MANILA, Philippines - Transformation takes a certain sense of sophistication — to be able to go from classic to trendy or from the casually understated looks of summer to the sartorially mature look of autumn/winter.
Such is the spirit of Cinderella’s holiday collection, which mixes flirty pieces and work-appropriate separates for ladies, and smart casual and corporate garments for men. The selection is well curated, and the styling possibilities are a testament to a smart dresser’s talents with Cinderella’s stock of key silhouettes like the cropped military jacket, pencil skirt, or oversized blazers, as well as staple menswear pieces like the crisp dress shirt, the natty vest, or versatile chinos.
When it comes to the classics, Pierre Cardin delivers stylish basics for men that are just the ticket to a classy work wear look. In this instance, a navy-blue blazer looks unstudied yet stylish when paired with either a solid dress shirt and a vest, or a blue-and-white striped button-down with contrasting cuffs and a collar in solid white tucked into gray slim-fit pants. The same pant silhouette, when done in navy, looks casual enough for an afternoon at the driving range with a khaki sports jacket, a casual vest, and a woven collared polo.
For the ladies, there’s the just-as-chic Cwomen, which offers key work wear pieces like smart pumps, ladies’ dress shirts (buttoned all the way to the top, and tucked into curve-skimming wool pencil skirts, to channel the season’s sexy secretary look), prim blouses (with either structural flower details, pleating, or the Mad Men-esque pussybow), khaki jackets, olive skirts, and belted shifts in beige (for that safari feel), as well as lightweight cardigans, perfect for battling the office chill.
Of course, one cannot overlook the blazer, which has become a go-to piece for several seasons now, either in oversized boyfriend silhouettes, or classic form-fitting versions. There are even trendier takes in casual fabrics like denim or khaki, such as those from the appropriately named go-to label for all that’s hip, Seventeen. With the line’s lace dresses and tights, tutu skirts, draped blouses, and calf boots, it’s easy to change tack in a younger, yet just-as-stylish direction. Add a few flourishes like a knotted belt or scrunched-up socks paired with heels to make the look younger. This, in effect, is the appeal of Cinderella’s holiday offering: An easy transition from the fun to the formal, or vice versa — that is, a true Cinderella story.