CEBU, Philippines - Cebu society trooped to the cavernous Oakridge Pavilion to preview the debut collection of fashion's freshest player Mia Arcenas. Clack, clack, clack went the tips of their gold heels, as statuesque mannequins from M.A.C., A.D., Stacy and Ozar modeling Mia Arcenas' spring- summer 2014 collection pranced down the flower-printed runway en pointe - an apt choice for her collection of 70s and 50s inspired resort wear.
Arcenas, most definitely as her collection suggests, is part of the new generation of women designers currently sweeping through our island paradise. Coming from fashion's creative petri dish, her mom Iris Fernan Arcenas of the Ferimar name, it's to be expected that her clothes would be anything but cumbersome; in other words, bulky and uncomfortable they were not. Sunny references came aplenty: asymmetric hems cut from fluid layers; jersey dresses in sorbet colors fluid, caftan like tunics; and beaded headpieces. But there were also dark animal print chiffons and voluminous bubble-shaped skirts gathered steel belts at the waist, and for the finale, a metal breast plate over gold ball skirt.
The easy-breezy element also explained a white layered and patched chiffon conglomerations, like something worn by wood nymphs. Nostalgic, yet original; it will be interesting to see where this young designer's imagination heads next.