MANILA, Philippines - If the bright pop-out colors, slouchy silhouettes and jumpsuits (again) that came out on the international runways for spring/summer ’11 could talk, they’d actually probably do more than just that; in fact they might as well form a tableau and belt out a vigorous dance and song number, “A place where nobody dared to go/ The love that we came to know/ They call it Xanadu…”
Amidst all the ladylike and nautical reinterpretations, the runways managed to sneak in glimpses of the disco aesthetic popularized by the 1980 rollerskating film turned hit Broadway musical Xanadu: off-shoulder one-piece jumpsuits, Grecian-inspired dresses in brash metallics, feminine pinks and purples and those thigh-high slits left-over from the late ‘70s.
As if to further impose that, yes, Olivia Newton-John did do something mildly significant after Grease, Henry Holland, irreverent designer of UK brand House of Holland, actually goes as far to say that his newest collection is inspired by the cult film/musical, among everything else cheerful and campy. His Xanadu-motivated pieces include a (literally) star-studded gold halter shift, fringed hot pink dresses and biker jackets in gleaming teal.
Even Fendi displays a disco roller influence by showing rainbow brights on breezy fabric and lots of luminous skin. Marchesa also, though leaving off the brilliant shades, has a version of the harem jumpsuit, only in lace.
For a real Xanadu fix, however, might as well catch the hit Broadway musical as it takes to the local stage — again. St. Scholastica’s College Manila High School Batch 1987 is hosting a matinee show on Sun, Nov 21. Rachel Alejandro reprises her role as magical Greek muse Clio who disguises herself as Kira and descends from Mt. Olympus to Venice Beach, California to inspire struggling chalk mural artist, Sonny Malone (played by Felix Rivera) to achieve the greatest artistic creation of all time: a roller disco. And you thought nothing could get campier than the fashion.
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For tickets to the Nov 21, 3pm matinee, call April Reyes at 842-7000 or 0939-339-8151. Xanadu is showing 2010, 3:00 PM at the Carlos P. Romulo Auditorium, RCBC Plaza, Makati.