. ALT HAS STYLED

THE INCUMBENT FASHION DIRECTOR OF VOGUE PARIS, MS. EMMANUELLE ALT

MR. DEMARCHELIER'S MAGIC

ONE OF THE MASTERPIECES OF MR. RITTS

THE ONE AND ONLY HERB RITTS

THE LATE, GREAT KEVYN AUCOIN

Everyone has idols or icons who constantly inspire them and of course I am no different.

I have always been very vocal about the people who inspire me, whose work I follow and this post is dedicated to the men and women who never ceases to amaze me.

My love affair with Make Up started when I was very young. I was, I think in my first year in High School when I finally found out who was making those beautiful faces of Paulina Porizkova, Estelle, Elaine Irwin and it was none other than Kevyn Aucoin, probably the best Make Up Artist that ever lived! To pay homage to him, I named my Make Up Kit, The Kevyn. At first, I was just amazed by his work but after reading more about him, his experiences and causes, all the more that I realised that Kevyn did deserve all the success that he had. He was not only a talented man but his heart is as beautiful as the images that he has created. There are tens of thousands of Make Up Artists out there (me included) who will forever be grateful for the inspiration that he has provided.

Taking photos is perhaps one of my passions and from the days when I would cut a 135 black and white film in my uncle’s studio, I’d say my preference for Black and White photos has simply intensified, so it will not be a surprise if the works of the late great Herb Ritts just moves me nor should the sight of me jumping up and down like a lunatic in Musee D’Orsay clutching the book of Patrick Demarchelier. (Yes, I was). For me, and this is my biased opinion, the beauty of the composition of a photograph is never more apparent than when it is in Black and White. But of course I am also moved by the images done by Steven Meisel. For some reason, his photos always has this ethereal feel to it. Could it be his post modern approach? Whatever it is. It works for me and his almost 10year collaboration with Franca Sozzani, the incumbent Vogue Italia Fashion Editor, proves this so. Mr. Meisel is also responsible for putting the super in model and catapulted Amber Valleta, Linda E, Christy T and Naomi C AKA The Trinity among a few to supermodel status.

By now, you'd notice that I love women who do not apologise for their intelligence, beauty and charm (their high pay checks too!) and in every fashion editorial this magnificent woman makes, i see this kind of woman, beautiful, strong, oozing with appeal, classy and she is no different from the women that she styles in these editorials. Emmanuelle Alt for me epitomises the ideal Alpha Female. She can be in army boots and cargo pants but there is always something so feminine about her style. By far, one of the very few women I have seen who looks amazing sans maquillage.

Though Kevyn and Herb are no longer here, their works will forever inspire me and for Steven and Emmanuelle who are still here, may your works continue to push us to exceed the expectations that we have set for ourselves.

MY LOVE AFFAIR

SHOT ON LOCATION IN INTERNATIONAL CITY BY MR. EROS GOZE

Eversince I can remember, I have always been fascinated with make-up and fashion. I think this was brought about by growing up and seeing my aunt who used to work for Bank of America prepare for a day in the office. I think I was around 9 or 10 and I was already leafing through her pages of Cosmopolitan Magazine. I think this was where my love affair with make-up and fashion started.

Thankfully, I was blessed with an older sister and together we would play dress up and use Tita's make up. My fascination even grew more. My sis and I would go to countless Booksale shops and buy old copies of Vogue and Cosmopolitan. By the time I hit High School, I was aware of the existence of 2 gentlemen by the names of Kevyn Aucoin and Francesco Scavullo.

Scavullo, a legenday lensman produced almost all of the iconic covers for Cosmopolitan and of course, Kevyn Aucoin, make-up artist extraordinaire, who would later become my inspiration.

Fast forward to College and wanting to hurry up and gain experience, I started looking for a part time job. At that time, there was soooo much buzz about this new cosmetic company that opened in the chic portion of Glorietta. G4 housed Central Maquillage, the brainchild of the former premier make-up artist of Chanel in New York, the painfully handsome Raul Francisco (looks so much like Richard Gere, if you ask me).

So, i decided to visit this rather stuck up looking shop. It was very intimidating, very classy visual merchandising and to make matters worse, all the sales assistants were model material, dressed in all black and spoke good english.

So this college girl (with hardly any money) goes inside this intimidating shop with equally intimidating sales people to look around. I started asking questions about their products and eventually asked if there is a vacancy for a part timer. They said yes and asked for my Biodata.

I was, 'What?" a Biodata? I told them that perhaps I should just do a demo. They called Trish (Operations Manager) a former make-up artist of Clinique in London to speak to me. Did my demo, quoted my idol Kevyn Aucoin, it impressed her, met Raul and lets just say the rest was history... atleast on how i started with make up.

Modesty aside, Raul saw my potential and began showing me the ropes, professional brushes,its uses, different foundations, experimenting with different looks. And i continued buying magazines and studying different looks and techniques. I remember what he used to say, "Dont be a creature of habit, Anna" coz i always prefer the natural look. I did my profile shoot with Patrick Uy in greenhills as Central was due to open a bigger branch at the Shang in Ortigas and I was being groomed to be Central's premier artist. I was ecstatic.

And then it came, a new magazine by the name of Verite was going to ba launched and their Editor-in-Chief (forgot her name) contacted Raul for the make-up. He sat down with me in Figaro (which Robert owns, his brother) and told me about the cover. He wanted me to do it for.... guess who.... Dawn Zulueta and Tim Taylor. I cannot remember how i felt that time but that conversation literally had a dizzying effect on me.

He asked me for a face chart and I started doing different looks. I was nervous. No I was extremely nervous.

The day came. I carried this extremely huge make-up case and Raul and I went to Dasmarinas Village for the shoot. And there was Dawn Zulueta looking immaculately gorgeous. I was, again, intimidated.

But the moment I held her face and she started talking to the editor, I felt at home. Nervousness vanished, I knew what I was doing.

After that shoot, i started getting booked for private make-up sessions in Shang. But make-up was not a career back then. There were no Jing Monis, Juan Sarte back then and I did not want to be likened to other make-up artists who were popular at that moment, So I made a choice, dropped my after school work and studied.

But like all passions, my love affair with make-up and making women beautiful never died and so this site and endevour.

Make up was in me, my heart back then, It is in me now and it will be in my future.

So, I ask you my dear friends and contacts to stay with me, keep me company in my journey of going back to my first love..... Make - Up