Ipanema goes short, short, short

MANILA, Philippines - At the Ipanema show, resort clearly meant short, short, short. Models, while attempting to look nonchalant as they walked down the runway, were tugging at ill-fitting hems that threatened to reveal posteriors and certain lady parts that shouldn’t see the light of flashing cameras unless you are a pop star with a predilection for inappropriate paparazzi shots.

Lyle Ibanez delivered softness and structure with shifts in a pale cornflower blue. A sparkly panty showed promise.

Catherine Cavilte seemed to inhabit an alternate universe where summer means vacationing at Tara. Though no Gone with the Wind heroine would be caught dead in those ill-constructed ball skirts with some kind of hoop contraption underneath. For the Ipanema opener, low décolletage was clearly not enough as the designer paired stomach-revealing cutouts with skirts flared open to display panties in the same print. Cavilte is clearly arguing that more is more (more prints, more over-the-top silhouettes and more flesh) while employing less fabric. Her menswear, figure-conforming suits in sedate hues, was far more tolerable. And could be argued was one of the most wearable series of the lot.

Anthony Nocom sent out summer-ready khaki suits, as well as a range of light knits paired with shorts.

Dave Ocampo drew on safe color blocking, but mistepped with the loud florals.

Roller girls appeared to be the inspiration for the candy-hued collection of Raoul Ramirez’s jersey dresses and barely-there ensembles. Short shorts, which had the misfortune to be styled with knee-high socks and stilettos, suggested salacious origins. While floor-skimming goddesses dresses were passable. His opening pieces for Ipanema were more wearable, with a blue print figuring heavily in the ensembles.