The 'Gracious Lady' trunk show: Treasures with a pnceless cause

Tonette Martel, who has written articles on the arts, travel and social issues in The STAR for over two decades, and was a speechwriter during the administration of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, is a "treasure hunter." And her "treasures" are wearable.

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"These are items I have collected over the years," says Tonette. "It was always based on my preferences, which tend to be classic and timeless. But within those style choices, I would select lots of fun pieces, too. I think the clothes we wear should be an expression of the different aspects of our personality," says Tonette.

Tonette, who has so far written two books, Between East and West, published by Anvil Publishing in 2007, and the The Sacred and the Ordinary: Journeys Around Asia, published in 2021 and available on Amazon and Apple Books, says the "thrill" of finding treasures is "always in the hunt." "It's fun to explore the shops of different designers and to see how their creations have evolved through the years. The thrill is always in the hunt," she says.