Kylie: Yes to sexy outfits

Kylie Padilla Padilla can wear sexy clothes on TV, but draws the line when it comes to bikinis.

That’s because her Muslim parents, actor Robin Padilla and Liezl Sicangco, imposed strict rules on dressing up while Kylie and her two sisters were growing up.

“We’re not allowed to wear slippers in public. Slippers should be worn only at home or at the beach,” says Kylie. “Mama also told us, ‘Wear sleeveless shirts with pants, shorts with jacket tops.’”

But now that she’s seen regularly on TV, her parents are more lenient, allowing Kylie to wear more daring clothes. “They know it’s part of my job,” explains the lead star of GMA 7’s “Blusang Itim.”

For the teleserye, she has no choice but to show more skin, since she’s playing someone who’s liberated and raised in America.

Kylie, 18, used to be shy in person. Before joining show biz, she had to enrol in workshops and personality development classes where she learned how to dress in style, apply makeup and walk in high heels.

“I first had to transform myself into an artista,” she explains. “When I accepted acting projects, I was ready.”

My mom bought me the Vera Wang Princess. It smells fruity and sweet. It used to be my favorite scent, until Aljur (Abrenica, Kylie’s rumored boyfriend) gave me Givenchy Secret. It smells very good. But he found it too strong, so he gave me two others – Gucci Rush 2, which smells like you just stepped out of the shower, and Charriol, perfect for formal events.

I have a lot of Victoria’s Secret I just ran out of Vanilla Lace, my favorite, so I’m using Honeysuckle Bell. I also love scented lotions, especially the lavender scent I got from Crabtree and Evelyn because it’s my mom’s favorite. I remember her whenever I catch a whiff of this.

Accessories

Accessories are important because they can transform a plain-looking shirt into something elegant. I like sparkle; I buy a lot of silver and gold earrings. I shop for accessories anywhere, especially in Trinoma Mall. I used to like hoops, but now I prefer dangling earrings.

Memorabilia

This framed photo of “Blusang Itim” is special. My handler, Tito Daryl (Zamora), gave this to me. The show was my big break.

Aljur gave me this “taping chair” when I started working on “Blusang  Itim.” I remember him saying, “May show ka na, pero wala ka pang upuan.”

I always remember Papa when I see this pair of gloves. My sister and I trained in muay with him in Thailand. I used this pair of gloves for three years. It was my key to show biz. “Joaquin Bordado” was my first-ever show. I was able to use my muay thai skills on that show.

I named this stuffed teddy bear Allie – a combination of my name and Aljur’s. He gave me this last Valentine’s Day.

Gadgets

The BlackBerry Bold is a gift from Papa. He also gave Ate Queenie. I was using a Samsung unit at the time. Now, I’m using a BlackBerry Torch.

When Tita Betchay (Vidanes, talent manager) gave me this camera (Agfa Foto), she made me promise I’d be more active on Twitter. She told me to always upload photos and talk with my fans. This iTouch, I bought with my own money. It’s like a reward to myself for working too hard.

Bags

Mama loves bags. She gave me this pink Guess. She also gave Ate Queenie and (younger sister) Zhen, but she said mine was the most expensive. So nagtampo s’ya when she learned I wasn’t using it often. I said I didn’t want to wear it out too soon because it’s expensive.

Tita Mariel (Rodriguez, her dad’s new wife) gave me this black Michael Kors last Christmas. Black is my favorite color.

I also own a few Secosanas, like this green piece. The design and material remind me very much of the movie “Troy.”

DVDs

I became fascinated with vampire stories/movies when I saw “Van Helsing,” starring Kate Bekinsale, one of my favorite actresses. I have copies of “Vampire Diaries,” “Underworld,” “New Moon,” “Twilight” and “Eclipse.”

Jim Carrey is another favorite. I have copies of “Liar Liar,” “Bruce Almighty,” “Yes Man,” and the most recent, “Mr. Popper’s Penguins.” I love Angelina Jolie, too. She strikes me as the strong type, one who knows how to fight. I see myself in her. I have copies of “Wanted” and “Mr. and Mrs. Smith.” I also like romantic stuff like “Moulin Rouge,” “Walk the Line” and “500 Days of Summer.”

Books

I used to have time for arts and crafts so I bought this book, “Vintage Paper Crafts with Anna Corba.” I’ve not read “Please Look After Mom” (by Korean writer Kyung-sook Shin) but I got it because just looking at its cover already made me cry.

“The Courtesan and The Samurai” by Lesley Downer is an interesting read. I bought this when I went with my dad to Singapore. This is the forbidden love story of two people belonging to two different worlds. Philippa Gregory’s “The Wise Woman,” is also interesting. I got this because I’ve always been fascinated with the Tudors. I’ve just started reading “Fallen,” by Lauren Kate, also about vampires.

Tops

Aljur recently gave me this Nike gray sports jacket. I use this a lot. This baby tee is a pasalubong from Kuya Dennis (Trillo) when he came home from Hawaii. I just joked that he should bring home something for me, and he remembered.

My mom got me this lacy dress for Christmas. In Australia, she brought me to a store called Sex Kitten. It’s kind of pricey there, but the designs are good.

This one from Dorothy Perkins is sexy but still conservative. Its light color reminds me of ice cream. The tube dress from Espada is also nice. I wore it during GMA 7’s recent trade launch. The polka dotted tube dress reminds me of Minnie Mouse.

Shoes

I’m addicted to shoes! My current favorite is this synthetic snake skin pumps from Steve Madden. I wasn’t planning on buying anything but I spotted this and had to have it.

My most reliable pair is from Dumond. It’s very versatile. It looks good with any outfit. The floral high-heeled shoes from Aldo is a gift from Ate Queenie. I also wear flats, like this one from Zara, but they should be simple. Those with ribbons are so baduy.

Cosmetics

I love trying out makeup. When I was just starting in show biz, I studied how to apply it. I used eyeliner a lot at first, but stopped when I realized that it only made my eyes look more chinky. Now I use false lashes.

I also learned that brushes are important for smoother makeup application. I use L’Oreal for my foundation. For eye shadow, I use Labamba, Prestige or Smashbox.

Before buying a certain brand it’s important to know what kind of skin you have. I use DuWop for cheek tint, it keeps skin from becoming oily. I use anti-aging cream every night to keep wrinkles away. I use a lot of prosthetics in “Blusang Itim” – it speeds up aging.

Photos by Jim Guiao Punzalan