M&S Davao Style File: Tea in fashion


TEA as a beverage, tea as an afternoon social, tea a fashionable gathering and tea as the theme for an exhibition — nowhere else in city can this happen in a single event but in Marks & Spencer.




Tea party hosted by Marks & Spencer for Davao’s teas sets collectors at the Marks & Spencer Food Hall in SM Lanang Premier.




The Marks & Spencer SM Lanang Premier, the second store of the UK retail giant in Davao, recently hosted a trendsetting event with six of the city’s tea lovers as special guests.




L-R: Kay Gempesaw, Katrina Briones, Carol Co, Marydict Rosales, Angel Go & Erika Mata.




Kay Gempesaw, Carol Co, Erika Mata, Katrina Sison-Briones and Togonon sisters, Angel Go and Marydict Rosales, may have something in common known to them -- they are all career-oriented family women, but Marks & Spencer showed them an even more interesting reason to bond -- the love for teas and special appreciation of the finest tea wares.




Angel Go in M&S Collection printed top & necklace;
Katrina Briones- M&S Collection plain blue top, ankle gazer pants & necklace;
Kay Gempesaw in M&S Collection printed top, jeggings & belt, Autograph necklace.




Carol Co in Classic printed top & M&S Collection necklace.
Erika Mata in Per Una lace top & jersey pants, M&S Collection necklace



Kay Gempesaw in M&S Collection printed top, jeggings & belt, Autograph necklace.
Katrina Briones in M&S Collection plain blue top, ankle gazer pants & necklace.
Marydict Rosales in Per Una printed dress.





The women brought a few pieces of their porcelain treasure to the gathering. Over tea and biscuits, the collectors shared their fondest stories about their tea set collection and how they developed the love for the fineries, their own favorites in their growing collection and their most-desired piece to own, and the tea socials they have hosted.



A party & an exhibition hosted by Marks & Spencer SM Lanang Premiere





Katrina brought her favorite piece to the party—the Royal Albert Señorita's, one of her most precious to date. She fell in love with the big flower patterns, particularly roses painted on the inside and outside of the cups, “A design that’s quite hard to find,” she said.




Katrina Briones' vintage treasures


On Katrina Briones- M&S Collection plain blue top, ankle gazer pants & necklace;
Erika Mata in Per Una lace top & jersey pants, M&S Collection necklace.




It’s the same case with Angel, she loves floral designs, “Especially the unique ones, it calls to me,” she said, “My Royal Albert teacups that comes with the dining plate, a smaller plate and a butter plate is most precious to me,” she admits.




Angel Go's eclectic mix & match set




Marydict’s favorite of her collection is the Hello Kitty. It took her a long time to complete the set, going through different channels of acquisition, a process that made the feline collection very dear to her.




Marydict Rosales' exquisite tea set


Angel Go in M&S Collection printed top & necklace & Marydict Rosales in Per Una printed dress.




Kay’s favorite is also her most treasured— the Limoges Haviland because, “Other than the fact that it was passed on to me by my mom, it's not very easy to find and the porcelain is very fine,” she shared, and added, “When I look for tea sets, I find that I am drawn to dainty and intricate patterns. I buy mostly individual pieces, not sets. The Herend Queen Victoria is a dream piece, but I don't know when I will be able to have one since it's very expensive.”




Kay Gemepsaw's tasteful combination


Angel Go in M&S Collection printed top & necklace.
Kay Gempesaw in M&S Collection printed top, jeggings & belt, Autograph necklace.




“The daintier the design, the more it’s appealing to me,” confessed Erika. Her current favorite is her Royal Albert Old Country Rose Set, which pictures “royalty” in it and reminds her of queens and princesses.



Erika Mata's dainty teacup in detail


Kay Gempesaw in M&S Collection printed top, jeggings & belt, Autograph necklace.
Erika Mata in Per Una lace top & jersey pants, M&S Collection necklace.
On Carol Co- Classic printed top, Per Una wide leg crop pants & M&S Collection belt & necklace.




Carol finds designs that make her feel “girly” most appealing, “Those with butterflies, in pastel colors and unique shapes,” she said smiling.




Carol Co's in love with flowers & butterflies


Kay Gempesaw in M&S Collection printed top, jeggings & belt, Autograph necklace.
On Carol Co- Classic printed top, Per Una wide leg crop pants & M&S Collection belt & necklace.




The exquisite collections of these women, pieces, which best describes their personalities, were exhibited at the M&S Food Hall, the same venue where they had their “private tea party.”






For the exclusive tea gathering, the stylish ladies wore the latest collections from the M&S Womenswear -- the M&S Collection, Per Una, Classic and Autograph.


Credits:
Photography: Paul Borromeo 
Styling: Meg Sta. Ines & Otoy Mercado
Outfits: Marks & Spencer
Shot on location at the Food Hall of Marks & Spencer, SM Lanang Premiere