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She is arguably the most glamorous woman in Philippine showbiz, but Gretchen Barretto certainly has the closet to die for in the industry, hands down.

“Fashion is my passion,” declares Gretchen in the recent launch of TV5’s second season, wherein she will host her very own game show, You & Me Against The World, premiering this month. And not simply fashion, mind; La Greta’s closet is filled with the most lavish of brands: think Louis Vuitton, Bulgari, Oscar dela Renta, Valentino, and Hermes.

She manages to incorporate her love for designer clothes and luxurious accessories into her game show. Apart from giving away a whopping one million pesos grand prize each week to winning studio contestants and home viewers, Gretchen will also personally give away glamorous items such as signature bags and jewelry, among other things a lot of us can only dream of.

In the soon-to-air episode featuring Ai-Ai delas Alas and Arnel Ignacio, for instance, Gretchen gave away a Louis Vuitton bag, to Ai-Ai’s delight. In another episode with showbiz couple Lucy and Richard Gomez, a Bulgari item was up for grabs.

Gretchen’s outfits in the show are also something to watch for, with Patrick Rosas as her stylist. According to her, in one episode, she will don fishnet and shorts; in another she’ll be in a fuchsia cocktail dress. In the third episode, Gretchen says with a laugh that she will be “mukhang virgin.”

However, when asked what her favorite style or way of dressing is, she says, “[There’s] no particular style; iba-iba, depende sa mood ko.”

She also says she has no favorite brand of shoes: “Kung ano’ng maganda sa paningin ko, I get it.” That night, she was wearing black strappy stilettos by Oscar dela Renta.

At the carnival-themed TV5 event, Gretchen had a mini-exhibit of some items from her vast designer collection: a Filipiniana gown by Inno Sotto, and red Valentino bag and high-heeled sandals.

It’s not really about looking great in whatever you wear; it’s about knowing what you must wear to look great no matter what. Not all trends, cuts, colors, and even specific articles of clothing look good on everyone. Even celebrities have flaws to hide.

The trick to looking fab all the time really is in knowing your body type and picking clothes that would flatter your figure and highlight your best features. Stylist and fashion guru Donna Cuna Pita discussed the basic body types and what clothes would work best for each. Here are some tips on dressing for your body type:

Pear
Characteristics: thin upper body, full hips and thighs
What works best:
- light colored tops to highlight the upper part of the body
- dark colored bottoms to minimize the lower part
What to avoid: thigh-hugging skirts; go for A-line skirts instead

Apple
Characteristics: full breasts and stomach, thin legs and hips
What works best:
- dark tops that have a slimming effect
- light colored bottoms to minimize the torso area
- tailored tops give you shape
What to avoid: tight skirts—you’ll only end up looking like a lollipop

Ruler
Characteristics: not much curves to speak of
What works best:
- belted dresses with full skirts
- ruffled tops or skirts that add volume to your frame

Full-figured
Characteristics: curvy and voluptuous
Styling tip: wear heels to lengthen your body
What to avoid: clothes that are too loose, as they only make you look bigger

Hourglass
Characteristics: proportional bust, waist, and hips; ten-inch difference between breasts and waist, and breasts and hips; easy to dress
Styling tip:
- accentuate the waist with belted tops and dresses
- lengthen the form with straight cut pants

See the gallery below for suggested pieces for each body type, courtesy of the FN Dressing Room October Collection.

What look works best for the holidays?

Since LBDs, jewel-toned, and berry-hued dresses are the “it” picks for party dresses this season, complement these with an elegantly classic face (think sophisticated red pouters that stand out on neutral-toned skin) or a subtly glowing look (think muted pink and purple with shimmer).

Makeup brand Kanebo’s Coffret D’Or Party Makeup Collection recently launched two handy makeup palettes that could help you achieve either of your desired looks: the dainty party princess or the head-turning classic beauty. To guide you in creating these looks based on your chosen palette, follow the steps courtesy of Coffret D’Or in the gallery below.

 

Main photo taken by Jun Pinzon; other photos courtesy of Coffret D'Or