10 femmes of fashion
It’s almost hard to imagine that on most days, Hindy Weber-Tantoco, who on this night wore a stretchy gold dress underneath a black blazer, trades this all in for a quiet life in the countryside. She’s celebrating 10 years as a designer with Rustan’s, with 10 muses who epitomize the Culte Femme vibe with a holiday party presented by Rustan’s and The Philippine STAR. The label has always been about sexy femininity streaked with a bit of rock ‘n’ roll, and for this holiday collection in particular she contrasts soft and hard, with light drapes and sheer lace toughened up with animal prints and unexpected zippers. The Martinis bar at the Mandarin Oriental was packed with models, partners and friends, many showing up in variations of Culte Femme throughout the years, forming a kind of living retrospective of the designer’s work. The night was highlighted by a screening of a striking black-and-white video presenting the circle of 10, who danced it up in front of Dondi Narciso’s lens. Anna Go-Chia, Bea Tantoco, Cesca Litton, Daphne Oseña-Paez, Kyla, Mai Kaufman, Nikki Luna, Rima Ostwani, Stephanie Kienle and Hindy herself are the Culte leaders. Each have their own style, and if one’s music taste says a lot about you, then the take-away playlist gives a little hint of just what kind of femme they are. Nikki is classically rock with her Pink Floyd choice Fearless, Bea Tantoco likes the soul groove of Erykah Badu’s Bag Lady while Anna likes to get down to Let Me Blow Your Mind by Eve and Gwen Stefani. Bea Tantoco capped the evening with a vocal performance that mellowed us like wine, sending us off into the night. Hindy will be back at Holy Carabao, her and her husband’s organic farm, rocking those gumboots and coveralls. She makes wearing mud look stylish like no one else can. Here’s to Hindy’s next 10 as she creates a whole new mythology for what it means to be a modern woman.
