In The Dean’s List

Abe Florendo’s book "Fifty Years in My Fashion" traces the time Ben Farrales has been deeply enmeshed in ribbons, furbelows, ruffles, laces, decollete blouses, mini-skirts, plunging necklines, formal or casual wear, and what seems de rigueur these days–or nights–the smart casual.

Ben has done all these and more, yet after five decades, he is still counting, and coming up with fresh, innovative ideas.

I quote, "Farrales earned his sobriquet as the ‘dean of Filipino designers’ because he has always been there for young designers to tell them what to do, solicited or not. And his advice can be encapsulated thus: ‘Take your time, polish your craft and then you can begin to inject your own personal style. It has worked for me."

Abe recounts how well it has worked, indeed. Art gallery owner Chichi Salas confesses basking in the compliments her gowns get. "That’s beautiful, where’d you get it?" they’d asked. And I’d say, "Ben Farrales." And they’d say, "No wonder." She wore an embroidered, Muslim-inspired gown to a Rotary International party in Anheim, and all guests wanted their pictures taken with her. "Ben made me the belle of the ball!" she recalls.

The famously fashionable Nedy Tantoco of Rustan’s has all her ternos made by Ben Farrales. Shirley Gorospe Zshornack says: "Ben’s clothes are so beautifully elegant, yet so wearable. They are for the modern woman." To Ben, "timeless" means good taste, the style, the fitting and the attitude of the wearer.

Arguably, Ben is the best designer of Muslim-inspired gowns, modernizing them yet keeping their ethnic look and feel intact. Pitoy Moreno graciously comments: "Farrales is a dramatic designer in all of his 50 years and in his heart, always, the Muslim inspiration."

Ben’s models have included the "divine" Chona Kasten, the "eternal" Meldy Cojuangco, the soigné Mary Prieto, and the younger ones Minnie Osmeña, Conchitina Sevilla (now Bernardo), Joji Felix Velarde, Bambi Lammoglia (now Harper), Ping Valencia, Jenny Peña, beauty queens Myrna P. Borromeo and Aurora Pijuan. In the 1950s, Elvira Campiglio wore to her wedding a gown Ben designed.

After Ben’s gala show in 1990, art collector-patron-connoisseur Danny Dolor surmised: "After this, Ben can now retire. After all, he has already presented his obra maestra."

To Danny’s surprise, the "Dean of Filipino Designers" recently held another gala show to celebrate 50 years of creating masterpieces for the ramp. A fabulous collection is on this page.