Flower power

Denise Aquino is a name on the speed dial of some of the country’s most beautiful women, such as Heart Evangelista and this generation’s three beauty queens, thanks to her hair extension salon Tokyo Posh.

But did you know the entrepreneur went to fashion school? Aquino was the first Filipino student in the prestigious Bunka Fashion College in Tokyo, whose famous alumni include fashion luminaries like Kenzo Takada, Yohji Yamamoto and Tsumori Chisato.

“To say that ‘life got in the way’ of making my fashion design dreams come true is an understatement. But I truly believe that it is never too late to pursue one’s dreams — and so after building Tokyo Posh Hair Extensions, after getting married, and now having a child, here I am again, finally pursuing my dream,” she shares with YStyle.

Under her namesake label’s first two collections: voluminous linen dresses and playsuits embroidered all over with santan and detailed with flounce, ruches and bows make up Dolce; while her first collection, Destinaire, features ruffles and flares in body-skimming dresses and jumpsuits in solid colors.

Strategic cutouts and volume make it a favorite among young mothers like Patty Laurel-Filart and Cheska Garcia-Kramer as well as women going through changes in their bodies who maybe need help feeling like themselves again.

But that isn’t to say that she’s going off-tangent with her design dreams; rather, both brands have one thing in common. “It’s my passion to make women happy and confident about themselves despite size and imperfections.”

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