MANILA, Philippines — Except for the monsoons, Filipinos enjoy a tropical climate all-year round, though summer is the perfect excuse to bare your skin in all its glory, gluta-enforced or au naturel.
The summer staples for stylish dressing - shirts, shorts, blouses and trousers - were all over the runways at the first Bench Fashion Week.
To be a true standout in social media during spring/summer 2017, there are sensational pieces (sans swimsuits) from the retail brands that will earn you double taps and a pat on the back.
Kashieca, driven by a vintage ‘70s vibe, offers casual, comfortable outfits you can take on your summer vacation, while Vero Moda veers toward a fun, playful, and feminine approach to basking in the summer sun.
Cotton:On presented a street-inspired, post-apocalyptic collection called “CTRL Reset” for menswear and an earthy, organic “Rediscovering” collection for women. Human, meanwhile, focused on the classics: tees and denims in various permutations.
American Eagle Outfitters continues its #WeAllCan campaign with “You Can Too,” which encourages the youth a platform to express themselves through its streetwear recall of ‘90s styles.
And because it is the biggest brand in the land, Bench closed the three-day event at The Playground of the Bench Tower in Bonifacio Global City in Taguig. Its vivacious advertising campaign was shot in exotic Cuba, “an ode to both the faded grandeur of Old Havana, and the effervescence of Cuban communities.” The exuberant collection features floral shirts, twill shorts, khakis, and, of course, the denims that have made Bench a Filipino label slowly dominating the international retail landscape.
Here are the top five summer 2017 trends from the show:
Photos by Bruce Casanova
Skin-baring
Off-shoulder tops are all the rage, with a special focus on sexy clavicles. But you have the right to bare arms, too. And legs.
Khaki/Military
Nothing screams masculine as the sight of a guy in army green. Or a guy clad in khaki. Or camouflage.
Prints
Summer calls for a riot of patterns, of florals, of colors — everything that is refreshing, uplifting, and energizing.
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Stripes
Vertical, horizontal, all lines point to dressing fun under the sun.
Accessories
Berets, neckerchiefs, headbands, quirky bags — all the essential non-essentials are yours for the picking and brandishing.