Gear and Glam 2009: Grand Prix

CEBU, Philippines - At The Northwing, Cebu’s ultimate lifestyle destination, Gear and Glam Grand Prix, the sequel to last year’s ultra successful cars and fashion show, wowed the A-listers in attendance. “How luxurious,” one well-heeled lady quipped aloud as yet another tandem of models clad in Arcy Gayatin’s canary yellow jersey romper and pantsuit came down, not from the runway but from a silver 1955 Porsche 550 Spyder. For this season, this famed installation upped the luxury factor as more rare cars from the collection of the members of the Performance and Classic Car Enthusiasts Cebu teamed up with recognizable designers from Fashion Council Cebu.

Clearly, the fashion collection is centered not so much on the vintage cars as inspiration but on luxury, pure and simple. While many foreign designers have gone on vicarious holiday wear this season, the fashion group took an imaginary voyage in another direction: to sporty chic with Montecarlo as the locale. They returned with both directly distinctive concepts (beautifully beaded high necked halter shantung dresses from Albert Arriba, crocheted and tussled dresses from Cary Santiago, more crochet from Philip Tampus and another ruffled high neck lace romper from Philip Rodriguez) and more subtle translations (coarse tulle and linen empire cut mini shifts from Jun Escario, white dolman backless dress from Oj Hofer and toga like dress from Salvador Malto that reminds us of the early Olympians). The cars added timely, sporty and sexy sixties and seventies references to the accomplished designers.

There’s no question these clothes are well made. And the pairings obviously have a real feel for luxury that continued well to those who presented menswear. A white suit with architectural shoulders and dhoti trousers from Philip Tampus was a bright spot. Ditto for Oj Hofer’s fitted white shirt and stovepipe trousers. And the quintessential dapper gentleman, James Bond, flexed his well suited musculature once more as Philip Rodriguez and Salvador Malto sent their male models in two differently updated version of the classic suit. Bravissimo!