Rajo Laurel: From runway to reality

From runway to reality. Rajo Laurel is well aware that every fashion cognoscente takes pains to translate each season’s runway look into everyday wear. Which is why a mini-fashion show at the Alliance Francaise de Manille recently gave the urbanized treatment to the runway pieces from Rajo’s last fashion show. "It" girl Sarah Meier led the parade of models clad in more wearable versions of the Victorian-inspired collection — patchwork skirts and corset belts with tiny cotton tees, leg-of-mutton-sleeved tops with Levi’s jeans and delicate Edwardian blouses with denim.

This rendezvous, however, was more than just a mini fashion show for Rajo Laurel. The designer hosted this tete-a-tete to thank people who supported a recent fashion endeavor. The night also witnessed the launch of his book Rajo ’01, an assortment of stunning, highly-stylized images of three of the country’s top models clad in Rajo’s pride collection. Shot by five of the country’s most talented photographers, the book is a first by any Filipino designer. As guests also realized, their complimentary copies of this labor of love held more worth if personally autographed by Rajo, which the designer obligingly did.

Reveling in this affair of appreciation were People Asia executive editor Philip Cu-Unjieng, young society fashion-philes Wendy Puyat and Celine Lopez, Benetton image model Tim Yap (with a stuffed alligator draped around his neck), and international model/actress Teresa Herrera with sibs Rosario and Jon, Franco Laurel and wife Ayen Munji, Anton Barretto, Chris Lopez, fellow designers Randy Ortiz and Michi Calica-Sotto, Ces Drilon, Tessa Prieto-Valdes, Bea Valdez, Rosary and Chantal Ysmael, Bernice Palanca-Go, Leica Carpo, Bobby Garcia, Raymund Isaac and Illac Diaz.

Also on hand to receive congratulations for Rajo ’01 were show director Joey Espino, Rajo ’01 image-setters Claudine Sia, Neil Lucente and Neal Oshima, the book’s creative director Michael Salientes, graphic designer Yodel Pe, makeup artist Patrick Rosas, Rajo’s right-hand woman Ria Limjap and his indefatigable sis Venisse Laurel.

Adding plus points to the event, Seattle’s Best set up a booth, treating guests to all-you-can-drink Javanilla shake while Philips decorated the venue with flat-screen TVs and provided projectors for the mini-show. Models were bejeweled in creations by Tessa Santos while Epson provided the blow-up shots of pages from Rajo’s book which were displayed around the area.