Pleates please

CEBU, Philippines - Think you’re having a busy week? Designer extraordinaire Cary Santiago has spent the past six months scurrying in preparation for his highly anticipated fashion gala at the grand ballroom of the newly opened Marriott Hotel in Manila (produced by Metro Weddings magazine and ABS-CBN Publishing mogul.) Everyday within that span of time, he still attends to his hordes of clients, the likes of Katrina Ponce Enrile and Charo Santos Concio.

“To see your favorite model in your clothes is a dream come true,” he said at the end of the fitting session with statuesque half German girl Elvira, still walking on air. Add to that his meanderings with fellow Clothes for Life officers for the pageant Queen happening in November.

Despite the seeming stressfulness of his success, Santiago has actually been in business for almost 20 years, and the 35 piece bridal and formal collection has a maturity and strong confidence that can only come from experience. Santiago has, obviously, found his voice by now, but he remains excited and challenged by his craft. This season he expanded his universe by adding a frisson of hyper couture. “I love anything Victorian—petticoats, corsets, that covered-up feeling,” he said. “But I’m trying to be less literal and more modernistic about the details, so I can bring them to a new satisfaction,” he said.

As this week ends, the Cebu contingent composed of models, maquillage experts, artists, photographers, accessory designers, publicists, and model agents, and of course Santiago himself, will fly to the capital bringing huge canvas covered boxes (crates, to be specific), containing his hyper couture “Moderne Victoriana” collection for the gala to be unveiled on Monday, September 27, to an audience one editor described as the Philippines society and entertainment’s top 100. Considering celebrity models like Kristine Hermosa, Suyen Chi and Marina Benipayo will walk the huge runway set amidst the “Swan Lake” inspired backdrop, together with the country’s top models. This will set the shapes of things to come!