How Russian is this?
MANILA, Philippines - The worldwide recession may be far from over, but for Eddie Baddeo, the bad boy of fashion, what better way to face the challenge than by going ritzy.
At his recent twin fashion shows, an upbeat Baddeo unveiled a collection that was remarkable for its go-for-it grandeur.
Inspired by the drop-dead glamour looks of the ‘20s and ‘30s, Baddeo came up with slinky, ultra-feminine silhouettes along with styles that were influenced by the haute couture master of that era — Adrian.
There were body-contouring Grecian-cut numbers in metallic stretched Lycra that featured one-sided draped sleeves and fishtail hemlines. Two-piece designs with fully beaded Spanish lace tops were brilliantly matched with crumpled, pleated skirts in paper silk. See-through corset tops with embossed lace were adorned with generous beadwork and glittering rhinestones and worn with Grecian-cut skirts in silk taffeta.
Our personal favorite was an elegant off-white gown that highlighted a dramatic ruffled empire top that we learned later required 15 yards of jusi to create that swirling effect. Complementing it was a body skirt heavily studded with sequins and pearl beads — all 10 kilos of them — that we wondered out loud: How could runway model Badette Vinalon, with her light, svelte figure, wear it so effortlessly?
Baddeo was unstoppable when he lavishly accessorized his draped creation in deep crimson silk taffeta with matching ostrich feathers and endless strands of long gold chain — 50 strands, more or less. On stage, sultry model Grace Tagle appeared like a reincarnation of a bejeweled Russian czarina. Well, the show launched the Russian Standard Vodka and Trimline Face & Body Care Center.
Baddeo’s bustier top made from metal strips of authentic Venetian blinds, glittering with Swarovski stones, was perfectly shaped to fit top model Jo Ann Bitagcol. He paired this with a matching platinum gray silk skirt that was soft, and fluid, and loosely draped.
