FRONT ROW SEATS AND THE SMELL OF STINKY PAINT AT FASHION WEEK

( Filipino designer Ralph Ng - Philippine Fashion Week 2008)

The idea of attending Philippine Fashion Week was somewhat daunting. I may be cheeky, but that does not include being stuck up. I love looking at runway shows for creativity and inspiration, and if preppy ole’ me can take away one trick or treat from a show, then I consider my observation a success.

The fashion community was in full force including my favorite fashion editor Joyce Fernandez of Imagine Magazine and Manila Bulletins’ fashion Duo Daryl and Andre Chang, the girls from MEGA as well as a handful of Philippine media personalities, fashionistas and fashion victims ( yes, they were all over!).

( Frederick Peralta Gala night at Philippine Fashion Week)

Models sashayed down the cheaply constructed water based latex painted runway in hopes of invigorating a couple of underwhelming collections with some fashion interest, but the only interest found was in our hopes that something innovative and different would come down the runway.

The first night of Philippine Fashion Week ended with a bang. Ralph Ng’s show was not only impeccably styled ( Good Job Paolo Castro and Jujin Samonte) with silver neck pieces to go with the urban chic ensembles, it’s was really well casted. The models looked like they belonged together on the runway. It’s not that I think everyone should look alike but many designers had a wide array of looks which sort of adds a stutter to a show that would normally flow. And the flawlessly structured tops, separates, ruffled tulle skirts and slouchy pants got a rousing round of applause.

FASHION REVOLUTION - DON PROTASIO

( Revolutionary designer Don Protasio at Philippine Fashion Week wearing a neckpiece by Tina Daniac)

( Philippine Fashion Week Spring Summer 2009 - Ready to wear )

Cambodia-based Ilonggo designer Don Protasio treats his design process as an experiment in an art form. Deconstructed understatement and evolution that come along with it – personalized by a lot of handmade materials and accessories that he imagines. A mix of architecture and traditional couture techniques combined with sharp cutting to obtain a very personal style built-up of contrasting volumes and proportions– truly revolutionary.

PHILIPPINE FASHION WEEK, SCULPTURED CRAYOLA FLOWER BOX

Philippine Fashion Week 2008
SMX Comples
Roxas Boulevard, Manila

During the Manila shows I kept noting the number of variations on the chic sculptured and summer dresses. It wasn’t hard. There were those three killer examples from Czarina Villa, Mich Dulce, and Tina Daniac. I think Happy Andrada’s take on artsy fashion’s fun.

Colors are all over this season—a reason to buy. I’m entertained.

21st century capitalism, new fashion, good strategists and changes to come. There are a lot of thing that are going to have to change, that are changing, a lot of things we haven’t seen and aren’t going to see, a lot of things that will happen but not overnight, and some things that should but haven’t been highlighted yet. This is a great time for fashion and for the people who follow it. Our values and assumptions, the way we look at clothes, consume them, the way business is done—it’s all changing.