On the street

Fashion is easy — it’s the getting-it-right that’s hard. How long before a new directional silhouette becomes the basic mainstream? When it’s reached a saturation point, meaning when each and every girl is wearing the same sort in the same pairing. Fashion doesn’t have to be typecast; it’s the rebellious take that always catches my eye. Philippine Fashion Week every year provides a bountiful playground for fashion fiends. Here are a standout few who took the trends and twisted them around to make them their own

Sheer

The sheer button-down has become quite the bloggers’ staple, usually worn with high-waisted shorts or flared above-the-knee skirts. But Valeen’s take is juxtaposed with masculinity: A gossamer shirt with flat front trousers and a soft pompadour brings sexiness to an otherwise androgynous outfit.

Ladylike

Forget below-the-knee A-line full skirts; let’s do Old World glamour and close-to-the-body silhouettes. A peplumed vintage dress in bold red is given even more oomph with contrast colored pumps, lace gloves and extra long tassel earrings.

Maxi

We’ve seen the floor sweepers go through reinventions from opaque slim A-lines, to printed maxis, to new above-the-ankle cropped silhouettes. But the one that’s perfect for the holiday season is a delicate skirt finished in soft folds and a slash to the thighs with some skin exposure — just the way Anna Canlas wears hers.

Leather

This high-shine fabric has gotten the nod of approval even with our hot and humid climate, what with the different reworks for anti-cling: baggy shorts, slouchy tees, and on Mima Fernadez, an easy T-shirt dress.

Masculine

Menswear and tailoring will always be my personal favorite, and Jo-Ann Bitagcol is the perennial muse. A mix of timeless elegance and directional androgyny, the fashion photographer looks tomboy chic and fabulous in a long-length coat by Joey Samson and cut-off boyfriend jeans.

Military

It doesn’t have to be all brass buttons, epaulettes and structured shapes — a play on cords, neutral shades and unbalanced-ness also gets it right. Sarah Meier in a Dimple Lim collaboration.