4 new HBO Max shows to inspire your style

 What you wear versus what you watch on TV. Life does imitate art and vice versa, but which follows which when it comes to fashion and streaming?

Quite often, costume designers and stylists working on a show often borrow from the streets to visualize the cultural mood of the moment. On the other hand, audiences absorb these looks and bring it back into the real world.

Ever since Giorgio Armani made cinema elegant and costume designer Patricia Field influenced global trends with every season of the HBO Original series Sex and the City, fashion on-screen has done more than expound a character’s story. It has given us ideas about how we might want to dress in real life.

 This transcended further over time, with the likes of costume designer Eric Daman molding Manhattan’s sensibilities into the 2007-2012 run of Gossip Girl and then the series’ 2021-2023 reboot.

Today, fashion is less about a single prevailing look and more about finding an aesthetic to call our own. Gen Z and millennials increasingly draw style inspo from one of their favorite pastimes: Streaming. The shows they binge become virtual mood boards, offering a steady stream of characters and wardrobes to borrow from.

Customers of PLDT Home’s new Fiber Unli All Plan 1499, which bundles fast and reliable fiber internet with an HBO Max Standard subscription, can tap easily into these shows turned style inspirations. The plan offers even more unlimited entertainment, along with access to Cignal TV channels, 9GB of Smart mobile data, and unlimited landline calls.

This Fashion Month, there’s a whole wardrobe of ideas on HBO Max waiting to make the jump from screen to your closet!

   

Photo credit: Reality MM Studios

Power dress à la Andrea Manuel on Call My Manager

Adapted from the French series Dix pour cent, Call My Manager is a comedy series that follows the managers and employees of the fictional talent agency Shine Artist Management. Starring Judy Ann Santos, Edu Manzano, and RK Bagatsing, the Erik Matti-directed HBO Original Philippine series looks to differ from the French original in terms of pacing.

Santos as talent manager Andrea Manuel rocks tailored power suits in monochromatic gray, black, and navy. Unlike corporate power suits, the talent managers portrayed by Manzano and Bagatsing prefer a more relaxed style that still exudes boss energy – even as they scramble to deal with the drama of their artists.

New episodes of Call My Manager drop weekly on HBO Max every Thursday.

Photo credit: DC Studios

Pull off punk like Kara Zor-El on Supergirl

Outside of the Supergirl costume, Kara Zor-El – played by Milly Alcock – showcases a rugged, punk-edged, and rebellious civilian aesthetic. The key pieces? Tan-brown hooded trench coat, Miu Miu boots, jeans, and a Blondie T-shirt. The look says she just rolled out of bed looking like this: weary yet somehow put together, and with the attitude that she sure won’t be doing a GRWM video.

Supergirl costume designers Anna B. Sheppard and Michael Mooney created a wardrobe that resonated with Gen Z so much that after the movie came out, the tan trench trended on online retailers.

Supergirl is now streaming on HBO Max.

Photo credit: Lionsgate

Reinvent retro to the tune of MJ in Michael

In Antoine Fuqua’s 2026 biopic starring Jackson’s nephew Jaafar Jackson, Michael Jackson’s clothes help recreate the eras of the singer. Costume designer Marci Rodgers retraces Jackson’s evolution from the colorful looks of the Jackson 5 years to the distinctive wardrobe of his solo career.

Channeling the 80s, the jackets are easily the highlight. There are plenty of iconic looks represented: the red leather jacket with V-shaped piping from Thriller; the sparkly jacket, glove, and socks from Michael’s Billie Jean performance at Motown 25; the belts-and-buckles jacket from Bad; and the white suit and hat from Smooth Criminal.

Michael premieres on HBO Max on September 25.

Aim for an arresting style like the MobLand Season 2 gangsters

Even when the characters are doing terrible things, their wardrobes look terribly good. MobLand – starring Pierce Brosnan, Helen Mirren, and Tom Hardy – brings the mob chic sartorial language into the present. Still expensive, just not outwardly expensive.

Standing out is Anglo-Italian tailoring in labels like Ralph Lauren, Salomon shoes, Barbour silhouettes for the men; and always all black for Mirren’s character Maeve Harrigan. As for accessories, expensive Swiss watches seal the statement.

MobLand Season 2 premieres on HBO Max on September 19.

Stream Call My Manager, Supergirl, Michael, and MobLand Season 2 only on HBO Max, bundled with your PLDT Home Fiber Unli All Plan 1499. Enjoy unlimited fiber internet, entertainment, and more plan benefits all in one – making it a smart choice in keeping your home connected and entertained.

 

Me in the Middle: Turning Nap time into Me time

There was a time when I thought life would become quieter after raising my children.

After all, my three kids were already grown up. I had even earned the wonderful title of "Mamalou" to my five grandchildren. I imagined I'd finally have more time to slow down, enjoy a cup of tea while it was still hot, or maybe even finish a television series without interruptions.

Then came Xavie.

Our four-year-old grandson now spends most of his weekdays with me while his parents are at work. If you've ever spent an entire day with a preschooler, you'll know one important fact:

Four-year-olds never seem to run out of energy.

From the moment he wakes up, it's one adventure after another. One minute we're building dinosaur parks on the living room floor. The next, we're pretending to be T-Rexes chasing each other around the house. A few minutes later, he's asking for another snack, another story, or another round of his favorite cartoon.

Somewhere in between all that is a familiar soundtrack that has become part of our daily routine.

Bluey.

If I had a peso for every time I've heard the opening theme, I'd probably have enough to buy Xavie another dinosaur toy. But I honestly don't mind.

Watching him laugh at Bluey's adventures, dance to the music, or suddenly act out scenes from the show reminds me how magical childhood can be. Those are moments I know I'll treasure long after he's outgrown cartoons.

Looking after him keeps me busy, but it also fills the house with life, laughter, and memories.

Of course, every parent and grandparent knows there's one magical moment in the day.

Nap time.

When Xavie finally settles down after lunch, the house transforms almost instantly. The dinosaur toys stay exactly where they are. The endless stream of questions pauses for a while. Even the dog seems to understand that it's time to rest.

And that's when something unexpected happens.

The television remote quietly becomes mine.

For an hour—or if I'm lucky, a little longer—I finally get to enjoy something I've been looking forward to all day.

I've always believed that mothers and grandmothers deserve moments like these.

We spend so much of our day thinking about everyone else's needs. We prepare meals, clean up after everyone, help with homework, run errands, answer endless questions, and somehow still find time to take care of the people we love.

By the time everyone is settled, we've earned a little escape of our own.

For me, that escape usually begins with HBO Max.

I've become a huge fan of The White Lotus. Every season pulls me in with its unforgettable characters, unexpected twists, and the kind of storytelling that leaves me thinking about each episode long after the credits roll.

Another favorite is Mare of Easttown. I love a good mystery, especially one that keeps me guessing until the very end. Kate Winslet's performance alone is enough reason to watch it again.

Then there are those comfort shows that never seem to get old. I've lost count of how many times I've revisited Sex and the City. Spending time with Carrie, Miranda, Charlotte, and Samantha somehow feels like catching up with old friends.

These days, another HBO Original has everyone talking—House of the Dragon Season 3.

I'm deliberately holding off until I have enough uninterrupted time to really enjoy it. I already know myself. One episode will never be enough. Before I know it, it'll be midnight, and I'll be telling myself, "Just one more."

That's the wonderful—and sometimes dangerous—thing about great storytelling.

One episode quickly becomes two.

Then three.

Before you know it, you've discovered another favorite series.

That's what I appreciate about HBO Max. There's always something new to discover, whether it's acclaimed HBO Originals, blockbuster films, DC favorites, documentaries, or timeless classics that you find yourself watching all over again.

Of course, entertainment in our home isn't just about me.

Weekends often mean family movie nights where everyone gets a turn choosing what to watch. The grandchildren have their favorites, the adults have theirs, and somehow we always manage to find something everyone can enjoy together.

That's why I appreciate that PLDT Home now includes HBO Max with its new Fiber Unli All Plan 1499.

Instead of juggling different subscriptions or switching between multiple services, everything comes together in one entertainment bundle that's designed for the whole family.

During the day, our home revolves around Xavie's adventures and whatever cartoon has captured his attention.

Come movie night, everyone gathers in the living room to enjoy a film together.

And when the house finally grows quiet, I can unwind with the latest HBO Original I've been wanting to watch.

It's entertainment that grows with every member of the family.

The new PLDT Home Fiber Unli All Plan 1499 combines reliable fiber internet with up to 200 Mbps speeds, bundled HBO Max access, 75 Cignal channels, Smart mobile data, and unlimited calls to Smart and TNT. It's a practical way to enjoy connectivity and premium entertainment without having to piece everything together separately.

For families like ours, it's one less thing to think about and one more reason to spend quality time together.

Tomorrow morning, I already know exactly how my day will begin.

There will be dinosaur roars echoing through the living room.

Bluey will probably make another appearance.

There will be toys to pick up, snacks to prepare, hugs to give, and another wonderful day spent making memories with my grandson.

And when afternoon finally arrives and Xavie drifts off to sleep, I'll quietly make myself a cup of coffee, pick up the remote, and squeeze in another episode before those little footsteps come running through the house again.

Sometimes, that's all the "me time" a mom—or a grandma—needs.

With PLDT Home Fiber Unli All Plan 1499, every member of the family gets something to enjoy, from family entertainment and weekend movie nights to premium HBO Max favorites like House of the Dragon Season 3. It's a simple way to bring everyone together while still making room for those quiet moments that belong just to you.

Because making the smart choice isn't only about having fast internet. It's about bringing together the entertainment your whole family loves in one convenient plan—so you can truly get more for less.