Brazilian plastic footwear brand, Melissa, launched its newest collaboration with visionary designer Jeremy Scott.

Together with Melissa, Scott has created two signature styles: an ankle boot and a mule. “I’m so excited to have the chance to collaborate with Melissa! I’m a fan of the fun that they put into footwear and I’m honored to be included in the long line of great fashion designers that they have collaborated with over the past 44 years,” said Scott. “It’s been a joy to watch my ideas become translated by their expert team and to be able to bring to life designs that are not only high fashion, but affordable, too.”

Melissa x Jeremy Scott mule as seen in NYFW

Melissa x Jeremy Scott ankle boot

The mule and ankle boot feature a wide spectrum of colors. “Being my first foray into plastic footwear, I wanted to play with the concept of inflatable pool toys,” continued Scott. In addition to the two original designs, the collaboration also includes two pairs of flats, a sandal, and a rain boot for kids. All the styles will have a mock air nozzle to hint at the inflatable pool toy inspiration.

The Melissa x Jeremy Scott collection

Scott, creative director of Italian brand Moschino and of his eponymous brand, has been known for his fun, cheeky, and colorful take on fashion. His admiration for pop culture and humor has consistently reflected in his designs, including his collaboration with Melissa. Full of bright colors and pool inspiration, this designer collection offers shoes perfectly apt for the sunny summer season.

Last May 31 at SM Aura Premier, Melissa collaborated with Preview magazine on the launch of the Jeremy Scott collection with Preview Shops Here: Melissa x Jeremy Scott.

Find your favorite Melissa shoes at TriNoma, Glorietta 3, Greenbelt 5, SM Mall of Asia, SM Megamall, SM Aura, Alabang Town Center, Robinsons Magnolia, UP Town Center, Shangri-la Plaza East, Marquee Mall, Centrio Mall, SM Seaside and Ayala Cebu.

For online orders, log on to www.melissaphilippines.com.

It has been a while since Patrick and I went out on a Friday night, let a lone a Friday night in Tagaytay. But if there is one person who can drag me all the way there, it would be Tonyboy Escalante, chef and owner of Antonio’s. Tonyboy and his wife Agnes have been our friends since they were just starting to plan Antonio’s. We met through artist Popo San Pascual and Tita Sonya Garcia of Sonya’s Garden many years ago, when Patrick and I were just planning our wedding. Popo did the flowers in my wedding and his mom was my caterer. Tonyboy would tell me stories about his plans for his place. Of course since then Tita Sonya and Tonyboy have grown both their little cottages into restaurant empires and respected brands.

Last Friday May 27th, Tonyboy celebrated his birthday at Antonio’s Tagaytay in collaboration with Hennessy and Porsche. In attendance were his close friends from his hometown in Bacolod, Manila, and Tagaytay. It was like a reunion of sorts for us, the Tagaytay-Alfonso people. Yes, one day I will live there too. I hope.

Happy birthday, Chef Tonyboy! We are so proud of all you have achieved. Thank you for your friendship and generous spirit. More blessings to you and Agnes!

Raclette station

Raclette with french fries, marbled potato, gerkins, cocktail onions, chili flakes and paprika

A staple at any Antonio’s event – Steak Tartare

Beef Skewers

Oyster station

Prawn skewers spiced with lemongrass

Burger Sandwiches with bbq sauce and caramelized onions

Arugula lemon drop

Manolet Escudero, Agnes Escalante, Baba Escudero, and Paul Henares

Isabel Lozano, Eric Diaz, Tonyboy, Jinggoy Buensuceso, Wataru Sakuma, and friends.

Popo San Pascual, Tonyboy, Tita Sonya

Louie Ysmael, Claudine Trillo, Ian Dy

Patrick and I with Tita Sonya

Steve Mago and Pia Guanio

Edu Manzano, me, Tonyboy, Maui Obrero, Timmy Obrero, Jun Obrero

With Franco Tommasi of Villa Girardi wines

Agnes Hechanova Escalante and Mitchie Yulo

For more info on Antonio’s visit www.antoniosrestaurant.ph

It has been four years since Patrick and I took that wonderful trip to Shanghai. I dug up some old photos, and sigh, wow, Shanghai is really beautiful. We went during the winter/spring of 2012. We explored Shanghai French Concession, the Bund, the gentrified Tianzifang, our beautiful hotel Waldorf Astoria, the skyscrapers of Pudong, saw a friend who lives there, ate lots of yummy dumplings, and spent an afternoon in the urban planning museum. Shanghai is really a wonderful mix of east and west, old and new.

I’d really love to go back to Shanghai and perhaps bring our kids next time. In a few days on June 16th, the $5.5-billion Shanghai Disney Resort will open. It is Disney’s third theme park resort in Asia, after Tokyo and Hong Kong, located in Shanghai’s bustling Pudong district, home to some of Shanghai’s landmark skyscrapers.

Last week I attended the launch of Air Asia’s newest destination, Shanghai. The launch was held at Niu by Vikings. Air Asia, now my site partner, is the World’s Best Low Cost Carrier for seven consecutive years. Starting June 10, 2016, Air Asia offers direct flights from Manila to Shanghai with an all-in promotional fare starting from as low as P2,888 booking at www.airasia.com now until June 12, 2016. Guests who avail of this promo must travel from June 10, 2016 to October 29, 2016. You may also have this promo via their mobile site.

Here are some of the highlights of our last trip to Shanghai. It is such a chic destination. I really loved our week in Shanghai. And now with Disneyland, it is more family-friendly. Can’t wait to bring the kids soon.

Scroll down to see how you can win one round-trip ticket to Shanghai (from Manila) with Air Asia.

The view of Pudong from our hotel suite at the Waldorf Astoria.

Nanjing Road

The city’s most recognisable landmark is the Oriental Pearl Tower. We didn’t go up anymore, but we went up close. Patrick doesn’t like crowded, touristy places. So in lieu of sightseeing at the Oriental Pearl, we went up to several rooftop bars in some of Shanghai’s tallest skyscrapers.

In one of the traditional market areas. East-meets-west, truly.

In Pudong.

At Flair, Ritz-Carlton.

Blooming jasmine tea

Self-confessed urban planning nerd. I spent a few hours in the Shanghai Urban Planning Museum.

French Concession

View of The Bund from Pudong.

View of Pudong skyscrapers from Flair, the bar at the rooftop of the Ritz Carlton.

Cloud 9 at the Grand Hyatt at Jin Mao in Pudong. When it was built in 1998 it was the tallest building in China. I find this building really elegant with all it’s lines. The exterior curtain wall is made of glass, stainless steel, aluminium, and granite.

But by 2007, Jin Mao was surpassed by the Shanghai World Financial Center right beside it – the one with the blue lines.

The Bund, all lit up at night.

Street food.

Our fancy dinner at Jean Georges in one of the buildings at The Bund.

The glamorous bathroom of our suite in Waldorf Astoria.

Xiao Long Bao in Din Tai Fung.

Shopping and dining areas in Xintiandi.

We loved Tianzifang because unlike Xintiandi, it had more local colour — lots of hipster shops, vintage finds, designer studios, quaint restaurants.

A shop in Tianzifang.

Beautiful sycamore trees at Xintiandi.

Monumental commercial buildings in the Beaux Arts style that date back to the 20th century, when the Bund was developed into a major financial center of east Asia.

At the lobby of our hotel, Waldorf Astoria.

Butter with the most perfect font!

A fishing village about an hour away from Shanghai.

It was a lovely contrast, seeing this traditional fishing village in the rural part of the outskirts of Shanghai.

My Air Asia Giveaway –

You can win – One roundtrip ticket Manila-Shanghai-Manila. Valid travel period is from June 10 to July 1, 2016.

All you have to do –

1. Upload any of your photos in Instagram. Tell me why you want to go to Shanghai. Tag 5 friends and my IG account @DaphneOP. Use hashtag #WhereinShanghai, #AirAsiainShanghai #DaphneOP

2. I will choose the winner based on your answer, so make it interesting. Winner will be notified by IG direct message.

3. This giveaway runs from now June 6, 2016 to June 9, 2016 5pm. Winner will be announced on June 9th before 7pm Manila time.

4. Winner is responsible for processing his/her own Chinese visa. See requirements below. By joining this contest, I assume you have a valid passport and are able to apply for a Chinese visa.