Strong and Subtle

CEBU, Philippines - Inasmuch as the image and the concept of the bride has changed over the years, in many ways, the bride has remained the same. Call it loyalty or a higher degree of faithfulness on the basics and even on tradition if you must, but go to any wedding today, compare it with any wedding decades back, and you will see what I mean. In particular, I am talking about bridal fashion which, except for particular cases, has found it difficult to depart from the traditional frothy white dress.

Fashion often reflects personality and this may also be true to some extent in bridal fashion. The bride is made to appear like the blushing maiden cum damsel in distress that she is supposedly an embodiment of. She is the young maiden who has just been rescued by her prince and is off to happily ever after. 

Fashion design virtuoso Josip Tumapa sought to break this image of the bride in his latest collection showcased in the Kasalan 2010 Bridal Fair at Robinson’s Place Dumaguete.

“I wanted to go all white for this year’s collection because I wanted to go back to the basics—unlike my past bridal renditions in black and denim—however, a lot of people still believe that my present designs, although in white, are still very edgy and unconventional,” Josip said.

Painting the picture of the bride as the empowered modern day woman steeped in power and devoid of sensitivities, Josip focused on the element of ice and its core representations and symbolisms in classic prose and poetry.

“Ice is hard, cold, and unmoving. We often equate ice with the absence of feelings which brings out an image of strength,” he said. Steely strength if you ask me.

Ice is beautiful yet it can be harsh and imposing on its surroundings. Its core element water has the power to carve away stone and change environments. In the same way, Josip’s collection again goes beyond convention and yet stays true to the essence of a bride as the most beautiful and the most crucial piece of any wedding.

In his collection, Josip combines the sheer softness of flowing white fabrics with intricate glass beading detail and icy shards to create strong yet sublime pieces that will capture the essence of the modern bride. Frosted lips and wintry eye shadow shades complete the ice queen ensemble.

A favorite is the cut-off creation which breaks the long gown tradition in the lightest shade of caramel. Plunging just right above the belly button and replete with sharp angled folds over an asymmetrical hemline, the cocktail wedding dress is head turner on the aisle.

Another hit during the show was a flowing white dress with sheer white fabric flowing from a pair of tarnished gold breast plates and accented with blocks of black ice. The dress is reminiscent of a valkyrie stripped of brutality yet steeped in poise and élan.

In his collection, Josip captures a different kind of marriage. “ I did not include any creations for the groom because I wanted this to be what you would call ‘the marriage to the self’. I want the bride to stand on her own. To be her own woman.”

Ladies, welcome to the new generation of brides.