A Veejay Floresca creation

MANILA, Phillippines -- Melvin Lachica

Who would have thought buildings can serve as Melvin Lachica’s inspiration?  He successfully executed his vision through long and flowing gowns, that, as worn by models, evoked towering skyscrapers:” I created paper toile embellishments with jersey and chiffon in colors of stone sand, gravel, and blocks, using these as accents alongside geometric and linear patterns that take cues from textile and fashion engineering.”

Our pick: Nude, halter dress with waistband detail.

Tina Daniac

Tina Daniac veers away from her past collection of figure-hugging minis, as she presented her current set of gothic royalty seductress looks.  “Deviating from loud pieces and gaudy embellishments, I used soft fabrics like wool, in muted colors, such as black, gray, and white, to create simple yet structured ensembles with a detailed finish.”

Our pick: The lace corset gives a romantic feel to this long skirt.

Marlon Rivera

Deconstructed tailoring is what came to mind when Marlon Rivera presented his collection. He played with black by giving it different textures and layers with his choice of fabrics such as rough wool, vinyl, faux leather, flannel, knit, and power mesh. His combinations yielded tailored pieces with surprising, unfinished hemlines.

Our pick: A contrasting duo of hard and soft fabrics—plum leather and checkered, mesh, belted dress.

Jian Lasala

Lasala presented loungewear in geometrically-cut patterns: “This season, I have transformed dreams and sleep-induced adrenaline into a cosmopolitan affair. My collection, titled Gravity, features sleepwear-inspired garments transformed into chic and elegant evening ensembles.”  Cool hues accentuate the chill vibe of each piece with figure-flattering styles that show off the confidence of the wearer.

Our pick: White sleeveless dress with peek-a-boo back detail.

Mike Lavarez

Mike Lavarez deftly employs shredding to showcase his set of stretch cotton wear.  “Loose dresses, cropped bottoms, and layered shrugs are embellished with hand-cut details and patterns that feature a dated take on the classics.”  Basic hues of black and gray, plus pale pink, were his colors du jour that speak of the cool, casual chick.

Our pick: The knotted ribbon on the skirt makes this black-and-gray combo a playful piece.

Eric delos Santos

Quite known for his magic with printed fabrics, Eric delos Santos took it up a notch higher with quilted, Asian-print textiles that are made for both day and night wear. Brightly-colored, flowy dresses were presented as the second half of his collection, with fringes and colourful, floral embroidery as his accents. Truly, dresses befitting of the girly and glamour girl.

Our pick: Sheer, long gowns that set off a playful mood.

Jerome Salaya Ang

Jerome Salaya Ang never ceases to take you on a mythical journey. Booties that mimic a bird’s beak, red-washed hair with roses, and face prosthetics add to this captivating collection of tie-dyed fabrics and strip-cut tulle. Ang plays with drapes for an added touch of femininity and fluidity on an otherwise set of dreamy prints and structured bodice.

Our pick: The shoulder cap design lends a touch of armor to this soft-hued, cocktail dress.

Sassa Jimenez

Color and the roaring flapper era describe Sassa Jimenez’s collection. Intricate embroidery and beadwork, matched with either shift dresses of the ‘20s to whimsical and exaggerated bubble skirts kept our eyes locked on every piece that came out. Chiffon, silk chiffon, organdy and dupioni silk are regal choices for her animated designs.

Our pick: The embroidered floral detail is a pleasant surprise.

Bo Parcon

Bo Parcon used gold-colored safety pins as the protagonist of his latest collection. Enhanced with gold embroidery on black mesh fabrics, each piece is designed for the strong and sensual woman who enjoys the glitz and glamour of the fashion world.

Our pick: Black mesh with gold embroidered detail and tulle-like hemline—a juxtaposition of hard (safety pins) and soft (tulle bottom) elements.

Don Protasio

Stylish desert nomads are Don Protasio’s muses, with brown and gray as his colors of choice.  “My latest collection features pieces in loose, tent-shaped silhouettes—a fashion homage to their roaming and traveling.”  Light layering in shapeless yet flowing pieces make these very versatile and wearable.

Our pick: Textured, loose tent dress, with a longer back hemline, that makes for a grand exit.

Veejay Floresca

Veejay Floresca pushes you to the limit with these arousing creations. A mix of lace, chiffon, tulle, and sheer fabrics, with black as the color hero, Floresca’s collection invites you to bring out the confident and sexy woman in you.

Our pick: Black, lace and mesh patterned mini gives a whole new meaning to the Little Black Dress.

Xernan Orticio

For the chic and conservative lady, Xernan Orticio’s collection is her best bet for clean and crisp power dressing. “The repertoire features tailored evening dresses in conservative yet sexy silhouettes in relaxed nude and nougat off-white hues, accentuated with gold embellishments and crystals, and layered with unstructured jackets and vests.”

Our pick: The sleeveless jacket is a must-have for any corporate chick.

Happy Andrada

Although her pieces are not for the faint of heart, one can definitely appreciate the mastery of her craft and her attention to detail. Futuristic in theme, Happy Andrada’s clothes employ indigenous fabrics such as piña, piña silk and abaca silk for three-dimensional designs.

Our pick: Multi-layered, architectural domes on this skirt.

Kenneth Chua

Egypt meets sci-fi wonder with Kenneth Chua’s figure-hugging collection.  “With the added twist of python leather accessories and metal fixtures, the result is a collection that celebrates today’s forward-thinking females.” We also love his black-painted Legos as accessories—ingenious!

Our pick: The fringed cape adds a primal flavor to this sexy, python-printed swimsuit.

Emi Alexander-Englis

Luxurious, draped fabrics seemed to be Emi Alexander-Englis’s story for this season, which meant for easy, comfy pieces that can even make for loungewear. “Spandex acetate, two-way stretch satin and power knits in ink-like hues of gray, black, and blue create poetic imitations of the ink stains on fabric.”

Our pick: You can play with this cowl-like, draped top, by pairing it with colorful bandeaus.

Fanny Serrano

It’s been a while since Fanny Serrano showcased his works, and it’s definitely a welcome surprise to see a refreshing set of printed and voluminous dresses on the runway.  The set of colourful, floral headwear is not one to be missed, too!

Our pick: This one-shoulder dress is perfect for those who want to hide unwanted bulges.

Martin Bautista

Martin Bautista employed the use of his staple choices of light and fluid fabrics to create another dramatic collection that “floats and flows like the air and water.”  Voluminous skirts and long dresses are further highlighted with the models’ walks.  Each turn, each step and each swing of the arms accentuated the serene movements.”

Our pick: The three-tiered, three-piece ensemble is old-fashionably playful.

Kermit Tesoro

A powerful yet feminine color combination of pinks, reds, and blacks was utilized by Kermit Tesoro in his interpretation of the human body.  “Bombarded with patterns and details derived from a dissected human cadaver, each piece is inspired by the dark identities of the character Dr. Hannibal Lecter from Silence of the Lambs.”  A graphic depiction of what lies underneath our bodies can be seen through Tesoro’s clothing and shoe creations.  His ultra platform shoes with sculptured heart and vein heels are simply amazing.

Our pick: Hot, red-gray-beige mini dress toughens up when paired with these red and beige rib-like booties.

Yako Reyes

Turtles take centerstage as Yako Reyes takes us into the life cycle of this animal.  One can feel the relaxed vibe as Reyes translates this mood into his collection of light and easy cuts.  Inspired by species migration, he infused some of the pieces with cropped tops so as to clothe the wearer for the cooler weather.  His three-handle bags are highly-recommended as well.

Our pick: Marble-print, bubble dress with solid, cropped top is great for lazy days.

Oz Go

The biker chick gets a futuristic makeover with Oz Go’s series of geometrical and architectural designs.  “Inspired by modular structures, I have created a selection of pieces in predominantly black, white and gray, using fabrics such as cotton, satin, twill and denier. I have opted to use a three-dimensional silhouette to add dynamism to the pieces.”

Our pick: This aeronautical jacket comes with a small, white backpack.