The Style Edit: Blurred Lines with Jeska, Justine, Selina and Xandro
The word “fashion” isn’t often met with the warmest greetings. At the very beginning of Wonder, the team was discouraged—from all fronts—to have Fashion as a main content pillar. People found it intimidating, high-brow and unrelatable. We learned that “Style” resonated with more people; and it’s a belief that has held on today.
Style has many definitions and faces. It encompasses many aspects of the personal and doesn’t discriminate. It’s unique, focused on the individual and open to interpretation. Style is a form of expression, a reason for celebration. And it’s Wonder’s theme for the month: The Style Edit.
We put together four creators and models from the local style scene. Each with their own voice, their own look and a unique understanding of the theme we're highlighting.
Justine Llarena is no stranger to many. She’s been behind and in front of the camera for years. But despite the multiple times our paths have crossed, she never fails to amaze. She’s breathtaking in photos, and was a breath of fresh air on set—proving for the nth time that models are much more than the photos they work so hard to produce.
“Style is specific to a person ‘cause it’s not limited to the clothes and accessories [people] wear, but [is also] how they transcend themselves in it,” explains Justine. “Two people can wear the same clothes, but they carry them differently.”
This statement is especially true for Justine. In her personal time, she likes to dress in monochrome outfits, but she’s no doubt donned dresses, skirts, tops, shoes and everything in between that aren’t to her tastes. And yet, when she’s on set, you can barely tell that a purple chiffon dress isn’t exactly her cup of tea.
It might sound a lot for some people—diagonal cuts and metallic sheens—but how Justine dresses is how she expresses herself. A self-confessed introvert, style is how she makes her statement. It’s a conversation without the awkward adlibs, and makes for a moment more memorable than tired one-liners.
But whether or not tulle, latex or shoulder pads are for you, Justine suggests one thing for us all to live and style by: “If an outfit makes you feel empowered, fuck what others think.”
Her careers have helped Selina see, meet and interact with people whose styles affected her own. She tells us a story: “One rainy day in my 2019 trip to Japan changed my perspective. On a bus ride to Mt. Fuji, I saw a middle-aged woman who decorated her whole arm with so many bracelets. She wore a beret. She wore so many rings. She wore a vest. She just didn’t care, and she owned her look! It was insane, brilliant, and one of the factors that pushed me to just do whatever with how I approach style in general. “
Selina goes on to claim that her style is her own. What you’ll see her wearing is a combination of all the people, places and cultures she’s had the chance to visit—with a unique sprinkle of herself added into everything, of course. Before she went on set at the Wonder September 2022 shoot, we gaze at the initials intricately sewn on the sleeve of her button-down: SWB. She explains the project was done in the middle of cooking rice, and ended a few hours later. Regret? We don’t know her (but we do know the smell of burnt rice).
Rounding up our cover stars this month is Jeska, whose own name is a depiction of how she approaches style. “I go by my chosen name, Jeska Entanglemeant, which essentially means ‘organized chaos.’ Things may not always seem to make any sense but everything is meant to be exactly the way it is, she explains. “That translates into my style as well. Never in perfect unison and order; I like mismatching and experimenting by putting together different pieces.”
Videography and Editing Favour Ajah
The conversation on fashion will never end—and it shouldn’t. It’s become a catalyst for change, a way for people to make a stand; it’s challenged the everyday person to think more about what they consume. But fashion is a double-edged sword; as much as it’s been good, it’s also been the root of insecurities, and has acted as a bullet for misplaced criticism.
But we’re learning and re-learning that while fashion might be intimidating, style is a celebration. Fashion is given, style is unapologetic, subjective and flexible.
Wonder exists to spark conversations about anything and everything men, women and everyone in between care about, from fashion to grooming, career to sex and relationships, pop culture to self-love—including things we’re sometimes too shy or find hard to talk about.
As a brand, we value authenticity, human experience and truth-telling as we document stories of people, cultures, places and things that inspire. All that is developed into a platform that encourages openness and a little bit of humor, change and creativity, one that incites Wonder.
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Starring Jeska Entanglemeant, Justine Llarena, Selina Woo Bhang and Xandro Miguell
Photography Joseph Bermudez
Art and Art Direction Alexandra Lara
Interview and Cover Story Adie Pieraz
Fashion Direction Nicole Blanco Ramos
Styling Gee Jocson
Styling Associate Marko Jefferson assisted by Jason Mago and Gio Manlangit
Beauty Direction Elisa Aquino
Makeup Raffy So (Justine and Selina) and Pam Carreon (Xandro and Jeska)
Hair Ida Siasoco
Production Wonder
Location Chroma Studio
