Easy does it with Harlan + Holden

MANILA, Philippines - Let’s be real with local retail for a second: As much as I want to support homegrown brands, sometimes, I have to recognize the fact that when it comes to quality, fit and style, local clothing just isn’t nailing it. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve tried on pieces by local brands that looked pretty great on the hanger, only to look weirdly bunched up on me.

That’s not to say that local retail hasn’t made pretty great strides in the last few years, and to lump all of them into one category would be pretty unfair. One local brand that particularly stands out is Harlan + Holden. Season after season, the brand has launched masterful collections that have solidified their unique aesthetic: slouchy, elegant silhouettes, matched with clean, minimalist touches and light, palette-cleansing hues. It’s the anti-trendy boutique that carries the foundational pieces for any wardrobe that’s worth taking seriously.

Except you’re not meant to take any of their collections seriously at all. All women have their days when they feel like spending an hour figuring out what to wear, but there are other days when style should be a no-brainer. Harlan + Holden was created for the type of woman who cares about looking stylish, but has other important things to think of as well. The comfortable, relaxed aesthetic of the clothing runs counter to the on-the-go lives of the women who wear them. The fabrics that they use have always been light and breathable, while design elements, like drop shoulders and a play on loose and tight silhouettes, ensure that the clothing is never restrictive, flattering the right areas.

Upon entering the store, Eman Pineda, who conceived of the brand, once pointed out that the clothing has “zero hanger appeal,” unlike others that I’ve encountered in the past. And while they don’t exactly call to you from a rack, they certainly do when draped on the brand’s signature wooden mannequins, imported from Paris. The message is clear: These are clothes that are made to be worn by women, not shapeless hangers.

Another interesting message that the clothes send out is that they’re meant to be worn by women of all ages. There are stores that only sell clothing meant to be worn by your kid sister in college, and others that cater specifically to our mothers, but Harlan + Holden exudes a playful youthfulness, yet austere maturity at the same time. As clichéd as it sounds, there is something for every woman inside. A breezy, army green shirt dress with a drawstring waist will just as easily suit young, music festival-bound women as it will women in their 40s who need something easy to slip into to do their grocery shopping. As long as they don’t run into each other (or simultaneously post on Instagram), it all works out.

The current collection, which is in stores now, features a palette that the regular Harlan + Holden shopper may already be familiar with: blush pink paired with cream or dove-gray, strong black statements, and olive-green casuals. The clothes are perfectly tailored, yet loose, ensuring a flattering fit. Some pieces are refreshingly off-kilter, like an over-sized white top with drop shoulders and pleats at the bottom — items like these encourage the wearer to be adventurous without worrying about what to pair it with. Everything is so easy to wear; mixing and matching with the rest of your wardrobe won’t be an issue.  It’s one of the few things that a woman could ever ask of a local retail brand, and Harlan + Holden is one of the few that actually get it right.

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Harlan+Holden is located on the 2/F of Shangri-la Plaza, Pasig; G/F of Power Plant Mall, Makati; and 3/F Adora, Greenbelt 5, Makati.