Lusting for Lustico

It was almost a year ago when I first came across the work of Dennis Lustico. At a fashion show I couldn’t help but be enamored of his unique and intricately constructed designs. My friend and I immediately sweet-talked our way into the backstage area and secured our Dennis L. confections. From then on every time I wore something from Dennis, the compliments were always generous. I myself cannot conceal the pride of donning such a beautiful piece of work.

Just like in every famed designer’s fairy tale story, Dennis never thought he would be a fashion designer. Though he nurtured a strong love for clothes, he was preoccupied with completing his degree in nursing. It was because of serendipity that Dennis entered the fashion industry. Upon graduation he applied for two jobs: one at a hospital and one at a clothing shop. As luck would have it (at least for the fashion industry), Dennis’ application for the clothing store came in first. Dennis worked at Bergamo before joining the Young Designers Guild. The guild is composed of brilliant and fresh talents such as Dennis who dare defy fashion conventions by creating garments that not only clothe and adorn, but also make a statement.

Dennis’ inspirations come from strong women of style such as Maria Callas, Wallis Simpson and Tina Ocampo. He admires women who make a mark with not only their beauty, but with their grace and sensibilities as well. These are traits that are clearly translated in his designs. From the daring cuts that mischievously reveal the curves of a woman, such as a slight peek at the cleavage of a lady’s bosom as revealed by the daring downward slope of his blouses’ necklines, to a glimpse of a woman’s legs through a crisply-cut slit on the side of a dress, or perhaps a generous view of the perfectly-arched landscape of her slender back from one of his daring backless designs – he dresses the woman who is confident of her own beauty and power, and she knows that her allure is not only derived from her physical beauty, but from her spunk and bearing as well. She is at once strong but in a way vulnerable. This for Dennis is a woman.

However, it is not only the revealing cuts or the sheer fabrics of his dresses that put his clothes under the category of not-for-the-faint-of-heart, but his use of unusual fabrics also makes his clothes a visual experience, leaving an indelible mark in your senses. He likes playing with the contrasts of smooth fabrics such as silk or satin and matching them with coarser materials such as tulle or net fabric, giving each garment an interesting look. His source of inspiration for his current collection is a trip to his province, wherein he participated in a church procession. "I saw the excessiveness and exaggeration in the design of each dress. It was almost disproportionate and very sculptural. I took ideas from what I saw and transformed them into modern and wearable pieces," reveals Dennis.

That is the signature style of Dennis: He freshens up classic shapes by adding unusual but nonetheless beautiful details. His dresses are an ode to the natural female form, revealed and reveled, without malice. This makes Dennis a man to reckon with.