Stylephile: Myrrh Lao To Rosanna Aranaz Philippine Daily Inquirer
October 16, 2009
MANILA, Philippines--What Taylor and Brad are to Rachel Zoe is what Myrrh Lao To is to super stylist Pam Quiñones, but minus the catty drama, of course! After graduating from UST with a degree in Business Administration, this 21-year-old has gotten one of the most coveted jobs, being an assistant to a stylist who dresses Manila’s most famous.
“I want to cultivate my skills for men’s styling while continue doing photography,” he says. Armed with safety pins and double-sided tape, Myrrh can be seen hard at work on an outfit that can be described as strategically thrown together. Inspired by his mentor Pam, his family and friends, he defines his style as “easy chic.”
He favors jodhpurs, espadrilles for work, dress pants and low-neck basic tees for days when he is out from day to night, which is often, considering his hectic schedule. Though he likes to stick to outfits he is comfortable in, he is a firm believer that one should never sacrifice fashion for comfort.
With a wardrobe full of black, gray and navy basics—and a chock-full of thrift finds, this avid shopper is definitely no fashion snob. Myrrh likes to check out online boutiques, department stores and surplus shops. With an eye not only for style but for bargains as well, he is a frequent visitor of the ukay-ukay, where he has stumbled upon a number of designer pieces!
Out of the lot, he picks Alexander McQueen as one of his favorite designers because of his workmanship and showmanship. What Myhrr loves about McQueen’ s designs is that they make people nervous, yet leave them craving for more. He’s also a fan of John Galliano, whom he describes as “the epitome of theatrics,” and he is looking forward to more of Giles Deacon, Christophe Decarnin and Alexander Wang.
“The age of fashion bunged after the ’90s and the things we’ve done in the past with regard to fashion are just making a feral comeback,” he said.
A child of the ’90s, Myrrh points out trends from before he was born that he would love to see again. For him, it is time to reincarnate wild prints from the ’70s, flashy makeup from the ’80s, and of course, platform shoes for everyone. (Yes, including men!)
When he’s not rubbing elbows with up and coming starlets and exchanging laughs with the fashion industry’s finest, he can be seen sketching, playing dress-up, vintage shopping and even whipping out his camera for shoots.
Cheat Sheet Name: Myrrh Lao To Age: 21 Occupation: Stylist / Photographer Personal style: Easy chic Style icon: Whoever the male Kate Moss is, Paul Newman and Tom Ford. What’s hanging in your dream closet? Dior Homme suits and the entire wardrobe of the Spice Girls! Fashion motto: “I’m open to everything. When you start to criticize the time you live in, your time is over.”—Karl Lagerfeld
