VAPORESSO Looks Back on a Bumper Year of Award Wins

From October 28 to 31, Hilton Manila Newport World Resorts will host one of the largest Oktoberfest celebrations in Metro Manila

NEW YORK — Tickle Me Elmo dolls, the game of chance Bingo and the humble playground slide are among the finalists to get into the National Toy Hall of Fame this year, a lineup that also includes cuddly Care Bears, the dice game Yahtzee, the ancient game Mahjong and the Pokémon Trading Card Game. The Hall announced its 12 finalists for the Class of 2026 on Wednesday and opened voting to the public and a panel of judges who will choose which will be honored in November. The public can weigh in between Sept. 16-23. Joining the nominees are the handheld electronic game Bop It!, Monster High dolls, the portable, miniature worlds of Polly Pocket, and the board games Mouse Trap and Sorry! "It's debating season, and this year's finalists give everyone plenty to talk about — from classic games to plush icons and other toys that have shaped generations of play. The debate is part of the fun because every toy sparks different memories and makes its own case for why it matters," Michelle Parnett-Dwyer, senior curator at the museum, said in a statement. While anyone can nominate a toy, the ones that make it into the Hall must be considered icons, have engaged multiple generations, fostered creativity, or profoundly changed play or toy design. The three winners will join the 90 toys enshrined in the National Toy Hall of Fame, a list that includes Cabbage Patch Kids, Dungeons & Dragons, Hot Wheels, Frisbee, G.I. Joe and Mr. Potato Head. Some of the entries this year have been knocking on the Hall door for years, including Tickle Me Elmo, the Pokémon Trading Card Game and Mahjong.

NEW YORK — Across the runways this New York Fashion Week, designers reimagined spring dressing by shaking up the season's staples of florals and pastels, opting instead for more modern and irreverent trends. From legacy brands to emerging talents, designers including Tory Burch, Ralph Lauren and Eckhaus Latta brought joy back to dressing with sartorial twists on color, movement and contrasts that could easily transition off the Spring/Summer 2027 catwalks and into New York's busy streets. While New York Fashion Week is only the first stop for celebrities and fashion editors before seeing what London, Milan and Paris have in store, the celebratory tone is bound to be contagious. The joy of dressing Designers had a lot to celebrate, with many marking career milestones: Rachel Comey notched 25 years, Michael Kors and Carolina Herrera reveled in 45-year anniversaries for their brands, and Coach hit a storied 85 years. Coach sent models down the runway in party hats, glittering gowns with colorful large bow trains, and gift-wrapped present accessories for its anniversary. InStyle Fashion director Kevin Huynh said designers are waving goodbye to the quiet luxury era and leaning into vibrancy. "We're really stepping into like, more is more," he told The Associated Press, "but not in that dopamine dressing where everything feels haphazardly put on, but like a real sense of vibrancy and excitement." At Eckhaus Latta, designers Mike Eckhaus and Zoe Latta feted their J.Crew collaboration with confetti. Guests were told to open envelopes on their seats at the sound of laughter during the second half of their show and toss rainbow confetti onto the runway. "Designers are really trying to kind of have fun and show the power that fashion can have in uplifting and inspiring people," Matthew Velasco, ELLE's fashion news editor, said. Tory Burch embraced joyful dressing as a sense of escape, with models in color-blocked embellished looks strutting around a circular indoor catwalk that surrounded an outdoor garden with fountains. Burch said she wanted to contrast opulent femininity with utilitarian sportswear. Her collection featured embroidered cardigans with brightly colored skirts, boa-like thin scarves and a turquoise coat with a matching bag. "I think when things are a bit more rough in the world you need to dream," Burch said. Ralph Lauren opened New York Fashion Week by bringing romance and a celebration of style to the runway. "It's about ways of dressing that celebrate ingenuity, originality, and character — the freedom and fun of creating a style that is truly personal," he said in his show notes. Michael Kors had the optimism to stage his show outside in the garden at the Museum of Modern Art, where a bright orange trench coat and sunny yellow shoes popped against his black and white looks. Thom Browne, who often leans into whimsy, created a show inspired by "A Bug's Life," with a giant indoor garden and models dripping in green crystals that hung from layered suiting. Some channeled actual ladybugs and butterflies with giant colorful hoop skirts, and jackets that looked like cocoons, eliciting smiles from the crowd. Collections filled with shades of blue Designers may not be feeling blue this season, but the color was certainly interwoven throughout their collections. Ralph Lauren played with a palette of blues — from his classic denim to satin and lace gowns, to suiting and blue fur and feather collars. Tommy Hilfiger said he often takes his inspiration from nautical flags, so primary colors — including navy — were prevalent on classic and oversized blazers and rugby shirt stripes on his runway at The Plaza Hotel. Tory Burch styled turquoise and navy, and Henry Zankov delivered teal on the runway this season for Diane von Furstenberg. After a decade-long gap, the Diane von Furstenberg line returned to New York Fashion Week with Zankov unveiling his first collection as artistic director for the brand. Known for his namesake knitwear brand, Zankov highlighted animal prints on von Furstenberg's signature wrap designs, while incorporating sheer blouses and dresses along with fluid suiting. "You want to feel alive," Huynh said, "like we're coming out of the cold of winter, and color is such an easy way to accomplish that." "Chartreuse had its moment, but teal is something that feels really refined," he added. Cobalt blue or Klein Blue — made famous by artist Yves Klein — also took over the runways with Proenza Schouler and Sergio Hudson including the color in their collections. Accentuating the waist All eyes were on waistlines this season as designers sent models down runways in cummerbunds, scarves and chunky belts. For Daniella Kallmeyer of Kallmeyer, the designer added a cummerbund to a buttoned-down blue top over trousers, as well as a white cummerbund embellished with white beading over an all-black suited look. "It's that injection of androgyny with a cummerbund in womenswear that feels exciting and edgy," Huynh said. At Ralph Lauren, the designer wrapped fringed scarves around the models to break up an all-white look or add a pop of color to the waistline. Fringing out After shedding the constraints of winter coats and layers, designers introduced a freedom of movement and fluidity to their collections with fringe. Asymmetrical dresses swayed with fringe at Jonathan Simkhai while shimmering fringe peeked out from an all-black look at Rachel Comey. In a twist on tailoring, jackets dripping with fringe made their way down the runway at Monse. "I always am a firm believer that with the Spring/Summer shows, designers really flex their prowess a little bit more than fall," Huynh said. "You're really getting the full spectrum of a woman and a man's wardrobe."

Alex Gonzaga and husband Mikee Morada have finally brought home baby Isaac from the hospital!

The Armani fashion house named Prada veteran Dario Vitale as the new creative director of its Emporio Armani line

“Edjop” takes a non-linear approach as it tells the story of Edgar Jopson’s eldest daughter, Joyette Jopson—a triathlete who is running away from her father’s legacy.

Kyle Dominic Lim, better known as Kadiliman, is a DJ, model, and event organizer—you wouldn’t expect that he was in HR before all of it.

“Bongga Ka, ‘Day!: The Annie Batungbakal Musical” follows Annie, a fashion designer at House of Pasion who’s desperate to be part of the elite circle at Coco Banana.

Aging gracefully can be much simpler: noticing what your body needs now, taking care of it, and continuing to make room for what makes you feel good.

The Westin Wellness Weekend is back with local brands and partners that center on health-conscious living, sustainable products, and mindful experiences.

The online Identity Knowledge quiz offers an interactive way to learn about Việt Nam’s policies, history, culture, heritage, arts, tourism and people.

Five years after the COVID-19 pandemic caused profound loss, daily life has returned to normal for most people. But for many children who lost their fathers or mothers, the void left by the loss of a parent remains.