CPS Chaps' magnificent seven

MANILA, Philippines - As flowers bloom even brighter, CPS Chaps captures the rosy allure of the season with feminine dresses mixed with well-hewn denim, channeling a splendor-in-the-grass-harking collection for spring/summer 2011.

There are seven looks by CPS Chaps this season.

There’s the vintage military feel of the Western-inspired Fairy Rider collection. The Virgin Ethnic oozes with antique charm. Party till you drop in Animal Prints. Rock with worldly flair in Ethnic Rock. Feel the first blush of love with Paisley Impression. Turn gaga for pastoral fashion in Summer Blues. And rock tribal print upon tribal print in the Tribal Ethnic collection.

1. Fairy Rider

Vintage military patterns and floral prints mingle in this Americana-inspired resort collection of floral blouses, camel skirts, olive-green jockey pants with brass buttons, old-rose-hued blouses and knitted necked dresses. The juxtaposition of sweet and street comes to the fore with pairings of stretch rose-print tees with lace bibs, thrown under a buttoned-up military jacket. Cut-off denims, a key piece in all the collections, adds urban cred to a femme-and-masculine look. Paired with flat ankle boots and scrunched up socks, the ensemble is at once charming and tough.

Even cowgirls get the blues: CPS Chaps introduces seven looks in its latest collection, available at TriNoma and Bonifacio High Street.

2. Virgin Ethnic

Vintage flight inspires this lineup of vintage-tinged wares. Reprise the unabashed femininity of the ’60s and ’70s with polka dots, loose silhouettes, Peter Pan collars and high-waist bottoms. The midi silhouette shines through as a refreshing, not to mention, more pedestrian alternative to minis and maxis. Re-imagined in polka dots, the shape becomes all too charming, and cognizant of the fashion world’s current movement towards ladylike dressing and greater coverage. The feel continues with a floret mini dress and a romantic blue vintage frock, for moonlit nights under the stars. Crochet bibs add to the romance, as do prairie silhouettes and elbow-length sleeves. A sheer polka-dot blouse with a pussy-bow again draws from the rich polka dot tradition, but bringing it into the here and now with the transparent execution.

3. Animal Print

Branch out: Spring into season with hyper-printed resort-wear.

Leopard prints are here to stay. With bouncy chiffon in the said print as the main material, dresses, shirts, blouses and pants get the animalistic treatment. Be the ringmaster, wearing wide leg float pants to add a swing to your gait, picking up on the popular seventies silhouette. Teamed with a simple black tank, the lines turn clean and modern. But with a sexy see-through sleeveless blouse, the combination turns dramatic, as is the feel of a soft tone leopard printed maxi dress, inspired by the fashion world’s hottest runways.

4. Ethnic Rock

Sleek and chic is the name of the game, in the rakish Ethnic Rock, inspired by glam rockers. Silver black studs, sequins, silver and black gemstones, and black and gold woven fabric find their expression in dresses and tunics. A tigress sequined dress channels the print proclivity of icons like Janis Joplin, while studded tops paired with leather pants channel today’s model-off-duty look. The true ethnic rocker, though, will inevitably turn to a golden black woven skirt, to dress up with equally glitzy blouses, or down with a rock-inspired shirt, for all the ways she wishes to move.

5. Paisley Impression

Please with paisley, in a palette of purple with a tint of yellow, navy blue and pink. Airy cotton and billowy chiffon add to the haphazard feel, whether it’s the embroidered maxi dress or the mod mini dress—so perfect with clean nude heels for a hypnotic effect. Bohemians and misfits unite.

Rock the catwalk: Kaleidoscope stripes, smocked floral top, prim-collared dress and boat stripes mixed with florals — for that ethnic rocker chick vibe

6. Summer Blues

Set off for greener pastures, in a combination of denim and floral print in navy blue, white and beige tones, perfect for the beach or a music festival. Smock waist shorts make it so cozy to snug in while the shoulder-baring smock blouse references the so-hot Seventies, not to mention, summer-pastoral trends.

7. Tribal Ethnic

Inspired by the ’70s hippie craze, long flowy skirts, high-waist pants, and retro tribal printed items shine in fluid and lightweight jersey, cotton voile and denims in shades of black, brown, blue and a sharp tint of orange. Hot-ticket pieces include singular beaded-neck tees, native embroidered mini dresses, fluid printed maxi dresses and chichi high-waist pants.

CPS-Chaps is at TriNoma and Bonifacio High Street.

Vintage trip: Maxi-skirt with Peter Pan collar blouse, wide-leg denims, polka-dotted sheer blouse, and fine floras with lace collar