The business side of being a fashionista, according to Heart Evangelista

Heart Evangelista

Everything about me, I worked hard for. even when nobody was looking,” said actress Heart Evangelista when asked whether or not being a fashion influencer can be considered a good and stable career.

“I love it so much and I know it will take me places—I just know it,” Heart said of her obsession for fashion during the launch of her latest endorsement.

The wife of Sen. Francis “Chiz” Escudero is now featured in fashion-lifestyle magazines Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar, Forbes France, among others. She is referred to as a “style maven,” a “stylista” and a “Filipino style darling.” She has 11 million followers on Instagram and 2.84 million on YouTube, and known brands even share photos of Heart all dolled up and wearing some of their collections.

Heart added that while she believes in investing her hard-earned money in order for it to grow, she also believes “in perfect opportunities.” She explained: “We all work hard to earn money, but impatient people invest in something they didn’t think much about, like a kiosk for fried chicken, for example. What you should do is keep saving. When the right opportunity presents itself, even if that’s 10 years from now, at least you’re prepared.”

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The actress continued: “I’m lucky because Chiz is really my ‘math.’ If you ask him the percentage of something, you will get it instantly. He’ll teach you about stocks, too. He will even give you his reflection of what can happen in the market. He would say, ‘You can put your money here,’ or ‘You should hold on to it first.’”

Another thing to invest in is insurance, advised Heart. “It’s true. You work hard and invest in the things you want to have. You just don’t pick them up on the floor randomly. As for me, I make sure I have insurance, especially for health problems or if ever I lose my bags,” she pointed out.

‘Conversation piece’

Speaking of bags, Heart, who is also a visual artist, revealed that the news of her painting over her Hermes bags was what actually got her into Fashion Week. “[An acquaintance] from Hermes messaged me to ask if I would be in Paris and if I’d like to meet him. I booked a flight to Paris even though I didn’t have any plans. I was eating at a restaurant when someone affiliated to Fashion Week approached me and said, ‘I love your bag. Are you going to this party?’ I’m glad I did,” she recalled. “It was a little crazy, but it’s self-expression, and I love it. I’m also thankful that I did it because it opened a lot of new opportunities. The Hermes bag is really a conversation piece that I love taking it with me anywhere.”

Heart has sold quite a few bags, she revealed. “While I sometimes buy brand new ones, most of the Hermes bags were preloved. I paint on them and sell them for more. You have to be smart, especially if you want to do this forever,” she pointed out.

Evangelista with husband, Sen. Francis “Chiz” Escudero —PHOTOS FROM HEART EVANGELISTA/INSTAGRAM

Heart said that, depending on the shows you attend, you can also earn from participating in Fashion Week. “You get paid to attend shows. As to how much, it depends on who you are. When it comes to the bigger brands, you just feel lucky that you got invited,” she explained.

‘Be yourself’

Heart said the work she does is not always fun—possibly referring to the rumored rift between her and her former glam team. “When you experience sad moments, you just want true friends to be there with you because people misunderstand you. At the end of the day, you go back to your family, and that should be enough. My advice is to just be yourself. If people love you, then that’s good; if they don’t then, they don’t.”

At one point in the interview, Heart was asked to reveal “who holds the purse” between her and Chiz. To this, she said: “I hold mine, but I don’t hold his.” She then tried to explain the dynamics in their household and why it works for them.

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“Chiz does all the responsible stuff. He pays all the bills. When it comes to the things he knows I will get my money back for—ang mga luho ko—he makes me pay for them,” she began. “Everything is very strategic. He’s not the type [who would buy me luxury items]. How I wish [he would]! This is contrary to the rumors. Yes, I love what I do, but it has become a business. He said I would earn from it, so I might as well invest in it with my own money.”

As for the division of work in the house, Heart said, “I keep it beautiful. I deal with aesthetics—that’s where I shine. If I wasn’t there, the house would look cluttered. We’d all be surprised to see a sauna bed in the middle of it,” she said. “Chiz does the ‘other work,’ like buying from the market or making sure food is served on time. He loves doing this. When he gets tilapia, I don’t bother with how many grams he gets anymore.”

Heart said she and Chiz don’t have to share the same interest. What’s important is that they treat each other with respect. “My gift for him whenever he accompanies me to Fashion Week is a set of suits. Recently, he got to wear something from YSL for the first time and liked it. As a gift to me, he would prepare food and store them in glass jars, so I already have food to eat in the next couple of days.” INQ