MANILA, Philippines - Sisters Choc and Yvette of Religioso have always welded tailored and girly in their designs. I remember turning to them for a color story I was doing for Preview, pulling out a bright yellow ball gown in the most precise cut, showered with tiny embroidered flowers.
You could say they’ve come full circle with their holiday 2013 collection showcasing a familiar theme: flowers in full bloom. Only it’s not printed on anything this time, but rather through the blossoming full skirts, soft silhouette and signature feminine pieces — all in black and white, proving that it is possible to be serious and pretty in one breath.
The solo punch of color is Pepto-Bismol pink, perfectly punctuated with dainty white floral embroidery. A more abstract interpretation was the rose-like cutouts on a rich ebony A-line skirt. The girls show an even gentler side with a lilac-gray chiffon skirt layered beautifully, yet quickly contrast it with a black and fuller version, sort of like the dancers in Black Swan. Naughty and nice. —Anne Bella
Religioso is on the 2nd level of Greenbelt 5, tel. no. 729-9061 and 0917-5310952.