Bryanboy.com - Fashion Blog

Totem FW2011 Rio de Janeiro

Totem FW2011 Rio de Janeiro

Here's the view from my seat at Totem's fall/winter 2011 show yesterday evening here in Rio de Janeiro. Quite refreshing to see some male models!

Caroline Ribeiro at Fashion Rio FW2011

Caroline Ribeiro at Fashion Rio FW2011

It was a pleasure meeting Caroline Ribeiro here at Rio de Janeiro. I bumped into her at Fashion Rio a few days ago. She's working with MTV Brazil and they interviewed

I loved Carol's work many years ago. She looked spectacular as Tom Ford's muse at Gucci. She was beautiful then, she's still beautiful now. What a stunning, stunning lady!

Printing FW2011 Rio de Janeiro

Printing FW2011 Rio de Janeiro

Here's the view from my seat at the Printing fall/winter 2011 fashion show here in Rio de Janeiro. I thought this collection was quite the slick operation especially for Rio.

You can barely see the details of some of the clothes but I LOVE the feather dress, the feather bolero jacket and the electric blue slashed and sliced cardigan coat. Amaze!

You Wish You Were Here, I Wish I Was There

You Wish You Were Here, I Wish I Was There

It's two in the afternoon and I've spent the whole day so far cocooned in my hotel room, working. Just took a quick video of Copacabana beach from my room.

I wish I was there but I don't want to go to the beach alone. You know them Brazilians. They have amazing bodies. Am I willing to suffer the humiliation of being surrounded by body-conscious, fit, well-oiled, muscular Brazilians? No. HELL NO. I am too self-conscious to go down there looking like a naked petite Asian buddha with my belly! Does spanx make swimsuits? Where's that high-cut, one-piece bikini and Hermes beach towel when I need it?

You may wish you were here in Rio de Janeiro but I wish I was down there at the beach...

I'm gonna go get my haircut now... then it's back to the daily grind for me.

Can't Please Everybody, Can't Know It All

Can't Please Everybody, Can't Know It All

Greetings from cloudy Rio de Janeiro!

My first day at Fashion Rio was quite the spectacle. Brazilians are some of the friendliest, warmest and cheerful people in the world! People fawned over me like a new addition, the bizarre act, to the circus. It was an honor meeting some of my Brazilian readers and followers. As you know, interacting with my readers has always been a personal pleasure of mine. Up to this day, I am still fascinated how I have readers in this part of the world. It was very worrying when some of them were shaking or were extremely nervous when they approach me or ask to get take my photo. Please, my friends, please don't be nervous. It's just good ol' me!

I gave a number of interviews both to some members of the press as well as fellow bloggers. The most frequently asked question has got to be "what are your expectations during Fashion Rio or what are your expectations on Brazilian designers?"

I answered as truthful as I can. I told them I want to be surprised. I don't really have any any expectations whatsoever as my knowledge of Brazilian fashion is (aside from Alexandre Herchcovitch, Rosa Cha and Melissa Shoes),to put it blunt, absolutely limited. It would be unfair for me to apply the same expectations I have on the usual American, French or Italian brands to an emerging industry such as the Brazilians. It would also be unfair if I gave myself an immediate crash course on Brazilian brands by googling them a few days before I went here only to give a half-baked, mediocre answer for "good PR"  purposes. Rather than "walking the walk, talking the talk", it's best to just go and learn about Brazilian brands as I see encounter them in person. I always find discovering things on your own as the best way to educate oneself. One cannot and should not make a concrete opinion without being fully informed.

While it's all rainbows and unicorns on the outside, I have a feeling not everyone seemed to be happy with my answers. I've seen a few jaws drop. A few faces eve lit fake smiles. It's a personal mind game of mine to guess what's inside their head while they ask me the next question. I'll never forget the time when I went to Berlin last year. I approached this Filipino guy outside a club. I told him I love his necklace and I was wondering where it was from. He then haughtily replied "how come you don't know it? you're a fashion blogger! you should know these things. I could do a better job than you!"

Indeed.

Why do bloggers have this ridiculous pressure (or expectation) to know "everything"?

I don't know about you but to me, as simple and as pure as it is, the element of surprise is what makes fashion fun and exciting.

Last summer in Florence over lunch, my beloved (and fellow blogger) Jane Aldridge of Sea of Shoes explained to me why she took out the commenting function on her blog. What she told me somehow reminded me of what I learned during breakfast earlier: when it comes to dealing with people, you should never talk to them in their language. Once you do, you're giving them the upper hand.

I'll leave it up to you, in your own language, to interpret that. Surprise me.

Patachou FW2011 Rio de Janeiro

Patachou FW2011 Rio de Janeiro

Patachou's fall/winter 2011 collection was yesterday's closing show here in Rio de Janeiro.

Melk Z-Da FW2011 Rio de Janeiro

Melk Z-Da FW2011 Rio de Janeiro

Melk Z-Da was, hands-down, my favourite collection yesterday. What an excellent showmanship of different textures. I'll post detailed pictures later. I apologize for the quality of my video; I'm using a different camera this time around. Boo!

Filhas de Gaia FW2011 Rio de Janeiro

Filhas de Gaia FW2011 Rio de Janeiro

Here's the view from my seat at the Filhas de Gaia fall winter 2011 fashion show here in Rio de Janeiro.

Alessa FW2011 Rio de Janeiro

Alessa FW2011 Rio de Janeiro

Alessa opened the fall/winter 2011 Fashion Rio collections here at Rio de Janeiro.

His name is Bryan, he was a showgurl...

His name is Bryan, he was a showgurl...

Rio de Janeiro, I have landed!

Click click click!

All Aboard to Rio de Janeiro!

All Aboard to Rio de Janeiro!

I'm currently at the Virgin Atlantic Upper Class lounge at JFK waiting for my flight to Rio de Janeiro. Should board in a few minutes.

For my friends and followers in Brazil: boa noite! Tudo bom? Quer ficar comigo? Eu amo todos voces! Vemo nos no Rio de Janeiro em breve!!!

See you guys soon. I love you all!