British-inspired, Locally Made – Meet Chelsea!

Afternoon high tea with Brit-inspired clothing label Chelsea

Yuki and I attended the Chelsea launch last Tuesday at the Fairmont hotel and it was a celebration of both the brand and its designer, Kim Tugade. To add to the awesomeness, Benefit cosmetics was an event partner and showed off the perfect tools to match Chelsea’s style. 

Chelsea Green Ruffled Dress

Chelsea began as one of the brands carried by Zalora and was created by newcomer Kim Tugade. She took inspiration from the stylish looks she saw in London and everything was history. Now it has evolved to an independent brand for women with its own boutique located in Wellworth, UP Town Center. Keeping our fingers crossed for more branches to open soon! The best news about this new brand? Chelsea clothes are kind to us girls that have good budgeting habits; their price range is between P500 – P1,500, the latter being the heftiest price tag you’ll encounter. 

Classic Silhouettes mixed with fun prints

Chelsea is named as such because of Kim’s fondness of its namesake – Chelsea, London: where the suave, effortlessly sophisticated, well-bred and well-read come together for afternoon tea and good conversation. As a passer-by, you may just casually notice how a familiar piece you previously thought could only be worn one way and had gone out of style years ago can stand as something completely different and pull together an outfit. Look to the right, and you are likely to see houndstooth and stripes in one ensemble. Look the other way and be surprised with how ruby reds and emerald greens can be worn as dresses and not just gems on fingers. Chelsea style is audacious and unafraid. It is not inspired by the latest trends; Chelsea natives inspire them. 

Almira Teng and Yuki Tansengco

As Chelsea is a brand exclusive for women, the quintessential Chelsea girl is charming and put together, confident but not overbearing, fun-loving but never boisterous and attention-seeking. Attention finds its way to her; the room’s eyes naturally gravitate towards her when she walks in. She knows that what she wears is one way to reflect who she is, so she makes sure to put on only what she feels best in. 

Chelsea F/W 2015

This season, channel the Chelsea girl in you by finding inspiration in Chelsea’s first ever fall/winter collection. As this is her introduction to the industry, it was clever of her to tell us more about herself through her designs. This collection is all about showcasing Chelsea designer’s favorite elements from the periods she loves the most: the 60s and the Victorian age. I personally thought it was an interesting mix to have in the same collection as those two periods have contrasting fashions. This just goes to show that with fashion, it really is all up to you. As the creator (and wearer) of your own designs, you make up the rules. 

Bloggers with Kim Tugade

Her pieces fuelled by the 60s were easily recognizable on the racks. Scene-steailing prints and textures are what you’ll notice first, but they’re well tempered by clean lines and silhouettes. Color combinations appeared to be blanketed by a layer of sepia adding to the nostalgia of these pieces.The 60s were definitely a flamboyant time, so styles must still be adjusted to guard them from being too dated.  The Victorian-inspired pieces were just as commendable and exuded a completely different personality. Blouses and dresses had noticeable frills, high collars, statement buttons and long, cuffed sleeves. all against a background of deeper, more serious palettes. 

Ava Te, Ana Gonzales, Sarah Tirona, Yuki Tansengco and Sara de los Reyes

Fashion is cyclical. The trick is reinvention, finding new combinations of existing elements. Liken this to primary colors: you start with three basic ones, but you get a multitude of results by adjusting the base colors. Gentle, soft lilacs and and magnificent, royal violets come from the same basic reds and blues. In fashion speak, add piping here and shorten hemlines there there, and you might just express a familiar concept in a totally different way. 

 Benefit Cosmetics in partnership with Chelsea 

Chelsea designer Kim is a success story in her own right. A former teacher by profession, she was previously a Literature teacher in an all girls school. Like many of us, she liked her day job just fine, but was unequivocally in love with her hobby. How many of us with creative interests have actually taken the plunge and decided to really do something about them? It takes more courage than you think to pack that rucksack and chase the dream. Kim may not be a Chelsea native, but the Chelsea attitude is definitely in her. 

Say Alonzo in Chelsea

Lola Daises button down | Joji Loren white trousers | SM Parisian flats

(Photos from Chelsea and Words by Sara De Los Reyes)