Loosen up

Finally, a little breathing room! After almost a decade-long of skinny, skimpy, spandex-crazy fashion, loose looks new again. Free-flowing, roomy styles now look so fresh that suddenly the typical early 21st century trappings of baby tees and stretch jeans seem so pedestrian. You know a trend is about to self-destruct when everyone from you, your mom, titas, teachers and yayas begin looking like breakfast longganiza.

If I were prophetic, I would probably say we were experiencing a fashion revolution – one that is almost equivalent to the shift from the corset to the more layered and draped dresses of the early 1900s or when women began wearing pants during World War 1. But considering the tricky and erratic business of fashion these days, it is probably smarter to just say that we are undergoing a style shift.

Gone are the days of "flaunt it if you’ve got it." Now is the time to conceal more than reveal, and to do it by balancing the fit and proportion of your clothes (such as wearing a tight top with loose pants or a flowing caftan with slim leggings). It is a time of comfort and easy sophistication, a time to let loose and look effortlessly chic. You do not need a specific body type to look good now. No pressure to have a six-foot skinny supermodel body or flab-free upper arms or a plump rear end. I, for one, am relieved I do not have to suck in my post-partum belly pouch every time I see my reflection. Yay! It’s when fashion liberates us like this that I love it the most. We do not become slaves to our clothes. We let the clothes work around us – our needs, our tastes, and our bodies. But hey, it is no excuse to eat like a hog and let go of yourselves, OK? Let’s make that clear.

With so many body-conscious Pinays around, we should have no problem adopting this new trend. After all, it began with Rhett Eala’s poncho in 2002 – the end-all and be-all of hip cover-ups. From formal fabrics to crochet, the poncho became so popular with women (and some men!) across all sectors that I did not know whether to praise or hate Rhett for it. (Just kidding! You know I love you, Rhett.) But what it did was made me realize just how conscious women are about their bodies and skin – regardless if they were full or slender, fair or dark, young or mature.

Contrary to what some may think, it is not easy to look comfortable and still look fabulous. It is simpler to dive into "painted-on" jeans to show your ass-ets or to squeeze into a tit-illating tank top. You can get a helluva lot more attention for it. But with the current loose trend, feeling comfy and looking fab will go hand-in-hand. Across the international runway shows, loose garments were flourishing. And slowly, we’ve begun to see the more wearable versions of those haute designs in our favorite shops. On this page are some of the key looks you may want to add to your wardrobe. Now, breathe….