Two Cinderella moms with style

MANILA, Philippines - Mothers know best, and when it comes to style, a mother’s style is one that is pragmatic and developed over the years. With the responsibilities of raising children and tending to a home, a mother wears what will allow her to carry out her duties to the fullest, while still maintaining a sense of style.

So goes the style of two radiant mothers, entrepreneur Michelle Reyes-Concepcion and furniture-biz proprietor Zelda Kienle. Each one has a certain style that shines.

For Michelle Concepcion-Reyes, it’s imperative to be comfortable. As the woman behind Michelle’s Homemade Putong Ube, Michelle has for several years now been selling rice cakes made with purple yam or ube, a skill passed on to her by her mother-in-law Erlinda M. Reyes. The operation now offers new flavors such as putong pandan, putong quezo, putong mascobado and sugar-free putong ube. Filipino delicacies such as banana chips, lengua de gato, napoleones and ube halaya are now also part of the range.

While Michelle’s business has grown, her style has also evolved into one that is both fun and functional. Michelle says that she reaches for classic brands such as Esprit & Cwomen, which she admits to have been a fan of since her high school days. Her son Miguel, a basketball player in his school, likes Oshkosh shirts, shorts, and comfortable and nicely patterned play clothes.

“Mom reminds me that it is important to properly dress because that is how you present yourself and give a first impression to others,” says Miguel. To him, his mom looks best when she is wearing her casual Saturday clothing, which is a nice, relaxed break from her corporate attire during the week.

Michelle Concepcion-Reyes is wearing a British India Sachi blouse In teal blue and white pants by EDC. Son Miguel Is wearing golf shirt on twill pants by Osh Kosh B’gosh.

As for Zelda Kienle, and her daughter Stephanie—president and marketing manager, respectively, of Philux, one of the leading furniture manufacturers and retailers in the Philippines—dressing up is a shared interest. In many ways, their brand of customizable solid-wood furniture with a modern, urban aesthetic, mirrors their own tastes in fashion. Stephanie is usually more daring with fabrics and silhouettes, while Zelda prefers more understated looks, both like to keep things simple and elegant, and always like to add a statement piece to any outfit.

When shopping together, the two reach for pieces from Esprit and British India—two labels, which carry separates that can be mixed and matched daily to fit their work schedule and mood. On most days, they like to sport the casual chic look of slender jeans, a feminine blouse and wedges, effortless pieces that can be found at Cinderella.

“In many ways, fashion and furniture go hand in hand,” explains Steph. “We, as Philux furniture makers, have an eye for detail, and this is what affects our taste in fashion. Not only do we appreciate the craftsmanship and form of a fashion piece, we value the texture, fabric and all the details that make a piece unique. Our fashion taste goes beyond how it looks on a mannequin.”

CWomen, Seventeen, Ckids, Osh Kosh B’gosh, British India, PrettyFIT and Esprit are available in Cinderella stores nationwide.