Josie Natori at Rustan’s

I like to think of Josie Natori as the Filipino Eleanor Waldorf—a successful New York designer—minus the Blair.
I’ve been aware of Natori since the early ’90s, as a student at Parsons School of Design.
My Korean classmate Julia was obsessed with Natori, who was known for her elegant lingerie. I remember Julia being horrified when she spotted my underwear while I was squatting to pick up some pins, and Julia shrieking, “You wear Hanes???”
Yes, I wore Hanes as a college student because I needed 30 pieces of underwear to get by with a month of not doing laundry.

Just the other day I was walking through the newly renovated Rustan’s department store at Shangri-La Plaza, which I have yet to explore thoroughly.
I quickly passed through the new Josie Natorie boutique and saw her pieces through different eyes—I am no longer a college student in Anna Sui baby tees, but a 40-something mother of three. (I no longer wear Hanes
I can now appreciate her pieces designed for comfort as it understands the needs and concerns of the mother, the career girl, or mature woman.

Josie Natori was recently in town to launch her ready-to-wear Spring/Summer collection, which looks back to the French colonial past of Indochine and captures the energy of busy Vietnam streets. Her signature prints, rich colors and Eastern details are versatile, timeless, unexpected and always feminine.

Josie Natori with husband, Ken Natori

The new Josie Natori RTW boutique is located on the 2nd floor, Ladies Section at Rustan’s Makati and Shangri-La Mall. For more information, call Rustan’s Makati at 813-3739 or Shangri-La at 633-4636 to 50.

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