“I don’t normally wear dresses, but I like this one.”
Young singer Gabrielle Marie “Garie” Concepcion considers her mom her best friend, mentor and idol. She tells Living Stars: “I look up to her. It couldn’t have been easy to raise me all by herself. She was just 23 when I was born.”
Garie’s parents, businesswoman Grace Ibuna and actor Gabby Concepcion, broke up shortly after she was born.
Now that she’s 23 herself, Garie says she tells her mom everything, even her first heartbreak. “We’re very close… We go to the parlor together, shop together or just hang out in her room and talk.”
This explains why her mom is also a major influence on Garie’s fashion sense. “I’m a late bloomer,” she admits. “My mom tells me what’s in, what’s new. Sometimes we browse fashion magazines together.”
Garie recently released her self-titled debut album (distributed by Star Records), with “Relaks Lang Tayo” as lead single.
Bags
The black patent leather piece from Chanel is my favorite. It has a classic design and is actually my mom’s, but we share whatever she buys. I like big bags in general.
We were in Hong Kong early this year when mom bought my very first Longchamp (in pink). The two Tory Burch clutch bags are nice for going out with friends. Bags don’t have to be pricey. What’s good about branded pieces is that they last long. I get hand-me-downs from mom that are in very good condition.
Eyewear
My very first shades was a pair of Ray-Bans, also a gift from mom. The Chanel was a gift from my younger sister Raffy.
Scents
GARIE Concepcion must hear music wherever she is.
I collect scents. Sometimes my mom sees an empty bottle and urges me to throw it away. I always get separation anxiety from even the bottles. I love them all but these are my Top 3: Stella McCartney’s In Two Peony, Benetton’s Inferno and Lanvin Eclat.
I like these three scents because they last long. One spray is enough to last the whole night. Buying scents can be tricky for me since my skin is what you’d call acidic. There are sweet-smelling perfumes that turn sour because of the skin acids. It’s important to test a scent before buying it.
Clothes
The skirts were my mom’s pasalubong from one of her trips abroad. I immediately liked the red mini-skirt; it’s very versatile. With the sequined skirt, you have to make sure you don’t over-accessorize or you will look like a disco ball.
My all-time favorite jeans is from Zara. It’s hard to look for the perfect pair. Make sure it’s not too tight in the crotch area, that it hugs your legs well and doesn’t flatten your behind.
I love white shirts because they go with anything. I have lacy tops like the one from H&M Hong Kong. My mom bought the mini-dress from her trip to London. Bright colors are in fashion. I don’t normally wear dresses, but I like this one. I’m still waiting for the right occasion to use it.
Footwear
My coolest, funkiest shoes is a Converse—with heels.
They say every girl should have a black mini dress; I say every girl should also have a pair of red stilettos. I can’t afford the Christian Loubotins; my mom bought them. I’m lucky that we have the same shoe size.
Accessories
I like big watches. I’m wearing a Rolex. My step-dad surprised me with it on my 21st birthday. I think this was his.
My ninang, who is also my mom’s sister, gave me the Chanel bracelet. When I first told her I liked it, she said I could have it. She’s a cool godmother.
The other bracelet is from my grandma, Mama Linda. She went to India last year and bought it outside the Taj Mahal from an old Indian lady. The Tiffany bracelet is from my Papa. He gave it to me the first time we met. I was 14 then. The date of our meeting is engraved here.
Books
I enjoy reading, but I wouldn’t say I’m a bookworm. Mitch Albom’s “Tuesdays with Morrie” is a favorite because it teaches a lot of things about life. It’s a very nice story about a reporter and his old college professor. What I’m reading right now is “Have a Little Faith” (also by Albom).
I find Stephanie Meyer’s “Breaking Dawn” an interesting read, too. Among her four books, it’s what I read nonstop from cover to cover. I also love “The Last Song” by Nicholas Sparks. It’s about a girl’s relationship with her dad, among other things.
Gadgets
I need to have music even in the bathroom. When I don’t feel like watching TV, I just listen to music with my portable X-mini-speakers. I love my other mini-speaker because it’s pink. I got it for free when my mom and I went to Hong Kong to celebrate her birthday.
I store most of my pictures and songs in my iPad. My Dr. Dre headphones are really nice. You can hear everything, especially the bass. I use it when I want to be alone and don’t want to hear anything else.
The MacBook is also my best friend. I’ve had it since college. Sometimes my mom gets upset because I’m very attached to it.
Cosmetics
As much as possible I avoid wearing heavy makeup. I never learned how to apply eye shadow. When I do my own face, I just use eyeliner (Maybelline) and mascara (Rimmel, a brand from London, or Revlon). Your eyeliner shouldn’t smear.
I’m dependent on concealers because I always have dark circles around my eyes. My mom bought me this brand, Confessions of a Conceal-aholic. I also have Maybelline and another brand called Amazing Cosmetics from the UK.
I don’t use lip gloss much, but if I have to, I have one from Bobbie Brown. Petroleum jelly also gives gloss and, at the same time, keeps your lips from chapping. For lip color, I like BeneTint from Benefit Cosmetics.
Mom advises me to use powder that’s closest to my skin tone. I like Bare Minerals. My skin doesn’t break out. I also have some from Laurier Mercier and Maybelline, which I kept using until my mom gave me a Chanel compact.
E-mail: mcruz@inquirer.com.ph