What's your favorite fashion era?
Fashion comes and goes — then again a few designs are just so fantastic that they remain throughout our entire lifetime or even the entire century. There are some styles that we only see in old movies and magazines (or during dress-up parties) and we wish we were born in that era to have been part of the whole trend. Or maybe we are not just pining after fashions long gone, but also after everything that characterized those periods.
LORRAINE BELMONTE, vice president for editorial, Mega Publishing Group: My favorite period in fashion is either the funky Pucci-like prints of the ‘60s or — in contrast — the clean lines of the ‘90s. I guess I prefer the ‘90s, which was about minimalism and pretty makeup that looked natural and nude. It was about great skin and lip gloss, and straight, shiny hair. It was about outfits that were cut lean but flowed. I loved the look! And it helped that my daughter Helena was a dead ringer for Kate Moss.
CARY SANTIAGO, fashion designer: The late ‘70s and early ‘80s — the height of Yves Saint Laurent’s career. His fashion put an indelible stamp on everybody’s mind.
MAUREEN DISINI, fashion editor, The Philippine Tatler: The decadence of the ‘30s always captivates me. It was an era of femininity and real glamour, which I really appreciate. It was also in this period that Madeleine Vionnet created the cowl neck and halter top. Both are absolute favorites.
JOYCE ORENA, writer/owner, Jo: There are a number of great details I adore from the different decades. I cannot pick one specific period but I definitely prefer the time when people dressed up and followed a dress code — the period when individuals cared for their total look. Even casual was chic and not dowdy or sloppy.
JANINA DIZON HOSCHKA, jeweler/gemologist: My favorite fashion era is definitely now — when fashion rules can be broken and individuality is key.
RICKY TOLEDO and CHITO VIJANDRE: If we had to choose one particular era in fashion, it would have to be the ‘50s. Women were elegant and glamorous, with cinched waists and bouffant skirts. There was a lot of optimism and experimentation. The New Look of Dior, which started in the late ‘40s, came into fruition and became more lavish and refined. Balenciaga came up with new, complex forms and creative silhouettes, which totally changed the way women dress. In Manila, women were at their most stylish wearing Valera and Slim’s. Of course, fashion being what it is, there’s also no better period in fashion than now, when there’s always that next big idea to look forward to and the new, budding designer to sweep us off our Roger Vivier-clad feet.
PHILIP RODRIGUEZ, fashion designer: My favorite period was the 1950s and ‘60s, considered the golden era of haute couture. Not only did it introduce new, exciting silhouettes and fashion legends like Dior, YSL, Givenchy, Balenciaga, Balmain, and Fathe among others, it also produced style icons like Audrey Hepburn, Jackie O. and Grace Kelly.
DENNIS LUSTICO, fashion designer: The art deco period. Spanning three decades of breathing bodies in contemporary silhouettes — from flapper to oversized coats to slinky serpentine, all of which were revolutionary designs at the time… until the female form was put in bondage again by Monsieur Dior.
