RTW labels were plenty preppy with a side of ladylike
Philippine Fashion Week (PFW) opened with a bang, beginning with the Bench triumvirate of Bench, Human and Kashieca last week and closing with Penshoppe last Sunday.
It was a good week for local fashion. Regatta received raves from everyone I spoke to. The preppy label, now under the same umbrella as Penshoppe, has done a 180 — revitalizing what had become a one-note brand into something worth wearing.
On another note: This was possibly the most well-attended Fashion Week I’ve ever been to, since the show migrated to SMX at Mall of Asia. Lines would snake down wide hallways, looping past escalators. Glimpsed kids garbed in the latest trends: color blocking, textured knits, head-to-toe white lace.
Some kids, their bulky SLRs slung around their necks, appeared to have more equipment than photojournalists headed to the Middle East.
“Bloggers,” someone tells me, when I see the crowd of kids — as if I’m not aware of the phenomenon.
It’s heartening to see so many people interested in fashion — local fashion, at that. I spotted one blog online devoted to PFW, A Different Cut (www.adifferentcut.com), helmed by photographers Gabby Cantero and Bia Catbagan, and their behind-the-scenes photos provide a thoughtful perspective on the whole circus.
Here, a look at what PFW had to offer.
ForMe: Shape up
The brand is devoted to finding garments designed to flatter certain body types, but the opening ensemble of drop-crotch jumpsuit, worn by Charlene Gonzales, didn’t show off her statuesque figure. But the label redeemed itself with ladylike dresses in simple, figure-enhancing silhouettes.
Regatta: Prep station
There was plenty to like in the sea of preppy basics. The brand set the tone with a beachy setting. Models skipped on a wood plank bridge, a beach horizon in the background. Regatta’s version of preppy didn’t limit itself to one-note blazers. Instead, they tossed in staples like cuffed paperbag shorts, ribbed knits, drawstring tunics in cotton and lots of khaki. Kids prepping for school should find plenty to wear. And even I, at the advanced age of 29, found a great deal of charming basics worth stocking in my closet.
Memo: Sharp shooter
Tailored corporate basics may not sound buzzworthy, but Memo put out a more than respectable show, trading on their button-down shirts and sharply-cut trousers and jackets for men and more than a few dresses and pantsuits for women.
Rusty Lopez: One step at a time
The brand struggled with styling, mainly pairing stocky office shoes with bright, jersey dresses for the beach. Why? I understand some people like to transition from office to beach, but they’ll probably pack some flip-flops for the sand.
The label succeeded with some of their men’s shoes: a few loafers and sandals.
Wrangler: Fit and right
Taking a nostalgic trip to the ‘50s, the denim label paired plaids and dark denim with Native American-inspired headgear. Was this a commentary on the plight of a beleaguered people? Who knows? Wrangler’s denim looked good if you like cutoffs and second-skin jeans. And their cropped vests and sweaters looked cozy.
