Suit yourself

How does the saying go? Those who can’t do, teach. Those who can’t teach, teach gym. For the fashion industry, the same formula can be applied: those who can’t design, critique. Those who can’t critique, do PR.

As fashion insiders go, Celine Lopez could be considered the most incestuous sort. As a writer, stylist, and friend to half the designers in Manila, she’s crossed the pond from mere observer and consumer to creator, as well. Now on its second season – the first was debuted guerilla style, publicized by friends in the publishing industry and sold from her apartment – Celine’s swimwear line Loungeri Lux has found a new home in Rustan’s stores and Chocolate boutiques all over the metro.

Cheekily referring to topless swimsuit creator Rudy Gernreich and Bikini Island as the original inspirations for her design venture, the latest crop of swimsuits for her holiday collection only improves on the past season’s releases. Luxuriously ornamented with a cluster of crystals or draped in silky stretch metallic fabric, the suits clearly go the whole nine yards.

A recurring motif, maillots – the last bastion of classy ‘60s style – return in full force, decadently cut out in sexy hip-baring cuts and figure-conscious shapes. "People have this misconception about maillots," Celine explains. "They think they’re dowdy and boring, but you’d be surprised by what they can do. They can hide your gut and you still look hot!" A favorite of iconic old-world stars like Lauren Bacall, the maillot only added to the austere allure of these beautiful women, giving them a subtle sheen of sex appeal. While sex sirens like Brigitte Bardot were far more comfortable exposing rather than hiding, maillot-wearing beauties were more confident of themselves, choosing to discreetly show-off their prized features, like the line of the hip or a collarbone.

Loungeri Lux’s current holiday collection, inspired by Balenciaga, Madame Gres, Vionet and contemporary Dior, Prada and Lanvin, brings back the sparkle to swimwear. Naysayers might call these frothy confections far too impractical for the hardy elements of salt, water and sand, but these pretty sets are far from impractical, as they can move from romantic isolated sand-covered dunes to party-lined concrete sidewalks. With their updated cuts and luxe embellishments, Loungeri Lux looks as perfect on the dance floor, paired with a hot skirt and great heels, as it does on the beach.

Few designers represent the kind of fashion they create. After debuting floaty, pretty frocks on the runway, they are dressed in severe black come bow time. Celine is clearly the opposite, road-testing every style and trend before offering it to the public. Her personal idiosyncratic style reflects itself in the label’s playful touches. Whether it’s a spray of crystals or an unconventional cut, each prismatic element combines to create a dazzling piece that’ll draw attention from the crowd.

It was this desire for something different that spurred her to take that last step between critic and designer. "I go to the beach almost every weekend during peak season and I’m always looking for something exciting to wear even when I’m supposed to be on holiday," she explains. "I was so bored with the selection being offered here. I wanted something that you could wear on the beach, with all that obnoxious flair, but something you could wear in the city, too." On that note, she debuted a line of swimsuits that looked like nothing locals had seen before. Designed for a woman unafraid to make a statement, the suits were both delicate and athletic in cut, modern and vintage-inspired at the same time.

This season you can expect the same, with designs more finely-tuned, embellishments more finely-crafted. "Expect lots of sexy cutout maillots embellished in crystal and semi-precious stones, and bikinis with clever straps that flatter and dazzle," Celine says. "The most surprising thing is that the suits only cost P1,799 to P2,899 despite its limited number."

Any girl worth her wardrobe, even without a degree in design, journalism or public relations, should know that this is the deal of the century.