Design de Rigueur

That’s the heritage, after all, and it’s no big surprise that most went on to deliver the easy proportions, asymmetry, and masculine/feminine interplay that you expect in the work of the 80s material girl era. As opposed to body-hugging silhouettes with which the purist Protacio fondly quipped, “It’s horrendous and tacky to expose every bulge gained in this season of parties and celebration!”

 But if the editing of color suggested some shrinkage of the sense of wicked fun that separates designer labels from retail lines, that wasn’t how things turned out. Though clients still prefer haute couture (ah! to be swathed in luxury), the contemporary dresser mix it merrily with off the rack for a modernistic feel.

 Maybe that was the music the models were listening to on their Princess Leia headphones. As shown on the runways of different designers, one outfit was composed of shades of aqua; another, with a swingy orange and red dress, suggesting endless possibilities. Menswear was even more fun with transparencies and a burst of color for Protacio, Edwin Ao and Philip Rodriguez. Otherwise, some pushed the monochrome oversize to extremes with a long white shirt and long jacket that was elongated to the knees, or suspender-ed clown-sized pants. Some designer and retail lines showed the LBD  (little black dress) with a portrait neckline and away from the body silhouette like Ray Kuan. A pleated dress in what looked like concertina-pleated forest green jersey was positively glamorous from Arcy Gayatin. So was her teal and cobalt blue long jersey draped dresses. Overall, this season’s must haves spell v-a-r-i-e-t-y!

 Credits: M.A.C.>Models Association of Cebu (0917-6302400 / 0917-2717277) Photographed by Dan Douglas Ong, Mikkie Go and Jon Unson