Wardrobe refresher course
The resort collections making their debut on runways this past month have straddled the color spectrum. Brian Reyes, Calvin Klein and 3.1 Phillip Lim focused on creamy washes, sherbet shades and subdued tones while the likes of Christian Dior, Anna Sui and Chris Benz took inspiration from colorful destinations, livening up the runway with jewel tones, bright floral prints and bold hues.
For a more affordable take on these airy concoctions, Mint, the retailer that does affordable women’s wear right, offers contemporary pieces that translate in and out of the spotlight. Pinoy Big Brother’s Rizza Santos displays a few tricks of the trade to accessorizing an ensemble.
Maximize your wardrobe. Dressier garments can go uptown with a bejeweled belt and heels or downtown with oxfords, a blazer (a neat trick at Carolina Herrera’s resort runway) and lots of eyeliner.
Hosiery adds drama. Knee-length socks are a playful element and shows off your gams, while textured tights are a classier alternative to bare legs. Thanks to the cooler weather, covering up and layering has become a far more comfortable endeavor.
The higher the heel, the closer to you-know-who. Streamline your silhouette with medium to high heels (stick to a heel height that flatters but doesn’t make you groan in pain) that elongate your shape.
Work with slouchy silhouettes. Not everything has to fit just so. Give your body — and wardrobe — some breathing room by investing in frothy, airy frocks that break away from your figure. After a couple seasons of celebs on the red carpet pouring themselves into skin-tight Herve Leger dresses, the light, floaty dresses on the runway feel like a lovely change of pace.
When in doubt, keep it classic. If some of the new styles look a trifle too experimental for your rigidly pulled-together wardrobe, then opt for simple pieces that can work with trendy accessories. A simple white dress, like the one Rizza Santos is rocking in this editorial, works as a great canvas for styling. Pair it with a blazer and chunky accessories or keep it simple and seamless with flats and a pretty gold necklace.
The key to the coming season’s looks is an easy, insouciant elegance. Whether it’s the tribute to Americana (Peter Som for Bill Blass and Derek Lam), the soft ladylike shapes (Donna Karan and Carolina Herrera) or quirky separates (Cynthia Rowley and Elie Tahari), all of them had a quality essential to resort wear: you can slip them on with an enviable ease — and look smashing at a moment’s notice.
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Mint is located at SM Megamall, SM North Edsa, SM Mall of Asia, SM Fairview, TriNoma, Robinsons Galleria, Robinsons Place Manila and Robinsons Metro East.
