Where fashion meets art

Last year I think I terrorized a wide-eyed associate fashion editor who sat next to me at a fashion event. I behaved badly, squirming and making side comments while she must’ve enjoyed the show that clearly I did not, and I apologize.

Luckily, local fashion events have become less painful to attend since I started covering them almost 15 years ago (when the young associate editor was probably in kindergarten), thanks to better concepts from directors like Robby Carmona, tried-and-tested stylists like Patrick Rosas, and an improved crop of young designers. It was a treat to have been at Traits Três Mode, an Alliance Française program featuring an exhibition of illustrations by French artists and a fashion show by local designers.

"It’s not just a fashion show," said Alliance Française board member Lulu Tan Gan. Traits Trés Mode marks Alliance Française’s third successful year of converging art and fashion to a high form of image art and new ground for modern designers and artists.

"The same exhibit was displayed at Le Bon Marché in Paris and Christie’s in Amsterdam, and made possible by the AFAA-ASS of Française d’Action Artistique."

Ten designers were tasked to make five creations each, inspired by the works of French illustrators like Charles Anastase, Ludivine Billaud, Carlotta, Alexandra Compain-Tissier, Jean-Philippe Delhomme, Florence Deygas, Iris de Moüy, Felix Lahrer, Emmanuelle Mafille, Stéphane Manel, Monsieur Z, Cassandre Montoriol, Nawel, Marrie Perron, and Cédric Rivrain.

Their drawings were exhibited around the walls of the Rockwell Tent. Adding to the exhibition were human installations or live mannequins.

We positioned ourselves at a good spot in front of the stage, which was hidden behind a screen. When it was revealed, we were impressed by the minimal stage design in off-white or beige with naked, frosted and clear light bulbs suspended from above. Models paraded, robot-like in dramatic, runny, oily makeup, minimal eyebrows, pouty high-gloss lips with hair away from the face.

Highlights of the show:

Randy Ortiz’s menswear in black, white and red, featuring cropped pants, sporty cropped jackets and French-cuffed shirts with airbrush detail has inspired by Alexandra Comain-Tissier.

Louis Claparols’ daring "celebration of metrosexuality, a slim and sexy" men’s wear collection in beige meant for "partying on a yacht in St. Tropez."

Kate Torralba’s patchwork cotton and voile dresses inspired by Felix Lahrer’s quirky drawings. Good coloring in red orange, Crayola green, mustard, and cobalt, toned down with browns.

We appreciate menswear that can be worn by women, like LZ Punzalan’s beige shirts with asymmetric Preen-like buttons and hand-painted detail.

Ignacio Loyola shows us how to dress up a white tank top and cropped black jeans by his Nawel-inspired black and white ruffled, military/utilitarian look with Russian influence and maximal bling.

Ivar for Tan Gan: Ivarluski Aseron’s take on the British schoolboy look reminded us of New York-based designer Paolo Raymundo, but in cutout, muted knits. Ivar started working on a men’s line a month ago for knit queen Lulu Tan Gan. His collection is an exciting preview of what’s in store at Tan Gan hopefully this November.

We liked Reian Mata’s double-breasted tailored jacket with a handpainted picture of a cartoon lady. Inspired by Monsieur Z, Reian describes her collection as "Hed Kandi-like over a glittery bikini."

Overall, our favorite was unexpected and by Mitizi Quilendrino, who describes her Faire La Queue ("Stand in Line") collection as a "study of trompe l’oeil on felt as material with repositioned darts and pleats." Mitzi, who does her own patterns, cuts dresses out of ordinary beige felt, draw inspiration from three French illustrators and Japanese créateur Yohji Yamamoto.