Scarlet fever
Fashion designer Jan Garcia has lately fixated on a rather unusual silhouette.
Garcia shares, “I’ve always been intrigued by the ‘pannier,’ a Baroque contraption that exaggerated the side of the skirt and gives a very pronounced wide-shaped hip that, during its time, was perceived by the male specie as ‘attractive.’ It actually started in Spain (before it became the hottest trend in Paris during Marie Antoinette’s reign) with surprisingly very peasant origins. It’s defined as ‘two side-slung baskets used for carriage on a beast of burden,’ hence the very wide silhouette literally suggesting saddle bags tucked on each side under their skirts.”
Garcia adds he is a fan of Diego Velasquez whose Baroque paintings exuded a gamut of personalities from the women he painted, even overshadowing their social status, and, of course, all bedecked in panniers nevertheless. He says that today’s versions, of course, easily rank up to 18th-century Parisian street fashion. To punctuate today’s hips, designers have tricks just like their side-winged hoop skirt counterpart, such as the dome, the tulip and the peg. Skirts have been side-ruched, draped, boned, padded, crushed and tucked! But for whatever trend dictates, a little fashion nod to the female hip never fails to get the male’s attention.
Also in Garcia’s sights is the color scarlet. “Scarlet is such an eye-catching color — a mix of red and orange. People believe that scarlet is the color of flame. Truth to tell, scarlet is the color of blood! I thought of blending the concept of the pannier with wondrous scarlet to make a collection of clothes that would definitely turn heads!”
Photography by Joanne Zapanta-Andrada • Hair and makeup by Norma Santos (0917-8954895) •Accessories by Herbert Custodio (0905-2934090) • Shoes by Solea by Emi Jorge (896-1691) • Model: Claire Barberis • Clothes by Antonio ‘Jan’ Garcia (0917-5872293 and 729-7910)
