Plains & Prints rocks with Rhett Eala & Paula Taylor

I recall interviewing Plains & Prints’ Roxanne Farillas two years ago for Mega magazine. As the co-founder and owner of the retail brand with her husband, Erickson Ang, they nurtured the homegrown brand — then a tiny stall in Greenhills — while juggling their theses as juniors in college. Although Roxanne was majoring in finance, she was in charge of conceptualizing all the collections of the then-fledgling label. She based her designs on her observations of store merchandise while shopping, then came up with designs, purchased fabrics, coordinated with seamstresses, and so on.

Today, Plains & Prints is one of the country’s most popular, multi-awarded retail brands with 45 outlets all over the country. And although Roxanne and Erickson have since delegated most of their duties to their employees, Roxanne told me that she still adds a personal touch to each collection that hits their stores. “I have to fit all dresses and all tops personally. Nothing gets out in production unless I try it on. Once I try it on, it will go in production,” she said.

During the launch of the spring/summer 2012 collection of Plains & Prints, Roxanne flitted about greeting guests and overseeing the event in a breezy watercolor-print dress. What was most interesting about it was it looked really dainty in front, but it had a sexy, but not too revealing, slit down her back. Most notably, her dress really flattered Roxanne’s body. Surprise, surprise, as I browsed through the Plains & Prints’ look book, there it was, modeled by Pauline Prieto. True to her word, Roxanne rocked that dress herself and although she doesn’t have the body of a ramp model, it looked great on her. If the clothes suit her, then there’s no reason why they shouldn’t fit the body types of everyday Filipinas.

With chilly “ber” months clearly behind us and the mushy warmth of Valentine’s Day just over, Plains & Prints partnered up with premier fashion designer Rhett Eala for a summer lovin’ collection. The highlight of the lineup is Santorini, which is comprised of fluid knee-length dresses, like the one Roxanne wore, wide-legged pants, printed tees, and rompers decked in solid hues and watercolor and abstract prints that magnificently combined the colors of the sea and the sunset — teal, pistachio, hunter green, sky blue, and azure.

Roxanne Farillas with Plains & Prints brand ambassador Paula Taylor and Rhett Eala, the designer behind the spring/summer 2012 collection

In tandem with Santorini are the lines Water, Bright Summer Dresses, and Vintage Coral. A combination of prints and patterns, from abstract watercolor paints to story prints, Water resulted in romantic and feminine pieces with a light and airy feel. Bright Summer Dresses was all about monotone frocks in brighter-then-ever hues of blue, green, orange, yellow and pink in flattering cuts and silhouettes for various body types, while Vintage Coral brought back retro glam fashion with ‘70s-inspired selections.

Other lines in the collection include the modern, perfectly tailored and color-blocked Laser Cut, the structured and brightly-colored Preppy Paris, the ‘80s punk rock style of Neon Wave, the modernist shapes of mesh and tulle for Athletic Couture, the playful patterns and hourglass silhouettes of ‘50s Flare, and the elegant, dreamy, references to fairies and wood nymphs in Fairy Tale.

“The entire collection carries the distinct Plains & Prints style, but with a hint of adventure and a chic laid-back vibe that spring/summer dressing calls for,” Eala explained. “The cuts are relaxed, either falling away from or skimming the body. The lighter color palette and playful prints give a nod to the sun-kissed, carefree days of this favorite fashion season.” 

Also at the launch was Plains & Prints brand ambassador and Thai superstar Paula Taylor. “Plains & Prints reflects my style exactly — classic pieces with a chic feminine twist. I love that their clothes are so easy to wear. I don’t necessarily have to accessorize so much because they already speak for themselves,” she said.

And while most women weren’t born with Paula’s knockout figure — which is post-pregnancy, by the way — all women will find something to love in the new collection, as evidenced by the lucky media guests at the launch, where we got to pick one outfit from the 10 that were modeled. My pick? A khaki utilitarian-inspired dress with a feminine twist, accented by pretty pleats and a Peter Pan collar.

Not to worry because the collection hit the stores just last Feb. 10, so this early on, Plains & Prints has you covered for your summer wardrobe. All you need is a wide-brimmed hat, gigantic shades, and you’re all set!