Grecian touches, travel-worthy pairings and denim art give texture to summer

MANILA, Philippines - Travel was a central theme for Anthony Ramirez, Lizanne Cua, Melchor Guinto and Randall Solomon, with collections alluding to exotic destinations, and travel staples.

Anthony Ramirez

Known for body con and highly sexy pieces, Anthony Ramirez brought together an unlikely tribute to hot, summer nights out with a collection entitled “Sous La Lune,” which translates to “under the moon.” He expands his repertoire of slinky, body-hugging pieces and cut-outs reminiscent of his SS’13 offering, with the use of black neoprene, creating even more daring cut-out pieces built on clean silhouettes but modified with piping, accents and a very pared-down use of color that ranged from black to salmon pink and blue. As a treat, he brought in muse Ruffa Mae Quinto to interpret one of his more daring numbers for the finale. Overall a strong collection in terms of concept and execution, this is his most wearable (and covet-worthy) collection to date. 

Chris Jasler

Denim was the story, the only story, that propelled the collection of Chris Jasler, who played around with this much-used material to create art. Think of all the permutations of denim you can think of — metallic, patched with prints, ink splotched; in colors of red, army green, pale blue, gold, violet — and you’ll get the gist of his “DenimArt,” as he liked to call it. While the collection could have used a greater range of silhouettes, it seems as if Jasler wanted to focus more on the variety in materials than in different silhouettes.

Lizanne Cua

The Sibylline Oracles, the collection of prophet Sibylline about classical mythology and early religious beliefs, was the takeoff point for Lizanne Cua’s Grecian silhouettes. Opting for softer fabrics that were draped with a modern flair, she created easy shapes and mixable pieces appropriate for summer. Here, she played around with hues of vibrant gold, sky blue, poppy red, tangerine, cobalt blue, lemon yellow, bronze, olive and silver, among others. While the concept is laudable for its cerebral underpinnings, some pieces appear to have been somewhat repetitive. We would have loved to see more of that poppy red number: a long gown that exposed the shoulders but gathered fabric around the elbows, something characteristically Grecian but modern.

Melchor Guinto

The chic, fun-loving traveler is the inspiration for Melchor Guinto’s collection entitled “Tabbitto,” the Japanese word for traveler. Think men in smart suits and Japanese clogs, women in obi belts and accessories, and prints that mimic spring and shoji panels (a nod perhaps to the bestselling plaid this season), and you’ve got a straightforward, wearable series of clothes fit for the jet-setting crowd who don more than jeans and a white tee for long-haul flights. Some of the more interesting shapes that would work well for the season include the short polo tops over mid-thigh shorts, and the jumpsuit for the ladies.

Randall Solomon

A maximalist through and through, Randall Solomon this time conjured a fantastic floral dream he called “Floradise.” Albeit heavy-handed with the use of texture, he nevertheless captured the intricacies of his floral inspiration, showing his range starting from the very literal tropical-inspired opening piece — a sheer gown with embroidery that seemed like grass and flowers from afar, caped with voluminous petal sleeves — to one with much restraint, like the blush pink gown with a series of embroidered flowers. It is in his finely detailed pieces that he stands out but these details always need quieter, leaner silhouettes for better appreciation. Among the pieces, his tulle gown covered with chrysanthemum-like embroidery and his midriff sea green number are able to express his talent for detailing.