It’s raining men!

Let's clink our champagne flutes for the sari-sari ways of stylin’ men as Sari-Sari Store launches new menswear lines. In a jampacked fashion show, hot-blooded hunks were not coy in showing their colors as they paraded down the ramp in styles that ranged from classic to classically wild! Lines presented were Sari-Sari Men, Vittorio, Njork, Euge and Marden Iglesias. The show also supported the new fragrance Wish by Zen Zest. Part of the proceeds go to the Make-A-Wish-Foundation, which plans to achieve its P1.5 million target for this holiday season. The funds will be used to make the Christmases of unfortunate and ill children a lot brighter. Cheers!

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Sky’s The Limit

Fashion today is all about freedom. There are no hard and fast rules. You can mix today’s looks with yesterday’s faves. After all, don’t trends keep on coming back and get reinvented? Talk about retro overload! And you can also blend Asian with European and western inspirations. Talk about going global. It’s on everybody’s lips – and looks.

Dressing is now all about individuality. You can go opaque and sheer, rich and subtle, using multi-dimensional fabrics such as suede, leather, corduroy, denim and crochet tops.

Here are tips from Sheree R.C. Gotuaco, owner and designer of Freeway, on how to mix past and present, east and west, without going overboard.

Forget the hard-edged glamour of the past. It is time for softer, more feminine styles – ruffles, long/full skirts and floaty fabrics. Current faves are folksy touches, handkerchief or asymmetrical hems, embroidered or sheer tops and even deconstructed denim for that distressed look.

Sheree says the current must-haves start with folksy-inspired clothing. This ensemble features worn-in details and homespun accents such as appliqued denim, crochet and ditsy flowers. Corduroy and denim are important fabrics done in cool, earthy hues, such as maroon, brown, deep orange and berry.

Tiered skirts, off-the-shoulder blouses, fringe and rustic leathers are also part of this trend. Paired with less flamboyant items such as a cropped jacket, you can easily achieve a classic look.

A throwback to the flower-power era is the bohemian style which looks like "hippie luxe" with long flowing layers and exotic touches. Silhouettes are very young and contemporary with mini skirts, flared pants and built-up necklines. This can easily be accentuated with unique and colorful accessories.

Freeway made its foray in the local fashion scene in 1997, when it opened its first gateway store in Robinsons Galleria. The brand now has retail outlets at Glorietta 1 Ayala Center, SM North EDSA, Robinsons Place Manila, Festival Supermall Alabang, SM Southmall, SM Sucat, Robinsons Metro East Pasig, Robinsons Novaliches, SM Pampanga and Abanao Square Baguio City. Freeway has earned the nod of trendy teen femmes on the lookout for casual wear bordering on the jaunty and the urbane.

Fashion by Freeway

Modeled by Jenny Santi and Alexi Alunan

Styling by Mich Dulce and Nina Montelibano

Makeup by Rachel Aguila Of H Salon

Photos by Manny Marcelo