For “Umagang Kay Ganda” (UKG) mainstay, Andrei Felix, 2010 Miss Universe fourth runner-up Venus Raj isn’t just his UKG co-host, she’s also his stylist.
“I believe in her instincts. Her opinions matter a lot to me,” says Felix, who reduced his tendency to layer and to put on checkered tops. Instead he now wears shirts in shades she believes look best on him: black, white and yellow.
For more formal occasions, such as the Star Magic Ball where he matched her Kenneth Chua gown with a dark and dapper suit from Zara, Felix cannot help but overdress “to the point that Raj feels underdressed,” he says. “When she’s in a long gown, I have to look my best. I don’t want to be mistaken for her bodyguard!”
Thankfully, the height difference, particularly when the 5 ft-8 Venus slips into towering heels, doesn’t really bother the 5 ft-7 Andrei. “He’s very secure with himself,” says Venus. “He’s like, ‘It doesn’t matter if she’s tall, ’cause I’m smart and handsome!’”
As host of the TV show “Sports Unlimited,” Marc Nelson regards his rugged athleticism as key to his professional look, and admits his wardrobe contains more than a few board shorts and workout wear.
His girlfriend, model Samantha Lewis, appreciates that “his clothing is part of his job. I don’t think I’d ever tell him, no more gym clothes.”
But she’s not averse to exerting some gentle style influence. When Nelson’s favorite pair of decade-old cargo shorts was ready to fall apart, she subtly steered him toward new ones while they were shopping. He chose, she bought, and all was well.
“I went from one pair of cargos that I wore to death, to having several pairs in a few months,” he recalls.
The two enjoy shopping together, especially in their favorite store H&M, and Lewis has plenty of favorites in Nelson’s closet—for herself. She borrows his scarves and caps, and even turned one of his long-sleeved shirts into a dress, which didn’t bother him a bit since “it looked better on her than on me.”
Together for over a year now, Azkals center-back Anton del Rosario and fashion designer and stylist Samantha Richelle exude a sexy, edgy vibe, thanks to her low-key influence on his personal style.
But getting there didn’t quite follow the typical boyfriend-makeover rulebook. To begin with, he was the one who asked for help.
“She went to FIDM (Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising) in LA,” he explains. “This is her profession. It’s like if she came to me for advice about playing soccer.”
It certainly helps that Del Rosario is open to her advice. “I have no problem wearing anything,” he says.
This athlete prefers relaxed, workout clothes for the day, but admits his businesslike eveningwear needed an overhaul.
“I’d wear dressy shoes and collared shirts, but she brought me down to be more fashionable, to try out new stuff.”
Now, for a night-out he’s more comfortable in a pair of sneakers and a V-neck tee under a blazer.
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PHOTOS BY XANDER ANGELES