A twin bill

Asia’s Next Top Model Cycle One contender Stephanie Retuya

Two concurrent fashion events rightfully share the limelight in this “In My Own Fashion” edition that you are now reading.

Reason number one, our very own current leading contender to the top-rating, “Asia’s Next Top Model Cycle One,” hosted by Nadya Hutagalung, Stephanie Retuya, is up to the task of beefing up her portfolio before the final selection could be arrived at. And so a fashion editorial had to be done.

To achieve this end, talented photographer, both in wedding coverages and fashion shoots, Henry Anima, was tapped to capture the images of Ms. Retuya in varying moods and to gloss over her versatility as a models’ model—not only while doing ramp modeling but likewise, on still, shot on-location photographs as well.

Four young fashion designers whose taste and design sensibilities are diverse were zeroed in to provide Ms. Retuya what to wear on the said pictorial. Gil Macaibay for his sophisticated numbers, Roel Rosal for his subtle skin baring metier, manifesting in his very recent collection. Mak Tumang who treasures a small collection of unique tops utilizing ethnic materials was likewise requested to furnish some. Finally, Joshua Guibone, lent some of his off-beat pieces that evoke a distinctive mood.

After gathering these pieces, stylist Uma Dumaluan and fashion director, Charlize Legaspi collaborated and decided the proposed photo shoot will be most appropriate and effective should they shoot in a place with contemporary ambience or atmosphere. And so, it was decided that the very accommodating, Acacia Hotel in Alabang, with panoramic views on its decks, was to be the fitting venue of the fashion editorial.

No fashion editorial or photo shoot can take place without the hocus-focus of a wizard on hair and makeup. After considering a handful of available ones, it was decided Nanan Villalba will perform the wondrous beauty magic.

Despite the limited pieces worn by the model for the shoot, Henry, the perfectionist, clicked and clicked close to two hundred frames, making sure Ms. Retuya has more than enough choices to deepen her portfolio. And when we finally received the initial draft copies via e-mail, I was able to ascertain that the whole day’s work for those of us involved was well worth it!

On the other side of town, a fashion event of a rare kind took place, the other part of this twin bill or other half, in a fashion double program. This fashion to-do is a more unique one.

Venue of this second half is the main lobby of the state-of-the-art hospital in the heart of Bonifacio Global City, yes, the ultra-modern St. Lukes Medical Center.

Three bright stars, of different degrees of star power, in the world of local fashion were commissioned to deliver something quite unorthodox, if the norm of fashion presentation were the basis of allusion. 

A group of heart specialists created a special project where the emphasis was women’s hearts. While the members and officers of the association were punctuating on the rhyme and reason behind the Women’s Hearts event, the featured designers joined our table. Naturally there was the inescapable shop talk leaving me wondering what the fuss was really all about.

The three Fashion Musketeers composed of Renee Salud, Frederick Peralta and Avel Bacudio, saturated the main lobby of the hospital with black-colored mannequins all dressed up replete with accessories. One well-travelled lady gasped and loudly told her companion so everybody could hear: “Oh my golly have they transferred the New York Costume Institute at the Metropolitan Museum of New York here?” “It must be touring the Far East,” her companion commented.

The heart specialists must have been the ones who decided that since the event is meant to punctuate the role of heart doctors, the theme of the fashion exhibition was the all-red collection of formal wear.

For his part, Avel Bacudio concentrated on sophisticated numbers in red guipure laces and crimson silk satin. Bacudio played with simple lines devoid of neither unnecessary accents nor ornamentations.

Frederick Peralta, known by insiders as the lavish one, showed numbers that look expensive and requiring enormous man-hours to make. One eye-catching gown in his collection feature a bouffant evening gown with its skirt dyed in monochromatic cerise pink.

For his part, the overt Renee Salud presented the most numbers of real jaw dropping numbers. Known to have an arsenal of gowns waiting to be paraded in beauty tilts or to be tapped by government arms when they put up shows abroad.

“La Mama Renee,” as he is fondly called, explored every known tricks and treatments in his exhibited numbers. With all the schools of fashion we now have in the country, I spicily suggest they arrange a field trip or fashion tours to Renee Salud’s archive and surely their observant students can learn a few tricks of the trade.