If you’ve ever wondered how Manila-grown streetwear label Proudrace has found itself in racks all over the world, don’t miss Ayala Museum’s DesignTalks lecture series on September 21, 2013, 3 PM at the Ayala Museum Ground Floor Lobby.
Composed of Pat Bondoc and Rik Rasos, Proudrace’s brand of casual clothing is synonymous to sleek but rebellious streetwear.
Since 2010, stockists in California, Tokyo, Hong Kong, Singapore, Australia, and more have carried their products.
And wherever their name takes them, the designers proudly share their Manila roots and tag their clothing as “handmade in the Philippines.”

Proudrace in Malaysia

Australia

Taiwan

Japan

If you’ve ever dreamed of selling your brand globally, don’t miss this talk.
Admission is Php 300, or a discounted rate of Php 150 available to students, teachers, senior citizens and Ayala Museum members with corresponding IDs.

Ayala Museum is located at Makati Avenue corner De La Rosa Street, Greenbelt Park, Makati City.
For inquiries call 759-8288 local 35 or 29, or email museum_inquiry@ayalamuseum.org.

http://www.proudrace.com/

Originally published at Chuvaness.com. You can comment here or there.

If you love foreign films, here’s a chance to win a 12-month free subscription to CinemaWorld, plus a Sunday brunch buffet for four at Spectrum, Raffles Hotel.

This giveaway is sponsored by CinemaWorld, provider of exciting new movie options you won’t find anywhere else.
Think all kinds of films—from Europe, Latin America, Australia, Asia, South Asia, North America and the Middle East—any time you want.
CinemaWorld International Movie Channel is now available in Metro Manila on Cable Link and the HD Movie Package of SkyCable. Learn more about its offerings HERE.

But here’s a chance to get it free, just by following simple mechanics below:

1) Open to current Sky Cable or CableLink subscribers residing in Metro Manila.
2) Must have a Twitter or Facebook account.
3) Follow @CinemaWorldAsia on Twitter or like them on Facebook.
4) Share this entry by clicking the Twitter or Facebook link at the bottom of this entry.
5) Watch the following trailers to answer trivia questions.

6) Register and answer the questions HERE.
7) Entries will be accepted from September 6-15, 2013 at 11 PM.
8) One winner with best answers will be selected electronically and announced on this blog.

To know more about CinemaWorld, go to https://www.facebook.com/cinemaworldasia.

Originally published at Chuvaness.com. You can comment here or there.

Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group has announced the appointment of Torsten Van Dullemen as General Manager of Mandarin Oriental, Manila.
Mr. Van Dullemen first joined the Mandarin Group in 2004 as Resident Manager of Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park, London.
For two years he was Hotel Manager of the award-winning Mandarin Oriental, Bangkok.
Now he joins Mandarin Oriental, Manila from his most recent position as General Manager of the Group’s Chiang Mai hotel.

Commenting on the appointment, Richard Baker, Executive Vice President, Operations Director—Asia said, “Torsten has excellent experience with the Group and is a natural leader and motivator. We are delighted to welcome him to his new position as General Manager of Mandarin Oriental, Manila, and wish him continued success.”

http://www.mandarinoriental.com/manila/

Originally published at Chuvaness.com. You can comment here or there.

Chanel-wise, I’m a late bloomer.
I’ve always been fascinated by Coco Chanel, but wasn’t able to afford it until about four years ago.
I’m serious! I was never into the classic flap bag, but this particular bag spoke to me at that time.
It said, “Buy me!” in 2009.

Prior to that, this was my first Chanel bag—swag from a runway show, which I was lucky enough to score on eBay.

This carry-on was my favorite for years.

Come to think of it, I haven’t bought anything Chanel for a while.
Even though I don’t consider myself a Chanel girl, I do embrace what Coco Chanel stands for.
She is a huge influence in my life. I can thank her for making it OK for women to wear trousers, and for making the striped long-sleeve tee chic.

Something I’ve known since I was a teenager: Typical is boring.
After 16 years, my husband has never complained of a dull moment.

Coco Chanel basically went against all odds and did what she wanted, no matter what other people said.
She fell in love and lost her love in a tragic way, but she built an empire that remains relevant decades after her death.
This Thursday, learn more about Coco Chanel as Inside CHANEL tells the story of a young orphan who became a legend.
Her legacy is continued by Karl Lagerfeld, who shares his vision of Coco and the style of Chanel in five online films that will be shown beginning September 12, 2013.

http://inside.chanel.com/

Originally published at Chuvaness.com. You can comment here or there.

The first time I heard about Tod’s, my sister told me it was Princess Diana’s brand—back when she was alive.

In fact her favorite Tod’s bag, the D-Bag, was named after her.

It makes sense then that Naomi Watts uses Tod’s iconic pieces, the D-Bag and Gommino (driving shoe) in the film Diana.

The film is directed by Oliver Hirschbiegel, starring Naomi Watts and Naveen Andrews, produced by Ecosse Films.
It highlights the last two years of her life when Princess Diana embarks on a final rite of passage: a secret love affair with heart surgeon Hasnat Khan.

Diana had its worldwide premiere in London last September 5th, followed by a premiere in Paris on September 6th,
and then released in cinemas worldwide.

Last March, Tod’s was the sponsor of the Timeless Icon Book, a photographic book edited by Electa charting the extraordinary life of Diana, Princess of Wales.
Part of the sales of the book will be devolved to Clic Sargent, leading charity organization supporting children and young people with cancer and their families.

In the Philippines, Tod’s is exclusively distributed by Stores Specialists Inc, and is located at Greenbelt 4, Makati.

http://www.tods.com/

Originally published at Chuvaness.com. You can comment here or there.

Red Turnip Theater announces its maiden production, a staging of Patrick Marber’s acclaimed play, Closer.
Directed by Ana Abad Santos, the cast features Angel Aquino, Bart Guingona, Cris Villonco, and Marc Abaya.
The show will run during the weekends of October.

After Patrick Marber debuted Closer in London in 1997, the play won him a Laurence Olivier Award for Best New Play in 1998, as well as the New York Drama Critics’ Circle Award for Best Foreign Play when it was staged in New York in 1999. General audiences may be most familiar with the work due to its 2004 film adaptation by Mike Nichols, starring Julia Roberts, Jude Law, Natalie Portman, and Clive Owen.

The story revolves around two couples who weave in and out of each other’s orbits. It’s a study of lust, seduction, deceit, the myriad little lies we tell others (and ourselves), and the cowardice that keeps us from being honest.
Watch the trailer, directed by Marie Jamora:

The production will mark acclaimed film actress Angel Aquino’s debut in a stage play.
Aquino was most recently seen in Erik Matti’s On The Job, which debuted at the Directors’ Fortnight at this year’s Cannes Film Festival.
Bart Guingona is no stranger to the material, having directed it himself in a production several years ago.
TV and film actor Marc Abaya, son of pioneering director Marilou Diaz-Abaya and frontman of rock band Kjwan, also makes his stage debut with Closer.
And Cris Villonco is one of the founding members of Red Turnip Theater.

Technical Direction & Lighting Design: John Batalla
Set Design: Gino Gonzales
Sound Design: Jethro Joaquin
Costumes: Raven Ong

Tickets available at TicketWorld. Call 891-9999 or or go click HERE.
Or call 215-0788 • 0917-537-8313. Opening night tickets available only through Red Turnip.
To know more, go to https://www.facebook.com/RedTurnipTheater.

Originally published at Chuvaness.com. You can comment here or there.

“Have you seen Korina Sanchez’s arms?” my friend texted me the other night.
“No. Why?”
“Ang O.A. ng arms niya,” my friend said. “Ang liit. Totoo ba yon?” (Her arms are ridiculously tiny. Is that for real?)
Well I finally saw them today, when she shared her Cohen diet tips on her program.

Photo: Marlo Cueto

Cohen is an expensive diet regimen, which costs about Php 50,000 and is based on one’s blood type.
It requires many blood tests and (so I heard) a seminar or two.
I don’t mind the blood test and the fee; the seminar, no thanks.
But I got a copy of the diet basics, which Korina Sanchez enumerates.
I know her weight loss is real because Mich Dulce followed Cohen without paying or enrolling, and no blood tests.
Look at Mich’s arms—no Photoshop.

What Mich said basically is you have to have a gap of 4-5 hours between meals.
If you get hungry in between you can take two pieces of crisp bread and water. You can buy crisp bread at Healthy Options.

If not, two Skyflakes would probably do.
Plus you have to give up a whole lot of stuff, like sugar, and well, Korina explains it in Filipino.
Obviously it’s not the easiest diet, but it works, no matter what blood type you are.

Originally published at Chuvaness.com. You can comment here or there.

Shanghai’s Power Station of Art museum became the venue for Hugo Boss’ Mens and Womenswear Collections for Winter 2013.
Opened last October 1, 2012, the Power Station of Art is China’s first public museum of contemporary art.
The current name is a vestige of the building’s past: it was constructed in 1897 for the Nanshi Electric Light Factory.

Inspired by the building’s legacy, the shape of the runway echoed a bolt of lightning.

LEDs illuminated the 200-foot-long runway on which top models showcased the collection.

Some 1,000 invited guests—including Asian and international stars such as Carey Mulligan, Gerard Butler, Chow-Yun Fat and Cherie Chung, press representatives from around the globe, and buyers—attended the show.

China Chow

Gerard Butler

Carey Mulligan

Marcel Nguyen and Damla Cavdar


Lin Chi-ling

Huang Xiaoming

Tan Yuan Yuan

In the Philippines, BOSS is exclusively distributed by Stores Specialists, Inc. (SSI) and is located at Greenbelt 5, Rustan’s Shangri-la, Shangri-la Plaza Mall, and Newport Mall.

Originally published at Chuvaness.com. You can comment here or there.

Last month I had a chance to have dinner with angels, when I accompanied two friends to a special gathering of women who have had breast cancer.
The dinner was held at Mom & Tina’s Bakery Cafe in Pasig.
I think there were only two people there that did not have cancer—me and a husband who had accompanied his wife—he deserves a medal!

The minute I entered the room I really felt like I was in the presence of angels. I cannot describe it. Maybe it is because people who go through cancer see the world differently. They’re like warriors, touched by God.
I used to be very scared of cancer until I looked it in the eye when my cousin was diagnosed with Acute Myelogenous Leukemia in 2007. After that, I learned a lot. I am still deathly afraid of it, so my defense mechanism is to help people with cancer, hoping that by doing so, maybe God will spare me?

Now in my 40s, it seems like I know quite a few people who are being diagnosed with cancer in their 30s, 40s, 50s.
Too young if you ask me. That and my recent discovery of Grey’s Anatomy (I am now in Season 8) have made me think about the three weeks I spent in Houston, taking care of my cousin at MD Anderson Cancer Center.

In January 2008, my other cousin and I first took an EVA Air flight to Taiwan before landing in Los Angeles

From LAX we changed planes to Houston’s Bush International Airport

After dropping our bags at a nearby hotel, we went straight to the hospital

I am always happy to see older people working (except at NAIA)

This way to my cousin

She passed away in 2008

This is where I prayed

The chapel was built in memory of Mirtha Dunn, who had been a patient at the hospital

Bless this couple

Dr. Guillermo Garcia-Manero (left) was my cousin’s main doctor

Dr. Charles Koller, bless him

Some of the nurses were Filipino

My cousin and I used to trip on this male nurse

and this is what chemo looks like. My cousin used to call it her “Christmas tree”

My shift was from 2-11 PM—or earlier if my cousin got sleepy.

This was the cafeteria with Filipino staff too

Some cute guy buying ice cream

Here’s what I ate in Houston: my favorite chicken salad

Cafeteria food—that’s chicken, fish and pork chop

Really good steak from the hospital’s Oaks restaurant

and fish if I wanted healthy

Meet my favorite couple in Houston: Dr. Benjamin and Paz Tiongson

and their baby Aston five years ago

Is it crazy to say I miss this place?

Cause I do, but not hoping to visit a patient or be one

Because in spite of what happened in 2008, I had good memories too that I’ll always keep with me.
I just want to visit one more time and hopefully, maybe, not again.

Originally published at Chuvaness.com. You can comment here or there.

Francesca Balaguer-Mercado presents Curious Comfort, a collection of new works at the Avellana Art Gallery this September 28 to November 16, 2013.
Balaguer-Mercado will show a series of photographs inspired by personal life-altering events since returning to Manila in 2011.
Her images represent experiences with loved ones, and her physical and emotional states during those trying times.

Balaguer-Mercado’s series comprises ten images, all created with the underlying belief that something beautiful can come from an otherwise arduous situation.
The images vary in size, representing the scale of emotions felt by the artist, from large and assaulting to small and intimate.

Balaguer-Mercado graduated with honors from the University of the Philippines, Diliman with a degree in Film and Audio Visual Communications. She later moved to the US and pursued further studies, earning an MFA degree in Photography at the Academy of Art University in San Francisco.
Her experiences and apprenticeships abroad have shaped her extremely hands-on process, resulting in a unique style of visual storytelling.

Opening reception is on September 28, 2013, 6 PM at the Avellana Art Gallery, 2680 F.B. Harrison Street, Pasay City.
For inquiries call 833-3357 or email avellana_gallery@yahoo.com
http://www.francescabalaguer.com/

Originally published at Chuvaness.com. You can comment here or there.

As someone obsessed with great hotels, I’ve got a hotel bucket list that includes the legendary Raffles in Singapore.
I have been there but I have not stayed in.

Don’t know when that’s going to happen, so a free stay at Raffles Makati sounded good enough for me.
I’ve stayed at some of Manila’s “finest” hotels, but tell you the truth, I don’t find them world class.
A lot of the better hotels here in the Philippines have unrenovated rooms and bathrooms, which is enough to make me want to go home.
The Raffles Makati is a different story.
I have been there for many events—usually at the Long Bar, and the hotel seems small when you enter the lobby. But you’ll be surprised when you hit the guest room floors.
When my friends and I checked in for a sleepover, I was surprised when they told us they were giving us the Presidential Suite. I swear my mouth was hanging open.
They brought us to the 10th floor, where a fine clean scent hit us immediately.
The carpeted hallway looked and smelled ridiculously clean, like fresh laundry.

Here’s something you won’t find at a deluxe room—elegant French doors

We had the Presidential Suite and a connecting Junior Suite. We had more than 200 square meters of space for three girls!! Here’s the Master Bedroom with the king-size bed

Writing desk and flat-screen TV (note: I couldn’t find an outlet to plug my laptop)

The sitting area is where I found an outlet, so that’s where I parked my computer

The sitting room leads to a nostalgic dressing room with dark wood floors

Obviously I don’t travel light. That’s my luggage for an overnight stay

So much closet space!

and dressing table

This room leads to probably the best hotel bathroom in the country

with modern bathtub

separate shower and toilet stalls

and so many amenities I forgot to photograph

Outside the bedroom is the living room, where we listened to akashic readings

There’s a bar that’s not mini

A dining room

Kitchen

and a nice note from the Managing Director—thank you Mr. Meyer!

Next: I’ll show you the Junior Suite

Originally published at Chuvaness.com. You can comment here or there.

Not the greatest fan of Lady Gaga, but even I am tickled pink for Mich Dulce to have one of the world’s biggest stars wear her Urban Kitty hat from this season, Fall 2013!

Mich Dulce’s Urban Kitty hat photographed by Everywhere We Shoot.
In Tokyo the hat retails for ¥ 48,000 or about Php 21,000.

Lady Gaga was photographed wearing this outfit while leaving a rehearsal studio.
Someone please explain the pig snout—is she protesting the pork barrel abuse as well?

Source

Originally published at Chuvaness.com. You can comment here or there.

As if the Presidential Suite weren’t big enough, they also gave us the connecting Junior Suite.
You can see the kitchen behind and the door that separates the suites from each other.

There’s a nice writing corner

and a long clean carpet

I wonder if that door opens to another suite?

This way to the bedroom. I fell in love with the louvered windows

There are two large beds inside—good enough for four. I prefer this room to the Presidential Suite. It feels so Laura Ingalls cozy to me.

Here’s the bathroom, which is Chuva-approved!

See the counter sinks (cause I hate bowl sinks)

and the tub

We had dinner outside and hung out for a bit in the bathroom.

It was already 1 AM after everyone had showered. We were all in pajamas and went to bed in the Laura Ingalls room. Penny and Patrice were going to share a bed, and I had one bed to myself—just me and my computer, in the dark, when I started watching this on YouTube.

I was attracted to the ’70s costumes and really scared.
Right there and then, we decided to download it. The internet was really fast, by the way.

While waiting for the download to finish, we decided to move into the large bedroom in the Presidential Suite so we could all fit in the king-size bed. Being the scaredest one of all, I insisted on staying in the middle.

Meanwhile, we scrambled to get drinks and snacks, knowing we would not want to leave the bedroom once the movie has started. We also held one rosary each. It was the battle of the rosaries: Penny had Pedro Calungsod, I had Pope Francis, and Patrice had Pope John Paul II.

We made sure to pee before the movie started.

Too bad the screen was small and the picture was pirated. Penny and Patrice fell asleep during parts of the movie. I felt like Jesus in the Agony of the Garden, but it did not have the scariest effect for me, except during the closing credits when the soundtrack freaked me out.
Still, I wasn’t able to sleep because I was in between two girls and couldn’t move. I also wished the aircon were colder.
I finally fell asleep at 7 AM when the two went out for buffet breakfast. I was able to sleep until noon.
We showered, packed, and headed down. Too bad we didn’t get to enjoy the pool. Maybe next time.

Upon checking out I noticed this very discreet sign and was very impressed!

Now I can honestly say there is one hotel that is truly first class in Manila, one that I would be proud to recommend to any visitor, and that’s Raffles Makati.
Special thanks to Loni Balagtas for arranging and having us.

http://www.raffles.com/makati/

Originally published at Chuvaness.com. You can comment here or there.

“Emotional tears have special health benefits,” writes Judith Orloff MD in the Huffington Post.
“A study by biochemist and ‘tear expert’ Dr. William Frey discovered that reflex tears are 98 percent water, whereas emotional tears also contain stress hormones which get excreted from the body through crying.

After studying the composition of tears, Dr. Frey found that emotional tears shed these hormones and other toxins which accumulate during stress. Additional studies also suggest that crying stimulates the production of endorphins, our body’s natural pain killer and ‘feel-good” hormones.’”

Since its YouTube upload on September 11, 2013, more than 9 million people have viewed this Thai TV commercial produced by communications company, True Move H.
I wonder how many millions have cried watching this, because I sure have. And you?

Originally published at Chuvaness.com. You can comment here or there.

Secret Fresh proudly announces its biggest and most highly anticipated designer toy/vinyl collectible—a collaboration between Secret Fresh, Korean designer toy artist Coolrain, and one of the most successful, influential, critically acclaimed and significant bands in the history of Original Pilipino Music, the Eraserheads.

The Eraserheads was formed in the ’90s by Ely Buendia, Raimund Marasigan, Buddy Zabala and Marcus Adoro when they were students at U.P. Diliman.
From their first independently released album, Ultraelectromagneticpop! came a string of number one singles and top selling albums, like Circus and Cutterpillow, which achieved platinum status several times.
The Eraserheads received the Viewer’s Choice Award for Asia during the 1997 MTV Video Music Awards for their music video Ang Huling El Bimbo directed by award-winning director Aureus Solito. They are the first and only Filipino band to have won the highly coveted Moon Man trophy from MTV.

The Eraserheads toys are a dream project of Secret Fresh owner and toy collector Big Boy Cheng who is also a fan of the band.
Reminiscent of the Kidrobot-released vinyl toys for the concept band Gorillaz, the Eraserheads toys feature all four members with their respective instruments, and packaged as a set in editions of 500. (Price: Php 11,200)
Each figure stands 21 cm and has articulated hands and heads.

Coolrain, who was specially chosen to design the Eraserheads toys is known for creating toy figures such as the Mindstyle NBA ATC series and collaborations with Nike, Cinelli, Converse, LG, and Motorola, among others.

For more information, call 570-9815 local 7 or email secretfresh.info@gmail.com.
Secret Fresh is located at RONAC Art Center, Ortigas Avenue, Greenhills, 1502 San Juan, Philippines.
Open Tuesday to Saturday from 2-10 PM and Sunday at 1-6 PM.

https://www.facebook.com/secretfresh

Originally published at Chuvaness.com. You can comment here or there.

Amanda Jane Camilon of Muntinlupa just won a free brunch buffet for four at the Spectrum of Raffles Makati.

Because she is a Sky Cable subscriber, she also gets a free 12-month subscription to Cinemaworld, where she can access foreign movies anytime.

Amanda won from more than 120 entries in this contest and was selected electronically via random.org.
She will be contacted via email.
To know more about Cinemaworld, click HERE or go to https://www.facebook.com/cinemaworldasia

Originally published at Chuvaness.com. You can comment here or there.

Meet the future of Pepper Lunch Philippines.
Our son Chris is five and idolizes his daddy so much, he wants to be a chef.
Not only that, he seems to be business-minded.
Ever since Uratex gave him this soft gym set, he has been building all sorts of houses and play sets.
Sometimes the girlfriend is there (well, one of them)

Yesterday he built this cafeteria

I’m quite amazed at all the Play-Doh food he made with Yaya

That’s my toy cash register with real calculator and play money—all my boys have used it

I chose the pizza platter, which was $20 according to Christian. A little steep—maybe Mario Batali made it.

One of our best toys ever! Thank you Big Boy and Uratex for this generous gift!

To know more about Uratex and the soft gym, click HERE.

Originally published at Chuvaness.com. You can comment here or there.

Name an ingredient that makes anything taste better. A quick survey at home garnered these results:
Ben: pepper and butter
Markus: soup
Me: Coke!
While a quick survey on Twitter got these answers:
Bacon, salt, butter, sugar, truffle oil, cheese, beer, MSG, chocolate, chili, Knorr seasoning, ginger, Japanese mayo, Nutella, garlic!

After KFC did their own survey, they came up with cheese and bacon as most popular ingredients to level up one’s meal. Hence, the Cheezy Bacon Fest ongoing at KFC branches.
Watch Sam Ajdani and buddies do this!

Now KFC asked me to share KFC gift certificates and T-shirts to help promote their new offerings.
There will be five prizes of promotional T-shirts plus five x Php 1,000 gift certificates from KFC.
To make things more fun, Quirks Novelties decided to add some prizes.

It’s all in the bag.

What you’ll get:

1) Java Jr. coffee creamer
2) Like tea mug
3) Sparrow egg magnet
4) Paper card holder
5) Obsessive-compulsive disorder hand sanitizer
6) Doodle a Shopping Bag
7) Php 1,000 gift checks from KFC
8) KFC T-shirt

Here’s how to join:
1) Must have a Philippine address.
2) Must have a Facebook or Twitter account.
3) Share this entry by clicking on Like or Tweet button at the end of this entry.
4) Register HERE for the electronic raffle.
5) Contest open from September 27-30, 2013 at 11 PM.
6) Winners will be announced here and contacted via email or text.
7) Prizes will be delivered or picked up by winner, depending on winners’ location.

To know more about Quirks, click HERE.

Originally published at Chuvaness.com. You can comment here or there.

Celebrate 10 years of High Fidelity with The November Hifi Show this November 9 and 10 at the Dusit Thani Hotel, Makati.
The event is an annual exhibition of the finest high-end audio and video systems from all over the world.
Audio- and video-philes will be entertained by a vast display of some of the best high-end foreign brands to the work of high-end Filipino custom builders.
There will be more than 200 brands, featuring solid state to vacuum tubes amplifiers, CD Players, digital servers and modern high-end turntables, OLED TVs to ultra high-definition projectors, Audiophile CDs, vinyl records, vintage audio gear, to the most ultra modern audio and video electronics.

The turntable is back!
And for those purchasing a turntable, perhaps for the first time, many are not aware of the proper set-up procedures and tweaks that can be done to unlock its full sonic potential. Thus, that warm musical experience remains elusive to them.
With that in mind, the November HiFi Show is proud to announce that Mr. Michael Fremer—Senior Editor of Stereophile magazine, the leading international audio publication, and host of analogplanet.com—will be hosting a Turntable Workshop on November 9, 2013.
Mr. Fremer is the authority in all that is analog.
He will be in Manila to cover the November Hifi Show and help introduce a new generation of converts to the joys of Two Channel Stereo Analog music reproduction.

To know more, visit the event’s Facebook page.

Originally published at Chuvaness.com. You can comment here or there.

Never mind how Warren Beatty looks right now.
You might know him as Anette Bening’s husband or Madonna’s ex. I prefer to remember him as he was in the ’60s.
No, I wasn’t born yet. I just prefer old movies to the ones we have now.
When I was in high school I watched two of my favorite Warren Beatty movies—which I watched again recently.
In Roman Spring of Mrs. Stone (1961), he plays a social-climbing Italian gigolo named Paolo di Leo.

Aside from being young and good-looking, his main talent seems to be hooking up with lonely old women who can support his expensive taste and lifestyle.
Through a madame pimp, he manages to get introduced to a recently widowed and retired American stage actress named Karen Stone (played by Vivien Leigh).

In the beginning, she resists becoming a sugar mommy, but ends up giving in to most of Paolo’s wants when she starts to really fall for him.

Unfortunately, Paolo can’t resist younger women closer to his age.
This causes Mrs. Stone much grief, and the end is left to the imagination of the viewer.

You don’t always end up with your first or greatest love. It may be for the best or God’s will.
Splendor in the Grass (1961) tackles the subject of a love that was lost because of youth, wrong timing and obligation to one’s parents.
Set in 1920s Kansas, Warren Beatty plays a wealthy football player jock named Bud Stamper who falls in love with a pretty middle class schoolmate, Deanie Loomis (played by Natalie Wood).

Bud is dying to have sex, but Deanie’s upbringing tells her not to.
When Bud’s slutty sister Ginny comes home from the city, everyone is scandalized by her behavior.
After seeing Ginny nearly gang-banged at a party, Bud becomes demoralized and breaks up with Deanie.

He decides to follow his father’s advice and hook up with the school slut, Juanita.
Deanie can’t deal with the breakup and becomes temporarily insane and slutty. She ends up in a mental institution where she stays for two and a half years. There she meets a troubled young doctor she gets along with, while Bud also meets an Italian waitress (Zohra Lampert) who helps him during dark times.

When Deanie gets out of the mental facility, the first thing she does is look for Bud.
Are the feelings still there? What’s it like to see your ex?
The ending will break your heart.

Originally published at Chuvaness.com. You can comment here or there.