Dressed to Frill

CEBU, Philippines - The Cebu Fashion Designers Alliance (C.F.D.A.) fairytale-inspired presentation left no doubt that unbridled creativity is alive and well in this island paradise. A group of diminutive dancers cleverly disguised as fairies sporting light as chiffon wings opened the show, their costumes blurring as they spun about fleetingly on a crisscrossing glass runway that traversed the indoor pond of Parkmall.

Don’t let the distressed chiffon, exposed seams, and eccentric silhouette fool you: William Manahan is not a one-note chaotic artist. On the contrary, he is an avant-garde romantic with a knack for highlighting the beauty of imperfections. It’s a talent well suited to his sophisticated serpentine wedding dress. Meanwhile, Marichu Tan’s dreamy pouf gown embellished with laser cutouts have been seen on softy dreamy brides with a knack for following modernity in Tan’s signature stamp. Nostalgic pangs almost always hound the Protacio bride and his recent bridal ensemble has the 50s look that has clients follow with cult-like alacrity. The belle of the ball had a leisurely princess cut gown that had Barbie Alvez’ statuesque model appropriately clad in strapless satin with a surprise! The creation had pockets accenting both sides that might as well be functional (to hide an always-on-the ready lacy hanky perhaps!) Bejeweled and belted on Wendell Quisido’s sheer bodice with strategically placed lace appliques and a heavily detail bouffant skirt were simultaneously endearing and wickedly sexy. Ren Manabat’s double whammy wedding gowns of sweeping trail and another heavily detailed swirling of rosettes were edging toward a non-conventional, nearly couture-like grandeur.

Though leaning towards non-conventionality, the featured designers’ statement wasn’t about the abandonment of principles. Their collective aesthetic choices were as true to each one as ever, though on the runway (to begin with, at least) their conceptual direction may seem not easily translated to a flower bedecked aisle. But then again, normal is boring so the group brought about a different excitement to blushing brides.