A touch of class

MANILA, Philippines - It may just be possible that Jenni Epperson invented styling in the Philippines. Way before people started calling themselves stylists, Epperson was already werqing the industry, doing the legwork for commercial shoots and fashion editorials. Styling is often an unglamorous job, but Epperson has pulled it off with such panache that she has become a respected name and an authority in the field. As the years progressed, she has taken on more roles: lifestyle blogger, magazine editor, TV host, author, wife and mother. Now she is taking on another role — designer.

Epperson has tied up with the well-loved home and fashion hub The Ramp Crossings to launch her eponymous line. Like her many roles, her approach to style is holistic. “I wanted to create something that was more than just fashion. I wanted a total lifestyle store whereby a marriage between fashion and lifestyle subsist since my life has evolved from just being a fashion stylist to being a mom and a wife,” Epperson writes on her blog.

She and The Ramp Crossings will collaborate for the first lifestyle pop-up store, featuring items from Epperson’s debut collection. The collection is called “Rise and Shine,” and will feature a complete array of items for the “multi-tasking modern woman whose tasks and roles vary throughout the day.” These items include flowy tunics, sculptured gladiator heelless shoes, lattice bar carts that double as side tables or tea trolleys, trays, candelabra, napkin rings, and reversible throw pillows. The items are uniquely Epperson — fun, quirky, and charming. Of course, her favorite zebra print will be present, setting a playful mood for the pieces.

“The team was excited to start on this collaboration because Jenni’s not only an established figure in our industry, she’s also become a pioneer and tastemaker for those who want their style to be evident beyond their closets and into their homes,” says Xandra Ramos-Padilla, general manager of Crossings.

The collection is an elegant take on fashion and furnishing, perfect for the tasteful homemaker whose sense of fun and love of color breathe through subtly. Over the years, we have witnessed Epperson’s evolution — from an Earth Mother who loves color and prints, to a minimalist glamazon who set the tone for the art of throwing parties. It’s quite interesting to see that Rise and Shine is a combination of the two, like the perfect cocktail you can put on her bar tray: one part sophisticated, two parts funky.