MADRID, Spain – Why the interest in covering Spanish fashion among the other catwalks? It´s because Madrid is an upcoming fashion capital gearing up to compete with neighboring Italy, France and UK (that is, if it gets to be resolved that Madrid and not Barcelona will be the Spanish fashion capital) backed by a government-sponsored, "Made in Spain" program. Moreover, most famous designers such as Yves Saint Laurent, Jean Paul Gaultier, Christian Dior and Moschino have drawn inspiration from the Spanish flamenco dresses as well as the matador. This is in terms of tassels, flounces and pleated asymmetrical hemlines, torero jackets and boleros. The Spanish fall collection for 2002-2003 fashion was oozing with Pasión Latina as its battlecry. The Philippine STAR was privy to the Spanish secret tactics or art of discreet, rather, indiscreet seduction. The fall collections of the Spanish designers could be summarized as sensual, romantic and feminine. This season, black is back and in sensuous fabrics such as silky transparent fabrics, lace, tulle applied with embroidery, beads, sequins and floral patterns. Red is another color that is always present in Spanish fashion and is considered to be a color "very Spanish" – a color not seen this season on other international catwalks. As can be imagined, the Pasarela Cibeles (Spanish word for catwalk and Cibeles, a symbol of Madrid) was hot with barely dressed beautiful Spanish and international models to the delight of the photographers happily clicking away.
The Spanish seduction began with the lingerie. Lingerie designer Andres Sarda showcased a collection guaranteed to leave your man spellbound: sexy lace bras, tangas, culottes and nighties adorned with crystals and embroidery and the garter belt thongs. Next came the sexy long dresses. They were draped, multi-layered, shirred, asymmetrical, had flounces, tassels, lace trimmings and were adorned with sequins or silver glitters. But the winners on the catwalk were the one-shoulder dresses accented with flowers or ribbons on the side. For the corporate look, the Spanish designers proposed short and tailored blazers, either collarless or with tiny lapels matched with skintight tailored trousers and knee-length skirts. Straight-cut skirts were replaced by the more exciting asymmetrical cut hemlines. A variety of necklines surfaced: V neck, low and high neck, turtleneck, princess neckline, necklines that have openings in the middle, unconventional necklines and the designer´s classic favorite – the halter. The style was consistently provocative: pronounced necklines and backs, high slits, strappy high heels and transparent.
Asian inspiration was also noted in this year´s collections. A silk see-through Vietnamese Ao Dai was used as a nightie revealing lace underwear while Chinese collar, Japanese kimono and our very own mantón gave a breath of exotic oriental air, leaving the audience captivated. Filipinos should be proud to know that we have made a contribution to Spanish fashion (even Mexican) in terms of what the Spanish call the mantón de Manila. Its history dates back to the colonial times. Mantón de Manila is a silk shawl with tassels and floral embroidery. It is still worn as part of some regional traditional dresses in Spain but is mostly used in Sevilla in the South. It is worn in traditional events like bull fights and ferias. The mantón de Manila surfaced as a must-have accessory for this season as was seen in the collection of famous Sevillan designers Victorio and Lucchino.
Who will be Spain’s fashion capital: Madrid or Barcelona? Even the Spaniards are left hanging.