Father Figure

CEBU, Philippines – It’s so true. Menswear has never been the same since the time of Clark Gable. Case in point, dad many times over Brad Pitt was seen sporting a leopard print skinny jeans and a knit shirt in black. These times, menswear has a bigger scope, a more convenient quotient and more important options in the market. Has the dawn of the über-fashionable dad finally arrived? The varied designer collections and retail brands of today certainly suggests that menswear deserves every bit of the newfound attention.

Take the case of designer Cary Santiago who has developed something of a cult following the seductive way he can wrap and drape a long jersey dress and construct the lightest chiffon dress. His menswear is equally distinctive. His rocker dad featured thinner knit shirt with laser-cut embellishments, bare expanses on the tummy part, and a daring blanc et noir skinny trousers. Then there are retail lines Bench and Springfield whose knit shirts are as basic as one can go. Paired with khaki pantaloons or blue jeans, the contemporary dad is all set to go.

Classicism with a modernistic twist, Philip Rodriguez and Protacio collections upped the ante with new embroideries and an assured hand in cutting edge tailoring. “He’s coming from a party and brings his de rigueur jacket with him,” Rodriguez said of his mensline for the new Daddy, adding that “he’s not a boring dresser, but there’s that side to him and he’s trying to bring it out.” Thus, the jacket was paired with gunmetal silver fitted trousers. Protacio featured a shirt with ravaged hem, embellished with floral embroideries that when paired with faded jeans, becomes so romantic and comfortable without looking dated. The best, a loving and confident Daddy’s attitude, which makes an inspired red-carpet choice for the Hollywood type with an adventurous spirit, like, well, Brad Pitt.