Cinderellafinds her glass slipper

The biggest problem with holiday dressing is not only nailing a look that will turn heads during such a glittering season, but also one that is singular and new. It’s no secret that in Manila the biggest craze is discovering new talent – and it becomes a pissing contest on who made the better find. More and more people are tapping into their creative selves so we now find ourselves swimming through a plethora of courageous designers who kick and refute every rule in the book.

To be fashionable is to be daring. Cinderella, an established retail company that spans 56 years and carries ubiquitous brands such as Esprit, U2, Rampage and British India among others, has now opened the most exciting niche in its stores yet. Créateure à la Mode (C.A.M.) is a one-stop, limited-edition designer section which showcases the work of designers Kate Torralba, Tippi Ocampo, LZ Punzalan, Reian Mata and Irene Pineda. The launch of the newly-renovated Cinderella in Megamall on Nov. 30 will also be the opening of C.A.M. to every fashion plate eager to paw price-friendly designer duds.

This truly is something to put on your Palm Pilot! Because no party is complete without a stylin’ new look that’s all your own.

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Créateure à la Mode is located exclusively in Cinderella at the 2nd floor of building A, SM Megamall, Ortigas.

Waltzing Maria by Irene Pineda

Now here’s an interesting tidbit about Irene Pineda’s Waltzing Maria label – it’s the one out of Cinderella’s five new designer labels dedicated solely to accessories. Her attention-grabbing pieces practically define the meaning of one-of-a-kind. With necklaces, earrings and bracelets made out of vintage fabric, found objects, chains and other interesting knick knacks, her collection is truly something else. And take note: each piece is handcrafted by Pineda herself and no two pieces are exactly alike. So you really get more than what you’re paying for.

KT Feeling Cinderella!by Kate Torralba

Kate’s always been known for very whimsical bright colorful designs and funny perky prints in super fabulous cuts with a matching bag (for free, too) – all pointing towards one look: happy. But for her Créateure á la Mode exclusive collection, Kate is now veering towards more subdued tones in feminine cuts with a lot of lace. A collection marked by pale pinks, fatigues and gray, her multi-purpose pieces and chic dresses are the epitome of sophistication – with a twist. And yes, true to her signature style, each piece of clothing still comes with a free bag.

Blu by LZ Punzalan

Youthful and easy but cutting-edge is how LZ describes his collection. Characteristically-designed to sport eye-catching silhouettes, his collection is composed of dark-toned fabrics that look great for both daytime and nighttime fashion parades, depending on how you wear it. With semi-classic cuts and funky details, most (such as his capelet-bolero piece) are investment pieces that will still be in vogue even after a number of years and can be mixed and matched to suit different looks.

Cresting the waves of fashion with Créateure

Cinderella’s five Créateure á la Mode designers have each designed a collection inspired by their ideas of low-profile couture. Check out what each designer is up to. – Karla Alindahao

Pret-a-Party by Tippi Ocampo

Inspired by the common female dilemma, Tippi’s Pret-a-Party label plays with styles that are a cross between dressy, glam nightlife fashion and played-down casual chic. "You don’t want to show up, like, so dressed up as a friend’s dinner guest but you don’t want to look too dressed down either!" Tippi explains. "The idea was to create clothes that you could just grab and wear on the spot without having to think – like for spontaneous nights out. Hence the label, Pret-a-Party, which means ready-to-party."

The not-too-dressed-up-not-too-dressed-down collection is basically dominated by nude hues in playful but dressy tops that can be worn played-up or played-down like her beige tuxedo halter with chunky rose detail. She even has playful jackets and rose belts that can be worn to accentuate other more basic pieces of clothing.

Graxie by Reian Mata

Color, color and more color is what Graxie, Reian Mata’s exclusive Cinderella label, is all about. With her inspirations coming from international labels Esprit and Rampage, each garment retains a young, fresh and vibrant look. Reian’s designs play with funky patterns, prints and cuts enabling each garment to stand out. The collection is composed of comfortable tees and dresses that also happen to be trendy yet very wearable.