MANILA, Philippines - Norman Noriega has always been fascinated with menswear. For his spring/summer 2012 collection, he puts it on women, giving a minimalist-grungy look to androgyny.
With Eric Manansala’s jewelry the only detail on his otherwise clean styling, Noriega seems to be primed for a summer either indoors or traveling. Conscientiously ignoring the call for summer’s usual pastel or bright shades, Noriega blends crease-resistant and suitcase-friendly fabric such as terry cloth, spandex jersey, vinyl leatherette, and knitted fabrics to create shapeless sweatshirts, slinky pullovers and boxy minidresses. Excepting his use of chiffon, extensively used on ankle-length skirts, oversized shirts and wide-legged pants, this could very well be a spread meant for the colder months or spring in higher altitudes.
But it is with this palette and his part-oversized, part-slinky silhouettes that Noriega is able to appropriate a modern take on androgyny, without necessarily resorting to mannish suits or military details. This is menswear for women, done slouchier and lazier but without compromising sexy, a wardrobe for women who excel at looking stylishly effortless.
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Fashion Watch 2011 is presented by The Philippine STAR, Olay, Makati Shangri-La Hotel, Preview, Starworld and Stylebible.ph in cooperation with major sponsors BMW and Metro Pacific Investments.