Yvonne Quisumbing: Minimalist tropical dressing

MANILA, Philippines - In the sea of grays and blacks that was Yvonne Quisumbing’s presentation, a few white pieces stood out in relief: in particular, an eyelet shirt that falls more on the dapper side than the dainty. “I was thinking of life here in the tropics when I was making this collection so all the looks were made with comfort as the main factor,” says Quisumbing. “That white shirt, for example, has a lot of holes to keep you cool,” she adds jokingly.

Indeed, even with the atypically tropical neutrals that the designer used, there was a lightness and ease to the whole collection. The draped cotton tops lent themselves flatteringly to the body, going from snugly fitted at the sleeves to loosely structured at the torso, and the long black tunics are chicly austere, the menswear’s equivalent of a lazy day outfit. The collection deftly balances comfort dressing with the edited aesthetic of minimalism, providing a better alternative to those who want clothing options that will keep them cool even as they look cool.