WHAT IS YOUR ESSENCE?

Last September 10, Peewee and I were choosing a tribute photo of Sari Yap. In the years that we worked for the One Mega Group Founder, we learned that she preferred a glamorous look. She liked long, wavy hair that framed her face perfectly. She liked wearing body conscious dresses with wedge heels, and she avoided jeans and pants like the plague. In the last three years of her life though, something changed. Instead of her signature look that we have come to know, she opted instead for simple makeup, a ponytail and loose fitting garments. So, when I chose a glam photo of Sari, Peewee asked me “Are you sure? That is no longer her essence.”

On a recent trip to the French capital, I was with four friends who are alike but different at the same time. Our common interest is the gamut of fine things that ranged from food to fashion to premium experiences. Former Editor-In-Chief and dear friend Anna Sobrepeña was receiving an award for Most Influential Woman of 2019 in Paris, and just like Sari, she liked body conscious garments, only she preferred longer lengths and micro-prints. While looking at her in the City of Lights, I noticed she was wearing a lot of black, trousers, and even boots! This was something I was not used to in the 15 years that I’ve known her.

I thought it was the fall Parisian weather or the fact that we were traveling, but after looking at her Instagram feed, I realized that she too had changed. Her essence was no longer the same, and I liked it.

Bianca Salonga, a writer at Forbes and owner of premium e-commerce site was also on the same trip. In the early 2000s, Bianca was obsessed with large framed glasses, geometric tophandle bags, and chunky heels. Her style was feminine, but she was not the floral and pumps kind of girl who wore sweet fragrances. She liked Fendi, Acne Jeans, and Maison Margiela even before they became widely popular. She preferred shopping in concept stores like Leclaireur in Le Marais over Champs Elysées any day. On this trip, I saw her wear her oversized sunglasses once. Her top-handle bag now included a strap that she wore as a crossbody the entire time and finally, I was able to convince her to wear a smaller sized bag instead of her usually medium, which sometimes overwhelmed her petite frame. Her essence has remained the same, but after a decade of friendship, the woman who loves shopping now preferred café crème paired with a pomme tarte tatin on a corner table at L’Avenue instead of visiting the premium stores of Avenue Montaigne. Her essence, too, has been modified.

Anna, Bianca, and I were with two Millennials, Sara Siguion Reyna and Chino Hernandez. Currently, Sara is into owning fewer but top-tier pieces. On the daily, she would wear a Celine bag, a signature fragrance from an haute perfumery and a pair of Chanel flats. She has been wearing her flats the entire year that they’ve become very lived in. On this trip, she wanted to buy another pair and was contemplating on purchasing the same style. But she realized that all that her shoes needed was a visit to the cleaners, so instead, she opted for black Chanel flats instead of her usual nude. Chino, on the other hand, already has a signature style. The journalist-turned-owner of the food outfit Delicachino likes neutral colors. He took four jackets on the trip, and in my opinion they all looked the same. To him though, they were different and he was right. It didn’t matter what I thought, but what I liked is he had an essence that was working for him, his lifestyle and his current life stage. He cooks for a living and while we were in Paris, he made breakfast and dinner half the time. To me that was consistency for his branding.

For years, I’ve always liked nice jackets, blazers, and tote bags. Because I’m above average height, and I carry a laptop, a large trapezoidal shaped bag was ideal for me. The last three years, I haven’t used any of my totes or messengers. Instead, I’ve become obsessed with clutches, minaudieres, small crossbody bags and now even unpractical micro bags like the Le Pichou. In fact, I no longer want to carry anything—not even house keys, a wallet, and certainly not a laptop. The only thing I want hold are two credit cards, cash, and my Juul. No coins and certainly no loyalty cards to restaurants, groceries, and other establishments. I’ve also stopped wearing button-downs and replaced them with high-quality t-shirts from street brands APC, Acne Jeans and Opening Ceremony. I wear during the day and put them under my jackets at night. And oh, I also love wearing Lululemon and dryfit shirts these days. Just like that, my essence has also changed and that is fine because I’m still firmly placed in my branding of choice.

Before the year ends, I urge you to define your current essence. Think about who you really are and what you stand for. It doesn’t have to change because it is a new year, but it is also okay to shift and stay evolved. Buy what suits your life and always ask yourself, “What is essential?”