Save for The Empire Strikes Back and Shrek 2, there are very few film follow-ups that can hold their own against their predecessors. When the second Manila Fashion Fest was tagged as "The Sequel" to last year’s jaunty catwalk extravaganza, it was bound to absorb some of the vibes of the curse shadowing film follow-ups. Amazingly enough, this year’s Fashion Fest scooted clear of any sequel expectations, coming up with a fresh twist completely different from last year’s offering.
Showcasing eight local clothing brands, the Manila Fashion Fest: The Sequel takes inspiration from the glitz, glamour, and greased lightning of the movie industry with each brand giving tribute to a particular film genre. The show started off with Ben Stiller as Derek Zoolander leading in a video montage of film’s best fashion moments. You’ve got the Rayban-wearing duo from Men in Black, Renee Zelwegger preening in Down With Love, and even a scene from Spider-man. Host Tim Yap, the tour-guide to last year’s travel-inspired Fashion Fest, then came on stage, cane in hand, sporting a limp and an upbeat fedora-topped, two-piece outfit with geometric patterns, introducing the "Fashion Fest theater", a marriage of celluloid and the catwalk – film interpreted by fashion. Sharing the spotlight were retail producers Bayo, Cinderella’s U2 and Esprit de Corps, Folded and Hung, Freeway, Pink Soda and Blue Soda, U by Rustan’s, Salt by Rustan’s, and Tweeds.
Bayo took the first spiel, dressing up the brand’s casual lines with the exoticism of Bollywood. Gold-threaded saris were draped across pastel tops and short, flirty skirts, and cap sleeved shirts were glamorized with gold headdresses and jewelled bangles. The syllables "BEE YOU TEE FULL" slid across every shirt, a confidence booster capped by dark eyes, luscious red lips, and snake-like movements.
Taking the stage after Bayo’s Bollywood, Cinderella took two of its foreign brands on a time-warped journey a couple of decades back. U2’s layered sports shirts, narrow pants, sleek earth tones, and preppy weekend wear evoked the lonely urban lifestyle subtly articulated in cult classics Singles and St. Elmo’s Fire. Emphasizing the dearth of commitment, the phrases "I Miss U2", "I Love U2", and "I Want U2" stood out in bright graffiti font on jackets, umbrellas, briefcases, and peacoats. Esprit then took over with breakdancers jumping out from the audience and onto the stage, ushering in models clad in full Eighties regalia: striped candy cane-like knee-high socks, polka dots, wigs, jazzed up shirt dresses, pea coats, and button-down shirts. The accompanying soundtrack: Ice Ice Baby and Supersonic.
An abrupt transition brought in a little girl in curls and the palest skin. Folded & Hung stylized the horror film, coming up with interpretations of Interview with the Vampire and Bram Stoker’s Dracula. Eerie music flooded the NBC Tent and a gaggle of gothic mannequins slunk onto the runway. Mini dresses held up sheer garter stockings, and boas accessorized lacy camisoles and shirred corset tops. Hot pink, bloody red, and black made up the ghoulish palette. As soon as the various Elviras had completed the runway sashay, Count Draculas in long black cloaks, ponytails, upturned collars on slim-fit dress shirts, and narrow-hipped slacks stood in as escorts.
The scene goes from ghoulish to golden as Freeway’s version of Viva Las Vegas sent out models dressed as 1930s starlets. Gold-dusted denim skirts, gold-lined hot pants, gold chains, gold hoops, and gold pumps polished up flowing dresses, flouncy skirts, playful tube tops, and peacoats. The marquee lights shone high and bright and false lashes fluttered in every direction.
Sporting tight black leather-like leggings, high pumps, and Sandra Dee curls post-transformation, Pink and Blue Soda image models proclaimed a brand new look for the brand. Balloons in pink and blue flooded the stage as the cow-licked T-Birds and the cardiganed Pink Ladies of Grease reminisced their summer days and Summer Nights. Pedal pushers in pastel colors, pleated mini skirts, rolled-up sleeves, upturned collars, Chuck Taylors, and cuffed jeans made up a Fifties-inspired medley, ending with Bianca Gonzalez’s Sandra Dee and a Danny Zuko play-acting the finale to the classic musical.
Rustan’s youth brand U capitalized on the graffiti art of Eighties rap music videos to sock in color to their subtly stylish pieces. Sporty combos, track jackets, loose denims, and striped shirts with exaggerated cuffs sheathed the men while U Girls were sent out in bright colors, sassy, slashed pieces, frilly skirts and sexy tops. Their retail corporation’s metrosexual brand Salt evoked a vintage feel with mesmerizing, playful music from a lone harmonica player who took center stage. Salt portrayed every male film archetype, starting off with mafia men, models in white suits and vintage-style wigs, argyle prints, and glasses. Fitted jackets, cargo pants, textured pants in earth tones came out next, followed by London schoolboys in updated preppy wear and door-to-door salesmen toting ragged cases. An artist emerged next in somber colors and a pensive expression, followed by a musician, sans the shirt, but displaying a guitar over six-pack abs. The spotlight then shifted back to the harmonica player who played a climactic set of screeching, high-reaching notes before ending with the dying chords of a film finale.
Tweeds glorified the local movie industry with a soundtrack of unrelenting drumming doled out by men clad in Ati-Atihan wear. Angel Jacob introduced the brand in the Filipino language in a lilting, singsong voice, once heard in Sampaguita films. Expecting a throng of models clad in patadyong and terno, the audience was treated to a straight-up display of Western-inspired clothing. Greens and yellows in sheer fabric were paired with beaded bags, Chanel-like jackets, and hot pants. Tube tops with bow details, mini skirts, and asymmetric tops made for a feminine, flirty collection.
After almost an hour of film-inspired fashion, the lights came on and the credits began to roll. The sequel retained a hint of the original and left a promise of what is to come. The second Fashion Fest may have been no different from last year’s show, but it was still worth every popcorn kernel.