Boys of Summer

Blame it on the gods. The Greeks and the Romans have this preponderance for Adonis-like specimens from antiquities up to the present that the modern day alpha male is pressured to have six pack abdomens, sculpted physique, chiseled features and sun-kissed complexion. That prompted stylist director Edwin Ao to decree a close-to-perfection male specimen to strut the two-leveled citrus runway at the SM Northwing high end label’s unveiling of their summer line.

Personifying the look was a bronzed Stephan Urtizberea, a six foot two contemporary Adonis with a French Canadian lineage and a lean body to die for. In linen drawstrings and masculine wrap (read: tie-dyed cotton scarf just enough to cover the torso) by Kultura Filipina, he set the mood for menswear this season as his “cloned models” Marco Aranas and Gabriel Ariosa followed his lead. Diego splashed his colorific shirts with caricatures and bold graffiti plus lean trousers and shorts to match. Sports line Mizuno clothed its model with active wear in red, turquoise, aqua and navy jersey with an obvious consideration for ease and comfort. On the flip side of the coin, corporate labels Arrow and Loalde sent a message that cotton linen blend jackets in dark hues can still work as the temperature rises. Paired with striped shirts and solid tones in fuchsia, orange and white, the corporate world isn’t as drab as it looks. And of course with the ubiquitous khaki pants and shorts, one can still climb the corporate ladder in style. A brush with geometry was Reborn’s approach to summer dressing with its offerings of plaid fitted shirts in brick red and gray matched with taupe and silver flat-front slacks. Way to go men!