MANILA, Philippines - With the exception of a few brands who regularly show at Philippine Fashion Week, it’s rare for RTW brands to have the opportunity to be showcased on the runway. At Style Origin last Friday, we spied a a number of trends from the 43 brands that had their turn on Greenbelt 5 Fashion Walk. Tip: You might want to grab these items off the rack while you still can.
Teal me truly
Pantone may have announced that emerald green is the color of the year for 2013, but based on what we’ve seen from Penguin, Gas, Escada Sport, XOXO, Miss Selfridge, Topman and Kate Spade, another hue on the same spectrum is stealing the show: Teal. Whether it’s darker iterations of it that veer closer to aqua or lighter versions that almost come across as light blue, this fresh color is a great option for summer.
Coral me bad
Aside from teal, it wouldn’t be summer without a hint of coral in your ensemble. Whether it’s a coral top from M)Phosis or accents, like a scarf from Calvin Klein Jeans, sequins on a Mango dress or a jacket from Zara, coral is an easy color to incorporate in your ensemble. You can even try on a sports top from Basic Sports Apparel — hey, just because you’re heading to the gym, it doesn’t mean you can’t look cute.
Light-wash denim
We know, we know. It’s unreasonable to attempt denim in this heat, but no one ever died from heat stroke while wearing a light chambray top from 7 For All Mankind — well, we’re pretty sure it hasn’t happened. (Fingers crossed.) Tie a sleeveless denim top around a summer dress to create a nice silhouette, as seen on Cotton On or try on a maxi light-wash denim dress from Diesel — over a pair of pants if you can stand the humidity.
Maximum impact
These pieces are a no-brainer when packing for the beach or if you want to feel like you’re destined for a tropical setting, even if you’re just heading to the mall. Maxi dresses from Escada Sport and Warehouse are on-trend with digital prints, while Mango and Miss Selfridge offer white and nude versions that’ll allow you to go wild with your accessories.
Print edition
When it comes to matching print with another print, it’s best to go bold or go home. Large, clashing prints made a splash at Kate Spade and Marks & Spencer, while tamer versions of the trend went with stripes on stripes, as seen on Escada Sport and M)Phosis. You’re safest bet when trying this trend? Mixing watercolor prints with similar palettes, as seen on the looks from XOXO.
Short and sweet
You’re either a maxi dress girl or a micro dressing sl*t — just kidding, the humidity totally makes bare legs a lot more appealing. You can make up for the shorter hemlines by overcompensating with prints. Topshop has a great selection of digital prints, while Miss Selfridge breaks out the shiny brocade. Head to XOXO for watercolor prints, Replay for paisley and Juicy Couture for scarf prints. And if you refuse to go any higher than an inch above the knee, Kate Spade and Anne Klein have options that are just as breezy.